The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-28
ABOUT CORSETS.

so, dear don't know what is the mat
ter with me. api SO tired all the time
can't stand anything; l can't walk three
blocks. have neuralgia every little while.
I'm good for nothing, and yet there seems to
be no disease about me. wish you'd tell
me what ails me-"
The speaker was beautiful girl, about
nineteen years old. Nature had intended
her for magnificent specimen of woman
hood. She was not less than five feet seven
inches in height, but with shoulders and
hips broad in proportion, she measured only
| twenty-five inches around the waist.
OF course she asserted that she did not
dress tightly but when told that in order to
have good health she must leave off her cor
sets, she rebelled. ''Why, how would look
| without a corset? ?" she exclaimed .'I'd be a
perfect fright" What reply was there to
be made to so convincing statement But
| by the light of science her whole body was
| illuminated, and to the understanding vision
she was perfect fright as it was. never
see such figure that am not reminded of
Hiram Powers query in regard to fashion
ably attiied lady II wonder where she
puts her liver?"
1t is easy enough to prove that the breath
ing capacity is actually lessened by the cor
set, even when not worn tight Any one who
wishes to try the experiment can sit down
and begin to draw in the deepest breath pos
sible. When the limit of the corset is reach
ed unclasp it and see how widely its clasp
| can be separated by the action of the lungs
alone. Then if you bear in mind that these
muscles have been weakened by non.use,
| and that with full liberty they would increase
| in strength, you will be able to imagine how
much the corset has lessened the vital capac-
| ity. / once saw fine illustration of this
when / called upon young lady whose lit
| erary labors are wonderful. She received
me in a neat but loose dress, in which every
organ of the body had full play. She rejoiced
in her perfect physical freedom. She ran up
and down stairs with the lightness of child.
felt no palpitation Of heart or oppression of
| the lungs. Later in the day she dressed TO go
out upon the street with me, aud put on
corset 81 do it in Difference to the opinion
of my friends" she exclaimed. They COM
plain if outrage their sense of propriety by
appearing without one, but do penance all
the time wear it."
We started off at her usual brisk pace, but
in very little while she said to me 81
can't walk so fast when I've got corset on.
/ can't breathe, you see." Aud so to accom-
mouase ::siissd powers of breathing
we slackened our pace, and soon she looked
weary, her CHEEKY laugh became less fire.
quent, her face began TO wear an anxious
look her vital capacity was lessened, and
her whole system felt the effect of it. 81
could accomplish nothing at ALL" said she,
"if were compelled to wear a corset at my
work"
once asked a young lady to sing for me.
With some hesitation and busbes she ex-
cused herself, saying, "Really, shall be
obliged to decline the fact is, am just
breaking in a new corset, and it hurts me
SO can hardly live." Why do you wear it,
thenP" Oh I'd look so odd withhut cor
set" ."- -. -
To me she would look far better, for l
could see that her health was falling, her
cheeks paling, her nerves starving for the
vital breath of Gods pure air, which the
corset was shutting out of her lungs.
"We girls are always glad to undo our
corsets and draw long breath at night, "
said one frank girl to me. 1--WE don't wear
them tight we can't put our hands up uu-
der them always but it does seem SO good
to get them off and breathe just as big as we
can,