He dealt with the immodesty of the contemporary stage, supporting his contentions by a long series of references attesting the comparative decency of Latin and Greek drama; with the profane language indulged in by the players; the abuse of the clergy common in the drama; the encouragement of vice by representing the vicious characters as admirable and successful; and finally he supported his general position by the analysis of particular plays, Dryden's Amphitryon, Vanbrugh's Relapse and D'Urfey's Don Quixote.
The looseness of the knickers may seem to suggest immodesty, but they did provide full coverage and were healthier to wear.
The New South Wales Olympic committee had not wanted to allow women to compete, and even the president of the NSW Ladies Swimming Association was against it on the grounds of immodesty.