The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-03-21
Strength OF Women.

Strength Of Women.
The universal belief that woman il
by Nature endowed with less physical
strength than man, is founded upon
the observation of civilized peoples from
time immemorial. And yet there is an
abundance of persuasive evidence that
it is not Nature, but habit, that has
rendered woman the inferior of man in
muscular force and endurance. We
pass by the testimony bearing upon
the argument that might be adduced
from the history of savage races, and
cite merely that which is offered in the
feats of male and female gymnasts.
Mr. Charles Reade incidentally fur
nishes some important facts relating
to this point, in a letter entitled 1.-The
Coming Man," and published in Har-
per's Weekly. He is aiming to prove
that the left hand and leg arc natural
ly as capable of skilled and sustained
effort as the right, and lack an equal
development simply from persistent
disuse. He quotes. as the highest Eu-
ropean authority on the subject, the
opinions of Farini, teacher of scien-
titic gymnastics.
Farini began his career with thor
ough study of anatomy and medicine;
but, after receiving his diploma, aban-
doned the intention of practicing the
healing art, and devoted himself to the
work of training gymnasts. He is
himself splendid athlete, and a prac-
teal as we'll as theoretical exponent of
the science of gymnastics. In the be-
ginning he entertained the common
opinion that the physical weakness of
women is due to Nature, but he in
forms Mr.. Reade that he has '.been
driven-in spite of prejudice he
shared with every mann--to conclude
that nature has less to do with the
matter than the defects of early edu-
cation. "In no other way can he ac-
count for their endurance in the ball
room, and their powers and agility in
the arena wherever they train"
Women who practice dancing will
continue the exercise for hours togeth-
er without exhaustion; and, in the agile
and graceful business of the gymnast,
it is stated by Farini that they can, as
rule, surpass the men. In those
cases where they train for feats of
strength, they also develop remarkable
powers.
The French gymnast named Natha-
lie, woman of not extraordinary build,
can take two tifty-six-pound weights
from the ground, one in each hand, and
put them slowly above her head. Farini
says that the putting up of an agile
gymnast is but child's play compared
with this putting up of lightweight.
Another difficult act accomplished by
the same gymnast is called +" the cross"
which consists in putting the hands into
two rings lowered by ropes, and then
raising the body, then extending both
arms, and so sustaining the body by
the horizontal arms. A few gymnasts
can do 1.-The onc-arm horizontal
blanche This is effected by extend
ing the body from the bar, supported
only by one hand grasping the bar with
the Enuckles downward. But Nathalie
can do this with either hand, and then
put the other hand behind her, and
take the bar with it, and hold the body
horizontal by that hand. ''Farini does
not know male athlete that can do
this; yet it is not knack; it is complete
either-handness coupled with gigantic
A sister of Nathalie has likewise ac-
quired amazing strength She once
made test of her powers in COMPETE
ton with twenty sailors. 1.-THE sailors
had slack rope; she had another.
The sailors had their choice of
the ropes. A sailor went up
as far as he could; the gym
mast went as high in her rope at the
same time. Sailor came down tired,
the lady fresh. Another sailor went
up, the lady ditto, and SO on. She wore
out the whole twenty, having gone up
an aggregate of feet higher than St.
Peter Church at Rome. This feat is
due to great strength, complete either
and the athletes power of
pinching rope with the sinews of the
lower limbs.''
Madam Senyah, who weighs about
100 pounds, will do the ordinary bust
ness of the trapczc, land then come
down the rope headforemost, twist one
leg round it, hang down by that leg,
put mouthpicce, with three leather
straps attached, in her mouth, and, jim
that position, head downward, and
hanging by one leg, hold three great
fellows dangling in the air for
ever SO long by her teeth" Mr.. Reade
that, on witnessing this per-
Torrance, there came to his mind a
sentence from the lesser Dumas, be-
ginning with, "Woman is a being so
etc.
If women who have not an excep-
tional frame can, by training, equal or
surpass men in the exploits of the GYM
mast, why cannot the entire sex be
lifted, by some system of judicious edu-
cation, combining exercise and n.y.
giene, out of their present pitiful con-
dition of feebleness? 1t is not desira-
BILE that they should develop their pow
ers wholly in the direction of muscle,
as the expert gymnast must; but it
would put a more hopeful look on the
present state and the future prospects
of the human race if women were to
develop an ability to do their half of
the work of life with the same physical
ease that men accomplish the rougher
and more tasking part. Health, vigor,
robustness, strength, are perfectly
with the essential sweetness,
and delicacy of womanhood;
and how important they are as factors
in the happiness and usefulness of the
female as well as of the male being!
Among the lower animals there is no
such difference in point of strength and
agility as has unfortunately been
brought about in the superior race.
The mother bird, for example, more
often than not performs the greater
share of the labor of building her nest
and rearing her young, while, in addi-
ton, she fulfills her peculiar maternal
functions Her mate wears the gayer
dress and has the more tuneful voice.
He makes more show and buster; but
the wear and tear of life fall heavier on
her, and she is equal to the exaction
through superior strength of nerve and
sine:v. Science is showing that if, in
the lower grades of organized beings,
there is difference in the relative
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