New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-10

AMERICAXIzED DEIsARTE CULTURE. BY Emily
PnbiishsS by .1e An PRR 1o2 washington" D. T.
THIS is Kind Of manual OF what the suthN calls
Americanized Delsarte Culture. AVID 1t seems quite
proper TO characterize It, Dasmuch as an appendix
informs the reader that the daughter Of Francois Del
sarte having visited this country and examined the
practice, declared that 1t really the Delsarte
Culture ut all, but something quite different. Mrs.
Bishop does not hesitate 10 admit that this Is true
but claims tha. the Americanized cult goes beyond
the inventors system. and Is much superior to H.
Questions OF this delicate MIXTURE must be left 70 eH
pors, but whoever dips INTO this manual viii certainly
find enough 10 breed perplexy whether IT, origin be
French on American. According 20 DelsarteS daugh-
ter. her fathers system vas gymnastic at all.
whereas the American system appears to De eymhaSuc
and little else. II may, indeed. be that in actual
practice good deal Of mental exercise Is induced but
II Is hard 10 believe that this Is induced by prfacing
the physical exercises with the Injunction; : Nd
thought of equilibrium or Hold some thought
Of unity or Hold some thought of sefr"spcct.7 or
" Hold some thought of proportion" We should
Imagine that comparatively few persons could get any
Significance out OF such Instructions but Of course, III
class the teacher could explain more fully.
IL ia not easy matter 10 arrive at the basic prin
cipes OF the Desartean culture Many have supposed
that rested upon belief In the iEcspadty Of nature
10 run her own mechanism; bat closer examination
seems 10 indicate that Delsartes quarrel ralnor
slders. has distorted the natural organism and de
veoped all kinds OF abnormal evils thereby md his
system is directed 70 the reproduction of the natural
ways Of handling the body. Bnt Amencani1ed Del.
sartsm Is mystery and not TO BE- approached r,shly
Its advOestcs claim much for 1t. ard It's intellectual
benefaciiois not icSs important than the physical
For 1t teaches how 20 stand. sit, walk BREATHE
etc. and al the time II shows how 10 reSt-whch
would certainly specially desirable acquisition
for the American people. Tho chapter on >RelaXa
ton Recephvily. Recupenhon." should be read with
interest ty most women. Thousands have already
experimental In Desa'usm and numbers assert that
they have been benefited by II. The authOr OF this
little book has hal extended experience of the practice
and has much to say In praise Of It.
II a gOOd many Of its theories and prccepts dd not
appear 90 ny In the face Of physiology or psychology
or both together. its philosophy would be les, per
picking: but faith is potent agent, even though in
these degenerate days IL will not cure ph0IiSis The
Delsartean TECHNOLOGY Is peculiar. too and We should
suppose not easily undcrStandcd Of the people Mrs.
Bishop. however appears 10 have done her best 70
simplify it. and her manual will give those Who do
not know anything OF the system probably sufficient
idea OF It's scope and significance. To learn and
practise II must evidently he hnd 10 trained
teacher. and such presumably could clear mp
che main mysteries u the cult.