Ever hear of death by corset? According to one tall local tale a pretty twenty-two year-old was sitting in church when she was suddenly taken ill and carried out of the church to the minister’s house. Unfortunately, before her friends got to her she was already dead. Her cause of death?—her corset was too tightly laced.
In a time when dentures were made from the teeth of the recently deceased, there was talk that there was great physical benefits of wearing a corset: Two women have mentioned in stories I have read that that wearing a corset has helped improve their asthma. The upper lungs and bronchi may not be fully open or utilized with very poor posture, and correcting posture using a corset may help to open up the chest, relax the windpipe and allow easier breathing. *asthmatics please consult with your doctor before trying a corset, as not everyone has the same experience
Death by burns for women were caused by a combination of open hearth cooking and the use of highly flammable fabrics in their clothes.Wearing corsets (even under your clothing, so no one is the wiser) was said to help you climb the corporate ladder, earn respect of yourself and your peers, help you understand how to make better economic purchases and help you appreciate the finer things in life – even if relatively nothing else in your life has changed. Were women really climbing the corporate ladder in those days? More like a library ladder.
If they heard a clap of thunder following a burial it indicated that the soul of the departed had reached heaven– or other noises might have been caused by a too tight corset. For those questionable noises try minimizing gas productions when wearing a corset. If social situations allow for it, and you feel that you’re going to burp or pass wind, just go for it. Your body has this function for a reason, and trust me, you’ll physically feel better for it.
McCarthy Sisters-Leeds County
Margaret Larocque- Lanark
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St James Cemtery Ghost Walk Event Page- October 28th
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Funerals With Dignity in Carleton Place – Just a Surrey with a Fringe on Top —- Our Haunted Heritage
lindaseccaspina 
My maternal grandma always thought women who didn’t wear corsets were of the fallen variety. This included me, as I didn’t wear them. She never used the suspenders for her stockings, but wore garters. Her underwear was layers of corset, vest, bra, enormous pink knickers that went to her knees, slip and garters. Watching her undress and get into a voluminous nightie was something to behold. My paternal grandma was also a corset wearer. Buying one was an event. You had to make an appointment, get measured and fitted. It was one of those female rights of passage. They were supposed to last forever. Probably many of them and their pink laces are mouldering in dump sites somewhere. Akin to plastic, they have many years of decomposition.
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Jean.. loved this story… right the younger set is into waist training.. wearing too small corsets to make their waists smaller.. Your grandma would be proud..:)
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Since they sagged round her hips and waist it wasn’t about a fashion statement but morals. These things were a weird colour of salmon pink with side, front and back laces. Why they wore these things were a mystery to me. They all wore them, my grandmas, my great aunts, the ladies in the woman’s union. Challenging the corset was up there with challenging the low ( not high) Anglican Church and the empire. Lol.
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My Grandmother was the same thing.. hated that stuff but I did steal her lace up shoes once.. they were great LOL
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I stole her wedding outfit to my parents wedding, it was gorgeous. We should get together about the social significance of woman’s underwear as a social, political statement of morals, public opinion,and sexuality through the ages. Unless of course some boring feminist has already done this to get tenure.
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LOLOL.. I sold all sorts of underwear in my store in Ottawa for 20 years. It was quite interesting.
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I know, my eldest goth son regarded you as a den mother to Ottawa goths
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Jean… Yes I was many many many moons ago..:) many
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He remembers you fondly, currently driving up to cp from Atlanta, not sure what his hair colour will be.
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That is so nice… always good to have change:)
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