Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-17
Coughs. Hoarseness. sore
a Question Of Physical Develop

= NNAAN8NA0a " "-NsAA -
meuf.
New York Tribune.
DR.. Die Lewis has invited tie in,
dignant protests Of the fair daughters
of Erin by asserting that at q ball in
Queenstown some years ago he had an
opportunity of observing $50 Of these
ladies, and that, although they we're
very pretty and graceful" he had
never in America seen 100 young
women together with arms so fiat and
thin. This is bold enough, but be
proceeds They belong to the idle
class. and all the world over women Of
the idle class have spindle arms and
thin chests, unless they become merely
tat, which, with their weak muscles,
is a sad embarrassment"
OF course this is the prologue to a
vigorous appeal in behalf Of exercise,
and there can be no question that ex-
ercise and physical work are beneficial
and that strong muscles, full chest
and physical besuty," as DR.. Lewis
puts it, may be produced by judicious
employment Of these means But is
it not mistake to suppose
that "all the world over women OF
the idle class have spindle arms and
thin ehests2" And is it not mistake to
assume that want of exercise is the
sole explanation forsueh defeotive de-
velopment? Most persons who have
travelled must have observed many
facts conflicting with DR.. Lewis the
DRY. In England and Ireland general
observation would certainly not lead
to the conclusion that women Of the
idle class are imperleetly developed
Il is indeed true that in these coun
tries such women take q great deal OF
exercise; that they employ various
methods for the development Of their
biceps and deltoid muscles. But apart
from the European habits Of outdoor
and muscular exercise, it ia probably
demonstrable that the so called idle
women as a class inherit vigorous
bodies, and that, as we'll because they
are well nourished, breathe pure air.
sleep we'll, and take plenty Of exer
else, they are, as a rule, thoroughly
developed physically, and not, as bio
Lewis soys, spindle armed and thin
chested.
And we think also that climate and
soil have something to do with the
development Of the physique and that
this eau be made manifest by reference
to differences Of climate on this cont.
nent. When the Eastern resident
goes to California, for example, he
finds in San Francisco a race OF people
presenting marked differences from
the Eastern type The sAlloWness,
leannesS and angularity Of the typical
Yankee have disappeared, and every.
where are secs rosy faces ADD plump,
yell,flled forms. The purity and
dryness Of the air Of interior California
do not produce the same effects. But
San Francisco is bathed perennially in
sea,breezes and ses.fogs laden with
iodine and ozone, and although the
idle class Of women there are no fonder
Of exercise than their sisters on this
side Of the continent, they do acquire
there that Toundnes5 Of physical con-
tour which is commonly associated
with English and Irish women. But
indeed the evidence in support Of the
influence ofclimate aud soil the human
organism is considerable. Thus it has
been well ascertained that the inhab,
itants Of limestone formation are apt
to possess particularly well>knit osse-
Gus systems, while the inhabitants of
marshy ground are apt to be spare and
lean 10 the same way mountain lite
modifes the organism, enlarging and
Strengthening the muscular system
aud the pulmonary organs, while resi-
dence within the belt of sea air
has the effect OF improving the quality
Of the skin and bestOwing GOOD com
plexiOns, Indeed, the influence of
locality, soil and climate, and that OF
heredity, must be taken into account
before anything like a trustworthy
vie v can be obtained OF the question
Of physical development.
Mere exercise, without proper
nourishment, or without the prime
requirements o. healthy constitution
to start with, or without pure air, or
without due regard to the amount Of
interest taken 10 the work, cannot be
expected to effect the Transformation
promised by DR. Dio Lewis. There
are, no doubt, many thousands Of
women. 10 this aud other counties.
who never can attain the physical
development they would wish to pos,
sess, because they are lacking in some
OF the many qualifications which it is
beyond their poEer TO supply. New
ertheless, even the feeblest aud puni
est can improve their physical condi,
ton to an eppreeiable extent By
systematic and judiCiously conducted
exercise, and therefore the advice Of
Dr.. Lewis should not be neglected
because he happens to have made
cOnaa raNh - 49,. -. =.