When you stand up and feel the warmth...*

dress: 50s cotton day dress bought from a private estate (more on that tomorrow!)
shoes: vintage
purse: vintage
book: bought today for 50 cents
*listening to: Metallica - Death Magnetic "The Day That Never Comes"

During all the madness this weekend I found a bit of time on Saturday afternoon to wander around downtown by myself and hit up all of my favorite stores. Even though I saw lots of things I liked, I was good and only bought one book for fifty cents. It was a book that was sitting in a sidewalk bin amongst a bunch of old paperbacks and mystery novels. The hardback cover caught my eye and as soon as I picked it up I knew I had to have it. It's Secrets of Love and Marriage by James Parker Hendry. I flipped it open to a page, starting reading and laughed so hard I nearly choked on my soft pretzel.

It was written in 1933 and edited by a doctor. There is a disclaimer in the front of the book stating that it should only be sold to doctors and married people and that those people must agree to "safeguard the book against coming into the hands of minors." It's chock full of antiquated advice, old wives tales and "medical" advice that would make modern doctors cringe.

"While shorts skirts were in style, well formed legs certainly were essential to a woman's appearance. Suddenly a style reaction set in and skirts were lengthened until the hems swept the ground. The reason was obvious. Long skirts are far more appealing to men, as designers discovered."

"...too much emphasis cannot be placed on the necessity for looking into your sweetheart's parentage, to make sure that the parents are mentally sound. If there is a long line of feeble minded or insane in the family tree, avoid that heritage as you would the plague!"

"It is particularly dangerous for a girl to start petting with a man the first few times she goes out with him. She should make sure that he is clean, honest and worthwhile. She makes herself cheap by offering easily won kisses. And no man wants a bargain counter wife who has been soiled and manhandled."