The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-28

| value Tue IalIleLGO Jug. lue Ialuletlo
jag Is another thing.
The Christian Young Woman OF To-day.
At Mortified. In Massachusetts,. the Sum-
mer School OF Mr.. Moody. the evangelist.
has opened with the Conference for Young
Women. This is a convention for the dis
cussion OF subjects Of deep spiritual impor.
lance. and tho delegates to it come from all
parts of the Union. At the same time. it is
n sort OF picnic for these Christian young
women. They go there for the welfare
OF their souls. and also to have sport In
the mountain air. The distinguishing fea-
ture OF the summer school. OF which Chau-
tauqua furnished the model. is q union Of
| spiritual and physical exercise.
Hence. after the young women at
| Northfeld have met together in tho
morning to discuss the great problems
of time and eternity. they proceed in
the afternoon to recreato themselves
with outdoor sports. They play tennis
in spirited competition. and crafty their
natural instinct by wearing as attractive
costumes for the purpose as their taste
can devise. In the evening they listen
to religious. philosophical. and hortatory
addresses. They pass from prayer to play.
and from play to prayer. 1t is this variety
which makes tho summer school popular
everywhere. the more especially with young
women. 1t has for these the fascinating
novelty Of camping-out experience. Ac-
cordingly the summer school promises to
be permanent American institution, its
appeal to human nature having proved so
strong that even the Roman Catholics have
adopted 1t. though its germ was the old
Methodist camp meeting
These schools are serving the worldly
purpose Of cultivatinR and spreading the
ambition for physical improvement in this
country. They are giving sportsmanlike
tastes to both young women and Young
men who come from associations hitherto
hostile to all such amusements; and they
are contributing powerfully to extend the
passion for outdoor sports and contests
and for physical development which is dis
tinguishing the present generation of
Americans. They are making muscular
Christians. and they are changing the ac-
cepted standard Of feminine beauty from
delicate and timid. to strong and vigorous
womanhood.
At Northneld discussions on Character
Growth during College Years." on I'm
ductive Study" and on Personal Work
for CHRIST" have been varied with the
treatment Of such subjects as Tho Grace
full Carriage" The carriage referred to is
not the spiritual department. but the
bearing Of the feminine figure. The
essay was by woman professor OF
physical culture. and her purpose was to
teach these Christian young women to bear
themselves like the most beautiful OF the
classic sculptured types OF feminine grace.
1t Is encouraging to learn that they took
special interest In the subject for O fire.
Quent defect among our women Is an
awkward carriage. They have not learned
to move properly. and they do not hold
themselves with the grace which their fine
figures would make 80 attractive; for the
present generation OF young American wo-
men are remarkable for tho symmetry OF
their proportions. They are both tall and
well rounded, and outdoor exercise is giving
a freedom OF play to their muscles which
ought to result in fine carriage.
Another subject to which the summer
schools might profltably give much atten-
ton Is the cultivation of tho feminine voice |
and manner OF utterance. Even the pleas
"'"pio ihPi"esioh Plouuceu ny Bracelul
carriage Is destroyed by an unmelodious |
speech. and such speech. it pains us to say.
is too frequent among American women.
They have never learned how to manage
their voices. They have not even thought
OF the subject. though Of all the charms Of
sweet and well-modulated
speech is one Of the most engaging. Tho
training Of the voice for speaking is far
more essential than its training for sing
ing. Incidentally. there Is chance for I'm
provement In tho pronunciation OF the Eng
fish language among both mon and women.
The ideal feminine saint of these days is
not pictured by an enraptured and some
what hysterical woman. but by woman
strong, healthy. clear-eyed. and we'll
poised. and lovablo by both COP and man.