s all freedom of movement, just as the tight corset deprives
the body of all the suppleness and flexibility given it by nature.

The belt is, on a perfect figure, an interruption to harmonious lines
that could well be dispensed with. On an imperfect figure it is
excusable, when associated with a form of bodice that seems to require
to be confined, such as the loosely plaited or gathered bodice
sometimes worn. Over a tight bodice the belt has no reason for being,
and is absurdly out of place. For this and also sanitary reasons we
feel inclined to condemn it.

Beautiful Arms.

Beautiful arms are a powerful weapon in the armory of beauty; but
though most women appreciate to the full the charm of this possession,
the fact remains that in America undeveloped arms are the rule, and
rounded, dimpled symmetry the exception. Lately, however, the
gymnasium is producing charming arms.

Exercise is essential to the development of the arms: exercise, that
is, of the arms themselves. Gymnastic exercises that bring the muscles
of these into play should be, as far as possible, encouraged in girls,
as tending not only to their improvement in this particular, but as
being beneficial to the general health.

Arms disproportionately large as compared to the rest of the frame
are, on the other hand, at least equally disagreeable with those we
have been discussing. Very large arms carry with them a suggestion of
coarseness that is unpleasant as associated with a woman. It is, as we
have said before, impossible to give the exact proportions which one
portion of the human frame should bear to the rest. The ideal arm,
however, should gradually decrease in size from the shoulder to the
wrist, the outlines being marked by those inward curves which are also
noticeable in well-formed shoulders. The wrist should be slender
without being thin, the bone at the outer side being well covered and
indicated rather by dimples than otherwise.

There is an old rule for measurement that approaches accuracy in some
degree. We give it for what it may be worth, advising our readers not
to pin their faith to it too implicitly. Twice round the thumb, once
round the wrist; twice round the wrist, once round the neck; twice
round the neck, once round the waist.

The roundest arms in the world fail to be beautiful if they are red.
There are beautiful white arms, brown arms, copper-colored arms, and
even black arms, but beautiful red arms are not. This fault i