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Literary
August 27, 1858
The Daily Gate City
Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
What is this article about?
Madame de Genlis describes in her memoirs the harsh training she received to adapt to Parisian society in the 18th century, involving painful physical modifications like tooth extraction, tight stays, curl papers, an iron collar, and goggles, plus restrictions on natural behaviors.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
"Madame de Genlis, in her memoirs, describes the training she underwent to fit her for Parisian society in the last century:
"I had two teeth pulled out; I had whalebone stays that pinched me terribly; my feet were imprisoned in tight shoes, with which it was impossible for me to walk; I had three or four thousand curl papers put on my head, and I wore for the first time in my life a hoop. In order to get rid of my country attitudes, I had an iron collar put on my neck; and as I squinted a little at times, I was obliged to put on goggles as soon as I awoke in the morning, and these I wore four hours. I was, moreover, not a little surprised when they talked of giving me a master to teach me what I thought I knew well enough already--to walk. Besides all this, I was forbidden to run, to leap, or to ask questions."
"I had two teeth pulled out; I had whalebone stays that pinched me terribly; my feet were imprisoned in tight shoes, with which it was impossible for me to walk; I had three or four thousand curl papers put on my head, and I wore for the first time in my life a hoop. In order to get rid of my country attitudes, I had an iron collar put on my neck; and as I squinted a little at times, I was obliged to put on goggles as soon as I awoke in the morning, and these I wore four hours. I was, moreover, not a little surprised when they talked of giving me a master to teach me what I thought I knew well enough already--to walk. Besides all this, I was forbidden to run, to leap, or to ask questions."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Parisian Society
Social Training
18th Century Manners
Physical Modification
Behavioral Correction
What entities or persons were involved?
Madame De Genlis
Literary Details
Author
Madame De Genlis
Subject
Training To Fit For Parisian Society In The Last Century
Key Lines
I Had Two Teeth Pulled Out; I Had Whalebone Stays That Pinched Me Terribly;
In Order To Get Rid Of My Country Attitudes, I Had An Iron Collar Put On My Neck;
Besides All This, I Was Forbidden To Run, To Leap, Or To Ask Questions.