The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-17
Evolution of the Corset.

The st. Paul woman in search of a bar
gain IN corsets can find one that will
fit her figure and purse, no matter how
large or small either may be- If she
wanted to get the cheapest article obtain
able, SO, 80 or even % cents viii suffice,
or she can find in the immense stocks dis
played others that will cost her SIS or
$lG0, to which a few hundred more can
be added by reason of the substitution
of gold and diamond hooks and buckles
which the deft fingers of the women in
the workroom viii sew on while she
waits There Is wide difference be-
tween the appearance of the two ex-
tremes, almost as wide as the difference
between the modern female garment and
the original belt of grass or Wiz. animal
skin which was the root from which the
corset sprang.
The story of the beginning of the cor
set can be traced back to the strophium,
or girdle, of the early Greeks, afterwards
adopted by the Romans. This girdle was
first used by the women who We're under
the social conditions of the warlike and
partially civilized people, compelled to do
most of the hard labor in the fields and
about the house. 1t was at that early
period in its history considered entirely
as means of protection against strains
or injuries that might be the result Of
accidents. The athletes adopted the Cir
die, which they tightened about the waist
when about to make extraordinary eXer-
ton, and the CirdIe of the working Wom-
en- was worn to fit snugIy The history
OF most savage people shows that these
in primitive way prepare some sort of
substitute for the belt or girdle, which
all who undertake vigorous exercise
wore, even if it was only the girdle of
grass woven or twisted by the least skill
ed of them
It was among the Greeks, perhaps, that
the corset, in its form of garment that
not only gives support and strength to
the body, but graceful outline to the fig
IRE, was first evolved, but it was from
the idea of the working woman's girdle
that it was framed. When the ladies of
the higher classes Of Athens and other
Greek cities began to adapt the girdle,
the corset was begun. There have been
many changes since that time and the
medical authorities have alternately de-
plored the use and recommended the
wearing Of the garment. The advocacy
or condemnation of it has never appre-
Gladly affected the popularity Of the cor
sets with its principal wearers, the wom-
en-, for the reason that the aim of corset
makers has been to adapt the garment to
the Office of properly setting off the figure
in the particular styles of other clothing
that CHANGED to be in fashion at the time
As long as they did this the contention
of some physicians that they were injur-
iouS to the health and all that was lost
on the women to whom it was directed,
for the latter at once saw that these op-
ponents were entirely missing the case.
They were enormously assuming that
women would consent to make themselves
dowdies in order to prevent possible in
jury to health.
Finally the objections OF the opponents
of the corset were met, it was claimed,
by the fashioning of garment that
would not bring about the supposed evils
complained of, and the finishing stroke
to the enemies Of corsets was given when
the London Lancet few years ago
gravely and with all the authority that
accompanies the utterances of this ar
bitter of things medical stated
that with properly built cor
set woman could safely en-
dure three times more physical exer-
else on the golf links, the tennis court
or in wheeling than If none is worn. In
later days the tables have been complete
~ turned on the opponents of the corset,
and the triumphant advocates of the for
merly maligned article are now triumph
antly taking the aggressive and declaring
that good health is not to be attained by
ordinary women without they wear them.
Much of the Objectionable features that
were formerly found in the shape and
manner of wearing have. the makers
claim, been left out of the new models
During the past half year there has been,
it is claimed, a complete revolution in the
detail Of the shaping and form of the