TIGHT STAYS, AND CRAVATS. 



183 



revere him for this ; and how I condemn myself 

 for not having sufficient fortitude to follow his 

 example ! The armadillo and land tortoise of 

 Guiana, although encased in a nearly impene- 

 trable armour, have their necks free. Indeed, 

 man alone is the only being to be found in the 

 whole range of animated nature who goes with 

 a ligature on the throat. 



Thus it would appear that fashion brings 

 torment to our toes, and peril to our throats. 

 But what a still more unfavourable opinion 

 must we entertain of this inexorable goddess 

 when we reflect that, by her invention of tight 

 stays, she dooms thousands of young females to 

 lose their health and symmetry, and to sink at 

 last into the cold and dreary grave long before 

 their time. 



The crocodile, although sheathed in adamant 

 both above and below, has his sides free for 

 the expansion of his body ; and this most 

 necessary provision has been kindly given to 

 him by old Dame Nature, for the well working 

 of his iron frame. Shall, then, our own thought- 

 less dames of fashion, with this example before 

 their eyes, allow their still more thoughtless 

 daughters to counteract the plan of Nature by 



