Evening journal., 1921-08-19
ARE CORSETS
MORALITY AID?
Interesting Angle to Discus
sion of Easy Morals of
Young People
THINK PARENTS
CAN CURE EVIL

CHICAGO-In connection with
the controversy raging in social,
educational and religious circles
anent the present laxity OF manners
and morals among the younger gem
Grafton. a corset manufacturing con-
cern comes forward with the novel
claim that corset-wearing is, posi-
tive force for morality as we'll as
health.
Wherever you go. in these days
Of a free-and-easy social atmos-
phere," says Mrs. Ariel Nichols Le-
May. advertising manager for a ma
tional firm Of corset-makers. you
find the present corsetless fad a fav-
orite target of punsters and purvey-
ors OF off-tint anecdote. The Old
Ironsides' and with or without
stories-iapes by which some OF the
broadest OF us were shocked a few
months ago-have had so many wild
successors that any would-be daring
jokester who quoted the original
quip would doubtless let himself in
for derisive banter as one hopelessly
behind the times.
The dance evil has assumed the
proportions Of a national problem.
with It are associated questions Of
| immodest dress and conduct. In
high schools. colleges and universi-
ties, in the pulpit and in daily and
religious papers from one end Of
the country to the other, educators,
preachers and editors are thunder
! ing against modern dress and dane
ing. In New York, 1 am told, there
is a group OF churchwomen OF all
denominations, women Of high social
position, who have organized to COM
bat the breakdown OF moral stand
ards manifested particularly in fash
ions involving an excess OF nudity
and improper ways OF dancing One
Of our newest and most exclusive
Chicago hotels has taken a definite
stand against the prevailing fashion
and has posted signs in its cloak
rooms reading, Positively no corsets
checked"
Mrs. LeMay mentioned a widely
{ read Baptist publication which de-
. clared In a recent editorials:
The most direct and speedy cure
foe this dress evil lies in the hands
Of parents who possess the rare and
highly priced ability OF keeping their
children free from fatal fads. This
ability is usually developed by be-
, ginning early. by being positive and
, at the same time sympathetic with
the children"
As timely publicity on the value oi
, corsets to health and the preserva.
! tion OF a youthful carriage, another
prominent corset company Is circu
lating a short motion picture film
produced by the industrial division
/ Of the Society for Visual Education
n which is so designed that It is fre
from any suggestion OF direct adver
a tising so developed as to be entlrel
suitable for showing to mixed audi
a ences in movie theaters.
A young girl is shown dressing 10
a dance. She hestates at first
I gazes approvingly at her slende
! self, and then decides not to wea.
her corset. As she completes he
toilet. her mother enters-a graceful
. well-preserved woman in the earl!
forties. During the chat that fol
; lows the mother mentions her deb
TO correct corsetry for the protec
tion Of her health and beauty. Az
ter she leaves. daughter considers
J Staring into the mirror, she visua
, lizes herself many years hence. he
neglected figure badly poised, he
whole bearing giving the sugges
ton OF ill-health. This REFLECTION
c gives place to another image of tn
e same woman. at the same age AM
i, in the same frock. but now radiat
ing the charm of health and vitality
This picture too fades, and tn
- young girl is again seen seated be
y fore her glass, reaching thought
It fully for her corset.
In support OF the good-healtl
n argument for wearing OF corset'
it said Mrs. LeMay, there is the stron
r, testimony OF physicians Of hig
!. standing in the profession.