The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-12
For and Against Corsets.

New YORK Ledger.
There is no sense whatever in laying
down hard and fast laws about corsets."
said a practical. levelheaded woman ply
stefan, with a score Of years experience
to give weight to her words. ut does not
depend on the corset to any great extent.
but on the woman who wears it. / have a
great many patients who wear corsets with
the utmost comfort and no harm whatever.
and others are simply made wretched by
them. 1 find that thin women are rarely
hurt by an ordinary corset worn at a COM
Portable degree of tightness. Indeed. very
thin women have 40 occasion to lace, and
therefore get along all right. But it is the
stout w~onan-the woman who wants a
small waist, and is bound TO have it, even
though she sacrifices her health TO get IL.
Such women get an iron-clad corset, and
put in strings strong enough to drive a
times having three sets, of strings. so that
they can let out a little in one place and
draw in a little in another. Then they
gradually compress and contract, pushing
the fat up in some places and down In
others, and crowding 1t in all around, until
they can scarcely breathe. Then they turn
around and around before the mirror, stand
up straight and approve OF themselves, and
declare that the corset is just as comforta-
BILE as ar old glove and that IT does not
hurt them a particle. Probably for the mo-
ment it does not, and just at the time there
may be no unpleasant consequences from
II; but after a bit they stoop over TO Dick
up something or to perform some neces>
sary duty. and rise up. with the blood all
in their faces and gasping for breath.
ut is the sheerest nonsense TO say that
this does no harm. Some injury is UNI
ayoidable under such circumstances. Then
these stout women sit down to their sewing.
and lean forward. pressing the stee!s and
wearing a ST. Cecilia expression. and pre-
tending TO be just as comfortapie as you
please. Three-fourths of the temper and
ers of families has its origin In tight cor
sets and tight shoes
The corset subject seems TO have a PER-
ennial interest, and furnishes no end OF
material for discussion pro and con. II is
just as well to admit that there may be
persons who are not IN the least harmed
by them. but that. as a rule, they are
harmful. and in many cases ruinous to the
health"
The Wearing of White.
Philadelphia Times =
White is the thing for summer wear. If
you want to look cool, wear white. If you
want to be cool, wear white. Some would
be funny creature, in speaking Of wearing
white clothes recently, said that everybody
knew that they caught and held heat much
worse than dark ones, but in Difference TO
the accepted idea that light clothing looked
cooler, punished themselves by wearing 1t.
White clothing looks cooler, and it is cooler
than dark. That is, some kinds of white.
The thick white ducks and piques, when
starched to the limit, look cool. but they
are as hot as broadcloth. On the other
handssoft Henrietta and challie, thin White
serge and bunting. though all wool, are
really quite enchaptingly cool.
One objection TO white has Deen that II
increased the apparent size. That Is true
of thick materials which are plainly made
and drawn over the figure, showing almost
bursting outlines, but IL the large woman
who wants to wear white Will select for the
material a creamy thin wool. Tor instance,
one that will fall in soft folds about her
figure, and have the waist made with BABY
fullness on a yoke. and a touch of lace and
ribbon about 1t, she will be pleased TO find
that she can wear. white and appear as
charming as ever. Or she may select organ
die. or dotted swiss. or a family figured
lawn. A full plain skirt. which Is embel-
lished with a simple hem, and has no lining.
with lots OF gathers in the back. and
enough of them in front to keep the skirt
from drawing: a full-fronted blouse waist
with a shoulder ruffle of soft cream lace.
or white il the ground o. the material is
white, and big loose sleeves will almost
make an ugly woman pretty. A very charm
ing way of making the waist look longer
Is to set three strips Of lace or embroidered
insertion in back and front from neck TO
belt, and under. this place ribbons the color
that you intend to wear with the frock, and
haste them slightly. They are easily re-
moved, and with belt and collar of the
same ribbons, make an EXQUISITE Audubon
not skimp in the fulinesss of the skirt. as
that will spoil the whole thing, and do be
sure that your petticoats are exactly the
right length for your thin gowns A short
petticoat viii make a ridiculous figure OF