The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-01-23
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
Young Women Who Show q Desire for the
Development of Their Strength.

Young Women Who Show q Desire for the
Development of Their Strength.
1T is notable fact, just at the present
time" remarked Prof. D. L. Dowd, who
is proprietor of school for physical cul-
ture, and whose record of lifting 1,4l2
pounds has never been equaled, when
reporter called on him, ''that young
women are becoming more than ever
before interested in physical develop
ment. There is shown among women
a marked desire to become physically
stronger. Heretofore the general idea
among them was that physical culture
was only for men and meant coarseness
and abnormal development of the mus
cles. But now they are beginning to
understand the subject better. There
has been very apparent change in THE
respect among them recently. Why
the last year have had about fifty
women, young and old, exercising reg
ularly here, and more come to inquire
about the subject in one season now
than did formerly in two years time. E"
"What kind of exercise do they most
prefer" was asked.
ut isn't so much what they prefer,
but what is best for them. The only
way to properly exercise is to do it sys-
tematically, and we have regular
course arranged for this purpose. First
we take a measurement of the different
parts of the body. We generally start
off with chest exercise, then the waist,
then the limbs. Some ladies have
medical examination to ascertain if they
are in sound condition, or to learn If
there are any weak spots in their body
that should have extra exercise, partic-
ularly regarding thu heart and lungs.
If any weak spots are found, these are
strengthened first. From experience,
we find that, as rule, the chief defects
in the constitutions of the young women
of the present day are weaknesses of
the back, and waist, and next the arms.
Their preferences here are for chest
developing exercise, and they seem to
detest most that which develops the
waist-they don't want large waists"
"Have you any records of what your
young lady pupils have done during the
exercisingP"
II do not keep any, for the pupils do
not like the idea of having it talked
about. But l can give you several One
young lady who was exercising here be-
came so strong that she lifted on the
health lift seven hundred pounds. An
other, who took to vaulting, who
was only nineteen years old, vault
ed five feet. This was a splendid
leap for woman. Last year
young girl began exercising who was
twelve years old, but who weighed
ninety-eight pounds. She began here
because she was threatened with curva-
ture of the spine. In six months she
grew three inches in height and her
chest girth was increased in its expan-
sion two inches, making her chest ex-
pansion four inches. This was remark
able when you take into consideration
that the average chest expansion is only
about two inches. A young woman,
about twenty years old, who was
partly paralyzed through shorthand
writing and telegraphing, began exer-
cising short time ago, and is now quite
well and strong. Special work for every
muscle on the surface of the body is the
only sure way of successful exercising"
N Y Mail and cypress.