St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-31

Thorough development of the body
is one of the absorbing topics with wOm-
EN- of today. 1t runs race with mental
attainments, and is subject not even
second to these. The woman who is
most successful in any branch OF work;
world, whose friends are held always;
the woman who is the most DOM
inant genius of any household, is she
who i'll well-kept body possesses
a well kept intelligence. and while the
latter can be possessed without the
former, its most superb breadth is found
combined with fine physique. The
great activity in the cultivation of
woman's muscles in this country is of
comparatively recent origin, and the
first fruits of which, like the first
chrysanthemum bloom. attained I'M
natural proportions, is gone and we are
reaching the stage where common sense
advocates and holds the check rein on
physical culture and outdoor sports.
The mannish girl, who was the first out
come of the movement, is no longer
reproach to women, and women now
take their physical exercises with sort
of dainty pleasure that is purely
womanly.
Among all the athletic exercises wom-
Ell have adopted no two go farther to-
ward symmetrical development than
swimming and hunting, probably be-
cause both require the employment of
natures two great tonicS, air and water.
Both of these pursuits should be fol-
lowed with moderation. Women should
learn their own powers of endurance,
and, while fostering them by every art,
should be able to admit when rest is the
only real medicine needed. Some
women can endure double and treble
what others can, but the question of
after results has to be considered. In
every exercise, to obtain the greatest
benefits, this must be considered, else
Only injury is the outcome where bene-
fits should be the effect. Swimming is
coming to be looked upon, not only as
an amusement so much as au essential
part of woman'S physical education
and in time it would not be surprising
if it ranked along with walking as a
natural exercise.
Fewer women hunt than anything
else, still there are many women nova
DAYS who can fire rifle without shrek
and hit the mark without exciting sur
prise. In advocating rifle culture it is
not expected that race of female
sharpshooters will be developed. 1t Is
simply for the physical advantages it
gives. The woman who shoots will have
an independence OF carriage that not
even lifelong pursuit of DelSarte could
give. She will be able to support her
head firmly and not have the air of a
dropping lily, and to those windows of
the soul, the eyes, there will be impart-
ed directness of vision and clearness
that only people with optic nerves
trained to concentration ever have.
The muscles of the shoulders, back
and arms develop, and this is the place
where most women are particularly
lacking. The long tramps through
woods and over fields fill the lungs with
the breath of the forests. healing all
weakness, stimulating every function
of the body, and in the end proving
beneficial. The ordinary weight of rifle
for a woman is about six or seven
pounds. Some carry even heavier rifles.
and there is new one still lighter,
which young girls can use with great
ease.
The outfit is decidedly becoming to
most women and that in highest favor
with experienced DianaS of the rifle
consists of pair of riding trousers and
boots with a short skirt and some easy
jacket that gives free play to the arms.
Last summer young friend accom-
panied the writer into camp for some
weeks. She was slender and not at all
strong. Her curiosity led her to learn
to handle rifle and day after day she
secured the fields with the party. When
the left she didn't look or feel like the
same girl. She laid it all to the hunting.
Not everybody could build up a con-
stitutiOn in that way. Many person
has no materials with which to build
house, and many people have nothing
on which to found constitution. The
fear Of the re port doesn't deter half as
many women from learning to handle
rifle as the fear of the kick does. The
recol of the weapon isn't exactly aliur-
ing; but a great deal depends upon the
rifle itself. and before starting on a
huntress' career it would be the proper
thing to find good judge to make re-
liable selection of a rifle. The women
who are able to join the chase are al
ways enthusiasts, and are always WON
dering why more of their sex do not fol-
low their example.
In regard to having a knowledge of
firearms for Self-defense the writer re-
members middle-aged woman who pos
sesSeS a most eccentric revolver. 1t
never waits to be fired but goes off with
out any provocation and is put Oh the
retired list accordingly, but its owner
cherishes it for the good it has done.
During the war her husband was obliged
to leave her alone in a neIghborhOod
| that was full of dangerous and trouble
some characters. 1t was known she was
alone with servant and she anticipated
trouble. 1t never came, however. In
stead a target was set up Oh the lawn.
| Regularly every forenoon the door of
| the house opened. The lone woman
| appeared with her revolver and pro-
| ceeded to put dozen or two shots so
near the BULBS eye that no one wanted
| to modest her.