STAYS AND BELTS.
['re mos EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOE."]
Sin,—In commenting on the paper read by Professor Roy in defence of stays, at the recent meeting of the British Association, after quoting his assertion that the desire for waist-belts is instinctive, and has been displayed by all athletes and persons of whom exertion is required, since the beginning of history, you add, " It will be observed that this argument, which is certainly trae so far as the practice of all runners, Asiatic or European, is concerned, applies to men equally with women, though men gird themselves only to meet special calls upon their strength."
Undoubtedly, if the wearing of tight belts were indeed a practice amongst athletes, it would lend immense support to the arguments of those who advocate the use of stays; but I trust you will allow me to question the accuracy of the assertion, as I believe it to be absolutely contrary to fact. During the four years I spent as undergraduate at Cam- bridge, I knew intimately, trained with, and ran against all the long-distance runners of my time. I also knew inti- mately and rode against many of the long-distance bicycle- riders ; and certainly none of my friends ever used, or showed any desire to use, tight waist-belts. On the contrary, it was always our custom to gird ourselves as loosely as possible, for the very obvious reason that a tight belt round the abdomen would interfere seriously with the free movement of the diaphragm, and would thus diminish very materially the amount of space required by the lungs for their full expansion. If we tarn to another form of athletic exercise, rowing, we rind that it is a universal custom among rowing-men to have their clothes as loose as possible round the waist, and for the name reason.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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