Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-28
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
AN EXPERTS COMMON SENSE VIEW
OF THE SCIENCE.
The New Era in Muscular Development.
An Interesting Interview with
Charming Representative Exponent of
the Art.


dences of this city, surrounded by ex-
tensive grounds, growing in profusion
all that is pleasing to the eye and taste,
there lives in comparative retirement a
woman who, by means of her extraor-
dinary skill in the use of weapons and
enviable strength of body, has defeated
a number of men who are acknowledged
champions, in bona fide contests at
arms. The lady in question is Jaguar-
ina, whose personal attractiveness is
scarcely second to her wonderful Prov
ess, and who is withal an unspoiled,
amiable and modest woman, despite of
fame and adulation heaped upon her.
Her intimates are her horses, dogs,
birds and chickens, and her spare mo-
ments are devoted to their welfare and
society, but those spare moments are
becoming fewer with each day, her time
being taken up with giving instruction
in the development OF the body and in
fencing.
Noting the wide spreading interest of
the public in everything appertaining to
the improvement OF the human phys
ique, and that the leading newspapers Of
the great centers of civilization are de-
voting unlimited space to the demon
stration of the newer theories of physi-
cal development, the writer concluded
that where such unmistakable perfec-
tion existed after many years of most
arduous work, there should be found an
exemplifcation of the famous line,
"Mens sana in corpore sano."
That a healthy mind tenants the
healthy body of Jaguarina will not be
questioned by anyone who has ever con-
versed with this remarkable woman.
Courteously received, the reporter was
granted the choice of resting in an ex-
quisitely furnished reception room, or
the exercising room the latter was pre-
ferred, although the pen and wielder
thereof were in no wise prepared to
prove the assertion that "the pen is
mightier than the sword" in this in
stance at least.
Swords in racks and arranged in tro-
ply groupings, armor and fencing para
phernalia of all descriptions. composed
the ornamentation and utility of this
quaint apartment, which comes nearer
the realization of hall of the media
val period than anything else existing
in this part of the world
Having just finished lesson there re-
manned on the lady's cheek a warm
color, which, together with the spark
ling eyes, would have sufficed as reply to
the question, SIS the exercise you give
and take really benefcial?"
Jaguarina is the personifcation of
health and grace, and possesses much
magnetic force as we'll. She is capable
of illustrating every individual move
ment that she teaches, and to give an
intelligent and satisfactory reason for
the especial object thereof.
The motive OF this visit being to OBJ
tain Jaguarina's opinion upon some of
the more recently introduced theories of
training, the lady gave answer in a
direct manner, which proved that she
had given the subject much thought.
II might say that they are all good, or
at least. that each contains sufficient
good that the errors would be overbal-
anced by the good effects achieved in
the pursuit of any rational theory of
development.
Being requested to explain more fully,
Jaguarina gave utterance to the follow
ing very sensible argument, which is in
itself 'multum in parvo" treatise on
physical culture:
'To begin, let me say that there are
fundamental principles in every method
of acquiring knowledge. We may en-
tirely ignore, or materially depart from
certain clearly defined rules, and hasten
results which give an appearance of sue
cess, but as in the study of language we
have but poor foundation without
grammar and rhetoric, and in music
nothing OF permanent use without
technique, so is there but little in fanc-
f,1 thapriac of ,1hyoiao1 x,,I, IL,
attempt to set aside in moment the
wise and we'll tried rules which have
stood the test of many ages.
eff the people of the world were, all
at once, transformed into original
beings, as intended by nature, there
would be little left to do for doctors and
instructors in physical development.
The so-called advancements in civiliz-
alton have obliterated our natural selves
to such degree that the first requisites
of nature to healthful condition of the
body are SO obscured that by the time a
man or woman of the present has fairly
entered upon life they are so artificial,
80 unreal in their existence that they
require teaching how to live.
''The whole secret of good health, and
a fair physical development, is in re-
turning to the first principles of nature.
Eat good, plain substantial food, take
plenty of exercise, keep the entire body
scrupulously clean, and take plenty OF
fresh air.
Right here 1 want to say that inhal-
ing of fresh air is not the only means OF
being benefited, but few people seem to
recognize the necessity of exposing the
entire surface of the body to the air and
sun. claim that good half of the
desirable results attained by sea bath.
ing is the prolonged exposure of our
bodies to the action of the air and the
rays of the sun. These are sedatives,
tonics and stimulants by the side OF
which the best efforts of science are
dwarfed into nothingness.
"All that you have said is not to be
gainsaid," the interviewer ventured
to interpose, 'but the object
of my visit was more to learn
something in regard to the espe-
cial system you employ, the excellence
of which is so well attested in your own
magnificent development"
This elected another 'Indian an
swer." Music in general" sine said,
''is composed of many beautiful tunes,
and still all these are composed of but
few primary notes and their modi6ca-
tions. Many of the favorite modern
compositions are grounded on the har-
mony and rythm of older composers, land