do not understand their profession—and the whole question is answered.
But, says the Doctor again, they are "useful only to conceal defects and make up deficiencies in appearance." Well, that is something, at all events, considering how many defective people there are in the world. But, pardon us Doctor, that is not the only use they are of. Corsets, properly constructed, not only hide the deficiencies of Nature, but, by giving proper support where it is needed, enable her to correct them, and hence call back the figure to its normal position. This, we take it, is no little thing when so many people are imperfect.
What is said about the unyielding substance, and the whalebone and steel busk, can have no reference to us. We make no such corsets. Our busks are all electro-magnetic, or else protected by a non-conducting substance, and can therefore in no way injure the body—indeed, we never use a substance that is prejudicial to health.
Whilst upon this matter of objections, it may not be amiss to notice one more, originating however from another quarter. The staymakers say, "Oh, she was never brought up to the trade, and what should Madame Caplin know about it?" Now, it is perfectly true that we never served an apprenticeship to the trade; and if we had, the probability is that we should have done as the trade does—make corsets for the body to be fitted to, and not fitted the corset to the body. What we have brought to the trade is simply intelligence; the stitching was quite as good before we begun as it is now.
It may appear strange, that after so long a period since the ordinary corset had been condemned, that no substantial improvement had been made in its construction. But the reason of this evidently is, that the whole affair had been left entirely in the hands of working people—generally females of little or no education—who knew no more
