The Washington times., 1905-03-12
Bv MARIAN MARTINEAU.
~ OUR gown, my lady, gaps one
IL :.

TX OUR gown, my iadg' sap" 'Ai
inch in the back.
This sensational announce
ment was made to an Amer
lean woman OF title Just as she was be
ing hooked into her court presentation
gown for a dress rehearsal.
The titled American woman gasped
The maid tugged in vain.
1T gaps one inch in the back, my
lady. And though 1 have done my best,
hooks and eyes will stand no more. The
gown will burst open.
a stif1ed sob stopped further eXplana-
tion. The titled American woman,
pulled to the limit. until string and stay
would stand no more, had tainted. And
the story goes on to say that the dress
rehearsal was stopped while from vart
Gus parts OF London, We're summoned
physical culture experts to determine
what should be done. The gown which
was to be worn at the Queens drawing
room and which cost a thousand pounds
sterling would not meet in the belt!
These points were settled upon:
First, that the gown must be made to
tit.
Second, that my ladys waist must be
reduced until it met the gown more
than half way
Third. that my 1ady's neck must also
be reduced. Lacing would do the work
partly. But it would not do it all.
Fourth. that actual reduction Of flesh
to use plain language for it-must
take place. My lady must reduce her
waist or have new gown made She
was getting fat-actually fat. And the
story of how she worked is an interest
ing one.
1T was a brilliant American woman
abroad who for years put off the knowi-
edge that she had grown stout Every
effort was made to keep her from know
ing the truth Your gown seems lit
tie snug the modistes would say, as
they ripped the stea1ns and let Out
bands and cores Your figure is
charming. madame they would re-
mark, but the dress Is little toe
tight Perhaps we can remedy it with
out much trouble And then the gown
would be taken away and new sleeves
put in ana sometimes a whole new bod
ice made. The lady was growing stout
at the rate of ten good solid pounds o.
flesh month.
When finally the truth was made
known to her she was Mortified. why
did you not warn me before2" she de
manded angrily Of her mOdiste. You
tell me you have let out my waist
Janus, d ALlt0 at Nl1i9fJ until diA
three whole inches larger around tbs
waist. And now 1t will he the work o.
heroisn to reGuce.'
That this won't was never equal &
the work of heroism is shown by tn
fact that she is very stout 10 this day
She is one Of the very fat women of tn
American set in London, and, though
she wears elegant clothes, and is jew
eIed and neckIaced and bracleted ant
corsaged with gems, she is stout, stout
stout. There Is 10 other word for it.
''She could reduce but she will not.
D1oaned her gymnasium teacher. ''WheI
1 think I have reduced her a little sh
drinks a cup OF chocolate. cats bon
bons and. maybe, lies in bed and read.
novels. One day she went cross-countr.
walking and the next day she lay in bed
read, drank Ice water, ana ate candy
IT Is impossible to restrain her"
A New York woman who came hom
from the mountains last summer, will
teo much fat around the belt line, diete
Of her superfiuous flesh in three months
She worked hard and got back to wher
she was three years ago. And 1t wa
worth while. She is so much improves
in appearance.