A careful study of the history of woman’s dress affords a forcible demonstration of the fact that the fundamental cause of the inferior physique and lowered vitality of the modern woman of civilization is to be found in not only her own, but also in her female ancestors’ unhygienic mode of dress for many centuries. Study the physique and dress of the ancient Greeks, then follow the history of dress down through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the present time, and, if further proof be needed, visit, as has been done, the savage races of the earth to-day, and behold women of powerful and classic physique still exist in lands where the body is not molded according to the barbarous decrees of the “modiste of fashion.” =The History of Woman’s Dress.=—The history of Greek costume is for the most part free from what is known as change of fashion, for the reason that the Greeks did not attempt to reconcile the two opposite principles of covering, and at the same time displaying the figure; that is to say, of cutting the dress to fit the body. [Illustration: PLATE II Greek costumes. “Queen and two attendants.”] The dress of the Greeks, when at the height of their civilization—and that of the Assyrians, Egyptians, and ancient Romans was not essentially different—was very simple. It often consisted of a simple garment, the tunic, which pleased the eye by the gracefulness of its drapery, and at the same time was comfortable by reason of its looseness. The chief and indispensable article of female dress was the _chiton_, or tunic, consisting of one piece of material, sewed together in the form of a sack, open at top and bottom, in height reaching from the neck to the feet of the wearer, and in width equal to that of the extended arms. Within this stands the figure, and first it is girt around under the breasts by a girdle, to keep it from falling; next the upper edges are fastened together on the top of the shoulders by a brooch, and the arms are either left bare, pressing down into folds at each side the masses of material, or these masses may be gathered around each arm, and fastened down the outside with buttons and loops, so as to form sleeves. To secure greater warmth on the breast and shoulders the chiton was made long enough to be doubled back at the top, and this part reached to the waist. Underneath the chiton was worn a band of cloth, to support the breasts, and, in addition to this, a cord was sometimes crossed round the breasts outside the chiton, to assist either in supporting them or in bringing out their form. Round the loins was sometimes worn either a short petticoat of thick woolen stuff or a sort of bathing drawers, such as acrobats wore. This was all of the essential dress for indoor wear. The chiton was made of a variety of fabrics, though generally of linen. For outdoor wear was the _himation_, a garment also worn by men; it was made of woolen stuff and was worn like a plaid.