The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-01-09
The Development Of Women.
Whnt the Muscular Chrtstians Of Cal.
iforaid Propose \ Physical Culture
for fkp 4.H,sf10Le Ser

What the Muscular Christians Of Cal
ifornid Propose Physical Cultur
| for the Female Ser.
!. II muscular Christianity wers made
pnrt of the curriculum at fashionable
|seminHries, celebrated divine wOult
cease. 10 recoinend that IN the marriag,
service the lady should promise to love
:, hon. "a. obey and cOnsent 70 be q mother, =
/ An mthletrc club IN California have taken
/ the initiative In The uuesjtion OF phyaica
lperfection In matrimony and have solemn
i ~ hound themselves not to marry any
/ lady. the proportions or whose form fal
short or q certain STANDARD. This Is q
| n 1vel idea. and, as we are n nation iOnd 0
novelties, such u mOvemtnt is likely ts
spread 10 t1e East. 60 our ladies who de
enIisthenics than tight lAcing. SuhjoineC
Is their description OF
WOMAN AS SHE Is,
Alasi with what sorrow and shame arr
we compelled to view the speciirehs of tlis
American women we#fhere sect saaa tl,pi
i pale, slight. delicate fin4srs. Observe thu
4 small. weak arms. withOtlta single mus.
Gle sufficiently developed to raise the skir
or give a solitary line ofstrength and beau
~. See the waAp-like wRist. still fnthel
compressed by the abonlinab1e French chr.
sets. with their bands Of iron and draw.
string and hooks or brass. Observe the
marrow hips. slender necks and pinched,
bOny shoulders. where they fOOlisly dare
to display them, and the disgusting pow
der thrown over them TO hide the mn
healthy leaden hue of the skin. See the
| fiillness appear. estimate the quantity ol
I fwir~springsor or solid cottor' lfstowted with
in the dresses tn produce this feehle inli-
tBtion ofthe splendid bnst that nature be-
slowed upon a healthy, well developed
women IN AL countries. As they whirl
lin the nazes of the volaptnons waltz, or
/ polka in the arms of their vigorous COM
| ihg dresses display, their weak md slen-
der inuscle; Or where the5 semhlance OF
healthy muscle is apparent. mentally esti-
mate the cost of those artificial calves to
their fair owners. 7t@ tF7HeftsS 5sfe /.
This r1aih, which hears pecuIiarrnseS
blance. to tn &c who have read Of In ;Addi-
sons Spectator. Is determined to remedy
In order to do this. tbav propose pro
cure exart c'pips of several Of the u1osf IA
nous lifa-sized Greek and Roman statues
offpmaies during the time when tire phys
ieal development ~ women was consider
ed IA q religious dntvin Greece and Rome
and carriad to the greatest perfection.-
This is done in order to show tie pseudo.
fair ..tij f.rg H15IseaS
WOMAN Az SHE OUGHT TO BE. sst
Exact copies Of some Of the most cele-
brated life size paintings of the finest con
lceivahle females forms are also tn I've OBJ
tained bv the club. These are tn he placed
where they will he open at all times to
the inspection and examination of the
club and visitors. Anatomical plates of
the mest finished and perfect description
necessary to fully illustrate and explain
the perfection Of these statues ard pictures
will be placed near bv them, where they
chm be readily examined and referred to-
The stafidard development Of the female
form finally adopted will also he plainly
ascribed on marble tablets in the vicinity
Of this exhibit m. for comparison. meas
urpmpnt and illustration. Twenty-six in
ches was the lowest allowable n,easur.-
ment even hlnted AT for waist of amy lady.
Some members insisted upon much higher
tt1syvsNysce titttst ue y1Ssvfe mr. rffu ursNUvNti-
tages under which the existing generation
Of vsu1ng fus'fes TN tarir rtr~ts tvtur-
riageable, labor ami the flcility with
which the requirements of the rule could
he raised hereafter when desirable Was
self-evident. They desired to be cener MS
to the ladies'. while IA nearly just to- them
selves as might he. The proper measure
ment of female arms legs gave rise 70 con-
siderable debate. the members rot being
Ethoraughly posted on this subject. There
committee, with instructions to consult
/ medical men and the hest authorities on
thu subject. An elaborate report from
them ls shortly ex pected. The exact size
! that may be established as requisite in n
| well developed. healthy felr,saa bust. WAS
also the subject of warm argument and de.
bate. All argued hat il should be fill land
handsomely rounded. and unanimous that
any attempted fraud i'm producing false
appearance OF development by arts not
necessary tOennmerate here. though well
known, we dOnbt not, tn all dressmakers,
and. we are sorry to add .:many ofonrread-
ers, snould cause h ack mark to placed
against the name IF any lady guilty ofany
such artitices, and bar her forever from
being inscribed on the list Of s.eli9ibles'' Of
the club The same rule is to apply to fic-
titious and simulated development Of 9TH
er rOrtiOns of the body. After caresulcon-
sideration it was determined not admissi-
BILE !, adopt any eyact Standard OF height
OF eligible females. Very tall women, IL
not actually xigantic. and If developed
otherwise in proportion Eere nOtcOnsider-
objectionable on That ground for such mem
bers OF the club N might preferthem, IA n
number Of them are themselves quite tall.
Against nil short ws.men. however, II grea I.
amount ofprejr1dice was evinced. as ON all
hands it was agreed that their marriages
might lead To q still further deterioration
of the human race. On all hands it was
agreed that no member of the club should
ever be ut liberty tosnarry anv won1an. no
matter what her physical health and per-
fce:ions might be, whose head when stand
/ jnx in low -heeled clippers did not fairly
come no 10 his heart. Al variety Of stand
ard : az physical developments. Correspond
I ing WITH the various allowable heights,
tiles Tor each stated In marginal notes ac
= I'M panyinv the regulations The amount
Of nhysical power and actual muscular de-
veiorr,,ent and agility requisite IN women