The Inter Ocean from Chicago, Illinois • Page 37

yAVE you seen the "sylphist" I I bend? Hare you tried "La I Sylphe" glide? Do it It's some thing: new' and it is bound to be the fad of the year. "La Sylphe" bend and a glide of the "came name hare struck Chicago and, within a week they will be raging in epidemic form. Already the sylphista rare appearing in great numbers. The 6treet Kialto and the where the chorus girls gather are seeth- lnsr with "La On the avenue, where the show girls parade these afternoons, "La Sylphe" bend is the talk oi the moment. "La Sylphe" bend is the new sinuous censaton.

"La Sylphe is a shapely girl contorted into a serpentine pose, which gives her the appearance of an animated capital S. "Ia Sylphe" glide is the walk that goes with the bend. It is a sort of motor boat movement, undulating, easy, and graceful. The bend and glide were brought to Chicago a few days ago by JDss Edyth Mover, a young woman whom Irme Kiralfy and her own photographs de-- clare to possess a splendid figure and beauty to keep it company. Since Miss Moyer first appeared on Michigan avenue walking "a la Srlphe" first symptoms of "eylphism," as the new -fashion affliction is termed, have become traceable all over the city.

It has invaded the suburbs and even the pretty students of Evanston have twisted themselves Jo bow to the fad. The State street stores are fairly alive with "La They float, along Wabash avenue to the music and dramatic schools In coveys and flocks, and in the South Side parks they may be seen today strutting like peacocks or pouter plgeous. Imported From London. Miss Moyer imported the bend and the glide from London. In the EnglikU capital she recently saw the original "La Slyphe" girl at a music hall, and she returned to America with the first boat load of "sylpbists" that crossed the Atlantic.

After having seen "La Sylphe in London Miss Moyer decided to bring the fad to America, and she Immediately learned that the majority of the tourists in Europe were planning to do the same thing. She thought it worth while to be the first to create the sensation in the country, and she took the first steamer home after haying acquired -the bend. She was a little surprised, however, to find the deck crowded with other "sylphist" the first day at sea. Almost the entire list of female passengers on the boat promenaded the deck all day. practicing the bend, and when they debarked at the -a greater aensation could not have been created bad a new race of people marched 3own the gang plank.

-Miss Moyer says that when she first saw "La Sylphe in London the young woman looked like a grostesque poster, bat that her movements were so graceful that the remarkable postures she assumed were robbed of any suggestion of Tulgarity. "The curves and lines of 'La SylpheV body are merely accentuated by perfect control, says Miss Moyer. "There are no angle's about her. Nor, to Interrupt, are there any about Miss Moyer for all that. 4.

Fad Rapidly Spreading. SylphUra, or the habit of "La Sylphe" bend, which first got hold of society In London, as the "Grecian bend" did years ago, has reached Chicago, and is spreading as rapidly as measles in a public school. It-JLs hard to tell where it is going to end. The fact Is that ever' fei nee Miss Moyer introduced the fahhlon here, maids and matrons weighing 200 pound and under preferably under have adopted it, and may be seen "gliding about the shopping district, tho hotels, and restaurants, with their forms twisted Into double-horj-eshoe curves. But there is a certain air of self-consciousness, a lack of about the women who so disport themselves that shows the pose has not jet become a habit.

It will require practice uutlljuly or August before the stiffness will dis- ajear. But it's a fine fcight to see lovely young things sailing down the avenue like so many swans or fantail pigeons. All who see these strange fiftire marvel and admire, and those who are endowed by nature with adequate proportions go home before the pier glass to learn to do likewise. The women Mho have not the gifts of rounding surfaces and lithe waists may grin with assumed dis-daiu at their la sylphlng sisters, but In their hearts they have eDTy and denlre. The gymnasiums and schools of Del- sarte, the corselleres and the dress makers have been mobbed by women crazy to be put In shape for the new lad.

hat exercise won do whalebone may; and if that fails, banting must be resorted to. Sylphing is not reany impossible except for the ex cessively thin. 4 Fashion Is Helping. "La Sylphe bend" looks like it would be difficult to acquire, but it isn't when one practices a bit. The celebrated kangaroo walk, now relegated to the fad waste basket, looked hard too, but It wasn't long after It was introduced that all the girls were practicing it, and in a few weeks it became rery popular.

The Sylphe shape is harder than the kangaroo, but it can be acquired. Dame Fashion has done all she can to foster the new mode of By building jackets and sleeves very short and skirts very full the waist line shrinks to nothingness. As for the princess suspender gown, it was created lor If "La Sylphe" fever continues to spread you may see waitresses' in the quick lunch restaurants carrying trays 01 iood on their backs. store counters will have to be built twice as wide. As for the street cars and the aters, the standing room will accommodate only about one-fourth the present number.

Easy to Acquire. "I found it comparatively easy to ac quire the Sylphe says Miss Moyer. "After seeing the original La Sylphe in London I went to my apartments, and, dressing myself in a tight fitting gown, I took my position before a long mirror and began practicing. I was astonished to find how easily could acquire and maintain the pose. Of course, the women who are possessed of the development to make the 'Sylphe' bend possible are in the minority, but I predict that every girl who can twist herself into the pose Mill be one of La SylpheV before long.

Probably those who are least gifted by nature will be the first to take it up. If a girl's outline is composed of straight lines and angles, her case is hopeless. Bent 'a La Sylpte she would be a spectacle to arouse the mirth of a wooden Indian. "I would not advise any woman to attempt the bend unless she has a symmetrical form. A pretty form becomes even more beautiful when posed a La Sylphe, but the ugly form becomes even more ungainly.

It even looks ridiculous. If a girl has the proper form all she has to do is to dress correctly, and then assume the pose. She should wear a nicely fitting and a dress that clings to her hips. She must also wear high heel shoes, for they throw the body forward. StaudinJbefore a mirror M-ith her skirts drawn closely about her, she then leans backward as if to stand on tiptoe.

When she is standing thus be bends the upper part of her body or-ward sharply, using the hips as a hinge. This throws the hips backward. The next thing to do Is to hold the hips and the waist in this position and throw the shoulders back as far as possible. With the chin thrown in the air she then has the bend. How to Get the Glide.

"It will be tiresome at first to stand in this position, and the beginner should CHICAGO, w- I i practice it by degrees. But she should be sure never to appear on the street without keeping the position the time. "It is amusing to see many young women try to learn the 'La Sylphe glide. SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 21, 1905. They only have to remember one thing.

After acquiring the bend the young woman should retain that pose and then step forward, not on her heels, as she will be inclined to do. but, bending the knee a little more thau ordinarily, she should put her foot forward glldingly and bring It down on the toe. This will give a graceful undulating motion M-hen walking that can be-acquired in no other manner. "Many young women will attempt to overdo 'svlphism. They will imagine they have not got curve enough to their forms when they have, In fact, acquired exactly the correct pose.

They should rely upon the judgment of some friend who is not apt to ridicule. "It will be but a short while before every shapelr girl will be doing the bend and the glide. La Sylphe, 1 claim, is really a gracerul pose. It certainly win supersede the kangaroo walk, and it makes the old Grecian bend look like a straight line." La Sylphe bend as a society fad had its origin in London. However, it owes its origin to India, here it Is the natural pose of the Nauteh dancing girls.

It is simply the grace of the Orient Imported to the Western world and acquired by women who have lost Vnucb of their natural grace through being Incased in corsets. But 'La Sylphe bend does not demand the abolition of the corset. In fact a shapely corset aids one in keeping the pose, once it is acquired." Miss Moyer is an Ohio girl. She was born In Findlay, but has for several years made Chicago and New York her home. She is the general understudy of the Weber Stock company, in vhich she has played a numberof the most important roles, including those of Marie Dressier and the late Harry'Morrls.

Suggests the Spineless Woman. One woman M-ho looks disdainfully upon almost all fads, and who doesn't approve th e'Sy lph walk, su gge st that it must be frightfully trying, to twist the human figure into the serpentine curves of the "sylphists." women could do without spinal columns Hhe 'Sylphe attitudes would be popular in no time," she says, "but, unlike shad, we are better off for a few bones, and the backbone in particular demands respectful treatment. Therefore the imported 'Sylphe' bend will never find favor Mith the multitude, to whom a straight and strong back is more important than the latest fashionable contortion. The 'Sylphe bend is nothing more than an unnatural eontortion of the body especially when essayed in corsets then the strain falls particularly on the kidneys, the backbone is crooked into a semi-circle, and the tension in the shoulders is such that the lungs, simply cannot do their work properly despite the fact that the chest is thrust far forward. "The natural position of the body is upright, hips slightly back, and' spine straight, chest slightly in the lead.

The 'Sylphe bend is an extreme exaggeration of all this. Here the hips are thrust back, chest forced forward, and shoulders bent backward again, the figure forming a perfect S. A professional contortionist or a Hindoo Nautch girl could affect this bend without harming themselves.1 Neither of these people ever are foolish enough to wear corsets or tight clothes, though, speaking of contortionists reminds me that they usually end their careers as confirmed invalids, so Contents of tne the Hindoo dancing girls alone can; claim the "Sylphe bend as their own, to. attitudinize in whenever they please, without fear of harming themselves. "A straight back is a sign of physical, and mental vigor.

That is another reason for avoiding the 'Sylphe' bend. If, the back is continually curved Into semi-circle the natnral circulation is Interfered with, and I can warrant the, 'Sylphe' that she will soon get to be. as nervous as a witch, for along the spine, goes the great nerve cable the spinal, cord, coming directly from the brain, AS soon as there is a muscular strain, on the back it affects this great nerve center. Nature made us to stand upright, and she will telegraph her displeasure to these delicate nerves as soon, as she is being disobeyed for any length) of time. "There is one more reason against 'sylphing about town.

We as women, are all the time having our affectations dinned into our ears from members of the graver sex. Don't let's give them, Fiich a frood reason for their gibes as, this perfectly unnatural and artificial, position. Of course it's a good thing to. be supple enough to bend about like the, willowy maidens of the Sw-eet Alice Ben. Bolt type, but a street crowded with, these swaying.

figures Mould probably, lead one to dream of good St. Bat rick; and early Irish history. "In case there is an epidemic of SyN phitis' I suggest letting a few. mice. No 'Sylphe ean run; the can, barely a small mouse Mould, teach a large girl the advantage of a.

straight back and the proper control of, her feet." The Propeller Hat. With the "Sylphe" glide has come the propeller hat. Neither is complete, without the other. Like the Siamese twins, they belong together. As one young North Side girl expresses it.

"The propeller hat has come along and put the polo hat out of busi ness." The polo hat tnreatenea to carry, everything before it at the outset, and. the shopping district Mas getting to look like" a parade of Tommy Atkinses, but it Mill have to bite the dust before the propeller. There is something very fetching about the newest thing in fashionably millinery. It Is called a propeller hat because its appearance suggests the blade of a steamboat screw. It sets well forward on the head, coming down, slightly over the face, and one must have a good supply of hair behind to wear it without catching cold.

It is not a comfortable hat for Mindy, days because the blade shape is a great wind catcher, and even rivets won't hold it under some circumstances. When it comes to a fetching hat for a pretty woman, however, the elements don't count. Put the propeller. hat on top of the, "Sylphe" shape and you have a combination that Mill create a mavbe, a riot. At any rate you'll be up.

to date. -With a hat propeller. Rockefeller couldn't buy a form that's sweller. Sunday Magazines. MEN.

PAoa 1 Stahl, the utw baseball player hero. Flafclaa; tne GbbIo G. Taylor. How I learaed Jla jltaai, Kid McCay. 3 Chicago's Simple Life ealway I Hall.

tjaeer daela aad other i Or 11 a of lfa hlarh Rooaevelt'a salde's atorr of the haat Hoame com 1 Bar af Heary Glhaoa. Where bad beys cover a theaaaelvea. J. Laae. Haw Profesaor Meyer became faaaai.

Carlotta and the Boatoalana. The Japaaeae Ked Craaa aoelety. Fraakllav. Aiewa of the labor world Craat. WOMEN.

1 The Sylphe bead aad slide. Xrnri of the 3 The dramatic review. Ma a (la. 4 Snnahades tor city aad coaatry ATery. la the afar abaervatary Ocean Aatrolocer.

A arood May dlaaer.i..'. C. Bedford. The Jane brlde'a troaaaeaa Sew atrawberry eoametlcn. Michand.

Boaa for warm weather wear tSvtla of load talkies. Ilaekford aad Brora aaaalcal claba. Dlllard Gana. Goaalp of aoelety V. Dearbora.

Sews of Chicago claba Mary C. Marphy. COLORS AND FICTION. 1. 4.

8 The later Ocean comic. 2 Tha Blveralde M. Laasirorthy. The new kid. George H.

Shorey. 3 The Myatery of Edwin Ermlale Rlvea. "The Cat With White Maaaoa. "An Expreaa of Maalclpal II. Hlarlchaea.

Aant Kate'a Coay dab..