Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-07
HEALTH AND EXERCISE.
Why the Young Ladies OF America
arc LangUid and Dropping.

Bertha Won Hillern, the noted female pedes-
trian who used to walk in Washington, contri-
butes to the last number of the Youths COM
pdniOn the following sensible remarks about eX-
ercise for young ladies:
One of the problems of the age is to discover
the cause why women cannot pursue the same
course of studies with men, and not. break
down by the way, or invalid themselves for the
future if they keep ON. 1t seems to have been
pretty well proved that they have the intellec-
tual power to grasp the same studies. and when
they break down it is not because they have
gone beyond their intellectual but their physical
strength. Could | have, for one year before
their graduation. control of six young women
who have begun TO faint and fall and of six of the
most healthy and active of the young men, l
would show the tables turned. Let the young
man, for twelve months, be forced to lead the
kind of life these ''broken down" girl-students
have led; let the young women gradually fall
into the number of hours of outdoor exercise
their brothers have had. and the result will be
six pallid and dropping young men shall come
up to take their degrees and six rosy checked,
smiling young girls shall come up for theirs,
with health enough left to make long and hap
Ply use Of the stores of knowledge they have
treasured up.
To ask the tired schoolgirl or the more weary
teacher to take a walk seems to invite them
to a mOnOtonOus effort, of the good of which
they are only half convinced. of the pleasure
even less SO; but once let it be known what
pleasures are open to the habitual pedestrian,
and the ranks OF the walking students would
fill rapidly. 1t is said that girls break down in
their studies not only because the studies are
too severe, but because tired as they are, the
natural craving for excitement leads them to
evening parties and amusements which still fur
ther tax the failing strength, and so crusade is
preached against excitement. But the craving for
it remains, and youth, however ambitious, will
still demand to beamused; the only way is to pro-
vide means of healthy excitement, and this
lies far more in the possibilities of walk than
those who have not experienced it would read
lily believe.
Had time to take charge of party Of young
people for a few weeks vacation in the White
Mountains, for example, l believe l could show
them how to get pleasure out of walk that
would astOnish them.
Let us suppose ourselves about to take a
walk up mountain side. But first let us be
prepared with soft. strong boots, broad enough
to give the feet full play, with wide, low heels.
Let the dress be flannel, made SO as to give en-
tire freedom of action to limbs and lungs, and
short enough to keep out Of the dust and mud.
If exposed to the direct action OF a hot sun,
white cloth, dry, inside the hat, is the best pro-
lection for the head.
most as upright as when walking on a level; the
slightest help gained by throwing the body far
ther forward is more than counterbalanced by
the extra strain upon the muscles of the back
CduSilg, DdckdCue, anu JHe CTaInplnS OF the
lungs resulting in short, painting breath.
From time to time take long. slow breath,
Expanding the lungs to their fullest capacity.
IN leaping over streams, or in any jumping try
TO avoid jerk; SO much injury can be done to
the delicate human machinery by any shock
(mental or physically that it is worth while to
give little time to the practice Of leaping in
order to learn to do it smoothly. The great point
istO let the whole body remain supple; then when
we land upon our feet the body retains its
springiness, and does not come down like log
of wood
Do not drink cold water when Overheated; if
cold water is taken, hold it in the mouth until
the chill is off before swallowing, and If you
must sit down for rest, walk gently little
while before stopping; neuer allow yourself to
cool suddenly after being overheated.
Some of the ladies of my acquaintance who
are now the best walkers were few years ago
pitful invalids. Through carefully acquired
habit OF exercising in the open air, they are now
| in perfect heath-capable of great endurance
and rapid recuperatiOn. 1t seems to me, could
l have the personal control of one hundred
delicate wOmenfOr year, that could bring ninety
OF them at least to condition of health before
the year was over.
1t has been said that in this country walking
| Is not practicable; that there are no proper
roads or paths that our rude and changing
| weather, our mud and dust and winds, are al
| most insurmountable objections.
l have been thrown by circumstances into
nearly every variety Of adverse surroundings
with regard to walking in this country, and I
have yet to find In any part of the United States
| or the British provinces. where l could not
walk from ten to twenty miles at almost any
season, with no more serious inconvenience
than might be safely borne by any young girl
| In ordinary health who had habit of out-of-
door exercise