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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 September 1864, Page 3

Ladies' Waists in America. — The unnatural length and ridiculous sraallness of their •waists baffle description. A waist that could be spanned is an English metaphorical expression used in a novel,; but it is an American fact ; and so alarming does it appear to an Englishman, that my first sentiment on viewing thephenomenon was one oi pity for the unfortunate being, who might possibly break oif in the middle, like flowers from a stalk, before the evening concluded. Not less extraordinary is the size of the ladies' arms. I saw many which were scarcely thicker than an under-sized walking-stick. Yet, strange to say; when these ladies pass the age of forty, they frequently attain an enormous size.. The whole economy of their structure is then reversed, their waists and arms becoming the thickest parts of their body. Here is a subject worthy the consideration of -the ethnologist. , ITow comes it. to pass that the English type— which I presume "has not in every case been* so afiected by the admixture of others as to lose its own identity — how comes itto passj I say, that.the English type is s6 strangely • altered in a few generations -? I have heard various hypothesea-^among.otherßj-.the j habits of the people ; the dry climate.- The effect of the latteron a European- cpnstitution;.\\-ouldh^ve : :aprv peared to be sufficient to* account'ior the 'singiuar« conformation, if Ihad nofeb'ee'n persuaded by J na-* tives of the 'country that -the' -'small waist is mainly.' l»jtight^lacing.i:l;'Ehis:.pr.actice,-.'it is., said, is ; perseirered in to ! an r alarm : ingf^tent,. i andj if^epprfj be true r jt 48.ta.berfearediha1bv,the y e^ 'will""be J felt geiiirMionrto^'greafor degree than they fcre v afc present. — Bmm