Roxey Ann Caplin

“ Now, it is perfectly true that we never served an apprenticeship to the trade; and if we had, the probability is, that we should have done as the trade does—make corsets for the body to be fitted to, and not fitted the corset to the body. What we have brought to the trade is simply intelligence ”

“ Now every one wishes to dress well, not simply that the clothing should be of good quality and the fashion unquestioned, but as they prefer pleasure to pain, so far they desire that the articles worn should be adapted to the body, and afford all the protection and comfort that is derived from well-made articles of clothing. ”

“ Clothing is not only a want of mankind, but it is one of those wants upon which people are dis­posed to bestow the greatest amount of consi­deration. In two ways the clothing is supposed to represent the wearer. ”

“ If a corset-maker wrote an essay upon any medical contrivance—say, for instance, the use of the lancet or blister—we expect that she would meet with the derision of the whole faculty; and the medical practitioner must not be angry if he also should excite a smile when he speaks of things with which he also is unacquainted. ”

“ A foundation was there­fore necessary upon which the whole superstructure of the clothing could be reared, and by which the weight might be distributed equally upon every part of the frame; and in the second place we have often to hide defects, and not unfrequently to give support in cases of spinal deformities—stooping of the body or twist of the shoulders when debility or habit have impaired the natural erect and grace­ful attitude which the perfectly-developed frame should always assume. ”

“ It is not that our faith in the utility of the corset has abated, but in giving a new edition of our book our desire has been to make it a com­panion to the toilet, and a work of general utility to every family in which ladies and children have to be clothed and cared for. ”

“ Nay, we know the profession too well; know that their skill, science, and experience will ever be invaluable to mankind; and know also that their only hope of maintaining their present honour­able position before the public is by adapting their system to the wants of humanity. ”

“ It never seems to have occurred to the Doctor that ladies must and will wear stays, in spite of all the medical men in the world. The strong and perfect feel the benefit of using them, and to the weak and delicate, or imperfect, they are absolutely indispensable; but when we say this, we mean corsets properly constructed; for if the construction be faulty, the mistake will be equally as bad as the administration of a cathartic instead of a diapho­retic. ”

“ In the first edition of this work we made it a special point to defend the corset, and the numerous calls upon our time and attention made it impossible to do more at that time than to point out its rela­tion to the body, and its general utility as a basis of support for the whole of the superincumbent clothing. In the present edition we have given prominence to many things which are of infinite importance to health and beauty, which were there omitted. ”

“ These noxious and unnecessary articles of clothing—these mischievous appliances to the female form, useful only to conceal defects and make up deficiencies in appearance—are rendered still more injurious by the number of unyielding, or only partially yielding, supports with which they are constructed on every side. ”

“ The injurious influence of stays on the female economy, as respects not only diseases of the spinal column but also the disorders of the uterine organs, is manifest to all who consider the subject."—Dr. ”

“ The extreme of fashion generally indicates the fop, and however fine the materials and faultless the fit there is something stamped upon the individual that indicates a want of brain, and leads us to expect to find that frivolity of character which is generally associated with it. ”

“ IN an introduction to a work of the kind which we here present to the public, the reader will expect to find some clear definition of our purpose and a general outline of the principles which are to guide us throughout the whole of our labours ”

“ MADAME ROXEY A. CAPLIN.
"Health is the Base and Instruction the Ornament of Education."
Spurzheim.
THIRD EDITION.
LONDON:
KENT AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
1864.
LONDON:
SAVILL AND EDWARDS, PRINTERS, CHANDOS STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION v
CHAPTER I.
OF HEALTH AND BEAUTY IN WOMAN 1
CHAPTER II.
DRESS: ITS USES, BEAUTIES, AND FASHIONS 17
CHAPTER III.
INFANCY AND ITS DRESSES 33
CHAPTER IV.
CLOTHING FROM THE AGE OF ONE TO TWELVE YEARS 33
CHAPTER V.
CLOTHING FROM THE AGE OF TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN YEARS 59
CHAPTER VI. ”