The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-03
UNIVERSITY OF CORSETS"
A Glimpse Within Its Walls
Bridgeport Can Boast of Model Institution Which Is At
tracing Much Attention From The Industrial World
Object OF Founder Thomas


Out on Barnum avenue just beyond
the slope of Hospital Hill where it
gradually recedes is a handsome white
monolithic structure which rears It's
walls from amidst a copse of ancient
oak trees. At it's base there spreads
green carpet of lawn and extending
far towards the hillside in the rear,
newly planted trees walks, flower
beds, driveways and little summer
houses give the ensemble a, pictures
queness which is only riva1led in the
curiosity of the beho1der by its many
windows, wide brass rallied approach
and the inscription which surm cunts
the building: University of Corsets."
At first sight the edifice which has
been nicknamed by regular passers-
by THE Building of a Thousand VIM
dows,'' seems to resemble much an art
museum or other public institution,
and little would one think with its
beautiful display of park and ap-
proach, that housed within was indus
try.
Probably unique in its conception
and operation and though seemingly
an anomaly in the accepted social and
Industrial scale of today, the effect
which is produced by it's exterior is
consistently carried out within. This
building is rather an institution than
a factory, for the University of Cor
SETS is none other than the Birdsey
Somers Company, makers of corsets,
established in 1867 and long an i'm
portant factor in the commercial pro-
gress of Bridgeport.
Where idealism and naterialism
meet in the great realm of labor and
capital there will the Elysiun be
found for labor, and that this long
sought aim has been fairly accom-
plished becomes patent to anyone who
cares to venture within the massive
glass portals of the University of
Corsets'' and be conducted about the
building by it's originator and prime
mover Thomas F. Somers, Of New
York city.
Inbued with broad commercial and !
social ideas, plans to ameliorate the |
conditions of the so-calIed Iaboring
classes have long been entertained by1
the present head of the corset com |
pany. 1t has been his belief sfor years
that an unjustidab1e stigma has been
worker Every individual line of |
effort which PRODUCES something for
the public benefit is entitled to the
same degree Of attention from the |
world said. Mr.. Somers. 1T makes
no difference whether a college stu |
dent is destined for eventual occupa-
ton at law or as q mechanical en-
gineer, or whether by technical fac
tory knowledge another designs a
hygienica1ly perfect corset which is a
boon to mankind, the public benefit
is the same. Both are students. Yet
the factory worker has long been I'M
der a. stigma. In this building there
are to my belief no factory workers
Each is a student and is being edu-
Gated in the work the same my
own sons in college. That is the rea-
son we call this a University of Cor
SETS
And throughout that beautiful
building have the same ideal features
which were expressed in sentiment by
the company's head been carried out
in detail, looking always towards per-
sonal comfort, sanitation and hygiene.
Under the direction of eminent archi
tects, physicians and neurologists,
who planned with view towards
ventilation, light, heat, sanitation and
hygienic conditions the interior has sol
been constructed that under what are
ordinarily considered nerve wraeking,
facilitating work, the health of an
employee is slowly enhanced rather
than undermined,
That this may more readily be
grasped by the reader it may be stat
ed, it has long been known to scien-
lists that dust carried germs of tuber-
culosis. Mechanical arrangements are
such that dust is collected and not
permitted freedom. Likewise germs
are killed by light. The window ar
IS so planned that no dark
spots are possible in any rooms and
IS an aid towards increasing the diff
fusion of light even the corset racks
and equipment are white enamel1ed.
Light, fresh air and freedom from
noise is said to reduce nervous tend
encies. These have all been supplied,
and it is the claim of the manage
nent that rather than being constant
Y decreased in efficiency the longer