Page:Caplin - Health and Beauty1864 - 090.png

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Health and Beauty.

of Nature, and we all know that no one can violate her canon with impunity.

The true object of corsets ought to be to support the bones as they increase in size and weight, without obstructing the due development of the muscles by which they are moved. The artist in corsets will therefore anticipate every requirement through life, and adapt her contrivances to the ever-varying wants of the body.

Against tight lacing we, in common with all who have paid attention to the subject, earnestly protest. By a perseverance in this habit the health is injured and the symmetry of the figure entirely destroyed. The stays in ordinary use are ill constructed, and cannot be effectual in the promotion of the objects for which they are professedly designed, whether tightly laced or not. Let us suppose a young lady who has been in the habit of stooping, suddenly made aware of the injury to her general health occasioned by this practice, going to one of the numerous staymakers with which London abounds, in hopes that she may be able to purchase what will restore her to the erect position. Most of our readers are aware that this will be attempted by a strong steel, whalebone, or wooden busk passed down the front of the corset; that the stays will