LEANING POSTURE. 295 



neither stays, nor buckram, nor foundation-muslu: nor 

 padding, can hide, but seem rather to magnify this de- 

 Fig. 133. 



formity ; at least humanity would hope so, when the eye 

 beholds how great it still remains, under the apparent 

 use of all these remedies. 



946. Far be it from us to speak with unkindness or 

 levity on a subject which but too often calls for commis- 

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

 peradventure, 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 per- 

 haps 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 decency and dis- 

 cretion. 



947. It is not pretended that curved spines, and de- 

 ibrmed shoulders, are caused only by the leaning posture 



