EFFIE MARGETSON SAYS – “As one of your correspondents recommends the waistbands in lien of corsets, I have, during the last three weeks, made a trial of them, and shall be glad if you will allow me to express my opinion that they are not only disadvantageous but positively dangerous to the figure. Your correspondent says that ordinary corsets, if drawn in well at the waist, hurt a woman cruelly all the way up. I can only say that if she finds such to be the case, the remedy is in her own hands. If ladies would only take the trouble of having their stays made to measure for them, and have plenty of room allowed round the chest, not only would the waist look smaller, but no discomfort would be felt such as H.W. describes. Young girls should always be accurately fitted; but it is, I have found a mistake to have their corsets too flimsy or elastic. I quite agree that they should be commenced early – indeed they usually are so – and thus extreme compression being unnecessary, the instances brought forward by the lady who commenced the discussion and by NORA, must I think, be looked upon as exceptional cases.”