Page:Caplin - Health and Beauty1864 - 071.png

The construction of the clothing, however, always a matter of the highest importance in every period of life, is more especially so during the time of its growth, and just before the body reaches maturity. Economy dictates the wearing of the clothes so long as they look well, and if they should become too small for the elder, that they should be passed on to the second and third, if need be, until they are worn out. The only objection to this is, that they may be said never to fit. It is true that our idea of the fitting or adaptation of clothes differs very much from that which is ordinarily pre­valent. With us it is necessary that they should not only look well, but they should also be well suited to the requirements of the wearer. Now, it is generally known that when the body ceases to grow, the bones become fixed, and it is conse­quently more difficult to correct any deviation, or restore the figure to its normal state, after this period. It naturally follows, therefore, that the period of growth being that in which the body is more yielding, it is at that time more subject to deformity than at a later period of life. We must therefore insist, that at this time there must be no cutting with strings or garters; no compression of the centre of the body by badly constructed