The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-07-10
MUST WOMEN Dc lNvAI.lpss


Rational Dress and PIsnty Of Exercise Bet
ter Than Medicine.
Itwould surely be time we'll spent for
such women to learn some of the laws
of health aud wisdom to obey them.
The first requisite for this work is for
them to disabuse their minds Of the
idea that women are by nature feeble
and that efforts to change the prevailing
conditions are futile because contrary
to natural laws.
1t would seem to have been. demon
strated times enough to satisfy any
reasonable person that if women would
treat themselves nationally vigorous
health would be easily within their
reach; indeed, their present condition,
Notwithstanding the many ways in
which they outrage their bodies, proves
that they have great powers of en-
durance.
The wonderful achievements of many
female gymnasts and the fact that in
some countries women are yoked with
oxen to draw heavy loads demon
strates that they are susceptible Of
great muscular development.
1 While such extraordinary physical
culture may not be considered desira.
Bile, yet these instances are reassuring,
in view Of so much testimony adduced
to demonstrate that women are UNI
equal to ordinary work of either mind
or body, or even to that most feminine
of occupations-maternity.
There are nowadays women who
persist in believing that invalidism was
not the original intention in their
creation, and that their misfortunes
are caused by art and not by nature,
their own mistakes and not the
Creators. This is hopeful state of
things, for when we begin to look
earnestly for causes there is reason to
believe that remedies. or better still,
preventives, will be forthcoming.
1t is beginning to be understood
that the trouble commences far back
in girlhood. when the child exchanges
for indoor occupations, rolling hoop
and playing tag. and other amuse.
ments which exercise the muscles in
the fresh air at the same time that
they keep the mind pleasantly occu-
pied. AT this period the rational dress
of childhood gives place to corsets and
tight dresses, and instead of an
abundance of exercise and air they toe
often sit in a heated room from morn.
ing until night crocheting, sewing. oil
reading, eating their meals irregularly
during the day, and nibbling candy Al
convenient intervals. When they 20
out of doors it Is for ashort, slow walk
and their exercise consists in d dance,
which perhaps lasts all night.
With no aim in life except to kill
time and to amuse themselves. is il
any wonder that their health failsp
Many of the women now found In
business came from this class. Re.
verses of fortune, or dissatisfaction
with this kind of life, have induced
them to undertake some kind of oc-
cupation. The attempt to be of some
use in the world. so full of work, il
soon rewarded by an Improvement in
both health and spirits, proving the
truth of Emerson's words, that "a
high aim is curative as we'll as arnica. y
But life OF work also has its risks
and dangers, which must be aupre-
ciated to be prevented. andforawarned
Is forearmed. One great danger to
health is unsystematic exercise, over
use and work of one part of tho body,
until 1t is abnormally developed at the
expense of other parts, which are
wholly neglected. There are two
sources of danger in this--organs
which are overworked may, by over
fatigue, become weakened, but the
parts which are neglected may be the
first to break down. Brain workers
are sometimes able to do their regular
work when it has become impossible
for them to digest their food or keep
their feet warm. George Eliot used to
sit and write with her feet on hot
brick, and Carlyle could write when
he was unable to eat orsleep The de-
spised and overlooked members fire.
Quently assert themselves and compel
US to consider their claims.
Women who are making extraordi-
nary efforts to become proficient in Q
special direction must remember that
nature does not sympathize with one
sided development, but demands fair
treatment for every part, II we would
have that even balance which we call
health.
This should be borne in mind when
we choose our recreations.
An entire change will be found to be
the greatest rest. The members and
muscles which have no part in our
regular work must be brought into
action. A little thought upon this sub
ject will enable each one to determine
the exercise which she most needs.
Gymnasts understand this and ex-
anime carefully until they discover
which are the weakest muscles. Then
by wisely chosen exercises they bring
these unused and undeveloped parts
up until they are as strong as the rest.
After this has been done general exer-
else is safe and profitable, but by neg
lecting this precaution much injury
may be done to those inexperienced in
physical culture.
Ten minutes spent in simple exer-
cises morning and evening will dc
much to fortify one for the days work.