The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-05-13
Our Girls.

DR.. Dio Lewis has prepared book of
hygiene expressly for girls, which he calls
| our Gtr5s. 1t is Il book that all of "our
girls ought to have. A few things which
| the Doctor says about education. the study
of French, of Greek and Latin, and music.
may be disputed, but there is much that is
sound in the paragraphs devoted to these
subjects. On hygiene, the author is entire
ly at home, and occupies positions from
which he cannot be dislodged The style
is one which 'our girls will like better
after they have practiced on the maxims of
the book than they will in the beginning;
it is blunt and "ierky," more appropriate
to the realities of the gymnasium than to
the conventionalities of the drawing room.
Those of tour girls" who desire to live q
conventional, half dead existence must
avoid the work, for the fear of becoming
dissatisfied with themselves.
orr Girls opens with an attack on mar
row-solcd shoes. The author has measured
the foot of one of his pupils, and has
measured her shoe. The former is four
inches and quarter in BREADTH the latter
is two inches and half.
"Now,' he says, "what do you suppose
becomes of the inch and a half of foot
which has no sole to rest upon? Either
the upper leather holds the foot, and pre-
vents its spreading, or the foot spreads on
either side beyond the sole. Very few
girls walk in firm, strong way. Notice
one. You can see that she is balancing on
a narrow sole. There is an unsteadiness,
a sidewise vibration. Besides, as she has
not breadth of toe enough, she cannot push
her body forward in that elastic way which
we all SO much admire. Again, the pres
sure of the upper leather checks the crcu-
lation in the foot and makes it cold. :.
nj ,nln Io tp Gt,1 r,p1, L,
warm feet like boy
Broad soles are handsome, making the
foot look smaller and neater, and they are
economical, saving the wear on the upper
leather. How get them? Press the foot
on sheet of paper, draw the outline,
measure the width, and direct the shoe
maker to follow the measurement or lose
his Job.
Here is a rule for acquiring "quoenly'
gait: "ChiR close 10 neck. Whoever car
ries the chin close to neck is all right from
top to toe, and will walk WE'LL This
much desired attitude may be acquired by
the practice of walking with Il weight
light or heavy according to taste-upon the
head. Peasant women and negro servants,
who carry burdens on their heads, all have
it.
DR.. Lewis makes the novel suggestion
that girls be supplied with carpenters
tools, which may be purchased, with u
bench, for few dollars. cit is curious to
Observe" he says, "how universal is the
passion for the use of such tools. Nine
persons in ten, including both sexes, would,
if they enjoyed facilities, indulge this nat
ural passion for straight lines, angles and
curves. From my observation, | think
girls possess this mechanical fancy and tact
quite as generally as boys. In several
ing boxes, frames rulers, etc, the girls
have displayed more interest in the use of
the beautiful carpenters tools than the
boys. What priceless knack of fingers,
preparation, and fancy for hundred differ
ent occupations and healthful muscular
exercise would thus be won. My friend,
Captain R, purchased a kit of car
penter's tools and turning-lathe, nearly
twenty years ago, and encouraged his six
daughters to use them. Scores of cup
boards, shelves, frames, stockholders,
towel-raclls, ETC., etc, scattered all over
his house, testify to the mechanical skill
of these girls. At the holiday season,
they send to their friends many beautiful
boxes and book-shelves made with their
own hands"
Some of DR.. Lewis suggestions about
sun-baths have BET n widely published and
read. They deserve to be circulated every
where, and generally practiced upon. The
following paragraph embodies the principle
of the matter:
"Just think of it, your whole body under
the clothes, always in the dark, like pota-
to-vine trying to grow in a dark cellar
When you take off your dress and look at
your skin, are you not sometimes fright
ened to see how white and CHASTITY it seems?
How elastic, tough, and cheerful our young
folks would became could this white, sickly
skin be exposed every day to the sunshine!
In no other way could they spend an hour
which would contribute much to their
welfare. Garry that white, sickly potato
vine from the cellar out into the blessed
sunshine, Immediately it begins to get
color, health, and strength. Garry that
pale little girl from the dark parlor, where
she is nervous, irritable and unhappy, into
the sunshine, and Immediately the blood
starts anew; soon the skin takes on a beau
tiful tinge the little one digests better, her
tongue wears better color, she sleeps bet
ter her nerves are quiet, and many happy
changes Gomez
The practical difficulties in the way of
getting the regular sun-bath are easily
removed, if the effect is made in earnest to
remove them.
Harper & Brothers publish this book.