Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-25

MUST WOMEN BE INVALIDs?
Rational Dress and Plenty of Exercise
Better than Medicine.

From the Business Woman's Journal.
1t would surely be time well spent for such
women to learn some of the laws Of health and
wisdom to obey them. The first requisite for
this work is for them to dsabuse 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 demonstrated
times enough to satisfy any reasonable person
that if women would treat themselves ration
ally, 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 endurance
The wonderful achievements of many female
gymnasts. and the fact that in some countries
women are yoked with oxen to draw heavy
loads, demonstrates that they are susceptible
of great muscular development
While such extraordinary physical culture
may not be considered desirable yet these in
stances are reassuring in view of so much tes-
timony adduced to demonstrate that women
are unequal to ordinary work of either mind or
body, or even to that most feminine of occupa-
tlons-maternity.
There are, nowadays. many women who per-
sist i'll believing that invalidism was not the
original intention in their creation and that
their misfortunes are caused by art and not ma
ture. their OWE mistakes are not the creators
This is hopeful state of things: for when we
begin to look earnestly for causes there is rea-
son 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
nIp1SantlV inI :; 81
dress of childhood gives place to corsets and
tight dresses, and instead of an abundance of
exercise and air, they too often sit in heated
room from morning until night, crocheting,
sewing or reading, eating their meals irregu-
larly during the day, and nibbling candy at
convenient intervals. When they go out of
doors it is for a short slow walk and their ex-
| ercise consists in dance, which, perhaps, lasts
all night.
With no aim in life except to kill time and to
amuse themselves, Is 1t any wonder that their
health fails?
Many of the women now found in business
came from this class. Reverses of fortune, OF
dissatisfaction with this kind of life have
| induced them to undertake some kind of occu.
patton. The attempt to be of some use in the
world, so full of work. is soon rewarded by an
improvement in both health and spirits, proving
the truth OF Emerson's words. that "a high aim
Is curative as well as arnca."
But a life of work also has its risks and
dangers, which must be appreciated to be pre-
vented, and forewarned is forearmed. One
great danger to health is unsystematic exercise
over use and work of one part of the body until
it is abnormally developed at the expense OF
other parts, which are wholly neglected. There
| are two sources of danger in this-organs which
| are over-worked may, by over-fatigue. become
weakened but the parts which are neglected
may be the first to break down. Brain worker,
| are sometimes able to do their regular worl
when it. has become impossible for them tc
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 u:.aE!o TO eat or sleep. The despised
and overlooked members frequently assert
| themselves and compel us to consider their
claims.
Women who are making extraordinary efforts
TO become proficient III special direction,
must remember that nature does not sympa-
| thize with one-sded development but demands
fair treatment for every part. if 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 subject will enable each one to determine
the exercise which she most needs
Gymnasts understand this and examine care.
fully until they discover which are the weakest
muscles. Then by wisely-choscn exercises
they bring these unused and undeyeloped part.
up, until they are as strong as the rest After
this has been done, general exercise is safe anC
profitable. but by neglecting this precautior
much injury may be done to those inexperi
enced in physical culture.
Ten minutes spent in simple exercises, morn
ing and evening, Will do much to fortify on,
| tor the days work.