Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-30

I|||Nng on OCCASION. 10 That "inteli-
ennt toreigner'' who is always understood
10 De exercising his powers Of observation
1ron us, seeing them at rest in their "a
miliar postures, they would seem to be
the most inactive people, physically. at
least, in the world He looks at the ioll.
ing crowds in the hotel with their bodies
stretched over two or three chairs at n
time, their arms thrown about their neigh
bors' shoulders, andlegs extended to every
mantelshelf, table or window-sill within
reach of the heels of their boots. and CON
cludes, naturally enough, that the Ameri-
cans arc constitutionally law set. II Is
truefhat he no sooner puts his foot Into
ihe sireot for q stroll than hcarirg Ie
quiCk steps az his hctis, 6Id3 3oAi tf
moment by the elbows of a hasty crasgd
he has reason to qualify his first Judgment
of the physical Incidence of the people
How far his opinion of their manners may
be affected by the result is another ques-
ton.
The American habit of lounging does
not come, like that of the ever-prostrate
Turk, from any constitutional languor of
spirit or body. The readiness ofour coun-
trymen TO assume the reclining posture,
and to bring into requisition for the Ease
of their limbs every other chair besides
their own, and each surface or ledge which
can by any possibility support leg or let
hang heel OF an elbow, may possibly be,
to some extent, the consequence Of an ex-
cessive fatigue. Their efforts are apt to
be so spasmodically exerted, and to such
an extreme degree of tension, that it is
quite natural that they should be aher-
mated with frequent intervals of what the
doctors term collapse-a state we need
hardly say, quite unfavorable to anything
like erectness or formality of posture
Whatever there may be in this there is
still more, we venture TO say, in the con-
tempt with which democratic Amer
lea is so disposed 10 treat many of
the small nroprieties of conduct which
| seem to conflict with personal ed
and independence. Many of our
countrymen are so fearful Of making
the least concession to a respect for others
| that they not seldom, though unintention-
ally, derogate from that due TO themselves.
! 1t would be well for them to understand
that a certain decorousness of carriage in
| public is not only expected from every one
who is assumed to be decent citizen, but
! that the exhibition of his anatomy in all
its sprawling contortions of hat, shirt,
coat, trowsers and boots does not leave a
very favorable impression OF the grace
and proportion of the American organiza-
ton The ordinary native traveller, as
seen through hotel window, made APP
parently spacious and exposed with the
express purpose of facilitating the view of
the public, taking his ease in his inn, is
certainly not handsome object and
nothing seems so surprising as the self
complacency with which he exhibits his
tumbled and distorted person to universal
gaze.
The women of America are greatly
| I,ri, 70, ~ N
men, although they are not charged with
the same eccentric display of it, at least
in public. A Matching bird is not more
constant to its nest than our ladies are to
the rockingham and sofa. They pass
much of the time in one or the other in a
state of dissolving ease fatal to ell vigor-
Gus effort of body and of mind. The
rocking g-machine, an invention of our own
country, of which we have no great reason
TO be proud, is regarded so peculiarly ma
tiOnal that it is termed in Europe, where
it has been sent, we suppose, with the
same purpose as whisky is said to be dis
tributed among the Indians, to stupefy
and demoralize the natives, is universally
known among them as the American chair.
| There can be no question that its frequent
use has very decided effect upon the
nervous system. Ii firstlulls and disposes to
Sleep and if used in moderation might pos
sibly be beneficial in certain cases of rest
! lessness and extreme waketulness, Just as
an opiate in small doses would be. The
excessive use, however, of the one, like
| that of the other, tends to stupor, with an
alternating languOr and irritability which
are the recognized symptoms of that fem
mime ailment known as nervousness. If
the constitution should he robust enough to
resist the serious effects of the rocking
chair upon the health, II Is undeniabfe
that the most sturdy would not be proof
against the laziness of disposition its
habitual use is sure to engender
The sofa, or the lounge, as it is often
aptly termed, and above all the rocking
chair, should be strictly denied to the
young, who are always ready to accept
| their invitations to ease and abuse the in
/ diligence they permit The rocking-chair
besides the enervating effects of its swing
upon'the nervous system, cramps, through
its peculiar construction, the chest and
limbs in manner very unfavorable to
healthy and graceful development of the
person.
Women do not confine the Indulgence
of their lounging propensities to the
home. Their walking in the streets and
promenades has nothing in it of that brisk
ness of movement essential to fulfill its
purpose as an exercise. They seem, as
they step mincingly along, to use only the
tips and heels of their boots, while their
whole muscular frame is kept rigid. The
fashionable costume they affect is largely
responsible for this, as its complicated in
volutions, heavy hangings and alternate
strictness and exorbitant swellings, make
all freedom of physical exercise impOssi-
BILE. There is also false notion Of fe-
male decorum which restrains movement.
y young girl is told that it is unbecoming
to use her limbs freely. She must not, in
II word, run and toss her arms like rude
boy She is thus made to hold her hands
pinioned to her side, so that she looks like
a trussed fowl, and bade not to forget in
every step she makes her dancing-master' s
lesson, to keep her toes out and knees stiff
| l-Harper's Basar