The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-18
As OTHERS SEE US.
A Foreign Criticism which American We
men Should Take to Heart.


An Englishman remarked recently,
with the franIness Of his nation, that
American women looked as if they did
cot 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 wom-
en- carry themselves in this respect, es-
pacially in these days Of plain skirts
belts and shirts a costume which is adj
mirably calculated to display to the
very greatest advantage every defect and
awkwardness Of TIE human figure. No
friendly drapary hides the ugly lines,
and in many cases they are very ugly
indeed
OF course it is often the fault of the
skirts Why Z bad dressmal1er should
always insist on cutting q skirt short in
front and then let it dip behind like the
tail of bird is a mystery, but she Will
do it. Now, tie average woman is hol-
low IN TIE back; therefore her skirt
should be cut shorter behind than be
fore, and a dressnlaker who MAKES
gown hoop Up in front should be impris-
oned or fined Leaving the sins Of the
dressmal1ers out Of the question, how
ever tho 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-ffths
Of them, ia the prevailing uniform of
skirt and shirt waist. They wear this
regardless of shape and weight, from
l,-, cTr " 70
middle aged mother OF g family.
A survey Of them leads me to think
that the Engiishmau was justified IL
his opinion and that the American stOm-
aeh is really unduly conspicuous. Thin
people are often the worst One can for
give q stout, motherly looking woman
for being ungainly, bat when it ccmes
to 4 thin, angular girl, all bone and
muscle, thin without 4 pound of super
fuous flesh anywhere about her, 1t does
seem unnecessary, ard it is.
There III no need Of it at all It is
Just as easy to have q straight line from
the waist down rs not to have It. If
the slouchiag sisters viii only learn to
throw tie weight Of their bodies where
it belongs, there viii be no cause for
criticism. 1t IS a 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 ont Of shape and your
chin stuck ont at an angle Of 45 de-
grees- That Is great part Of the battle
TO keep your chin back That rebelIious
chin thrown forward brings your whole
body III an awkward position. Practice
before your looking glass, stand in your
usual way and see where a Straight line
drawn from yor 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
out properly, and the back viii take
care of itself. It viii not take many
trials to convince you Of the advantages
of this lnsnner Of standing, and a little
observation of others Will show you
what yo.4 need Every body knows that
Queen Victoria is dumpy. short and
plain But yet she holds herself with
SO mucn dignity that she looks like a
queen. How would she look if she lean
ed on Ter spine as if it We're the back
of a rocking chair, as many of rs do?
American women have much to learn
from their tight laced, fat backed, high
headed English sisters