Dear Sir,–I have been deeply interested in the correspondence which has been going on for some time in your interesting paper regarding tight-lacing and the wearing of high heels.
As a student of anatomy and physiology and an ambulance man of many years’ standing, may I be allowed a little of your valuable space in which to add my views to those already expressed?
Experience shows that scientists’ opinions are purely theory, and are not borne out by the facts. There is no limit to the extent to which tight-lacing can be indulged in, provided it is done properly and commenced at a sufficiently early age, although some women are more adaptable than others. Tight-lacing has been known from ancient times. Drawings found in the relics of ancient Egyptian civilisation depict the wasp-waist 3,000 years ago, and the fashion can be traced all through history to the present time Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots both being reputed to have had a 16in. waist.
Nature, as is well known, will accommodate herself to any conditions provided that they are not imposed too suddenly, and the stress of present-day life makes both tight corsets and high heels an absolute necessity to the modern woman; the strain is too great without them. The two go together. High heels give the body the correct poise and take up the shock occasioned by walking on hard paved streets, thus avoiding the painful malady, flat foot; and corsets give the body the tight, binding support necessary to withstand the strain of modern life.
In the whole of my life as an ambulance man extending over 20 years, during which I have been in close touch with many doctors and nurses, I have never known a single case of injury caused by tight-lacing, if carried out with reasonable care. On the contrary, I have known of many cases in which the health of the wearer has been very materially improved by quite severe tight-lacing.
Regarding the more practical side of the subject, it is delightful to hear such free and open expression of opinions and experiences. Small waists and hips are still fashionable, whatever the immediate dictates of fashion may be, and from my own experience I can say, without fear of contradiction, that men admire small waists as much to-day as ever they did. One has only to listen to the remarks passed by men to appreciate this. They do not admire the “modern” girl, with her flat heels, sloppy figure and off-hand manner. They may make a pal of her for the time being, but at heart they hold her in contempt. Men still do, and always will, admire a well-corsetted figure for its neatness and trimness.
There is nothing more attractive than a small waist and hips and, although partially superseded for the moment, they will come back again in due time. I would strongly advise “Happy Though Married” to insist upon her daughter submitting to a course of strict tight-lacing of waist and hips without delay. This fashion is bound to return before many years, and it will then, in all probability be too late for her to train her figure successfully without going through undue restrictions.
Tight-lacing, to be successful, must be constant. Training must be unremitting, day and night, to achieve the best results with the minimum of discomfort. The day corsets should be of non-yielding material, strongly boned and the sleeping corsets of strong elastic web, to allow a little expansion when lying down.
I quite agree with “Tight-Lacer” that corsets should be worn from the age of about eight years, and tight-lacing commence at the age of ten years and proceed gradually up to 18 years of age, if necessary, by which time the figure should be trained to the desired measurements.
The letter of “Mandelay,” regarding the young lady whom “Tight-Lacer” mentioned, was, I think, vulgar, and should be disregarded. At the same time, it would be very interesting if “Tight-Lacer” could give us any further information regarding this young lady, to refute “Mandelay’s” remarks. Better still, could “Tight-Lacer” get the young lady to relate her own experiences!
One interesting point I would like information on is, what is the smallest waist ever known? A 12in. waist is the smallest I have ever known, but it would be interesting to hear your other correspondents’ views on this.
In conclusion, I will only say that, if I marry, as I hope, I should choose only a girl who is the strictest of tight-lacers and a devotee of very high heels.
Apologising for encroaching upon your space; and wishing your delightful paper every success.