Morning journal and courier., 1892-01-05
Greatest Need of CoII.ga c.-

| lAnnie Payson Call in the Atlantic Monthly !
| English women are showing a marked
superiority over American women in the
college career. They are taking prizes
and attaining marked intellectual dis
tinction, not becausa their scholastic ad-
vantsges are greater nor because of
superior intellectual gifts, but because of
better physique, more normal neryous
systems, and consequently greater power
OF endurance. These contrasts emphasize
the proposition which / maintain, namely.
that the first, the greatest physical need
for womsn is q training to rest
not rest in the sense of doing
| nothing, not repose in the sense of insn-
ity or inactivity, but a restful activity of
mind and body, which means q vigorous.
wholesome nervous system that will en-
able q woman to abandon herself to her
study, her work, and her play with a free
dom and ease which are too fsst becoming
not lost art, but lost nature We have
Jumped at the conclusion that the styIe of
training which Is admirably suited 10 men
must be equally adapted tc women. How
ever that may be in the future, there Is a
prior necessity with women. After their
greatest physical need is supplied. they
may-will, probably-reach the place
where their power will be increased
through vigorous exercise.
1t is evident that the gymnasiums and
various exercises established in schools
and colleges for women have done little or
nothing toward supplying this greatest
need. The girls are always defeating the
end OF the exercise; first, by entering into
every motion of the exercise itself with too
much nervous strain; second. by following
in their manner of study, in their general
attitude of mind and habit of BODY. ways
that must effsctually tell against the phy
sical power which might be developed by
the exercise. Truly the first necessity now
Is to teach girl to approach her work.
physical Or mental, in a normal. healthy
way,-to accomplish what she has TO do
naturally, using only the force required
to gain her point; not worrying all the
time she studies for fsar the
Lesson will not be learned: not feeling
rushed from morning to night for fear her
work Ill not be done; not going about with
burden of unnecessary anxiety, morbid
fear of her teachers and a general attitude
toward life which means strain. and con-
slant strain. A glance forward intensifies
the gravity of the case Such habits once
developed in girl who is fitting herself
to teach are strongly felt by her pupils
when sho takes the position of teacher.
The nervous strain is reflected back and
forth from teacher to pnpil, and is thus
forcing itself upon the notice of Others.
and proving day by day more clearly what |
Is the greatest physical need
Those who have observed this tendency
are wont TO say, "Give the girls plenty of |
exercise, plenty of fresh air, see that thew
sleep and ca. we'll, and this greatest need |
will be supplied without thought" IL the
unhealthy condition We have noted were
just making its appearance the remedy |
would be sufficient. AS it is, such a rem /
edy suffices in q few cases, in most cases
partially, but in some not at all. The habit
hs ; stood row through too many genera
ons to be overcome without a distinct
ecognition of the loss of power
and strong realization of the
need of regaining this power. In
deed, so great a hold on the com
munity has this want of quiet and easy ac-
tivity in study and in play that it is not
rare to find young girls who believe the
abnormal TO be the natural life and the
other unnatural. AS one girl told me once
in perfect good faith, al keep well on ex-
citemsnt, but it tines me terribly to carry
D pitcher of water upstairs" This know |
Is an extreme instance, and yet not SO un-
common as wish it were. To swing such
a girl, or one approaching SO abnormal a
state, suddenly back into the normal
would be most disastrous; she would not
the world or herself, and would
really suffer intensely. She must be car
ried step by step. To restore her is like
curing drunksrd.