Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-03
NEW ERA IN ATHLETICS.

Girls as Well Boys Making Rapid
Progress In Physical Development.
The Town and Country club, of which
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe is president, met
at the summer residence of Lyman G.
Jesephs, of New York. Mr.. John S.
White, head master of the Berkeley
school, New York, read paper upon the
new athletics. He said III substance that
the new era of athletic training upon
which we have entered bears good It'd
ings of health and strength to women
even more than men. The improvement
in the physical condition of the Ameri-
cal girls of today is as striking as it is
gratifying. You no longer hear the
criticism which was made twenty years
ago by visitors from abroad that the wo-
men of our country are weak and in
ferior in stature.
Almost every girl of 16 or II years of
age whom you meet is taller than her
mother. Ten years ago it was not fash
ionable fora woman to have a waist of
proper size; nowadays too small waist
is considered aTspecies Of physical de-
formity. 1t has often been said that
American women as rule do not walk
we'll Close observers will find, how
ever, that there has been a very great
improvement in this respect in the last
four or five years, and the majority of
our girls are ambitious to have good
figure, and graceful carriage from the
physiological standpoint.
This wholesome change has been
brought about by the better opportun-
itieswhich women now have to indulge
in physical training and exercise. One
year ago the first athletic club in the
world for women was established in
New York city. The limit of 500 mem
bers was reached in six months, and
already facilities are being added by
which the membership may be increased.
The interest which American girls have
begun to take in gymnastic training is at
once reflection and counterpart of the
extraordinary development of athletic
sports among the young men of the coun-
try. II girl once experiences the ex-
hilaration which comes from physical
exercise. when taken under proper con-
ditions and in suitable dress which
allows freedom Of motion, you may trust
her never to injure herself by tight lac
ing or by wearing uncomfortable gar
ments of any description.
There are three things which every
girl ought to learn how to do-to swim,
to fence. and to hold her weight easily
with her arms. Lawn tennis has done
more to develop among girls taste for
outdoor sports than have all other exer-
cises combined. We sometimes hear of
cases Of injury from over indulgence in
this sport, but where one is injured
hundred are benefited. The injury is not
the fault of the sport, but is due to care
.lessness and over exertion at improper
times. a danger which should be guarded
against in all exercise.
The old fashioned idea that girl to
be ladylike must not run or walk rapidly
is fast disappearing. Until recently,
said the speaker, we could not be said in
America to have any national system of
gymnastics. The system Of heavy gym
nastics of DR.. Winship, of Boston, and
the other extreme, the light calisthenics
of Dio Lewis, were not altogether sue
cessful. although the name of Dio Lewis
will surely hold very high place in the
annals of physical training and in the
educational system of America, for to no
one individually more than to him is
due the credit of stimulating keen and
abiding interest in physical exercise
Boston Herald.