ne. It consists of straight, stiff
fibers like bristles bound together into a cord by being wound with
two strands of thread passing in opposite directions. This produces an
elastic fiber intermediate in stiffness between twine and whalebone.
It cannot break, but it possesses all the stiffness and flexibility
necessary to hold the corset in shape and prevent its wrinkling.

We congratulate the ladies of to-day upon the advantages they enjoy
over their sisters of two centuries ago, in the forms and the graceful
and easy curves of the corsets now made as compared with those of
former times.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Forms of Corsets in the time of Elizabeth of England.]

[Illustration: EGYPTIAN CORSET.]

* * * * *

TIGHT-LACING.

It destroys natural beauty and creates an unpleasant and irritable
temper. A tight-laced chest and a good disposition cannot go
together. The human form has been molded by nature, the best shape is
undoubtedly that which she has given it. To endeavor to render it more
elegant by artificial means is to change it; to make it much smaller
below and much larger above is to destroy its beauty; to keep it cased
up in a kind of domestic cuirass is not only to deform it, but to
expose the internal parts to serious injury. Under such compression as
is commonly practiced by ladies, the development of the bones, which
are still tender, does not take place conformably to the intention
of nature, because nutrition is necessarily stopped, and they
consequently become twisted and deformed.

[Illustration: THE NATURAL WAIST. THE EFFECTS OF LACING.]

Those who wear these appliances of tight-lacing often complain that
they cannot sit upright without them--are sometimes, indeed, compelled
to wear them during all the twenty-four hours; a fact which proves to
what extent such articles weaken the muscles of the trunk. The injury
does not fall merely on the internal structure of the body, but also
on its beauty, and on the temper and feelings with which that beauty
is associated. Beauty is in reality but another name for expression
of countenance, which is the index of sound health, intelligence,
good feelings and peace of mind. All are aware that uneasy feelings,
existing habitually in the breast, speedily exhibit their signature
on the countenance, and that bitter thoughts or a bad temper spoil the
human expression of its comeliness and grace.

[Illustration: NATU