San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-06-14
MEN WHO WEAR C0RSETS
NOT ALL AMERICANS, AS A FoR-
el6N PAPER INTiMATES.

Engiishmen and German military ohiccrs
wear Corscts-Tho sorts OF Men Who
Resort TO Braaing OF This Kind'-Thrce
Glasses OF wearers.
An English newspaper recently pub
lished long article on the subject Of stays
or corsets for men. The little information
the article contained was credited TO an
American interviewer, and only American
men of fashion were accused OF having o
weakness for this fominino necessity. The
fact that many mon wear corsets hns been
known for some time, but the statement
that the habit is confined to Americans7s
entirely new and utterly false 1t is and
always has been difficult to get any posi-
| tive information on this subject from the
persons who make the corsets or the men
who wear them. The former are reticcnt
| from business point of view, while the
latter vchemently deny that they wear
stays because they are ashamed OF 1t,
which Is TO their credit. There IL largo
business done in this line not only In this
city, but III many foreign cities.
ENGLIsuMEN WEAR THEM
Many Englishmen wear corsets, and
these gentlemen suffer moro inconveni-
ence from this source, where they are fur
from home, than from any other. Tho
places where mon can buy corsets are
| limited In number, and known only to q
few, who keep this knowledge to them
selves. A stranger, therefore, has to rely
entirely upon his own resources, A well
known manufacturer of corsets on Broad
way was recently visited by dapper lit
tie Englishnan who was only about five
feet TAN, aud he carried cane, and wore
high SIX hat, n surprisingly tall collar,
rcd necktie and pair of white leg
gings. He was not shy about his needs,
os an American would be, but mincing up
to pretty young saleswoman, said:
"Can get "a corset hereS"
"For your sister,"
"Nor' exclaimed the young fellow, lift
ing his eyebrows In surprise; "for my
self"
"You will please" said the young wo-
man, drawing herself up until she looked
seven feet tall mot attempt to Joho with
me- You will find the bookkeeper in the
Office"
The poor little dude would have been
panied If 1t were possible, but ns 1t was
not he was only astonished Ho spoke to
the manager, and was informed In frigid
manner by that gentleman that the firm
had not yet found enough idiots IN this
country to make it worth their while TO
construct corsets with the front the same
shape as the back.
"Well, can't you make oncP" he asked.
mo, sir, we cannot, and that settles
IT.
The firms that make corsets for men
have only one difficulty. 1t is that Of pro-
curing clerk with tact enough to hold
customer when he gets him. In this
country men like to appear masculine, II
they have anything manly about them. A
clerk must not smile when he is artlessly
told by customer that hcnvants to order
corset for friend who is precisely the
customers shape and size, and who Is too
modest or too much engrossed In business
to attend to the matter himself Some
times the friend in the background is de-
scribed as being an invalid and In need OF
the corset TO hold him together when he
coughs. None of these statements de-
ccive the clerk, but he goes to work at
tho order just as II he believed the GUS
toner, frequently making pathetic in
quiries regarding the precise physical con.
dition of the ailing friend.
THREE CLASSES OF WEAREltS.
There are three classes Of men who wear
corsets-those who wear them for their
health or physical comfort, tho idiots who
wear them with the idea that It improves
their shape, and the dudes that wear them
60 that their coats will set upon their
backs without O wrinkle. The 1rst are
usually very corpulent men, to use the
expression of fashionable tailor, would
wabble too much without them. The
second sort nre the simple minded fellows
who believe that slim waist causes the
breast to bulge out, and that this, with
pronounced hips, indicates SURPRISING
strength. Some Of these mon ore so slim
that their wrists any way could be
spanned with the hands, but this is not
considered, and they wear corsets that arc
drawn 80 tight that they look like sau-
sage with string tied around the middle.
The men who wear corsets for tho sake OF
their tailors ore usually OF that contempt
ible class known as mashers.
When o mau begins wearing corsets IL
Is hard to tell where he will stop. II he
begins careful inspection Of his person
be Is apt to grow very dissatisfied with
the haudiwork Of nature, and attempt In
his clumsy way, TO improve upon her.
IFe Will end, probably, In making himself
look like a freak or monstrosity Of
some kind. Many man Of good shape
has begun IN simple way TO improve
himself in the matter OF physique and
ended In becoming n monomaniac ON tho
subhct a well known tailor not fGr
from the Hotel Brunswick eaid that he
hnl never seen O corset on any OF his
customers, but be know very well that
eeveral Uf them wore this article. Corsets
arc not known by this name among tho
rlcu who wear them or by the manufact-
urerl Tho masculine corset r. called the
compressor. " ~ the patent elastic sup-
porter" Military meu are fond u cOrseis,
T. g. Geld, nud many Ot the resimcutal
swells consider one Of these articles
necessary adjunct 90 their wardrobe.
Many of the ro.ssts worn by men are
made in Germany. where they arc IN great
favor among the officers q the German
army. a great deal Of trouble b taken
by some " tie men 81 have their corsefs
male in rich and fOwcry designs. some
are rssfa ~ brightly culortsl silks and
trimmed with rich lsre. a woman b.
ts.Ur,. stf - learn whether n nllu wears a
fsl----f than ofla q his ogu -cE ETecially
A. tiis tise cslze when the tan D. vraiiEitg
Nif4lff.lts. o. D. -aid. will creek audiblT
viiel any undue sfFaiu g hrsugl.i 60 lsear
u-s1f Dr. inau viii a lightly lacsd
ss5r..f j. ls~l-d - H. Discovered ~ THE
p-o-rar D. rrai-zes with. provided -ile has
sh-rr ears ard b. 10 Ia lotc glth him. -
- VA san