FEMININE CHIT-CHAT.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

FEMININE CHIT-CHAT.

Shot-In Society. — I have already given three explanations of tbe objects of this Society, but some people do not seem to understand them. The objects are to bring i little cheerfulness into iuvalids' hves by sending them letters, books, or papers. The invalids aro called " Shut-ins," and those svho help, "Free-helpers." Any "Shutin " can correspond with me, and I will forward their letters to the "Free-helpers," who will correspond with them. It is not i Society for poverty. There are no subscriptions, and no " fuss " committees. Any "Shut-in" writing to "Clio," E.L.C., Evening Post, will be corresponded with. "Truth" — "We regret to say that your jase does not come under the objects of the " Shut-in " Society. " Mrs. J. F." — You will see by the above what the objects of the " Shut-in " Society ire. The Englishwoman's foot has long been 'timed on the Continent as being a good, leeful size, and thin is usually made much j )f in foreign earieatures. It is now an open lecret that foot are growing larger, as one :onsequence of that out-door life led by so nany girls of the period. They are becomug tailor and taller ; and their soles longthen n proportion, and are often broad to match. V tiny slipper, once so raved about in poetry md prose as a positive inspiration when vom by a pretty woman, will come to be egarded as a sort of autudeluvian relio, Lating from a time when feet were almost mused, their owners being stayers indoors, ouugers on sofas, and as averse to aotive exercise as a lap-dog. The heavy tread of lie beetle-crushing boot will be heard in ,he land, and even ultra-fashionables may lave to confess to lives, sixes, or sevens, as heir size. With little hysterical giggles ;hey will profess wonderment at the way iheir foot have really grown since they took ;o walking tours and mountaineering ; and ;hey can soothe one another with the reflection that many more girls have the same ;ale. How long, think you, will the high French heel coutinue in favour, now that Englishwomen are so much on their feet ? [t iB a form of torture, all said "and done, if my thing like a good walk is attempted, that slump under the middle of the sole, just •ight for slanting the foot at.a misery-pro-lucing angle, and crushing the toes into a jorner. Someho.r, I have always disliked ;he thin, very high-heeled slipper, because ;he first Hpeciraen I ever noticed was assosiated, not with pretty Cinderella, but with i monkeyish little woman who wanted to pose as a belle on the strength of her tiny feet, which were almost equal to Chinese libtortions in measurement. Sweet seventeen is, undoubtedly, acharmng age, and the English maiden who has ittained it is just on the threshold of her sonquests. But in some parts of the world precocity turns sweet seventeen into seedy ieventeen, and the female who has attained bat age is looked upon as overblown and iecidedly passde. In Armenia, for instance, ihe has to pay the penalty of the years that pass too rapidly, for if not then married punishment is meted out to her in a somewhat disagreeable form. For three whole lays the young lady is compelled to fast some girls are fast enough at that time of ife), and for the succeeding twenty-four lours she is not permitted to imbibe any iquid, notwithstanding that her diet is, luring that time, confined to the saltest of lalt fish. Oh, ye gods and little bloaters ! low would some of our girls enjoy this ■egimen ? Particularly as it is prescribed it an epoch in their lives when they are as sapable of tossing off a glass of champagne is at any period of their sublunary existence. Surely a Society should at onpe be formed or the Emancipation of Juvenile Armenian - 18868 from such base thraldom.