Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-09-24

cries weave in and out. arms rise and
fall. 1.-THE bodies pose and change and
pose. in attitudes learned carefully be-
forehand.
They copy attitudes from Grecian
urns with pain and hesitation. Why
not? So the piano player finds her
way. awkward and halting: only little
by little does practice make those
hard notes fall like showers OF pearls.
So the graces OF these earnest girls.
at first stiff copies. became natural
and free, poetry OF attitude and ges-
ture all their own.
When they quit their classical drap-
cries for tailor suits they take their
graces with them into daily life.
These solemn rituals become habit.
give them-in our careless daily life
touch OF gravity and dignity that
surprises and delights young men. So
they would have their girls.
The classical draperies are of i'm
portance TO impose graceful habits on
our bodies" said one girl. And these
ideals are in the air. Fashion itself is
coming round to them"
Really" asked. Has fashion the
slightest tendency to corset reform?"
l was astonished by her answer.
Remember, these girls are girls OF
fashion: and fashion has always
laughed At corset reform. Corset re-
form is In the air of Europe. yes: but
when ! wrote n few months ago that
the Roumanian minister OF public in.
struction had prohibited the corset In
the highest normal and professional
schools as "a permanent obstacle to
the development OF the body and the
normal functions OF the organs"
felt. nevertheless. that I was misiead-
ing the reader.
What does Rouman!a count? What
does It count that the Bulgarian tsar
eanishes the corset from all schools
where girls remain up TO the age
OF l1?"
What does IL count that all students
Of Russian lyceums and high schools
Of music. ballet and beaux arts are or
dered TO deposit in the cloakroom the
cuirass which they wear under the
name Of corset" and that the Gar
Nicholas. in signing the regulation,
added in his own hand that the de-
vclOpment Of feminine charms will be
the gainer?" II counts nothing that
in Scandinavian countries the mass of
girls have voluntarily abandoned the
corset through devotion TO outdoor
sports"
These are questionable lands.
where the costume of women matters
nothing. Even in Paris the otherwise
powerful League OF Mothers Of Fami-
lies got Itself laughed at by taking
up corset reform six months ago. Its
52-page brochure. illustrated by pho
tographs OF paintings and statues. an
atomical cuts and portraits OF floating
kidneys was reviewed ironically by
the boulevard press. Its letters OF en-
couragement from 100 Paris physi-
clans. 100 painters. sculptors and poets
and 100 actresses and professional
beauties. beginning with Sarah and
Reiane, fell fiat.
The great Paris dressmakers merely
smiled. when asked about those 100
actresses. they laughed: Sarah Bern
, hardt is still bony: but Rejane7 She
hbs-a woman Of that eorpulence
without a corset-f!"
Then suddenly they began hedging.
Yes. concessions might be made to
the demands OF suppleness and grace:
the tendency toward more classical
garments might suggest a kind OF coz
set reform.
The fashionable girls of whom I
speak understand this perfectly.
The great dressmakers and the
corsetmakers themselves can alone
make the reform general" they admit.
And the grace movement is forcing
them"
The grace movement! Do you smile
at IL? Do you see anything futile in
earnest girls copying the poses and
gestures from Grecian urns?
I'VE pay great prices for TanaSra
| hgurines and l ask why." one of the
girls said. why do We so admire
them. II not for their grace alone,
Their beauty of face and figure is nil.
Their beauty OF attitude and gesture
is everything. II is within the reach
Of US all. Why not try for III"
STERfTSG