Dear Sir,–May I be allowed to express my appreciation of the sensible letter you published form “Stout but Happy”? You render a useful service – in my humble opinion – by publishing correspondence which proves the evils of tight corsets, as apparently there are readers of “London Life” who still indulge in the practice.
Fashion demanded a small waist in my young days, and girls were goaded by their mothers into lacing in much tighter than they should have done, with the result that pale faces, poor appetites and bad health generally were prevalent.
“Stout But Happy” did not err in her assertion to be laced until one fainted was considered very fashionable. Young and sensitive girls were quick to notice any of their veiled sneers of mothers or sisters on their figures, and naturally, when mother, with her superior knowledge, remarked that “real” young ladies often were tightly laced until they fainted, her daughter fully believed her, and ignored her indifferent health as she constantly swooned from stay constriction.
Silly as it is, I recollect that on numerous occasions, when a friend called for me and stayed in my room while mother dressed me, I would remark, in a superior voice, when, as a fact, I was on the point of fainting so tightly was I squeezed in.
It was a great crime to show any sign of distress when being laced, and I have known mother carry on an animated conversation with a friend while her waist was being cruelly pinched in.
To prepare for a party of theatre took hours, and I have seen mother faint three times, in spite of smelling salts, as her waist was forced much smaller than usual while I myself have had to be brought home on many occasions from dances, theatres and parties owing to my unbearable stays.
Figure training was a positive fetish, and the only consolation one had was the knowledge that all one’s friends were “enjoying” similar agony. Every half-inch reduction was hailed with glee by one’s mother and I well remember how annoyed mother was on one occasion, when my friend succeeded in lacing in one inch smaller than I could. I myself was envious and begged mother to lace me in smaller stays.
In due course I equalled my friend’s measurement at the cost of many swoons and so the contest went on.
I do hope other experienced readers will give their views on this fascinating topic, and I thank you, sir for providing such an interesting correspondence page.
Yours truly,
MARGARET