The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-08-01
PAINTING is NOT FASHIONABLE.
Hysterical Women VIII BE Compelled to
Loosen Their Corsets Somewhat.

Historical Women VIII Be Compelled to
Loosen Their Corsets Somewhat.
"Yes, there was time when a woman
could faint whenever she took no
ton" said the doctor. at was form of
| hysteria and was largely due to tight
lacing. There seemed to be something
fascinating to the average woman in
! losing consciousness at certain times.
She never dreamed of fainting in the
quiet of her own room. No, indeed. She
waited until she got to the theater or
church or at a ball or reception. 1t was
only the fashionable women who had
nothing to do and took no exercise.
| Westinghouse had no time to get hys-
terical. You take a woman to-day and
let her live very high, take no exercise,
get little sleep and squeeze a 25-ineh
waist into II or 1s-inch corset and in
three months she will be in such hys-
| terical state that the slightest thing will
upset her so that she will become in
sensible Painting did not go out of
style until the wasp waist had had its
day. revolution in corsets worked
wonders for women, and it is due to
two things. American women to-day
display more common sense in the mat
ter of dressing than they ever did be-
fore, and they take more interest in
physical development. | haven't seen
woman faint before in two years.
Common sense is prevailing COM
modify among the women, old and
young, of to-day"
Tight lacing was at the bottom OF
my fainting," volunteered the matron,
rubbing down her pretty waist, land,
for my part think it was the real root
of the evil. Ten years ago women GER
tainly laced. No. II corsets were sold
in great quantities then; now that
number is extinct, and my corset
maker tells me that she never has n
call for an 10 except when some little
being comes in and has one made to
order"
"What is the average number now"
asked the college boy, with as much in
terest as a girl would display
Number 25," was the reply.
"Twenty and 20 are considered small,
and she has one customer who boasts
waist that is an even yard, and her
| figure is magnificent, too. She carries
herself like queen. Corsets used to
be straighter in line than now, and you
men should be thankful that you never
knew the agony of being bound up in
one. They are now cut with curves, SO
as to give room for the lungs, heart and
liver, and If they are laced little tight
at the waist the wearer doesn't feel any
| discomfort. The stomach also has abb
solute freedom in properly-construet-
ed corset, and there is no pressure
across the kidneys, as formerly. Moth.
ing will cause a woman to faint quicker
than having a steady pressure on the
stomach. Why, I've known women who
couldn't keep their cGrsets on more
than three hours at a time in the old
days"
"Corsets were evidently built strong
err than they are now," remarked the
young woman, "and / am sure none
of these fainters were educated at my
college,"
"Yes, to both questions, but it was be-
fore physical culture and athletics came
into vogue for women. The corsets
used to be perfect armors. They were
exceedingly heavy and almost as stiff
as steel"
mot many women wear stays now
adays I believe, modestly ventured the
young man.
"Oh, yes" spoke up the young wom'
an. THAT is altogether mistaken
idea. There are very few women who
do not wear stays, and, indeed, there
are very few who could leave them off
with any degree of comfort or grace.
For awhile women rushed madly after
health waists, but the corset dealers
and makers report that far fewer sub
stitutes for corsets are sold to-day than
formerly. A garment like that becomes
fad, but soon goes out of vogue. Wom-
en- aren't going to stop wearing the cor
set. They discard stays when eXercis-
ing in a gymnasium or when playing
field games, and many OF them leave
them off when awheel, but as for Civ
ing them up when dressed up few
women are emancipated to that ex-
tent. True, the corsets of to-day are
not so straight, tiff or heavy as former
ly, and they are not worn so tight, but
all the same they are still a very i'm
portant part of a woman's wardrobe
and there is nothing in well-construct-
ed, loose, light corset that could pos.
sibly make anyone faint"
ooh, pshaw!" exclaimed the doctor,
impatiently. 81 told you that fainting
was out of style long ago. My opinion
is that in 90 years, even in ten, very
few women will be wearing stays. Bi.
cycles and basket ball and hurdling and
running and broad and high jumping
will drive out whalebone and steel"
al. for one, hope they will, "'said the
college girl, as she drained her small
cup of coffee.
"They won't, all the same, and If we
live we shall see" remarked the matron
with equal earnestness.-N.Y Y. Sun.
Frozen Bananas.
Peel and mash dozen bananas,