Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-01
tCopyrighted 1901

"If You only had ten pounds Of flesh more
about you what q charming woman you would
bel" III You only weren't so like q feather
pillow stuffed into a corset you would be ire
sistible." How many women have you to hear
such criticism from lips licensed to pronounce
1t, OF their nearest, most familiar friends.
Truth telling isn't always pleasant, but it is
unmistakably wholesome and nicer TO take than
fattery in the long run. II ia like the bromides
and stirring Of the sea which keeps its waters
fresh, while the undisturbed cisterns Of our
minds are overgrown by fungus Of vanity and
slime. My dear madam, when your friends try
to persuade you that you look just as well
with l6O pounds inside your corsets they are
simply guying you. no matter if they half be-
lleve or try to believe what they say There
are no friends SO false as those who love us too
much to see us clearly or to tell us the truth
Emerson never said keener thing than when
he bade us to heed well the opinion of our
enemies, for they are most likely to tell us the
truth about ourselves. For myself the opinion of
friends is always like a dubious bank bill, to be
scrutinized on both sides and viewed with
DOUBT till verified by some dry old cashier of
understanding.
TO RETAIN AFFECTION.
So many women write to know how they
shall regain the lapsing regard Of their hus-
bands that begin to feel like o sort of feminine
Oolah, whose Office is to prevent divorces and
reconcile arrangements. The matter is in
their own hands if they knew it. To good
quantities they must add outward attractiveness
and that vivacity which increases attraction
with each year of life. In the same house where
TINS is written lives lady ninety three years
OLD, whose French blood and gentle training in
the best society of the city have left her active
and charming at this advanced age. Her dark
quick eyes, her expression, are still hu-
morous and winning, her keen repartees
have lost neither salt nor spice, and
even her pressing is delicious, better
than other peoples wit sometimes. The pref
tiest thing Is the attachment between her
and generous young fellow, an orphan since
in love with the gentle old lady and hangs about
her and pays her hundred tender unconscious
attentions, which she repays by looks of love-
ardent, frank and mischevous enough to
make any womans face bewitching. She was
not married till she was thirty-two; she has
had ten children, lost five and her husband
and met reverses, but true-hearted, quick and
amiabie. she is the eifn godmother Of the
household still, brimful of fun and affection.
Curious, If one were to recommend phiiter
to win and keep almost any mans regard, it
would be those last three words. They COM
mental and moral gifts. And let me me here
remind you that Fortune does not give her
favOrs; she sells them"
WEIGHT AND PROPORTION.
just exactly what is physical well-being, in
weight and proportion? The table for a mans
weight given by the best authorities is this:
An adult with stature Of feet inches should
weigh 126 pounds; feet 8 inches, 1873 pounds;
increasing three pounds for each inch up to 5
feet inches, which should weigh l55 pounds:
feet 10 inches should be 1863 and feet l7S
pounds weight, which is full heavy enough for
activity and looks. A woman should weigh at
least 20 to 25 pounds less than q man of
the same height, at her best For one
thing, a mans hard muscles and larger
bone Will weigh more, Of the same
apparent size. woman's large lungs. which
give fullness to the bust and elasticity of motion
will render her lighter than her seeming size
II there is one charm more than another which
hXes the regard Of men it is light, graceful
motion. The physiological and chronological
books used to teach that the person, man or
woman, who moved about like a pocket zephyr
could not amount to as much as the heavier
type with solid tread, but experience proves
the danger of carving theories too far, for
there is physical quality which outdoes mere
power III foot pounds. The electric quality in
man or woman outdoes size, and your light.
airy creature, whom everybody holds light as
her motion, will reach her aim and endure
more than yodr solid, maneuvering. calculating
woman 1t Is electricity against cast-iron pro-
jectiles.
EXCESS OF FLESH.
One-twentieth the weight should be fat in a
man, one-sixteenth in a woman. This fat
serves as light elastic packing for the organs,
which 1t protects from outward pressure and
Ietains the heat of the body. Its use as a store
OF reserve strength is doubtful, as the waste Of
strength carrying around super1uous tissue
outdoes any possible gain. In contrast to this
weight tha br
died at hfty-two with a thickness of tour inches
OF fat on her chest and eight on her abdomen;
her heart, which naturally should not be over
eight ounces, weighing after death thirty-six
ounces. Corpulence fOrbids active exercise
and want OF exercise increases corpulenee; con-
stlpatlon follows, as the muscles of the bowels
get flabby; the feshy are more liable to colds
and dlarrhBa from the c0ngested state of the
mucous membrane; they are more disposed to
govt, rheumatism, chronic bronchitis and dia-
betes and death by faintness from exhausted
heart or stomach. They are liable to profrse
sweating in the effort of the system to rid
Itself of undue matter, and this being highly
acid causes eruptions of the face and painful
chatting. Fat is well called by medical writer
OF note "a perversion Of nutrition"
THE AIMS TO BE STUDIED
in health, beauty and freshness are:
First. To keep the blood in natural, healthy
condition, free of wastes and rich in red par
ticles, giving strength and color besides a sup
ply Of nervous force.
Second. To improve the muscles in firm fiber
and tone by sufficient exercise and diet
Third. To regulate the fluids of the system
by free actiOh of the skin and kidneys.
Fourth. To prevent the deposit of fat BY
leaving out of the food any excess of articles
which create it.
Firth. 10 allow generous and even luxu-
rlous diet, which satisfies the cravings of
hunger and the cultivated tastes and nerves.
OUTDOOR EXERCISE.
How much exercise is enough physician
who is quoted as good opinion says, ''every
healthy man ought to take exercise equal to
walking nine miles on a level. A part of this
is taken in ones daily work but, apart from
this, outdoor exercise should be taken daily
equal to a walk of five or six miles. Less than
this is not compatible with robust health :"
Women need little less strength or exercise
than men, their part in nature calling for more
endurance. and according to this the reason of
their infirm health and vanishing looks is not
far to seek. They are reared for decay and the
tomb. The secret OF refined complexion is
read in the following words: Exercise causes
increased action in the nerves and blood ves-
sells. by which vitality is augmented
and greater supply OF blood and nervous
stimulus Is sent to repair the waste taking
place. The food necessary to sustain the sys-
tenn is taken up, and all that is not required is
excreted by the different organs that act indie
pendently of the will. SO that the balance is
evenly kept and none is unnecessarily stored
as fat. The muscle of the heart is strength
ened by enforced exercise and the waste of the
system burnt off. The action of the skin is in
creased and by perspiration the effete matters
in the system are got rid off. The vital capac-
ity OF she lungs is increased Digestion be-