LEANING POSTURE. 287 



seem to defy all the arts of the most profound dress-ma- 

 ker, for neither stays, nor buckram, nor foundation mus- 

 Fig. 133. 



liri, nor padding, can hide, but seem rather to magnify 

 this deformity ; at least humanity would hope so, when 

 the eye beholds how great it still remains, under the ap- 

 parent use of all these remedies. 



Far be it from us to speak with unkindness, or levi- 

 ty on a subject which but too often calls for commisera- 

 tion, and gravity. But when we see those, who might, 

 perad venture, have passed, as specimens of symmetrical 

 form among the fairest, and most charming of the Crea- 

 tor's works, unveiling deformities, (no matter what might 

 have been their origin,) merely for the sake of rivalry in 

 the extent of the fashion, we cannot but lament in such, 

 the want of common discretion, common prudence, 

 or common modesty for did these unfortunates but 

 know how such revelations sometimes affect the minds, 

 and perhaps even the hearts of those whose kindness 

 and good esteem they cannot but value, they certainly 

 would have sacrificed less to fashion, and more to de- 

 cency and discretion. 



It is not pretended that curved spines, and deformed 

 shoulders, are caused only, by the leaning posture above 



