The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-08
a PLEA FOR THE CORSET.
The Root of Morality, SeIf-respect,
and Health, Says an English Writer.


ally trying husband, given to being pomp-
GUS and overbearing, confessed that when
her lord was more than her patience
could stand she retired to her room. and
took of her -corsets. II was equivalent
TO throwing up the sponge: she felt inca
pable OF holding her own any longer, and
gave way bodily and mentally TO a STAY
less woe that filled those of her acouaint-
ances to whom she impaired this charac-
terlstlc habit with silent contempt. tenn
cred W it'll the pity one gives as an aims to
all W eak things. 1t is probable that if
this poor lady had held on to her corset
her pluck would not have deserted her.
AMI the pompous husband would have
lea rned better manners
The corset may its shadow never be
less y is the root of morality self-respect,
and health, 1t braces up the moral ener-
gles as much as it does the physical: and
many slatternly Blowsabella that we
see lurching along the pavement in a slum
would take an entirely different view of
me ana It's responsibilities if she were
put into a properly built corset. All the
dlatrloes that have been flung at woman S
pest friend are each more absurd than the
other; ana 1t IS pleasant 10 lind that of
sIate doctors are becoming enlightened
enough at last to own that civilized
woman's tody requires stays Just as
much as she requires house to live in
and varied regime that would simplv
have Mortified her primeval ancestors.
Ot course'if women choose to abuse the
Dement'S of the corset, and, instead Of re-
Yelling lnsthe support and the gentle firm
ness OF outline which prevents petticoat
strings, buttons, or other details of IN
derclothes from hurting the tender flesh.
strive to attain the wasp-like abomination
OF slXteenth-lnch waist. they are to
blame, but not the innocent corset.
Abuse of anything, whether it be tea.
tobacco or Tubing, beef or bicycling.
rest or exercise, is always an inartlstic
mistake. Like Mr.. F. IS aunt. we hate a
TOOL, and the woman who squeezes all
the llssomeneSs out of her shape. and be-
comes as stiff as a broom handle or a
wooden image from the South Sea islands
merits no other title. To those who seek
TO get the best out of everything what
charms there are in a well made corset
woman in her corset and petticoat is a
subject for poet, as de Musset knew well
when he lmmortaliZed La Marchese
IAmegui." But much depends on the
corset. which may be as beautiful as the
calyX of flower, when it is or Gated by
such artists as fiesta of London or Weiss
OF Vienna, but also may be simply pox-
shaped receptacle, when fashioned by in
dirterent hands. The chief matter is to
see that the lines are kept as long as pos
slole. The corsets that spread out sud
denly above and below the waist convert
woman into something resem bling a nil
grim S gourd, and are of the kind which
have given rise to the grewsome tales of
llyers being cut in two by tight lacing
with the long lines opening out gradually
as the shape expands, the pressure is
equally distributed, and everything kept
in It's proper and natural place, while the
Inquire preserves that swaying, fiower-like
SupplenesS which is by far its greatest
beauty and charm.
Corsets should never be worn of any,
thing but satin or brocade. OF course.
we are writing for the artist in such mat
tiers, the woman who wisely looks upon the
inner mysteries of clothes as being of far
more Importance than the outer garb.
undergoes contact with the world at large
and therefore can in no way be considered
as sacred part of her personality. An
outcry Will perhaps be made as regards
expense but there is no need for il is
easy to buy in the biannual sales rem
nants of thick brocade "a yard and half
is sufficient) for few shillings, and
equally easy to get these0remnants CON
verted into the loveliest of corsets by
professional corsetiere. Besides, satin
ami brocade corsets not only
last longer and keep their
shape far better than the humble
and monumental ones in coutil, but the
fit of bodice is entirely different over a
silken corset. The silken FRIEND is
lighter, softer, more pliable, and every
thing slips over it as if over a skin. But
let those of our feminine readers who
respect their appearance avoid the corset
of the middle-class French novel; the
corset of black satin which helped to
covert Bourget with ridicule in the eyes
OF Partisan mondaines when he described.
as part and proof of the riotous luxury of
the heroine of "Mensonges, >" a corset de
satin noir! 1t is the only ugly corset;
ugly in its economic suggesti geness, and
uglier in the way it seems 70 the eye to
cut a woman in two.
For daily winter wear the rich shades
of warm color-orange, mazarine blue.
cardinal, myrtle, and many other similar
ones answer admirably, especially if the
silk petticoats are made to match, as
they ought to be. OF course, for evening
wear, or now that spring is merging into
summer, lighter colors appeal irresistibly;
and nothing is more lovely for corsets
than shot brocades of tenderest green
and pink, with design of pink rosebuds
in Watteau baskets of pale blue and
white, covered with lines like fish scales
in silver, of brilliant orchid color, over
laid with sprigs of heather A yard and
half of any of these brocades is not a
rulnous expense, nor is the subsequent
making, If once the right artist has been
found who will cut the material so as to
make the design meet and repeat itself
with mathematical accuracy, for haphaz-
ard ARRANGEMENT of the design means in
artistic cutting.