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Show FIRST TO COMPRESS FEET Favorite of Chinese Emperor, Many Centuries Ago, Said to Have Originated the Custom. J. 1. Donovan, authority on Chinese cusloniB, in an article called "Ilomunce In Chinese Literature," published In the Forum, writes : "The Ideal of beauty and the mark of gentility for a woman used to be small feet, the compression of which was not Imposed by law but wus a craze of fashion, as slender waists were at one time In England. Several accounts are given as to the origin of the custom of foot-blndlng, but probably proba-bly the following is the correct one: "It Is said that Yao Nlang, the beautiful beau-tiful concubine of Emperor LI l'u (975 A. D.), was light and graceful in all her movements, being able to dance with ease and elegance. She gave so much pleasure to her lord and master that he caused to be made golden lily flowers with movable petals for Yao Nlang to walk on from her apartments to the palace. To gratify the emperor still further, she compressed her feet, In order that they might look like a lily bud unopened, until they were three inches long." |
