Conventional Dress: Its Evils.

White Ribbon, Volume 7, Issue 77, 1 October 1901, Page 5

Conventional Dress: Its Evils.

At the request ot the Christchurch W.C.T.U. and the Canterbury Women’s Institute, Dr Florence Keller, our interview with whom was published last month, delivered a lecture on the above subject to an enthusiastic audience of men and women on September 24. The Metaphysical Club-room, which was engaged for the lecture, proved, unfortunately, too small to accommodate all who wished to attend, and many were disappointed at not gaining admission. Mrs Wells presided, introducing the lecturer in a happy and appropriate manner. Dr Keller emphasised the necessity for the present and future mothers* of the race having knowledge of their bodies with their beautiful and important functions. She insisted that all clothing which impeded deep breathing and free circulation of the blood and movement of the muscles should be discarded. The lecturer had with her the model of a skeleton bust, by means of which she showed not only the natural movement of the ribs at each inspiration and expiration of the breath, but also the stoppage of this natural movement occasioned by the wearing of corsets. She urged all women, whether old or young, tall or short, stout or thin, to discard the corset, with its injurious steel fastening in front, which pressed on the delicate organs, and the tightened waist, which was not only injurious but most inartistic. The corset, too, destroyed the beautiful curve of the spinal column, which was designed to save the brain

from sudden jars. She urged the study of the Venus Milo as an ideal, and not the abnormal wasp waist of the modern fashion plate. It was worse than foolish to try to improve the human form as moulded by the Creator. Dr Keller had with her a sample bodice, which she called a “ waist,” and winch she recommended as a substitute for the corset. This bodice, the Doctor explained, should be made to fit, but not restrain the wearer. It was cut low at the neck, was sleeveless, and reached three or four inches below the waist. On it there were two rows of buttons, eight in each row, one row at the waist, and the other an inch or two lower for an underskirt, when one is desired. Ihe bodice was fastened in front with buttons and button-holes. Tight shoes and elastic garters, the latter worn either above or below the knee, were also strongly condemned, as were trailing skirts, and even skirts which touched the ground. These, the Doctor said, were distributors and harbourers of microbes, and

were responsible for the spread of disease. A skirt two inches from the ground was recommended as a safe length. The use of the gymnasium was urged, so that every muscle of the body might, by proper exercise, preserve its tone and strength. The Doctor asked how the race could be healthy while women were ignorant or indifferent to these important matters. She then remarked that women were not the only sinners in this direction. Men also made mistakes. They wore patent leather shoes, with pointed toes, which were most unhygienic. They also wore hard, close, ill-ventilated hats, w.iich induced baldness (it was not only married men who were bald), and the high linen collars were responsible for boils, from which seme men

suffered great discomfort. The practice of discarding braces for waist belts was also condemned. The Doctor naively expressed ignorance of the habits of the men of New Zealand, but said that in the States the men wore leathern waist belts, which they were obliged to loosen at dinner time, and gradually tighten as the afternoon wore on. They had aiso contracted the habit of crouching in their chairs whi'e their feet were as high above tht ir heads as it was possible for them to reach. This was neither elegant nor healthy. At the close of the lecture questions w’ere asked and answered, and a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer \\, s carried by acclamination.