File:TheFamilyDoctorJan12 1889page311.png

Summary edit

311

CORRESPONDENCE.

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TIGHT LACING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR,--I cannot resist the temptation of answering "Very Young, Very Vain's" letter, as there are very many girls like her, and must give her my experience. When I was about sixteen I was like a pork butcher's daughter, with a face like the rising sun, and about the size and shape of a good large plum pudding, with two eyes that worked sideways, like a wax doll's.

Many persons admired and envied my healthy and rosy complexion, but woman never is but waiting to be blessed, so I was not satisfied. One fine morning I found myself in a very topsey-turvey condition. My means, which were before ample, suddenly took to themselves wings, so that I had to give up all thoughts of a small waist and fair complexion. How to get a living and the troubles and worry of life, soon gave me a gaunt appearance and a whitewashed look generally.

Nothing to do is a great calamity and a curse. The worst part of the business is some poor, hard-working man has to pay heavy doctor's bills to get the spine straight again and in trying to get up fat, together with health and colour. Meanwhile, the poor wretch of a husband kills hin1self with grief to see the wife of his bosom drooping and dying before his eyes, and through no fault of his; but pride and vanity on her part. Oh, reform it altogether; and let your fools play no more than is set down for them by their elder brothers, and when they die, as die they must, with a crooked spine, the following should be written on their gravestones :--

"Here lies a female born to be a fool,

Although her parents sent her to a school;

Her cursèd vanity twisted up her spine, Which threw her in a galloping decline."

It is to be hoped, Mr. Editor, that no more ink will be wasted over this insane craze.- Yours very respectfully, COMMON SENSE.

TIGHT LACING AND HIGH HEELS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR,--Many of your correspondents on this subject seem to me to suffer pain and inconvenience from this practice merely because they either make too sudden a reduction in the size of their waist, or else carry it to such all extreme that it is bound to cause some injury. My wife five years ago began to lace herself, but not more than an inch per month. She is now sixteen inches, and has remained at that size ever since, notwithstanding that she has often been inclined to reduce herself still sma11er, just for the delightful sensation caused by being tightened an inch smaller than usual. While she was undergoing the reduction, her practice was to sleep in stays an inch sn1aller than she wore during the day. Consequently, when they were let out in the morning they were, comparatively speaking, loose. If those who lace would follow this example, I firmly believe that tight lacing could be indulged in by any healthy girl without pain, and with a deal of pleasure. She has worn high heels (which the Rational Dress party also abuse) for eight or nine years--her walking boots with 2½-inch heels and her dancing shoes with 3-Inch. Notwithstanding, even when laced into a 16-inch corset, and wearing 3-inch heels, she is able to walk for twelve miles without being unduly tired. She is the mother of two children, and is in a perfect state of health, and says on no account would she forego the pleasure of wearing her tight stays and high heels. -Yours sincerely, ALFRED CLARKE.

East Dulwich, Dec. 18, 1888.

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1. to "Very Young, Very Vain"; from Commen Sense.

2. from Alfred Clarke