Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-29
GIRLS IN A GYMNASIUM.
Steps Taken to Secure the Development
of Feminine Muscle.

There VASES jolly rafting among the dry
bones of indifference tophysical culture among
womankind in this city yesterday afternoon,
and when the appointed hour came for the
meeting to discuss ways and means of organ
izing class for that purpose it was numer-
ously attended. The hour was 4:3O pm and
the place the residence of Miss Jennie Ed
wards, at No. 1912 Corcoran street. The ath-
letic enthusiasts are not limited to any one age,
as there were present yesterday company in
which were commngled pretty school girls in
their early teens in short frocks, turbans and
braided hair, ladies in the twenties and thir-
ties and a few In gray hairs. Miss Bessie H.
Blount, the younger Of the two sisters who are
doing the pioneer work of the organization.
explained to the assembled women what she
had accomplished in her undertaking. She
has been promised by the regular instructor in
gymnastics at the Y.M.C.A. rooms that she
shall have the use of the associa ton gymnasium
rooms and his instruction on Tuesdays and
Saturdays of each week and for the hours be-
tween l and o'clock the first hour for prac-
tice and the second hour for class instructions
II she could raise q club of twenty members.
The meeting of yesterday demonstrates that
several classes Of that number can be organized
from those who are anxious to take the exer-
clses. From the spirit manifested at yester-
days meeting prophetic soul could without
difficulty see in the near future beautiful
temple, in the Greek style, raised and dedica-
ted entire by grateful fathers. brothers and
husbands, to the use of woman for her physical
perfection.
WOMEN IN THE DEPARTMENT..
Letters were received yesterday by Miss
Blount from women who could not attend the
meetings promising the support of the writers
and their friends in the project. There was also
plea from women in government employ in
which it was asked that class be arranged for
an hour that would not exclude those who were
engaged until after 4 o'clock and for whom the
benefits OF gymnasium are especially desir-
able.
The gymnastics proposed for the fair athletes
will not be of a violent character, but rather a
sort of advanced calisthenics. something more
heroic than what is ordinarily taught in the
schools. They will swing Indian clubs of a
light weight throw dumb bells and rings, pose
under the grace wands and use the appliances
generally of the masculine gymnast.
coRsETs AND SKIRTS.
The question of dress is an important one, as
the main barrier in the way of the feminine
athlete is that she won't take off her corset and
she cannot exercise with the steel jacket on
These young women have taken the resolve to
adopt proper dress for the exercise, and have
guaranteed that the members of the club will
conform to that rule of hygiene that forbids
COMPRISING garments about the vital organs
while in the gymnasium, at least. The pro-
posed costume is to be of blue cloth blouse
waists, skirts aud trousers to the knee, hosiery
and tennis shoes. A protest was made by some
of the ladies present for skirts a little longer
than the regulation, which was granted
Miss Biount wishes to arrange for the first
meeting of the class as a class on Saturday,
November 2, at the Y.M.C.A., and for the con-
Guiding arrangements meeting will be held
on Wednesday, the Goth instant. at 80 D. m,
at No. 1916 Massachusetts avenue. to which all
who are interested in the matter are invited.