WAIST BELTS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3641, 14 March 1883, Page 4

WAIST BELTS.

One of the fallacies concerning the dress of men is that braces are objectionable encumbrances, and that fastening the trousers, by a tight band at the waist is an advantage to be preferred. In isolated cases of tho kind it is very difficidt to arrive at conclusive evidence, and where there are no means of learning from tho experiences of a considerable number of men every form of minor mischief of the kind is liable to be indulged in, merely as a freak of fancy. It is, therefore, one of the advantages of armies that valuable collective evidence can be obtained from them concerning the probable elt'eet of any physical condition upon the average man, and we are fortunate in having such evidence with reference to the wearing of braces versus belts. The soldiers of Austria were accustomed to retain their troupers upon the hips by means of a leather strap. Disease of the kidneys increased so alarmingly among them that especial attention was drawn to the subject, and it was decided that the closely buckled band about the loins was the cause of the evil. A decree then went forth making the adoption of braces imperative. Of course these soldiers were under the impression, as many men are, that it is more manly to go without braces. There are some occupations during which it may be better to have the soldiers totally free of such restraints, and when the waist may be fairly charged with the additional burden; but the experience of the Austrian army and other observations prove that the habitual wearing of a tight band at the waist is worse than the pressure of braces upon the shoulders. With those who think otherwise, and who have no moro patience than a baby, and therefore will not try the difference, it is merely a matter of habit,