Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-26
Government Shape
The Latest hing

THE feminine shape, strange as 1t may
seem. has been the subject Of a
ruling by the civil service commits
sion. What Is being called "the government
figure" has been created for women en-
ployes Of the bureau Of engraving and
printing and failure Will betide the lady
who tries to secure employment in that bu-
reau and who has not the proper dimen-
sions of hips. bust etc. The requirements
have been made at the request Of the off,
GERS of the bureau. and there are persons
who declare that these men have mighty
good taste when 1t comes to lady's shape;
for the type Of figure indicated is that
which inspired Tennyson to sing:
"A A, daughter ,osi Of the gods. divinely tail.
1t has been rumored that the applications
and printing from men have been q great
deal more numerous since this edict has
gone forth, and certainly there can be but
one reason! The rule will bring to the bu-
reau no dumpy, wide and ungraceful
daughters Of Mother Eve. The civil service
commission will see to that. No matter
how high percentage such lady may
make in her mental examination or how
amiable or witty she may be, unless her
figure Is right she will be told to abandon
all hope of entering there.
Every woman in the land, of course, is
eager to learn exactly what these dmen-
sire to know the latest styles in the govern
ment fashion plate. They are not satisfied
to know that the measurements of the per-
feet artists model are height, feet 8
inches; weight, 1874 pounds; bust, SO inches;
waist, % inches; hips, 43 inches, and back.
161a inches. They want to know what Un-
Gle Sam has to say on the subject.
Well. Uncle Sam is somewhat cratic in
his statement Of his preferences. He says
first for the women employees Of the bureau
Of engraving and printing:
LET them be not under four feet ten and
one-half inches high In their stocking feet"
So far, all right; but the next dimension
lie not given in the usual manner. He de-
clares that the width Of their hips must not
be more than sixteen inches. Under that he
is not particular. The next measurement
is the depth Of bust, which must not ex-
coed thirteen and one-half inches.
These figures, of course, are outside linn
it's The lady that would suit best of all
and who would be secured in every in
stance. If possible, will be nice and tall and
graceful. If she can do the Grecian bend.
SO much the better. Also, she must be
strong and well-in other words, normal
woman in every respect.
The reason for these requirements in this
particular bureau? Well, it is very easy,
The ladies are employed as assistants to
the plate printers. They feed paper to the
plate-printing presses where money is
made. These presses are high and the
lady must be tall who reaches the sheets
skillfully. She also must be well and
strong and have good nerves, because
slip costs money. She must be able to
stoop quickly to deposit the notes beside the
press
Then, too, space in the bureau is very
limited and the presses are placed very
close together. Therefore, the require
ments as to width of hips and depth of
bust. Some ladies who have gone to work
there have been unable to get around
quickly enough and do their work properly.
What could be more simple?