The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-08-09
How to Walk.

It may seem at first ridiculous to pro.
tend to teach grown people how to walk
as though they had not learned this in
infancy. But we arc willing to venture
the assertion that not one person in
twenty knows how to walk we'll. How
few people there are who do not feel
slightly embarrassed when obliged 10
walk across large room in which are
many persons seated 20 rs to observe
well each movement! How many pub
lie speakers there are who appear well
upon tho platform so long as they re-
main standing still, or nearly so, but
who become almost ridiculous ms soon
as they attempt to walk about Good
walkers are scarce. As we step along
the street, we are often looking out for
good walkers. and we find thom very
seldom. What Is good walkingP We
answer, easy. graceful, natural walking.
Nearly all tho good walkers thoro are
will be found among gentlemen. since
fashion insists on SO trammeling won.
IN that she cannot walk well, can scarce.
ly make a natural movement, in fact.
To walk naturally, requires the harmo-
NOUS action of nearly every muscle in
the body. A good walker walks all
over; not with universal swing and
swaggcr, as though each bone was a
pendulum with its own separate hang
ing but easy, gracefully. Not only the
muscles Of the lower limbs, but those OF
the trunk, even of the neck, as well AS
those Of the arms, are all called into ac-
ton rs natural walking. A person who
keeps his trunk and upper extrcmitie'
rigid while walking, gives one the i'm.
preston Of an automaton with pedal
eXtremitics set on hinges. Nothing
could be more ungraccful than the mine.
ing, wrigglng gait which the majority
of young ladies exhibit in their walk.
They are scarcely TO be held response.
bic, however, since fashion requires
them to dress themselves in such way
as to make it impossible TO walk other.
wise than awkwardly and unnaturally,
We cannot attempt to describe til,
numerous varieties of unnatural gaits
and will leave the subject with n few
suggestions about correct walking.
]. Hold the head erect, with I'll,
shoulders drawn back and the chi
drawn in. Nothing looks more awkwar,
and disagrccable than a person walkin,
with the head thrown back and the nos,
and chin elevated.
?. Step lightly and with elasticity
not with n lettering gait setting tn
loot down squarcly upon the walk AM
raising it sufficiently high to clear tn,
walk in swinging il forward. A shut
fling gait denotes shiltlcss character
But dc not 90 TO the other extreme
stepping along like horse with "strin!
halt" A person with firm, light
elastic gait, will walk much iarthc
without WEAKNESS than one who shut
flcs along A kind OF measured troa
or rhythm in the walk also seems to al
to the power of endurance, although
for persons who have long distances [
travel, an occasional change in the tim
will be advantageous,
3. In walking, do not attempt 10 kcc
any part OF tie body rigid, but leave n
free to adapt themselves to the varyin
circumstances which constant chang
of position occasions. The arms natu
ally swing gently, but not Violently
The object Of this is to maintain ii
balance of the body, as also by the gcr
tie swinging motion TO aid in propel
ing the body along.
Correct walking should be cultivate,
II ought TO hc taught along with ar
and sciences. In our military schoo
it is taught; but these schools can lie ;
tended hy hut few. lnyalids, cspccIa
~, should take great pains TO learn
walk well, rs by so doing they will ga
more than double the amount of bcnci
they will otherwise derive from the c
crciSe. Home lieut. BOOk