[Illustration: EGYPTIAN CORSET.]
[Illustration: THE NATURAL WAIST.
THE EFFECTS OF LACING.]
It destroys natural beauty and creates an unpleasant and irritable temper.
A tight-laced chest and a good disposition cannot go together. The human
form has been molded by nature, the best shape is undoubtedly that which
she has given it. To endeavor to render it more elegant by artificial means
is to change it; to make it much smaller below and much larger above is to
destroy its beauty; to keep it cased up in a kind of domestic cuirass is
not only to deform it, but to expose the internal parts to serious injury.
Under such compression as is commonly practiced by ladies, the {105}
development of the bones, which are still tender, does not take place
conformably to the intention of nature, because nutrition is necessarily
stopped, and they consequently become twisted and deformed.
Those who wear these appliances of tight-lacing often complain that they
cannot sit upright without them--are sometimes, indeed, compelled to wear
them during all the twenty-four hours; a fact which proves to what extent
such articles weaken the muscles of the trunk. The injury does not fall
merely on the internal structure of the body, but also on its beauty, and
on the temper and feelings with which that beauty is associated. Beauty is
in reality but another name for expression of countenance, which is the
index of sound health, intelligence, good feelings and peace of mind. All
are aware that uneasy feelings, existing habitually in the breast speedily
exhibit their signature on the countenance, and that bitter thoughts or a
bad temper spoil the human expression of its comeliness and grace.
* * * * *
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The Care of the Hair.
[Illustration: NATURAL HAIR.]
1. THE COLOR OF THE HAIR.--The color of the hair corresponds with that of
the skin--being dark or black, with a dark complexion, and red or yellow
with a fair skin. When a white skin is seen in conjunction with black hair,
as among the women of Syria and Barbary, the apparent exception arises from
protection from the sun's rays, and opposite colors are often found among
people of one prevailing feature. Thus red-haired Jews are not uncommon,
though the nation in general have dark complexion and hair.
2. THE IMPERISHABLE NATURE OF HAIR.--The imperishable nature of hair arises
from the combination of salt and metals in its composition. In old tombs
and on mummies it has been found in a perfect state, after a lapse of over
two thousand years. There are many curious accounts proving the
indestructibility of the human hair.
3. TUBULAR.--In the human family the hairs are tubular, the tubes being
intersected by partitions, resembling in some degree the cellular tissue of
plants. Their hollowness prevents incumbrance from weight, while their
power of resistance is increased by having their traverse sections rounded
in form.
4. CAUTIONS.--It is ascertained that a full head of hair, beard and
whiskers, are a prevention against colds and consumptions. Occasionally,
however, it is found necessary to remove the hair from the head, in cases
of fever or disease, to stay the inflammatory symptoms, and to relieve the
brain. The head should invariably be kept cool. Close night-caps are
unhealthy, and smoking-caps and coverings for the head within doors are
alike detrimental to the free growth of the hair, weakening it, and causing
it to fall out.