Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-12-26
A WOman's Waist.

1t is matter for rejoicing that fashion is
no longer to decree 4 slender waist IS some
thing indispensable to propriety and grace.
The natural waist Of the woman Of average
height is about 28 inches, and any less size
ID attained only through arrested deve lop-
ment, or compression by means Of whale
bone and steel. The amount of room in
side these 28 inches Is absolutely needed for
the proper working for the machinery OF the
internal economy. In spite Of this fact
girls very often bind the yielding ribs into
such narrow compass that the waist meas
ures 20 or ~ inches only, and you will now
and then hear some mother of 4 large
family with very different waist now.
boast ~ it it were something to be proud OF
that when she was Io her waist measuse was
- too. 1t is, however, # no use to talk
to young people about the injurious effect of
compression ON stomach, heart, liver and
lungs and the arterial system. They are not
Eanstomists, and they do not comprehend the
matter nor want to do 20; they observe that
they feel ~ well now 10 they did before.
and without weighing the thought that it
requires time to work ruin, take, il for
granted that they will always feel Is well
although they have been told and taught
that In post-mortem examinations It has
been found that wherever tight lacing has
been the rule, every organ was out of place
and seriously injured. But although it does
move them = tTi6e to Be told that red noses
and eruptive skins and fat chests are to be
laid to the account Of the too slender waist
yet ON the whole neither common sense nor
auid-wite wisdom nor doctors have the
power OF conviction th:.t fashion does, and
when fashion says that there il no beauty in
in wasp's waist. but the lines Of nobility
and health made by deep breathing are the
really lovely lines, fragility being rather to
be feared than loved, Why then frapilitv be-
gins to be avoided, and the lines Of Venus
de Milo, Of the Diana, Of the Pallas, begin
to come in.
The habit Of tight lacing has done almost
irretrievable injury. If ii were continued
there u no knowing what shape It might
have developed. Even now sculptors de-
clare that model with 4 natural waist.
sloplng outward rather than inward. |.
something hot to be found, even the most
charming figures otherwise having the hour
glass tendency, in however slight 4 form
sufficient to spoil them for posing for anv
thing demanding the freedom, the beauty. n
and grace Of the antique. The Greek WON'T
supported and stayed herself with band, 81
linen, but there was no compression Ia ina
swathe, and her natural waist made her a
perfect beauty; and to-day the natural
waist q the Cireassian does not interfere
with the reputation Of her lovelines,. The
adoption Of European dress by ladies az fhe
haren, and OF Japan, showing, Is II does.
either want Of the knowledge Of true
beauty or willful abandonment 81 4.
principles, will probably lead to tight lacinc
here. =
Why anyone should ever have imagined
.nat 9 vast which looked as il it were 20 I
ing e break in two could be more attractive
thas : whist which looked Is IL il vere ].
capable q supporting Its head and arm. M
shoulders = mystery--so great / mysterv
!nat the effort to solve it Is 10 be given n,
g aaeisfacsion over the report that lie for-
ssRn creators Of the made have re -.
ssked themselves the question II the shar,e
tnat tne Creator chose for the human body J
- - ons ehey could improve. -Harper's