Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-10
THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMAN.
What the Muscular Christians
of California Propose.
Physical Culture for the Fe-
male Sex.

cart of the curriculum at fashionaDle
a celebrated divine would
cease to recommend that in the marriage
service the lady should promise to love,
honor, obey, and consent TO be a mother.
An athletic club in California have taken
the initiative in the question OF physical
perfection in matrimony, and have SOL
emnly bound themselves not to marry
any lady the proportions of whose form
fall short of certain standard. This IS
a novel idea, and as we are nation iona
of novelties, such movement is likely
to spread to the East; so our ladies who
desire to win husbauds had better prac-
tice calisthenics than tight lacing Sub
Joined is their description of
WOMAN AS Sue is:
Alas with what sorrow and shsmc are
we compelled to view the specimens OF
the American woman we there see See
their pale, slight, delicate fingers. OBJ
serve the small; weak arms, Without a
single muscle sufficiently developed to
raise the skin or give a solitary line OF
strength and beauty. See the wasp-hke
waists, still further compressed by the
abominsble French corsets, with their
bands of iron and draw-strings, and
hooks of BRASS Observe the narrow
hips, slender necks and pinched, bony
shoulders, when they foolishly dare to
display them, and the disgusting powder
thrown over them to hide the unhealthy,
leaden hue of the skin. See the hat
bosoms; or, where some roundness and
fullness appear, estimate the quantity OF
wire springs or solid cotton bestowed
within the dresses, to produce this feeble
imitation of the splendid bust that ma
ture bestows upon healthy, well-devel-
oped woman in all countries. AS they
whirl in the mazes of the voluptuous
waltz or polka in the arms Of their vigor-
GUS companions, see the spindle shanks
their dresses display, with their weak
and slender muscles; or, where the sem
blauce Of healthy muscle is apparent,
mentally estimate the cost of those arti-
fetal calves to their fair owner.
This club, which bears peculiar re.
semblance to those we have read of in
Addison's Spectator, is determined to
remedy these defects in the human form
divine. In order to'do this, they pro-
pose to procure exact copies of several
of the mcst famous life-sized Greek and
Roman statues Of females during the
time when the physical development OF
woman was considered as a religious
duty in Greece and Rome, and carried
to the greatest perfection. This is done
in order to show the. pseudo fair.
WOMAN AS SHE OUGHT TO BE.
Exact copies of some of the most cele-
brated life size paintings of the finest
conceivable female forms are also to be
obtained by the club. These are to be
placed where they will be open at all
times to the inspection and examination
of members of the club and visitors.
Anatomical plates of the most finished
and perfect description necessary to
fu lily illustrate and explain the perfec-
ton of these statues and pictures will
be placed near by them, where they can
be readily examined and referred to.
The standard developments of the female
form finally adopted will also be plainly
Inscribed on marble tablets in the vicini-
ty of this exhibition, for comparison,
measure ment and ILLUSTRATION. Twenty
six inches was the lowest allowable
measurem ent even limited at for the waist
of any lady. Some members insisted
upon much higher figures, but it was
agreed that some allowance must be
made for the disadvantages under which
the existing generation of young ladies
in this city, already marriageable, labor,
and the facility with which the require.
ments of the rule could be raised here
after when desirable was self evident.
They desired to be generous to the la
dies, while as nearly just to themselves
as might be. The proper measurement
of female arms and legs gave rise to con-
siderable debate, the members not being
thoroughly posted as yet on this subject.
Therefore the matter was referred to spe-
cial committee, with instructions to con-
suit medical men and the best authorities
on the subject. An elaborate report from
them is shortly expected. The exact
size that may be established rs requisite
in we'll developed, healthy, female bust,
was also of warm argument and lengthy
debate. All argued that, it should be
full and handsomely rounded, and unani-
nous that any attempted fraud IN pro-
ducing a false appearance OF develop
ment by arts not necessary to enume'
rate there, though well known, we
doubt not, to all dressmakers, and, we
are sorry to add, many Of our readers,
should cause a black mark to be placed
against the name Of any lady guilty of
any such articles, and bar her forever
from being inscribed on the list of eli;
gibles" of the club. The same rule is to
apply to fictitious and simulated devel-
opment of other portions OF the body.
After careful consideration il was deter
mined not admissible to adopt any exact
standard of hight Of eligible females.
Very tall women, if not actually gigan-
tic, and, if developed otherwise in pro-
portion, we're not considered objectlona-
Bile on that ground, for such members of
the club as might prefer them, as num-
her of than are themselves quite tell.
Against all short women, however, a
great amount of prejudice was evinced,
as on all hands it was agreed that their
marriages might lead to still further
deterioration of the human race. On all
hands il was agreed that no member OF
the club should ever be at liberty to
marry any woman, no matter what her
physical health and perfections might be,
whose head, when standing in low-heeled
slippers, did not fairly come up to his
heart. A variety Of standards of physi-
cal developments, corresponding with the
various allowable nights, will probably
be adopted, aud the authorities for each
stated in marginal notes accompanying
the regulations. The amount CT physi-
cal power and actual muscular Develop
ment and agility requisite ~ woman OF
different sizes and standards agreed upon
Ill also be carefully considered and re-
A~t,d nnon for adontiou Thus how