The Red Cloud chief., 1881-07-14
Out. Door Exercise for Women.

Some years since. the wife of a
wealthy Tennessee banker, after trying
a variety of remedies for dyspepsia and
other ailments, consulted a physician
noted for plain common sense and small
doses of physic. He told her if she
would split the wood for the family it
would cure her. Woodhouses are I'M
known in Tennessee, or were at that
time, and of course the wood splitting
must be done in the open air. The
lady procured an axe suited to her
hand. and applied herself to the task,
beginning with q few sticks each day,
and increasing the number as she grew
stronger. Gradually her ailments all
disappeared and her health became ex-
uberant. When we knew her twenty
five years ago, with a house full of serv-
ants, and practically unlimited wealth
al command. she still did all the wood
splitting for the family, and bid fair to
double the half century in age. she. had
already attained. Doubtless the taking
her exercise in the open air had quite
as much to 10 with her recovery as the
mere muscular labor had.
1t is said by an English physician Of
eminence that every servant in an
English family of the middle and lower
classes of society costs the life Uf q
child. BY so much as the mother is
raised above the necessity of labor is
she rendered incapable of producing a
numerous and healthy offspring. In the
ranks of nobility, where a large estab-
lishment with its fun complement of
servants leaves the lady of the house
ample leisure for Notwithstanding and
the athletic outdoor exerc SEES. of which
English women are provcrbially fond,
this rule does not apply. In every
country the women who exercise ac-
lively in the open air either from choice
or necessity are tho most healthful, the
most happy Of their sex.
There is nothing more ircsome, moth
ing more wearing, than the roetine Of
indoor work that many women feel
themselves compelled 10 follow year
after year. They walkfrom the pantry
to the workable, to the stove, to the
sink; they 60 down ccllar and upstairs,
and pass from the dining.room to the
kitchen and back again. and thus their
days go by. The spring comes and
goes, but they do not take time to
breathe in its beauty and fts fragrance;
summer comes and goes. bet leaves no
rich memories in their hearts Of its
splendor: the leaves take on oil the
gorgeous hues of the rainbow and fall,
but they have no time for even a brief
autumnsi intoxicatinn; and the delicate
though often stesa beauty of winter is
winter Is quite wasted on them. such
women need of all things something
that will force them ont Of doors. that
will compel them to open their lungs,
their eyes, their sonIs % the fresh life
and inspiration dwelling under the
roofess sky. Having eyes they see not,
having eAnsthey hear. not. neither do
they understand what treasures of
beauty, Of harmony, Of wisdom. the
trees. the towers, the birde. the winds,
the sunshine would make them absolute
owners Of it they would but consent to
sit in Nature 3 lap and listen 10 her
muftitudinous voices
This sitting need not be idle. Out
of-door industry may be quite as profit
able money-wisc as indoor industry.
There is more profit in small fruits than
in embroiGeries. There is moro money
in bee-keeping than in knitting and
sewing. One can do n~eed'e-work in
the winter when compelled 10 stay m
doors. Flower culture in the vicinity
of cities and villages pays we'll Many
women are expert gardene1 md reel-