The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-11
PHYSICAL CULTURE
IN the Girls Department Of the High
School.
II HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
rhs experimental Course has Given Full
satisfaction and the Work VIII Prob
ably be Continued at the Opening OF
the Next school Year.

On April o5 Mrs. Annie +. Sheardown
of New Lordon. Conn.,, began her duties
as instructor in physical culture in the
girls department OF the High School.
The question of whether or not physica
culture should be taken up had been con-
sidered for some time by the High School
committee. This lady appeared before
the committee and demonstrated the
practicability of instruction in physical
culture and so was engaged for period of
three weeks that trial may be had.
The system which Mrs. Sheardown
teaches is not identical with the Delsarte
system. 1t Is rather an eclectic system
with the Delsarte system as its basis. The
lesson sheets have been collected and
bound in book by Louise Preece. 1t
bears the title, Elementary and Advance
Lessons in Physical Culture and Voice
Work"
From the date of the copyright in 1890,
IL may be seen that the system Is compar-
atively new, yet IL Is used generally
throughout the West. Providence Is the
only city in New England where the sys-
tenn is in use and Mrs. Sheardown Is the
only instructor in this vicinity
One of the opening sentences OF the
book expresses well the object of physical
culture. 1t says. mo harmonious move
ment is possible without a correct action
OF the muscles" The object Is as Mrs.
Sheardown explained to News reporter
who visited the High School to-day, to
insure strength and grace and freedom Of
movement in rising. sitting or walking
and in the motions OF the body.
Mrs Sheardown herself is a fine ex-
ample Of the benefits Of physical culture.
She stands as upright as a soldier at dress
parade. She Is short, measuring only
TOUR feet ten, but she is SO erect that she
looks much taller. Her eye is bright and
quick and her whole appearance is SUCH as
to win many converts TO her cause.
BY her invitation visit was made to
the room in the basement where the exer-
cises are carried on. The movements are
made to keep time with piano music
varying with the time as waltz, slow, etc
The young ladies seem to enter into the
exercise with enthusiasm and are prompt
in taking their places. IL any become
tired intervals for rests are allowed, the
places again being taken.
The movements are gone through with
with grace and ease. and when the visitor
remembers that not quite three weeks
instruction has been received, the thought
naturally arises, what would be done in
year?
1t would be hard task to give an nc
count OF the exercise. The system in
cludes motions for free and easy move
ments in rising, sitting, the perfect walk,
a well-poised head. and many Others for
the perfect physical development OF the
body.
The end of this week will finish the ex
perimental course. and probably the ex-
ercises will not be continued during the
remainder of the present school year. But
already the benefits 10 the pupils has been
shown, and il is most probable that con-
servative Providence will not long be be-
hind her sister cities in providing the
highest order of physical as well as men
tai culture for the students OF her schools.