The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-10-07
The Corset Question.

The Corset Question.
To corset or not to corset is ques-
tion that is troubling many u woman.
Mothers who never asked the question
for themselves, being content to do as
the rest did, are asking it now for
their growing daughters. They ''do
not believe in tight lacing, of course,
but is there any harm in Il moderately
snug corset?' They know that there
are anti-corset societies. but aren't
these people cranks? Isn't this rage
against corsets a fad, pure and simple,
just as the crusade against birds
wings in hats is n fad? Do reasonable
people pretend to believe that corsets
are an evil?'
AS this is matter of some impor-
lance to the health of the coming
generation, the Chicago Times thinks,
it may be just as wei to answer some
of their questions candidly. Don't you
see, You questioning mothers, that the
very fact that you are asking the ques.
tions proves that your reason and
common sense have answered them
for you? If you did not know that
the corset was harmful you would not
try SO hard to get some one to tell you
1T was not. 1t is useless to argue that
it never did you any harm. Do you
think that girls of to-day are more
robust than the girls of thirty or forty
years ago, merely because it is the
fashion to be robust? Fashion is
powerful, but not omnipotent. She
cannot conquer nature.
The opposition to the malformation
of growing girls is not "A fad. but sim
ply common sense as preached by ell
respectable medical authorities.
moderately snug corset''-and if it is
to mold the figure it must be immod
erately snug-not only can injure
growing girl, but it can't help injur-
ing her. 1t inevitably cramps the
growing vital organs, and lays the
foundation for troubles that may make
her an invalid for life.
In one of the many congresses that
have been held at the art institute
speaker said: II belong to the glorious
army of cranks. "rhe glorious army
of cranks"--a strange phrase that, but
a true one. The members of anti-cor-
set societies may mostly belong to that
GLORIOUS army for it makes
itself prominent in most good works,
but the bulk of physicians would
probably not claim membership.
A writer says on the same subject:
tend to believe but do believe and
know that corsets are an evil to girls
whose forms have not reached their
full development. Necessarilya>par
ent has great power over child-too
great in many cases for heNchilds
good. She can maltreat the delicate
organs of the body with corsets,
although il she cramped the feet in
the Chinese fashion the authorities
might interfere.
'The cause of the Partially of so
many women to corsets is the fact
that those who obtrude their enamel
patton from them are also enanci-
pated, as a rule, from everythingwo
manly and attractive. They are
puys without corscts, but then they
would be equally guys with them
Women of taste can equip their daugh-
tiers with closely fitting waists that
answer every Legitimate purpose OF
the corset without deforming the
figure and impairing the health. with
little thought and skill an air OF
such distinction and individuality can
be given to costume that the absence
of a corset becomes an inconspicuous
detail. Beauty can be attained better
by working with nature than against
1t. 1t is not ne cessary to file the teeth
pull out the eyebrows, put rings In the
lips, fiatten the head, pinch the feet
or cramp the waist in order to be
comely. And even If a girl left to her
natural development should grow. up
as "thick-waisted and awkward as
the Venus of Milo she would probably
find sufficient compensation for this
misfortune in her increased enjoyment
of life.
-....... NII!fans.