Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-09-28
yAGARlE> OF FASHIONS.
French Heels and Higa Hats and Their PfTect
on Ladies.

London Lancet.
Women OF the presens day have reason
TO cong atuiate themselves that the hiSG
ard pointed French heel, with its obN
ouSiy defoImIng tendency, has not now
that assured plsdJminance in fashion
that oEce belonged to it. For Change
so ben fetal We may probably tnsuk
more GhaR one reforming Influence whIch
has been appled 10 this direction. The
slowly acting force OF lnstruc ed opinion
has doubtless done It's part. An iucreas
ed knowledge of essential anatomical
facts has also possibly had certain eff
feet.
The most potent Of all the operative
aseuc.es, however, would seem To have
oeen CONVERSION, albeit, not by an,
mans d'slntereStsd or purely cunscieu-
tiOus, OF female taste aLG character to
conformity with more wholesome stand
ard. THIS result has cume about at tbr
bidding of that powerful lily of health
rational amusement. l. Is a wldeS prsau
movement in favor of healthy athletic
exercise, TO the love OF lawn.teunla AGO
the like, that We may trace the iutroGIC-
ton of q fashion which admits that boots
and shoes must ut the foot, and that thu
manufactured heel should occupy its
natural position under that of its wearer
Sui the old custom dies very slowly,
and II would almost seem as if there had
been of late tendency toward its restur-
atlon. For 1t and for that other undesir
able nluslon-a tight five can only
wish speedy, or at all events sure sx-
tinction.
The manifest effect of both is of course
inevitable distortion of the foot, and 1t Is
somewhat difficult TO say to which form
or mischief we must allow the bad pre-
commence IN this respect. Weneed hard
ly now co more than mention the ruinous
effect of peg like heel so placed as 10
force up the bones of the body falls for
ward on the toes, the calf Is strained, the
spine abnormaily curved and the pelvic
vlscera tend TO undergo corresponding
and IL furious flexion. Yet these things
are but the mere consequences OF this
perniclous custom. While it prevails,
exercise III its proper sense is hopeless
and physical development q fallacy. We
therefore hail the advent of the athletic
era, and we would again strongly urge
every woman and girl of taste and judg-
ment to abandon habit in dress which
must cripple her movements and cannot
possibly add to her attractiveness.
Then again the inventor of the ladies'
nat of the period seems TO have done his
best to produce covering for the head
which should expose the nape of the neck
as much as possible to the rays of the sun.
1t is true there has not been much sun
shine this year, but we may have it yet,
and then perhaps the inconvenience of
the present fashion may become more
apparent. A we'll known authority has
told US how sunstroke is often attributed
to the wearing of the forage cap in the
army; and possibly some minor troubles,
such as occipital headache, may be to the
cause we have limited at. We are quite
aware that 1t is hopeless to attempt 10
overcome the dictates of the milliner. and
that tight lacing, high-heeled boots and
dragging up the back hair will hold their
own as long as they are "ia fashion, bat
at this season of the year when SO many
resort to the seaside for health, surely il
is reasonable to suggest that women as
we'll as men should endeav0r to get rs
much good and as little harm as possible
from their holiday trip.