The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-06-17
RAY OF HOPE.
DISCOVERY MAY INDUCE
WOMEN TO DROP CORSETS.

WOMEN TO DROP CORSETS.
Light on Tight Lacing and its Atten.
dant EviIs-The Queen of Portuga
Interesting Herself in the Matter o
Reforms In this Direction.
New IORK.-lf Roentgen rays dis
covery sets women's waists free it will
have accomplished a great mission
And things are beginning to point
that way. The Queen Of Portugal has
set the ball in motion. 1t was at hel
suggestion that the ladies OF her cour
submitted themselves to the searching
action Of the Roen,gen rays. The,
were 50 startled at the sight of their
distorted ribs, compressed chests, iop
sided lvers, and squeezed stomachs,
that they Immediately declared the
corset must go. Henceforth, SO they
have determined, they will be free
women.
When questioned about the eyils of
tight laclng DR.. George +. Shrady
said: 81 never in my life met a girl
or woman, who, when questioned on
the subject, said she laced tightly. 4
woman goes TO physician with some
complaint, and he asks: 'How are
your corsets; do you wear them pretty
tigh,?'
"No, indeed, DOCTOR she nvariab bly,
answers, though dsmning evidence, as
the lawyers call it, is present. Il never
lace the least bit, though | know other
women do
"Dociors go on asking the question,
expecting the same reply and always
getting it. II seems almost ludicrous
for physician to talk on the evil ef-
tec,s of this fashion. Women only
smile when they hear or read anything
about it, and continue to pull on their
corset strings. Often they laugh out
right and say, well show these doc.
tors and cranks that we can go on
lacing, as they call it, and still live.
"There is absolutely no physiologi-
cal argument in favor of the corset,
but it is here, and I'm afraid it is here
to stay. From the time that the men
and the women of the middle ages frs,
put on corsets to modify the shape o.
the body until the present time, fash
ion has repeatedly and almost con.
stantly turned to small waists. The
men very soon dropped their corsets
be it said to their credit. The natura
conformation Of the chest is always
larger below than above. 1t is cone
shaped, though some people get The
idea that it is almost square, because
they take in the projecting shoulder
bones. The ribs are so fixed that wher
one breathes they expand, roll upon
each other. and turn out. How is i
possible to do this when they are con
fined in tight corset1 Vital respira
tions and circula,ions are impeded b,
) the corset. 1t constricts the very bes
part of the lungs, and ofentimes ,hs
liver is lot only displaced, but furrow
ed. The liver being large and solid
organ, can stand considerable persc
cu,ion without lis natural work being
interfered with, but when pushed ou
OF its proper place 1t has to 60 some
wher-, so 1t crowds the stomach down
which in turn gets the ln,es'ines ant
organs of III ,.he! hood out Of Their nat
nral pla ce
Gas | sail b: ore, there is absolu el
no ply siolog'"'l argument in favor o
the corset. Nj NY women claim ,ha
they wear it to supp ,rt them, and
can be worn SO loose that no lnjur
follows, but it is absolutely unnecessary
Men don't require corsets to supper
them. They depend on the backbone
tha, central spinal column on which
everything hangs, and women shoule
do the same. 1t carries all the weigh
and it is Jolly for women to think tha
the corset can carry some Of il. T
man might as we'll try to lift hmsel
by his trousers. He has no point o
vantage to work from. Once il
, Beecher's day revivallst went L
Brooklyn and made quite stir in tn
city of big preachers. Beecher wa
, very much interested in him and salt
to friend. you've been to hear him
what kind of looking man is he3
"'Oh, replied the friend, 'he's
a small, thin, angular, little fellow.
q" Hasn't he got any chest ant
stomach? asked Beecher eagerly.
'Not bit, was the reply.
" We'll, if he hasn't any chest ant
stomach he won't last long said tn
5 great preacher.
( "Tha, is a pretty good argumen
against tight laclng. One won't las
long who has no ches, and stomach
5 Woman is constantly saying. Il wan
. to develop the upper part Of my body,
{ but she always makes the mental res
ervation, i want small waist, toe
I.acing prevents The development {
the upper part Of the chest. Muscle
tha, are confined lose their powe,
! When an athlete is training he doesn
constrict his chest and lungs.
"Ar,Ists have the most correct idea
about the beauty Of the human form
y The old masters Of the brush and chlss
. never chose woman with a sma
waist for model, but selected or
whose figure showed only a sligl
curve and no construction at the wais
d The artists of today do not think sma
d waists pretty, and will no, have mode
5 who lace, but seek those who ha'
d always enjoyed freedom of chest an
/, waist. II most women were TO appl
3 for employment as models they wou
= be looked upon as deformed.
o 1.-The fact that, just as soon as
4 woman iain,s We unfas,en her corsc
d proves tina, lacing in,erferes with h
II breathing. What We want IS God
5 own pure ar and plenty OF it. '