Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-22
EXERCISE FOR GIRLS.
MARION HARLAND ON THE PHYSICAL
TRAINING OF YOUBG WOMEN.
Some CaIisthsnios in Which Women Can
Indulgs-gxerci,s Found in House
Observation-Disclosures.
For IN, Observation-Disclosures. 1sss.l

whv certain kinds OF bodily exercise
that ia profit man should not be par
ticipsted in by our sex. The limitations
OF popular essay, however familiar in
tone. exclude over-plainness Of speech.
II Our Girl would read and comprehend
why her tripartite nature needs more
judicious management than her brother s
simpler organism, let her consult the
law and the prophets rs represented by
the many valuable trcatises written Tor
her express benefit.
1t may not he invidious TO single out
from among n score or more OF these as
pleasant aud helpful reading "Hygiene
for Girls by lrenaus Davis, VI. d.
trust, furthermore, that no one will mis-
conslrue the reference to a work into
which put year of life and more earn
est. loving thought for my sex than | can
ever express in any other manner. / al
Jude to " Ewes Daughters" the motto
OF which volume might well be Know
Thyself " the simplest and most solemn
lesson ever set for tho race.
Custom is not so tyrannlcal to women
as she is usually supposed to he. The
division of daily labor. rs tacitly decreed
by the ordinary routine OF the house
hold, is wisely appointed. Man "goeth
forth unto his. from the morning even
unto toe evening. Wet feet, damp
clothing, the straining, lifting, and stand
ing at desk and in Workshop. incidental
or unavoidable in the discharge of bust
ness duties. sre. at the worst, but incen-
yeHieRce and fatigue 10 hin, while they
would work positive injury to a woman.
Thoughtful Psychologists account what
ia cassed "a light housework" among
the most heslthful occupations of girls.
SWEEPING.
Sweeping. when properly done, IS an
important branch OF cslisthenics. To
this end one should dress for the task as
in the gymnnsium-in elastic Jersey
basque or waist and short skirts. Ac-
coutrcd thus, with her hair put away
under n cap, Our Girl should open at
least one window OF the apartment
cleared for action, and begin, with long,
steady, sl1,c strokes. 10 sweep the dam
peued dust toward the centre Of the
floor The exercise brings into play all
the muscles OF the trunk without nn
fair stress upon any one set, while the
pacing to and fro As the rubbish is col
locted 10y the bosom in the middle Of the
chamber ready for whisk and dust-pan
edualizes circulation in the lower part OF
the body. The broom should be long
hsndied and care be taken not to stoop
while pl'ing 1t.
Bed-making, except in the initial stage
Of turning h6avy mattresses, is heGlthful
and not ungracoful work. so is busting
when 4 square of cheesecloth or other
soft fabric Is employed to remove the
dust and carry itaway. ] make tho pro-
viso. because the act OF vhisking of
the powdery PARTICLES with n feather
brush is scattering abroad, not gather
Ing. They whirl into the air and set
tie again IN a few minutes, fair pro-
portien OF them finding Judgment IN
s..in-pores and lungs. busting cannot
he too quietly and thoroughly done. The
windows on the side OF the room from
which the wind does not blow should
always, II possible. be open while 1t Il
going on. Women lose much OF the
specific advantage OF homework by con
Quoting it in stufy, sirlees chambers.
Dust, in such circumstances, is a syno-
nym for disease. Should the flow OF
cold air be So eagerly crisp AS to mako
the worker move srislAly to keep warm,
all tho better. Many a conscientious
holder Of hygienic principles who leaves
her pale mother 10 we~ through with
the bulk Of the days drudqery, or COM
mits the cleansing Of the home to ire
sronsiblc hirelnRs while she sesks health
ina long constitutional abroad, would
have gained her end as surely, il not as
apreeably. had she borne her share in the
homely toll.
WALKING.
But, the Homework accomplished, Our
Girl must Walk-nOt saunter-in the free,
boundless outer air every day.
"Give ice an errand as rGison
6'oHlr :" pleaded one upon whom the
duty was urged. GA walk without an
object is a bore / must hope to fad
pot of moaey al the end of my rainbow"
There is always an object, priceless
beyond ruoies, at the end OF the walk.
Vigor Of body and clearuess OF thought
firm grace OF figure elasticity Of limb
roses for the cheek and light for the ewes.
The women who never walk when they
can ride need not announce the dis
graceful preferences. There is a drag OF
the feet, slsuch Of the whole body, &
"sag" OF the facial muscles, that are the
certain consequences OF the evasion OF
that one OF natures laws which sets peo-
]
them before they can talk.
The best walker ever saw was hope
lesslv PLAIN OF feature-hy inheritance
vet the soiourners in the mountain hotel
where she was passing the summer
crowded TO the windows to see her cross
the lawn or go down the road. Her
skirts were OF modest length, Just
clearing the instep; she wore stout boots
that were we'll fitted and trim ; as she
trod, she cast tho whole weight OF her
body on the ball of the foot, rising very
slightly on the toe. She held herself
perfectly erect, yet not stifiy; chest eI-
banded, shoulders down and back
her motion reminded one of the
straight flight of bird, the
sweep Of canoe
of all swift and graceful things
never recalling the lounge, or slide, or
hitching bounce. or pigeOn-like perk.
that 90 for walking with the beyies OF
well-dressed women one meets every
hour on street and road. Watch the tide
tumsling and bubbling along the great
thOroughfares Of our cities on fine al
ternoon ii you would falsify or confirm
the assertion that not one woman IN a
thousand uses her lower limbs well, or
cares to learu how to employ them in
any exercise except dancing. Where
one strikes out " freely and fearlessly
the nine hundred and ninety-sDd-nine
shuttle, lunge, bob, and waddle.
Men know it, if women do not. Ask
your grown brother with how many girls
he can keep step on q smooth pavement
without feeling as if he were hoppled
how often he has to execute the half-step
that RECEIVERS the rhythmic pace royalty
disregardcd by his fair companion.
Some years ago petition was circu-
lated among the owners OF large city
shops asking that the saleswomen in
these might 90 allowed seats behind the
counfar for nea in tha rauses of active