The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-24

worn In some 1CfM or 0tnei
by all women must have some excuse
for being.
I A corset properly fitted so that /,
does not hinder free action or cause
pressure upon the organs within the
} trunk of the body is not detrimental
TO the health Of the women. and for
stout women it may be even an assist
ance and . benefit The corset, with
everything else, has felt the upheaval
occasioned by the agitated waves of
modern thought. which will accept
little. If anything. from tradition
The corset is capable of more mis-
chief than any other piece Of wearing
| apparel invented since the days OF
the fig leaf. because of its close rela-
tionship to the vital organs and its
use by that half of the human race
who. II not more easily swaved bv the
mandates Of fashion, at least have the
name and the appearance Of being so;
and when the tickle goddess ordains
that lovely woman shall not appear
with the figure of the Venus of Milo.
1
corsets are the means at hand adapted
to that end. and thus employed by the
| weak and the foolish The corset.
however, is not to blame. but the silly
wearer who perverts its use.
1t would not seem possible that the
question Of corsets for young girls
could present Itself for serious consid-
Grafton Nevertheless. Partisan writ
! er has decried the time honored waist
worn by young girls. and attempts to
| show that it brings pressure to bear
on the abdominal contents and drags
the shoulders forward, and recon-
mends the wearing of certain kind
of corsets for growing girls.
Worse Than the Chinese.
| The difference between the childish
| figure and that of the grown woman
is based upon fundamental differences
between the organs. The ehild not
only has to maintain tnc body, but
has to provide for .ne growth of the
| organ while it performs Its functions,
trammeled in every way. The cease
less activities of child are essential
for us proper development, and to
bind it in any manner would be as
great barbarity as that practised by
the Chinese wnen they deform the feet
so that the grown woman will only
have those as small as a child of two
or three years of age. To put child
in corsets would be worse than that,
because deforming the feet has no
euect upon the general health, other
than that of impeding exercise; but
lie use of corsets for child, provided
they could be made conformable to the
girlish figure, could only with the
greatest difficulty be prevented from
pressing on the organs which are the
most intimately concerned in the vital
processes.
The ribs, which form the frame
work about these organs. are exceed
ingly yielding in early life, and very
little pressure. such as would not be
injurious at all 70 an adult, would re-
suit either in interfering with the reg
ularity of the growth or in causing
deformity. In fact, when any portion
of the bones which form tie trunk
have grown out of place, such as the
pushing out of a shoulder, the curving
of the spine, the thrusting forward of
a rib, contrivances are fitted that are
like modified corsets. which by means
of continuous pressure will reduce the
deformity.
The child is to the adult as the
young sapling is to the Tree: the one
can be easily bent, while the other
cannot. and the bends and twists that
lne tender sapling receives become
permanent and incurable deformities
as it hardens into the fu.- grown tree.
The bones ana cartilages of the grow
ing girl are so delicate that even a
gnt fitting under waist or dress waist
mign, have deforming effect
Differences Between Child and Adult.
1t would be better for those who
have charge of children if they had
some understanding Of the compare
tive differences between the organs
of the child and those of the adult. |
Besides the fact that the child has to
provide for the growth of the organs |
as well as for their function and nu-
triton. there is difference also in
their relative size and position. es-
pecially in those organs which come |
within the clasp of the corset. The |
stomach is larger in proportion than |
in the adult.
The liver, which feels the effect of a |
mischeviously applied corset more |
than any other organ, is much larger |
in the child. being at birth double that |
Of the adult, the proportion gradually |
lessening as the years go on. It is
this difference Of the internal organs |
which gives the different shape to the
figure The thorax Of the child is round
and barrel shaped. it's abdomen is |
large and comparatively prominent. |
made so by the organs OF nutrition.
upon which life and growth and de-
yelopment into perfect being depend. |
The part that the liver plays in the /
economy is by no means thoroughly |
understood. Every day adds to the i'm
portance Of its. functions. and II Is not |
without significance that the infant be-
gins life with an equipment Of one
third of its weight Of liver. All the |
blood OF the body. before being distrib- \
uted through the circulation. visits the
liver. which by means Of certain chem
ical processes deprives the blood OF
the poisons which have been general
ed In the body or have been taken into /
it Other important and mysterious /
processes are carried On in the liver.
which. II interfered with, would dis
turb more or less greatly the health /
balance. From this It can be seen
how essential It n that growing girls
should Be clothed In such . manner /
that no pressure II brought to bear on
this organ
lrrsparabte injury May es Done
Il Is dilacult to conceive that oaei
would oeriung1H - 49, Qaegtion: |
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