New-York tribune., 1901-10-07
IMPORTANCE OF AN ERECT CARRI4GE.

IMPORTANCE OF AN ERECT CARRl1GE.
do you mean to tell me- said the stout woman
to the thin woman. that you only weigh hum
dred pounds?'
That's ALL" said the other. I've always been
thin and I've never been strong"
Then I want to know how you manage 70 pre-
sent good appearance"
Fairly good you mean" corrected the thin
woman. II know / could hot even appear 10 have
a graceful rounded figure. Curves are not in my
line. but
oh don't talk of grace!" interrupted the stout
woman. lugubriously. "Only be thankful you're
not stout. You a monument OF grace, COM
pared with me. 1 can't be graceful. you know.
But you must be-pardon me-just little made
up'
I'm not made up at all, except so slightly as
hardly be counted assure you that If L pre-
sent even ii toerable appearance II is due to the
way l carry myself. and that is the secret OF
everything. with thin women stout. With a
straight back chin held well IN. and erect,
alert bearing. you cannot be totally ungracefuL
always tell young girls that II is worth more than
beauty, and II is easy to attain
Easy. Why, my dear; i can't hold myself
straight for half an hour 1t hurts my back"
That's because you neglected it when you were
a growing girl. 1 made point OF 1t then, and
formed my figure
.They used to tell when young to keep
my shoulders back. Once 1 braces.
But I always forgot and / fell into a way OF
settling down into my corsets."
"I don't wear them" said the thin woman;
they hurt nv ribs My back hold itself up
without outside support; 1t is a matter of habit
Possibly you need corsets, so don't suppose that
am putting in an objection to them general
grounds I only say that I can do better with
out them. AS to the braces worn in the past
generation, they worse than useless. You
don't want your shoulders forced back: that
throws your chin and hollows your chest
Direct your attention to the upper front of the
chest. and to the carriage of the head and neck:
then the shoulders Will take care of themselves.
Think how you would hold your head If you were
balancing weight the top of II. No; not like
that! Don't draw your chin in forcibly, with
bridng movement. That gives double chin and
a disagreeable expression of face
What has It to do with the expression of face?
Aren't you carrying the matter too 90, far? I'm
S demr friend sad the thin smiling
II am responsible myself fGr al my Ideas IN ne
/ find that the carriage of the head and body mas
tractiveness of the person. but that it largely af
fects the expression of the face and is not without
full woman with bowed shoulders and head thrust
voice, and it gives impression of certain defects
of disposition I read line once s about tiger
often think of IT when see a woman with her chin
face a Painfully drawn 1t even gives YES caRs
expression to the mouth Hnl and eyes ,a ,r,sa
I'm not as erect as as I u,l should be- said She but
No said her friend you have only allowed
your back strong and straight 1t would have saved
you from your haunting dread of embonpoint
You see IL does everything for the figure it's the
natural remedy for all defects
.'I suppose So but don't think 1t easy you
say. and I'm sceptcal as to the moral sisnih-
canoe"
''It is easy If you begin early. and If you really
care. And l strongly inclined to believe that
an alert carriage reacts the character, pronot-
ing courage Independence and-yes. even good
nature and honesty. AS rule, mean. spitefui. or
insincere people hold themselves badly. OF course
good people do through careessness or through
some congenital deformity-that's different. But II
they can overcome II they should good bearing
gives better tendency. It's like drawing down
your mouth until you actually feel cross. Try II.
I am far from being model of goodness. but
know / should be II I all hunched up
or If Topped my head over. Anyway, should be
worse in appearance"
The stout woman laughed. ,.
'sWelI, I'll grant that" she said. Your straight
figure certainly makes you look younger and pret-
tier and it's worth the trouble for that alone. m
afraid it's too late for straighten my bunchy
shoulders but 1 shall try to impress your lessons
on my girls"