WHY WOMEN WEAR CORSETS. A Question for Men.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 197, 9 April 1904, Page 6

WHY WOMEN WEAR CORSETS. A Question for Men.

PROBABLY the women's branch of the Auckland Natives' Association is composed mainly of young and attractive persons. We don't know if the resolution of the branch to ask the Government to practically prohibit the sale of corsets by putting a heavy duty on them emanated from the young and lovely members with waists, or the "shrieking sisterhood" without any. It isn't worth while looking at the subject from, a birth - decreasing point of view, except to remark that

the said corsets don't seem to have much to do with the family question, since we know of a lady who has worn corsets all her life and ' has thirteen children, and others who have been still more liberal to the country and the corsetiere. * • • King Dick is a bit off-colour, and yet he is asked by the "Native" ladies to undertake a task compared with which the planting of the New Zealand flag on the walls of Moscow, or the taking of Siberia by the Heretaunga Light Horse would be the merest holiday pastime. The average lady's figure isn't her own. It never has been. She is what her corsetiera wills The Queen (who is over sixty) is seen at * big shivoowith a straight-fronted figure — erect form, to be precise. Her Majesty's loyal female subjects are at once "straight-fronted" and erect-formed until her Majesty feels she would look nicer with another kind of a figure. They don't consider the b.rth-rate or any other extraneousmatter, but act on the principle that one might as well be out of the world as out of the fashion. * * » The average woman undergoes the alleged agonies of whalebone and buckram to produce the sylph-like waist that, however, is not so sylphlike as it was when a lady who could not faint once or twice a day was a rude plebeian. Why do women wear corsets ? Try on the susceptible male heart a massive lady, who is "up and down straight like a yard of pumpwater," and another lady of the same age who has a "lovely figure" exactly in proportion as her corsets are a success. Ten to one the masculine judgment will call the pumpwater maiden a frump, and the corseted one something much nicer. • • • The mere fact that women have called for the reform is quite enough to kill it m the bud. If, on the other hand, men had universally decided that the corset was an evil and a hideous thing, made fun of it, and showed a decided bias for the corsetless maiden, the corset would die a sudden and a speedy death. Not only do the majority of men aid and abet the cultivation of a "divine figure" for women, but many are now using that aid to a lissom waist themselves. • • • You may talk about the glory of the corsetless figure possessed bv uhe "Venus de Medici until you are black m the face ; you may worry King Dick until he runs away and gets made a peer, but you won't convince the average woman who wears corsets that she is an unnatural "fright" by telling her that another woman who wears none said so. Corsets or free waists? It is for the united voice of the men of Is ew Zealand to decide.

The "Don Tailors," who used to sit at the receipt of custom opposite the Empire Hotel, hadn't room enough. They have removed to 27a, Willisnstreet, where they have more room to cope with the ever-increasing number of orders. The new shop has been especially well furnished, and has a comfortable fitting room. Mr. Wolff, chief of the "Dons," has imported a large quantity of British tweeds, the range of choice being very extensive. Workmanship and style are the leading features of the establishment. • • • Mr. R. B. Williams, Mayor of Onslow, has received a whole-hearted request from the councillors of the borough to again allow himself to be nominated for the position. The compliments tendered to him at the last meeting of the Council are convincing in that they show that he has devoted his abilities to the work and progress! of the borough. The burgesses themselves were strongly represented in a deputation that called on him desiring his services for a further term. Mr. Williams, who has gained a reputation for honest purpose and endeavour, has met the wishes of his council and the burgesses, and is again a candidate. His record of service for the past two yeors is the best evidence of his fitness for the occupancy of the mayoral chair.

For Children's Hackinc Cough at Night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is. 6cL