Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-07
AS oTAeae zee US.
y Foreign Criticism Which Americas wo.
mea should Take Co Heart,

men should Take 60 Heart.
An Englishman remarked recently,
with the frankness of his nation, that
American women looked as IL they did
not wash their faces, and that they gave
the impression Of pushing their stomachs
before them.
We may deny the first charge, but we
must acknowledge that there is some
ground for the second. No person with
ordinary powers Of observation can fail
to notice the way in which many WON.
en- carry themselves in this respect, es-
pccially in these days of plain skirts,
belts and shirts, a costume which is ad-
mirably calculated to display to the
very greatest advantage every defect and
awkwardness of the human figure No
friendly drapery hides the ugly lines,
and in many cases they are very ugly
indeed.
OF course it is often the fault of the
skirts. Why bad dressmaker should
always insist on cutting a skirt short in
front and then let it dip behind like the
tail of a bird is a mystery, but she will
do it. Now, the average woman is hol-
low in the back; therefore her skirt
should be cut shorter behind than be-
fore, and dressmaker who makes a
gown hoop up in front should be impris.
oned or fined. Leaving the sins of the
dressmakers out of the question, how
ever, the blame rests on the women
themselves
Look at them, standing about at any
railroad station or in any shop or pub
lie place, ordinary, respectable. middle
class women, clad, of course, four fifths
of them, in the prevailing uniform Of
skirt and shirt waist. They wear this
regardless Of shape and weight, from
the slender young girl to the heavy,
middle aged mother of family
A survey Of them leads me to think
that the Englishman was justified in
his opinion and that the American stom-
ach is really unduly conspicuous Thin
people are often the worst One can for
give a stout, motherly looking woman
for being ungainly, but when it comes
to thin, angular girl, all bone and
muscle, thin without q pound of super
fiuous flesh anywhere about her, it does
seem unnecessary, and it is.
There in no need of it at all. 1t is
just rs easy to have a straight line from
the waist down As not TO have il. If
the slouching sisters will only learn to
throw the weight Of their bodies where
it belongs, there will be no cause for
criticism. 1t Is great deal easier when
You get used TO it TO stand in the way
that nature intended than to stand with
your weight resting on your heels, your
backbone bent all out Of shape and your
chin stuck out at an angle of As de-
grees That is great part Of the battle
10 keep your chin back. That rebellious
chin thrown forward brings Your whole
body in an awkward position. Practice
before Your looking glass, stand in your
usual way and see where q sraight line
drawn from your head down would
come.
1t ought TO go through the ball Of the
foot. Then the stomach viii retire into
proper perspective, the chest will come
ont properly, and the back will take
care Of itself. 1t will not take many
trials to convince you of the advantages
of this manner of standing, and a little
observation of others will show YOU
what You need. Everybody knows that
Queen Victoria is dumpy. short and
plain. But yet she holds herself with
SO much dignity that she looks like q
queen. How would she look il she lean
ed on her spine as if it were the back
of rocking chair, as many of rs do?
American women have much to learn
from their tight laced, fat backed, high
headed English sisters.