The sun., 1891-01-11
A REAL BEAUTY CONTEST.
PHYsICAL DEvELoPMKNT AND GRACE
OF FIFTH AVENUE SCHOOL 9IRLA


and Dowa Stairs, Picked Handkerchiers
from the Floor. sad Resolved In the
DRAWING Room-Ths System Employed.
The Importance Of Intelligent physical train-
Ing and development 10 80 thoroughly under
stood and appreciated at the present time that
1t has become Incorporated In the curriculum
OF a well-known fashionable school for girls In
New York, where recently great contest was
held by the students in this branch Of culture.
and the girl victor received prize for superior
physical cleverness.
There were about forty Of tho fair contest
ants. straight, 1.-the. active specipens OF girl
hood, all along the line from the careless 10y.
Gus little child with her bright face framed In
tossing ringlets up to the tall slender maiden
Just budding into womanhood and sweet seri.
| ousness.
Tho examining committee consisted Of Mr..
Robert J. Cook the great Yale coach. who was
expected to render the wise judgment OF the
specialist on the muscular elasticity and de-
velopment Of the girl athletes in this modern
to pronounce, according to the wisdom OF tho
soldier, upon the carriage and bearing OF this
company OF girls. and o well-known So
cietv lady, who should criticise from
the woman's standpoint the gentle
Rraces essential to the high calling
OF lady In fashionable life. Owing to some
| business emergency Gen. Porter was obliged
to send his regrets and substitute. Mr..
Samuel Elliott. who eaid he had rather face
battery OF blazing guns than the flashing eyes
OF that procession Of girls. who at the ap-
pointed time filed down the corridor. not In
loose gymnasdo dress, but In full street cos
tune, long skirts. close Ioi!ccs. and walking
boots. With slender figures gracefully erect,
heads proudly poised, chests up and chins in.
they proceeded to show tho result OF their
| training, not by pretty sinuous mechanical
and concerted movements to the sound OF
slow music. but in the exceedingly
commonplace and difficult feat OF going
up and down the stairs. To 20 up and down
stairs In proper healthy. and graceful man.
ner II. compared with the pretty exercises
usually seen in exhibitions Of this kind. as the
problem in geometry Is to the simple theorems
which preceded 1t. And after the whole phs-
lanx had accomplished this feat satisfactorily
they proceeded to display their proficiency In
walking. not on the carpeted floor Of the par
lors but out on tho pavement In the avenue.
where the lines divided, and with firm yet fex-
ible steps they marched up and down the
block. turning and meeting each other. always
with the dignifled, graceful bow OF the proper
street salutation.
There was peculiar freedom and case in
the walk OF these girls which came from much
knee and hip fexibility.of which Mr.. Elliott
said. If they were horses we would say they
had wonderfully good knee action"
Then the girls came trooring In again. and.
with eyes little brighter and checks shade
pinker. they grouped themselves about tho
room in pretty attitudes. and while part Of
the number received" in the drawing
room others were presented by one Of
the number. all with dlgnifled and iaultless
grace. They picked up handkerchiefs and
other little trifles that woman 50 often lots
fall upon tho floor. They gracefully mounted
hey sepped doWn n 9Ts ssan p S
their long dresses, and. With easy easy, unconscious
shos ass Ss again
S sssd osasH
RAISING experience Tor tho famous coach"
Of . purely masculine variety than with its
daintier grace. az manifested by delicate
Tx ss15s 81 4ra eEsrasS G sSoss @
snss Ssas9s and of carriage
centres cent? IN the method Of teaching by meansof
psSed 'hSSs wss
{ime;, ;, ana ls daEEins w II. lime shsy have nsvsr
sHd e tn:
ths pas.sy ass saa aSss
s:sSs & ss. $ssf $sSaI $ssSS
Pro bss2 81 Yss s1 for two
esoterics but rather to develop her own eiits
se sRod q hea yunP
any q th9se now in 2reraIlon.
tion are not allowed TO wear the loose comfort
sh sho Tr H.
sesad seet nd the son Be to de-
tight but flexible bodises the play OF every
shouldIers; o the !, ., uplifting Of the chest.
e.pounder q his new theory arsaes ' a. siri H1
sSS Il s %S.t Ss SsSe q
ss shcss wS Which eve.
q, girl e9Mkward and eons.raIned II the long
Another peint Of dIfier'nce in the N msthod MIe
EMPLOYED in teaching these girls Is that they
sS1 Ss0 VII hem snse sase
Its being vitiated through careiessness and
rendered impotent for good results.
About fifteen minutes u day are spent In |
actual exercise. Each exercise e required to
GRACEFUL and pretty motions thrown in as
rullies aud fringe no music TO distract the at
Is shl. the correct postjon St The uplii,ad chest
instant, and is the great fundamental principle
Of a correct carriage. The other exercises are
and establish suiriclent elIgencs in them
to enable them to respond quickly and
development by violent motions 10 strictly |
tii9l example ot the doctrine she eIpounds.
claims that while unnatural muscular develop |
sional athletes have not graceful carriage,
people. such development is particularly unde- |
slrable IN women. to whose beauty soundness.
Tho practical walking exercises were taken
hours for outdoor recreation, and every en-. |
p!oyment Of the day was made an exercise 10 |
desk, running up and down the stairs, or rest: |
{vHsv N.>E,