While treating on a subject of such vital importance as retaining and regaining physical youth, attention must be given to everything that bears upon the subject, and the merits or demerits must be pointed out, so that the student may know what course to pursue under any and all circumstances. In this series of lessons we have now come to the one relating to clothing.

Clothing was originally designed for the purpose of covering the nakedness of the body and to protect it against excessive heat, cold or dampness. Acting in this capacity it administers comfort to mankind.

Used, however, merely for the purpose of personal adornment or to follow the fashions designed by men who are paid to create useless combinations, for the purpose of using and selling certain lines of materials, to enrich the manufacturer, is the cause of much suffering, deformity, illness and premature death. Clothing should be the servant of men and women, instead of them being the slaves of fashion. Comfort is no longer considered by the designers of clothing. Display is everything. Most people are arrant cowards when it comes to showing their independence and better judgment by selecting comfortable clothing. They know what appeals to them, but they argue, "it is not the latest fashion," and at once sacrifice comfort, health, happiness and very often life to follow "fashion."

Do not misunderstand me. I have no reform style of dress to advocate, nor do I believe in people making themselves conspicuous by departing from the general prevailing order of dress. What I desire to do is to point out some of the most unhealthful articles of clothing, and suggest the use of those which will aid in this great work of prolonging human life.

One mistake made by so many is to wear articles of clothing or adornment that repress the normal act of breathing. I do not think they would do this if they understood that every cubic foot of air the lungs need and are thus deprived of shortens the wearer's life. To curtail the breath is to repress the life forces by allowing the system to become congested with carbon or waste tissue which can only be eliminated through the lungs. Tight bands around any part of the body are to be avoided, for they retard the circulation and often cause varicose veins. Tight vests and suspenders worn by men are contrary to hygienic principles. These articles should be loose enough to permit free exercise of the lungs and heart. No article of clothing that fits tightly should be worn. Among this list are shoes, gloves, collars, garters, belts, corsets, etc. The most harmful of all clothing and the article that has done more to destroy the health of the race and make women slaves to internal weakness is the corset. No one can breath normally in one of those destroyers of health and wreckers of otherwise happy homes. A woman enclosed in a tight-fitting corset is as much hampered in breathing as a bellows would be if its handles were tied so as to allow it only a half inch in which to expand. Lungs and bellows work on the same plan. Aside from the injury to the lungs which affects the entire system, the digestive organs are crowded out of position and prevented from doing their work. Then the heat created around the waist, combined with the lack of air to the skin, and the lack of motion and exercise to the muscles, causes the flesh and muscles to become paralyzed and produces such a state of weakness that the woman cannot stand for thirty minutes without resorting to artificial support. Nature did not intend that women should use such instruments of slow death. Many women think they cannot get along without them because they have weak backs. What caused the back to be weak, and what is keeping it in the same state? Analyze the cause. If a man with a powerful strong arm should tie it up tightly and not allow the muscles to be exercised for six months, what would happen to his arm? It would become so weak and the muscles so useless that he could not lift an article weighing but a few ounces. The law that governs one muscle governs all muscles. To retain strength in any organ or muscle it must be carefully and regularly exercised. You cannot fail to see the wisdom of striking corsets from the list of wearables.

Every mother who has at heart the welfare of her children and the health of future generations will not hesitate to discard this article of murder. The reason more women have not discontinued wearing them is because they have not known the damage the corset was doing them. They attributed their suffering to other causes.

Heavy skirts and long trains worn on the streets are especially unhealthful. Heavy skirts strain the delicate internal organs and long trains gather up all kinds of impurities and disease germs and distribute them on the hosiery and underclothes, to be carried to the skin and then through the pores into the blood.

Tight collars restrict the expansion of the throat and interfere with correct breathing. They also weaken the outer and inner muscles of the throat and vocal organs as a corset weakens the muscles of the waist. Tight and thick collars that exclude the air are the greatest causes of throat and bronchial weaknesses and disease, collars that press on the back of the neck destroy the poise of the body and thus injure the health.

The proper selection of underwear is of great importance. Some people advocate the use of woolen the year round while others think only cotton should be worn. In my experience I have found that there are objections to both. In the first place while woolen garments worn next to the skin will prevent the bodily heat from escaping, which is desirable in winter, it also prevents the moisture of the body from evaporating. Woolen being a non-conductor of heat is also a non-conductor of moisture, hence the moisture is retained and a damp atmosphere is created next to the body. This is not good for it relaxes the pores and makes one more liable to take cold if subjected to a draught. Silk acts the same as woolen. Linen and cotton underwear absorb the moisture from the skin and eliminate it, but they are not as good as wool to retain the heat. Therefore, I would advise the use of linen or cotton of a loose or mesh weave worn next to the skin at all times during the day and in the winter to wear a light weight woolen garment over the cotton. The cotton garment will absorb the moisture of the skin and the woolen one will prevent the escape of the heat. Under-garments worn during the day should never be worn at night. Remove your undergarments and hang them where they will become thoroughly aired before morning. Do not allow them to remain in the room you sleep in for you must not breathe back into your system the impurities thrown off by the pores. It is best to have two sets of underwear, and alternate them, wearing them one day at a time, allowing the other set to air for twenty-four hours. If possible hang them in the sunshine for it will purify them by destroying all disease germs.