The Washington critic., 1888-04-07

srripPy and buoyant YOU must have q
etnec of power.
Note the difference in gestures:
See tho lifeless gestures Of heavy
spirited person, then OF one Joyous
and full of life and grace. The happy
spirited mind telepaphs TO every set
Of muscles that a certain member is
going 10 movetthey respond ioyously,
and when the member moves, then
you have lightncss and grace.
Il have arranged exercises for the
cure Of slight deformites--as the
natural shoulder-brace, for instance.
Shoulders become stopped by the
lengthening of the muscles n the
back and the shortening Of those in
the front. Take the natural pose,
which means standing erect, squarely
on your feet, with the hips thrown
back; then, with the elbows bent and
the muscles IN the arms and back
tense, revolve your arms in their
sockets.
Another thing--I nevertell any one
TO put her shoulders back, least Of all
q child, for it Immediately causes an
attachment between the mind and
shoulder TO spring up, and while the
shoulders are pushed back in an awk-
ward position the chest is sunkcn and
the attitude strained one. On the
contrTy ] say throw out the hips
there you have ease and strength and
perfect pose the head sets better on
its pedestal.
''The air bath is another point
make. Not one woman in hundred
knows how to breathe or washes out
her lungs with pure air--'nor.for that
matter-one man in hundred. The
great secret Of strength is being long
wlnded--that gives power of endur-
ance, and II is absolutely necessary If
you wish to retain your health 1t
requires sixty hogsheads Of fresh air
TO vitalize and oxygenize % healthy
body. And when You feel languid
and heavy be assured that you need
fresh air and plenty Of it.
Walking? Yes; that is an inn
portant subject, especially in the face
| Of the fact that our men and women
nearly all shuttle and skip and bob
along as if their bodies were put to-
gelher like those of jumping Jacks
There comes in the natural prose
aqain.-that basis Of all harmonious
action-and then the regulation of
| the length of the step in accordance
with the height Of the body"
Miss Thomas is very enthusiastic
| on this subject. She has made it q
science, and she herself illustrated
each movement she described with
infinite grace. She is tall, dark
haired woman, with strong, intel
lectual face and singuarly rich,
musical voice. She has made many
converts in New York, and her time
is very fully occupied lecturing to
clubs Of fashionable ladies, in schools
and to classes of working girls. She
has as well clubs ont of the city She
isa member Of the Sorosis' Club, and
last year, as chairman Of the Com
mittee on Education, she brought this
subject before the club for discussion.
That women need and desire some
way Of making firm their placid
muscles is fully evidenced by the
avidity with which they snatch up
every new form of exercise and re-
vive old ones. They are beginning to
realize that healthy, vigorous body
and a clear, well-balanced mind come
pretty near perfection, and they are
doing all in their power to attain
these. Many New York bellies are
disciples of Miss Thomas, and she
declares that she came very nearly
making ballet dancers of one club.
Three oper singers religiously prac-
ticc her exercises, and she has class
of fat women who are working off
ther superAuous flesh.