Mark this: that part of the body around which we place corset and bands has no bony structure for its protection. This very pliability renders it possible for one unconsciously yet easily to produce a deformity in a few weeks.
Who can begin to prophesy the untold and manifold sufferings for which a factory full of corsets must be responsible? And where is the end? If the wearer only had to pay the penalty with pain and weakness, we might hold our peace.
What is the effect upon the child? One-half of the children born in this country die before they are five years of age. Who can tell how much this state of things is due to the enervation of maternal life forces by this one instrument of torture?
I am a temperance woman. No one can realize more than I the devastation and ruin alcohol in its many tempting forms has brought to the human family. Still I solemnly believe that in weakness and deterioration of health, the corset has more to answer for than intoxicating drinks.
What affects the physical affects the spiritual; what affects the animal life affects the mental. Given a physical body dwarfed and deteriorated in any respect, and a corresponding deficiency in spiritual, intellectual and moral worth is likely to exist. Look at our men and women who have been grand and successful in achievement, noble in purpose, and vigorous in intellect. With few exceptions they are men and women of harmonious, strong, athletic physiques. Women cannot possibly attain to this condition under the restricting influence of boned and steeled garments.
“What possible harm can a corset do if worn loose?” My friend, put a band quilted full of cords and bones upon the arm of your active boy, whose athletic feats are your pride; let him wear it ever so loosely, and witness the deteriorating effect upon his biceps and triceps muscles! Put a similar bandage upon your pet cat or dog, just as loosely as can be retained, and watch the result upon respiration, digestion and circulation! Mark my word, in less than a month it will take more than pepsin to make the food of that animal digest, or magnetic insoles to keep its feet warm.
At the close of one of my medical conversations a bright, intelligent young married woman took me aside and asked me very confidentially how far advanced a woman should be in pregnancy before she laid aside the corset. I had for several days repeated and reiterated in strongest terms my convictions that it was always to be deprecated and never tolerated. Consequently I was greatly astonished at the question. I replied: “Is it possible that with all these illustrations and with all this strong language I have not made myself plain? Have I talked in vain?” Then loud enough for the group standing about to hear, I said, “The corset should not be worn for two hundred years before pregnancy takes place. Ladies, it will take that time at least to overcome the ill effects of this garment which you think so essential!”
Abandoning the corset entirely and adopting a physiological dress, aside from lessening suffering in pregnancy, goes very far toward alleviating, yes, even curing many of the diseases peculiar to women. Once a woman begins to think outside of Fashion’s dictum, she fully thinks herself out of the bars of dress. Once free, her road to recovery is made clear. With other common sense rules of living, health becomes restored and precious life saved.
In an Iowa college, the professor of natural history, a petite lady, became very enthusiastic upon examining some dress reform goods, and gave quite a lecture to the students upon their advantages. She said that in her school days and first years of teaching she could not walk over three blocks without fatigue and actual pain. When her day’s work was done she was compelled to lie down, being unable to see friends or do extra work. Four years previously, however, she had adopted “common sense” shoes, the reform underwear, also a skirt supported by a waist, and the dress itself made loose and light, as well as short enough to clear the mud in walking. By this change in her habits she had become able to walk miles in her search for specimens, and knew nothing of weariness or the necessity of rest, save the regular hours of sleep. This is not an exaggerated case, and thousands of delicate, tired, useless girls can become strong and useful if they will “go and do likewise.”
Prof. N. H. Flower closes his admirable work upon “Fashion in Deformity” with these valuable thoughts: “The true form of the human body is familiar to us from classic models. It is, however, quite possible that some of us may think the present fashionable shape the more beautiful of the two. In that case it would be well to consider whether we are sure our judgment is sound on this subject. Let us remember that to the Australian, the nose-peg is an admired ornament; that to the Thlinkeet, the Botocudos and Congo negro, the lip dragged down by a heavy plug, and the ears distended by huge disks of wood, are things of beauty; that the Malay prefers teeth that are black. Let us carefully ask ourselves whether we are sure that in leaving nature as a standard of the beautiful, and adopting a purely conventional one, we are not falling into an error exactly similar to that of all these people whose tastes we are so ready to condemn. The fact is, that in admiring such distorted forms as the constricted waist and pointed foot, we are opposing our judgment to the Maker of our bodies, we are neglecting the criterion offered by nature; we are simply putting ourselves on the level in point of taste with those Australians, Botocudos, and negroes. We are taking fashion, and nothing better, higher or truer for our guide, and may we not well ask with Shakespeare: “Seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is?”