The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-06
ADVICE TO woMEN.
A Few Suggestions That are Well
Worth Needing.

and apparently very intellgen women, IL
one may judge by their use of English, that
are not able to tell the difference between
the processes of initiating and emptying the
lungs In other words, they do not know
when they draw in the breath and when
they sxpel it, If these ladies had not in
each instance confessed TO more or less
physical suffering, | scarcely think | should
take the trouble of answering their appeals.
for in that case the supposition would
be that they breathed naturally. and
needed no instruction. But rs 1t is out Of
the question 10 reply per sonally 10 all the com
munications received. and taking into consid-
Grafton that il six OF my readers inform me
of their Ignorance in the above respect
there must be many more In the same state
[ thought it best to try and elucidate
little if possible. If those who need the
special instruction will stand with their
heels moderately and comfortably close TO-
gether, their toes turaed outward, with the
weight of the body largely upon the balls
of the feet, the abdomen drawn IN and
the head lifted, they will he
in the proper position for ex-
pertinent and healthful exercise Now with
the mouth closed, slowly lift the chest.
This work is performed by the lungs, or
more properly speaking by the breath, and
is the process of Initiating or filling the
process, let them, after they have lifted the
chest as much as they can, hold il as long
as possible in that position. After short
time the chest will begin to collapse
and the breath TO leak out The lungs
are emptying themselves preparatory to
filling and emptying again and
again. until death steps in and puts a stop
to the whole business. One correspondent
tells me that she cannot lift her chest bit
more than she has been accustomed to in
her ordinary breathing without great pain
and feeling of construction at the heart.
am all the time laboring under the gravest
apprehensions in reference TO those all im-
portant exercises. How do ! know that
those who suffer in this way do not expert
ment in their corsets and are wearing snug
dresses and tight sleeves! | have no means
of knowing, for not one in tea of my cor
respondents ever tell me anything of their
costumes. So let me say here once for all,
that even these simple breathing exercises
are not only useless under such circlm-
stances, as far as health and physical de-
velopment are concerned, but they are
absolutely dangerous. And with this state
ment l absolve myself from all RESPONSE
bility.
An excellent time to practice these
breathing exercises is in the morning after
a bath, and while one may still wear the
robe de mutt, and again at night after UNI
dressing | dislike to give even an easing
prescription to the sufferer from corsets and
heavy skirts, because of niy anxiety TO see
my sisters healthfully- dressed, but the
sinlpletons who will lace and throw their
bodies off equilibrium by high-heeled shoes,
and their internal organs out of place by
dragging costumes, will Certainly live to
suffer longer, and lace more, by taking the
breathing exercises in their night-gowns
and bare feet every morning and evening.
| think they had better die, but as they may
differ from me in opinion, here is the hint.
Many women seem to think that am an
advocate of the ugly in dress. This is by no
means the case. | am on the contrary an
ardent admirer of the beautiful. A dress to be
beautiful must be artistic, and if any Of my
readers can show the figure of woman
with a pipe-stem waist and stiff, heavy
looking drapery, painted by an artist of
reputation, | should like to have them do So
The ideal figures of oar modern as well as
our ancient painters, are roomy as TO waist,
and the drapery is always loose and flow
ing. well-known New York society
woman called at the studio Of Partisan
portrait painter, and after the business
arrangements We're made asked for sit
ting.
"What, this morning-n that costumeY'
the artist exclaimed in undisguised horror.
"Oh no, madame he continued, II could
never pose you in black silk and passemeu-
terie. "Ah," with a shrug Of his shoulders,
why wilt beautiful ladies cover themselves
with those dreadful black beads, and then,
my dear madame, pardon me, your waist is
too slight for beauty-in picture
The little hiatus and the accompanying
bow and smile doubtless saved the artist
his customer.
But" the lady replied. "if I have my
portrait painted it must bs my face and my
figure that is represented. They may both
be very ugly, but they are what nature has
given me-"
pardon again" said the artist. "That
is true of your beautiful face, but it is NJ.
Worth and not Nine. Nature that has
nodded the figure. We will drape the last
and make it charming enough t. match the
face"
The above story was told me by the lady
herself, aud from that day to this she has
hated the sight of passamenterie, and has
never since gloried in the possession of n
small waist This experience in French
studio was an object lesson in art which she
viii never forget Tho object was herself
1t Is refreshing TO see that even the maya
zines most hostile to reform in dress, are
now draping the figures OF their fashion
plates in accordance with the demand OF
true art. The plea for the corset is not SO
common OF so arbitrary as it has been
Everybody with a particle of common
sense KNOWS tnaV Tor Jne sake OF comfort,
as well as looks, there must be some garment
which SHALL support the bust, and so cover
the figure that dress waist can be neatly
aud elegantly fitted. There are several So
called corset waists which meet this de-
mand. They have no stees in front TO
bruise the abdomen and develop in
ternal tumors. The best are without whale
bones, for the simple reason that whale
bones are Of no use, and bend almost as soon
as worn. Some of my friends will perhaps
think that | am drawing upon my magma.
ton when l speak of the development OF
tumors by corset steels. Indeed, this is not
so. Physicians have told me of numberless
cases which they positively knew to have
been induced by the constant pressure of
this metal upon the abdomen. IL any of
my readers, after thinking these matters
over, are moved to dispense with these steels
and to loosen tho corset strings, let them
battle the stomach and abdomen every
morning and evening with alcohol aud
water, vigorously rubbing these parts, in
order TO induce Healthy action.
ELEANOR KIRK.