The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-06

VI iSS yuma ANGNtOihD htSCl iOth
how to stand and walk" at Young
Mems Christian Association Hall Balti-
more recently. She illustrated her
remarks by showing how grabbed and
weak persons stand or walk, contrasting
those examples with others showing the
proper positions to insure perfect health
mentally and physically. la part Miss
Newcomb said: Strong people, that i.
people stroug in character or physique
take positions which would be consid-
cred weak, that are easily disturbed,
acter take broad positions, often enlarg
ing the base by means of cane. When
in perfect position the weight is we'll
over the ball of tho foot the crown of
the head is the highest point and the
chest is the most forward part. The
chest is the seat of honor aud also of the
affections. hence tho reason for making
it the most prominent pat while the
abdomen is the seat of the appettes.
"With the sunken chest 90 the for
ward shoulders. When the Body is out
of pos ition the muscles are relaxed and
the vital organs are usually below their
normal attitude. The head is carried
too far forward, causing intense strain
at the back of the neck the base of
the brain. Leaning to one side is apt to
cause curvature of the spine, as the
little cushions between the vertebIG are
pressed together and grow out OF shape,
making it difficult to restore them.
Especial care should be taken in this
with children, as their bones aud
muscles are so much softer and pliablC,
We need the brOai sDled, low heeled
| shoe, or better. the spring heel, as the
high heel throws the spine entirely out
| of position. In putting back the shout
ders avoid carefully the Bthroxing back
| of the whole body, fer the chest should
| be forward while the shoulders are well
| back. This backward position leaas to
| bad walk, giving one sometimes
very pompous appearance, and with the
head thrown back shows II much self
conceit. Some people take steps that
are too short, giving a very unpleas
ant, nippy walk, and when to this is
| added the swaying Of the body from
side to side we get the extreme of
| atfec :at:0n. Others take steps that are
| too long, which is equally unpleasant
Some walk with the head too far for
ward, which is supposed to indicate
great mentality, but is not pleasant to
| look upon.
In good walk the body will be in
perfect position, well poised, moving
| freely from the hips, and with every
| Joint and muscle of the legs under con-
troll. The rule usually given for the
| length of step is to have the length of
ones own foot between the heel of the
| forward foot aud the toe of the back foot
| both feet crossing the same line, thus
giving the marrow walk, which is indica-
| tive of strength, as a weak person cannot
| possibly take it. The reason people are
SO uncertain in their walks is largely
| because they are not poised upon one
| foot. In walking one foot only touches
| the ground at a time; in running there is
| an instant when both feet are off the
| ground. In going up and down stairs
the body should be kept erect, that the
heart and lungs, which are called upon
| for increased action, may rot be crowded
| or cramped. Here. TOO, we see the
| necessity for absolute freedom of DRESS
| Many cases of palpitatlOn and breath
! lessuess are cured by attention to these
| points. If in our public schools girls
| were taught how to go up and down
| stairs and how to dress, we should not
| hear SO much complaint about tall
| school buildings. The cause of SO many
students breaking down in school is not
| the long courses OF study, but an utter
| disregard of physical laws. Late hours,
irregular and improper food, combined
with an entire lack OF exercise, do more
toward breaking down girls and boys
than study. If the physical strength is
| kept at its best, the mental rarely
suffers from hard work
at is not usually the bright child who
stands with feet apart. In institutions
| for weak minded children, where shutll-
| ing, which is another indication of
weakness, prevails, the children are
taught to step over bricks, aud by this
! physical ac ion mental action is caused
| as it is impossible Tor muscle to move
without a corresponding action on
| the part of the nervous system. So we
! find these broad positions not only
| indicative OF physical aud mental weak
ness, but often of moral weakness as
well. BY remedying the fault in the
physical one We eliminate the weakness
from tho character. In individual TO
| forms strong positions will carry one
| through strong temptations. Where a
person comes before an audience with
| the knees weak, the elbows pressed in
the sides, chest relaxed, failure, partial
or complete, is inevitable; but however
weak invardly, if the outward appear
ance of strength is assumed, the strength
is sure to come.