St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-04

the abdomen, tapering sharply, de-
forming and COMPRISING the waist to
an alarming degree. AS if this were
not enough of torture for appear
ances' sake, little later the iron cor
set was invented, which was made of
thin pieces of steel and covered with
velvet or brocade sewn to the bands
by means of perforations along the
edges.
The most grotesque corset was that
worn during the latter part of the
reign of Henry ". This was boned
about the bottom and made to flare
out in most unbecoming manner
about the hips. They made women
SO unsightly that the king forbade
their being worn.
During the reign of Louis XIV. whale
bones were used in great quantities
in corsets, and stays were made to
lace under the arms. instead of at the
back or front. They were made very
high in front and made the figure
look very straight and fiat
During the Directoire the ANTIQUE
mode of dress prevailed, and stays
were in the form of modified Greek
iona, the upper part being made full
GT lldn III ClfnoS.
During the first empire, when Jo-
eSphine set the styles with her short
wasted, skinny frocks, a new corset
was introduced, and was called the
Ninon de PEnclos. or large wasted
corset. 1t made the figure very artist
ic and graceful and was more con-
ducive to health than any other form
or stay since the Greek-Roman days
Nine. Recamier has on pair of these
large-waisted corsets in her celebrated
lounging portrait, and Queen Louise
of Prussia wore them, as may be seen
/ by the beautiful picture which shows
{ her descending the stairs. With this
style of stays gowns were made
very narrow and straight, and were
belted just below the bust, and the
waist was entirely concealed by the
flowing lines. 1t was really a beau
/ tfful fashion, and Mrs. Jenness-Miller
has striven her prettiest to make it
fashionable once more, but it does not
possess the attributes of style and
|Gchic that the fitted waist does, and
grace must be sacrificed to style these
|. fin de steele days.
After the first empire a gradual
| change took place, and corsets were
heightened and made firrer and clos
Or about the waist. They were cut
high on the hips, and very full back
Isand front.
rs Since that date the change has been
very insignificant, the only invention
being the steel fastenings in front,
with hooks and eyes.
Good NJ. Plagnol is not the first to
make war against the corset with the
government to back him, for there have
been numerous instances in history of
not only the suppression of the corset,
but taxation upon it as well.
During the reign of Henry ". profit
gate extravaganza in corsets became so
great that the king issued an edict for
bidding the wearing of ornamental cor
sets by all women excepting those of
the demi-monde.
In 1856 Cardinal Mazarin issued orders
| forbidding the wearing of stays, and
was said to have been prompted by
Maria de Medicis.
Louis XIV. issued fourteen different
edicts against what he termed whale
| bone atrocities"
Throughout the present century, how
ever, the corset has been entirely free
| from legislative attention up to the
time of NJ. Plagnol's attack, and women
have been allowed to pinch their pre-
cious waists as much as they please for