THE TEMPERATURE OF THE GLOBE
[Illustration]
In spite of incessant and violent exercise, the Giddy Globe (as we have
remarked before) is unable to keep comfortably warm all over.
Her Temperature varies from intense cold at her upper and lower
extremities to fever heat in the region of her equatorial diaphragm.
Ancient Geographers indicated these variations of temperature by means
of _Zones_.
The Term Zone is derived from the Greek word [Greek: zone] a Belt or
Girdle, and a Girdle in the days of the First Geography Book was the
principal (if not the only) garment of a well dressed person.
Today, however, the Girdle is no longer accepted as a complete costume.
No modern Costumer would countenance such a "model," it would be too
easy to copy and consequently unprofitable.
Even the "Knee-plus-ultra" of Newport or Palm Beach Society would
hesitate to pose for the Sunday Supplement Photographer in a one-piece
Bathing Girdle.
You might explore the World of Dress, from the Land of the Midnight
Follies to the Uttermost parts of Greenwich Village and find nothing
exactly like it.
It is on its way, to be sure, but it will never be fashionable until--
_The two extremes of decollete_
_Of Ballroom and of Bathing Beach_
_Here meet in a bewildering way_
_And mingle all the charms of each._
Why, then, in this up-to-date Geography Book, should we depict the Giddy
Globe in an obsolete hoop skirt of imaginary Zones?
In striving to answer the question, we have hit upon a pleasing
compromise.
[Illustration: (A, E, C, D markers)]
At least it is up-to-date.
A. and E. are the two extremities of the Giddy Globe, which are quite
bare.
They correspond to the Frigid Zones.
C. is the Corset, which being hot and uncomfortable corresponds to the
Torrid.
D. is--that is to say are----*
* Pardon us for interrupting--but
we thought this was to be a
geography book.
_The Reader._