The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-19
THE FEMININE BACK

Sioux City Journal - The Cedar
Rapids Republican, which gives some
heed to changing feminine fashions,
comments severely upon the display
of bare backs permitted by the pre-
vailing styles. The Journal is unable
to deny that very liberal view OF
the back unadorned is allowed by the
fashionable gown of the moment. The
feminine back, indeed, to say nothing
of other exposures, is obtruded upon
the view of even those males who are
not particularly interested in the
study Of feminine anatomy in such
manner as to be unavoidable lnfs-
lGuch as women have undertaken to
expose their backs so frankly, the
natural supposition is that they eX-
pect or desire men TO inspect them.
The Journal is bound to say, after an
inspection Of such backs as have come
within the range Of its vision, that 1t
agrees with its Cedar Rapids contem-
porary in the conclusion that there is
not great deal in the display of the
bare backs of women alluring to the
male eye We have revealed to us,
as the Republican points out, backs
OF all kinds, and many of them are
hardly worth a passing glance There
are fat backs, skinny backs, bony
| backs, wrinkled backs, freckled backs,
muscled backs, and some other kinds.
| Occasionally one sees lovely back.
But even liberal applications of rice
powder fail to conceal the defects
! which are SO apparent in those which
are unlovely.
The Cedar Rapids paper asserts
that women misjudge men if they i'm
agine that men care for such exhibit
| tions of bare flesh, and The Journal
suspects that this is true. Beyond a
certain limit, exposure of the flesh is
| likely to become indecent and sugges-
tive and to repel rather than to al
lure. The masculine mind never
ceases to wonder why women choose
| to make such generous exposure OF
| their person in public places. The
dress of today seems made more to
reveal than to conceal. The mania for
exposure seems to possess the femi-
nine mind of all ages, young girls in
their teens and mature women alike.
How sorry men feel particularly for
| little girls who so frankly display
their immature charms, skinny arms,
bony shoulders and undeveloped busts
to the public gaze, only the men
themselves can tell. Sometimes they
feel as If they would like to send
these children home to their mothers,
to be spanked and properly clothed.
But, after all, the youngsters are only
following the example set by their
elders and their gowns with the backs
cut out.
The Cedar Rapids paper asserts
harshly that the women who make
these frank exposures of their flesh
In public lack brains as we'll as mod
esty. The Journal is not so sure
about that. 1t is not convinced that
that is the solution of the riddle. The
Journal has known some undoubtedly
brainy and modest women who were
close followers of the prevailing fash
ions, even the extreme fashions. The
Journal is not going to attempt TO
solve the riddle, confessing that any
solution Of the riddle of femininity
is quite beyond it. When women COW
er their ears and uncover their backs
when they wear furs in summer and
silk stockings and pumps in mid-win'
ter, and are given to numerous other
like inconsistencies. is it not hopeless
to attempt to explain them?