The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-11-29

Muscular Exercise for Woman.

Muscular Exercise for Women.
If vigorous exercise is beneficial {,
the health of men, why is it not fol
women, many of whom come into the
world with delicate organizations, and
are inYalids before they are twenty wear.
of age, for the want of exercise 10
strengthen and build up the enervated
body? Why are men advised to hunt,
practice gymnastics, play ball, and live
in the open air as much as possible.
when physically reduced and needing a
change in the mode of living, when
women are kept indoors, dosed on slim
ulants, and advised to "keep aiuet -
"avoid excitement" 'and 90 out only
in the morning for short walk?" If
active exercise and outdoor amusements
are good for one, why not for the other /?
The fact of the matter Is, that we are
not accustomed to see ladies indulge in
what is known as "manly sports'' and
the exercises that are now exclusively
practieed by men. In rare cases there is
an exception; Nassar College, honor to
its name, has taken n few progressive
steps in this direction. If all our colleges
would pay more attention to this sub
ject, aud combine some practical Gus
toms and their habits with their studies
of physiology andmedicine, our women
of to-day, and our scholars fort the future,
would be greatly benefited.
BALL PLAYING.
What reasonable argument can be
raised against woman playing ball, both
as an amusement and a healthy exer-
else? Make it 4 school exercise, for in
stance, underall the conditions necessary
OF ~ "a ~ hot f,l
can be invented against it as a picnic
pleasure, or an amusement for private
home gatherings, where spacious
grounds will admit of it. Only let it
become fashionable, and we shall see
less of pale lips, round shoulders, blue
veins among the eyelids, and hear less
Of aches, that are never common i'm
healthy constitutions.
MILITARY DRILL.
If this is essential, or beneficial in
benefiting the physical condition of
boys and men, giving it strength, sup
pleness and beauty of form, why is it
not equally beneficial for girls and
women? We believe in the military
drill rs part Of the musculaE exercise
that should be adopted in all of our fe-
male schools; and that it should form a
part of the routine of school life. We
educate our children, it is true. Boys
have access to military schools, but the
girls of the country are supposed to cul-
tivate the brain and polish the woman
that will ornament society in address
and conversation and few accomplish
ments; but the health, the purity of her
system, the development of physical
forces, all of which sympathise so
closely with the mind, are almost for
gotten and neglected; girls, many of
them, graduate from school with wear
led bookshelf minds, physically weak
and delicate, who are supposed to have
studied too hard" aud with lanquid
spirits, all indicate the lack of proper
exercise, while crOwding themselves
forward i'm school studies and book lore.
These are the women who are to become
wives and mothers. Is it at all strange
that so many puny delicate children are
born into the world-that so many short
graves are found in our cemeteries? BY
all means encourage the drill in female
schools. Once adopted, it will grow into
public favor and people will wonder
that so beneficial an exercise has been
so long neglected. IL is true calisthen-
les have been practiced for many years,
but the method fails to meet the de-
mand required by the muscular forces.
ROWING.
One of the best exercises forarms chest
and back is rowing. 1t is popular with
men rs an amusement, but rarely toler-
ated by women. Ida Lewis was lion
lied for her ability in managing n boat
she was brought into public acquaint-
ance by a deed of heroism, resulting
from her efficiency as an OarswOman.
She would not have been considered an
eccentric woman, departing from the
sphere of "the refined delicate ladyii
had she come into public simply as n
good OarswOman capable of going to
sea alone" But il was engrafted upon
public tolerance through the medium of
romantic heroism, rather a heroism
seldom known only in romance. Ida
Lewis proved, however, that women are
capable of rowing boats if they desire
to-and the fact of being women is no
hindrance to acquiring the art; for this
reason we admire Ida Lewis.
ARCHERY.
This most delightful practice has been
introduced by New Workers into the
programme of amusements in Central
Park. This is pleasant to chronicle; we
are hopeful for the muscular health of
New York ladies. All these progressive
steps must come via amusements and
tolerance. We are proud of the results
and bless the means. The New York
Rural, speaking Of this amusement,
says:
archery is yearly growing i'm favor
in this country. If one visits Central
Park, i'm New York, or the grounds of
many of the fine residences which line
the Hudson, parties of young folks will
be discovered engaged in this healthy and
delightful amusement. 4 striking
Characteristic of our English cousins is
their love for outdoor exercise, and in
the pursuit of this may be found the
secret of their ruddy cheeks, and robust
which in many instances
contrast so favOrably with those of
American women. The turf, the water
and the lawn have about equal sporting
Croquet has certain
charm. Ladies, like men, like changes,
and the practice of archery is found to
be a most agreeable one. During pleas |
ant weather parties cOngregate among
the trees in Central and Prospect Parks |
for trials of skill, sight, patience and |
nerve. Lawn parties having the same |
object in view promise TO be popular |
this season at the Springs, the sea and /
mountain side. All amusements of /
this harmless nature should be encOur-
aged.n
In the middle ages the women prac-
ticed archery, and Swiss maidens are I
said to excel in the practice. As an
it can he traced Oack to the |
history of almost every nation, and
women were often noted for this perfec-
tion in the exercise.
In regard to all these suggestions that
force themselves upon US, relative to