THE JOURNEYING OF A POEM.
RECENTLY the New Orleans Times-Democrat published as original, without giving credit to Mr. Dodge, a type picture poem entitled "A New Argument against Corsets." Its merit was recognized, and it was reprinted by The Sun, and is as follows:— This
is the
shape of
a woman's waist
on which a corset tight
is laced. The ribs, deformed
by being squeezed, press
on the lungs, till they're
diseased. The heart
is jammed and
cannot pump;
the liver
is a
tor-
pid lump;
the stomach,
crushed, cannot
digest; and in a mess
are all compressed. There-
fore, this silly woman grows to
be a beautiful mass of woes,
but thinks she has a lovely
shape, though hideous
as a crippled ape. This is
a woman's
natural waist,
which corset never
yet disgraced. Inside it
is a mine of health. Outside,
of charms it has a wealth.
It is a thing of beauty
true, and a sweet joy
forever new. It
needs no artful
padding vile
or bustle big to
give it "style."
It is strong and solid,
plump and sound, and
hard to get one arm around.
Alas! if women only knew
the mischief that these corsets
do, they'd let Dame Nature
have her way, and never
try her waist to "stay." Now it appears that the piece was written by Mr. Dodge eight years ago for The Sun, and was originally published in these columns. It has evidently been the rounds of the press for nearly a decade, and had lost its identity. Probably it is still traveling.—N. Y. Sun.