Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-03-27
ATHLETICS FOR WOMEN.
The Only Way I'm Which They Can Over
come tho Evils of Ln-Door Lie.

ATHLETICS FOR WOMEN.
The Only Way in which They Can Over
come tho Evils of Indoor Life.
Among the infant nations Of the
world woman was expected to share
the labors of the field with her lord.
The exotic conditions of pernicious
civilization, as wealth accumulated
and luxury grew, imposed trammels
on woman and relegated her to the
enervating confinement of the house,
in order that she might preserve
more delicate and pleasing form for
the qualification of man returning after
the days toll. Woman was, however,
originally intended to be much more
competent companion and helpmate
than the selfishness of man will con-
cede. So long as a community re-
manned pastoral and nomadic, SO sure
~ did woman retain a physical devel-
opment equal and perfect as that of her
mate. Thus, we find that Atlanta was
as feet OF foot as any of her male COM
panions. and not until she allowed her
cupidity to get the better of her judg-
ment, while striving to secure the
golden apples dropped by Hippomenes
during the race, was she vanquish-
ed. That woman was once as skill
full as man in the practice and
art of venery was symbolized by the
fact that men did not deem it un-
worthy to worship a virgin huntress,
and called upon Diana to lend them
her knowledge and support in the
chase. That war even claimed their
services is evidenced by Herodotus
and other ancient historians; and al
though the proves OF the doughty
Amazons, who, in order that they
might not be impeded in the use
of the bow, mutilated their right
breasts, may be ia a great measure
mythical, still such testimony goes to
prove eonclusively that woman, while
perhaps not endowed with the same
brute strength as man, can be his peer
in most games, pastimes, and recrea-
tions that call for dexterity and quick
ness of hand, foot, and eye. No one
can gainsay the fact that the long
continued seclusion of our fair sisters
from sports and exercises has un-
doubtedly 1puch deteriorated the phys
ical stamina of the female race, at
least il civilized countries. They are
not capable of undergoing the fatigue,
exertiou and exposure nature intended
they sh ould; they are victims of many
ailments that have become hereditary
to their sex simply from inaction.
They are not q am talking now
of the upper and leisure classes
of civilized society more especially
in as thoroughly a healthy physical
condition to sustain the burdens of
maternity, and its consequent strain
upon the system, as they ought to be,
as it was intended by nature they should
be, and as they undoubtedly would be
If healthy exercise was more univer-
sally prevalent among the sex. If any
reader doubts this statement he has
only to analyze the statistics of any
European nation that bear upon this
subject to be convinced. Happily, the
Uducl ul ISSuIGS VI I'LL Au-uOOF Lie Vi III
action have been realized before its
effects have become ineradicable, and
the growing superiority of the physical
development of the Anglo-Saxon over
her Latin sister is due chiefly to the
revival of athletic outdoor exercise
among the women of this family. En-
glish girls may surely claim the lead
in the good work of athletic regenera-
ton. They are closely followed by
their fair sisters and rivals on this side
of the Atlantic, and both are head and
shoulders ahead of the daughters Of
France, Germany and other continental
nations.-Charles E. Clay, in Outing.