The sun., 1893-11-02

from the Albany A,grl'
In 1889 tho first meeting held in the Madison
Avenue Reformed church.
The leaders devoted hemseves nrst to bringing about
few changes in the ordinary dress OF their kind. The
corset was attacked severely and discarded by many
One OF the lecturers brought here By tho society its
campaign OF education took up tho cause of the d.
vded skirt instead of the heavy and impeding under
skirt commonly worn. and large percentage of tho
Ladies of the club and some outsiders wear the divided
bloomer garment.
After the dress reform movement we'll under
way the question OF phi ysical culture taken up
The association never mixed in too much Of tho
psychic side Of physical culture They to
regulate and develop their physique in that way but
when 1t cane to their mind and soul they desired
other instructors.
The society therefore. has not meGdled with souls
particularly. their time being devoted entirely to strv
ing to reach the Venus proportions pointed out their
Mecca. These proportions are about as follows: The
height shoui be about feet and or inches; weight
13o to 100 pounds: waist - to 30 inches: bust 81
40 inches hips 40 to I3 inches neck twice as much
the wrist tho waist twice much as the neck. tho
calf Of the leg four inches than the arm Just
low the shoulder, and the foot three inches n
length thun the hand.
The walking beam" exercise was among the first
It Is started with both feet firm the floor in tho
correct position. only with arms outstretc tched
straight from the shoulder Then without stirring tho
feet and with the arms sti rigid tho body is bent
the wais to The right far possible and then back
10 the upright position again and over 10 the left.
This calls into play the muscles OF the waist and
sides. weakened from long con hnement in corsets and
given early strengthen the waists of tho ladies
who had been persuaded to cast aside their corset
and teaches The muscles to properly support the upper
portion of the body unassisted
They were taught, also how TO stand properly and
to wax and sit gracefully As well as correctly.
The pose calls for the head to be eroct. the hips
thrown little backward. The chest forward. the
shoulder blades nearly touching and the weight of tho
body thrown Vol forward the balls OF the ieet. In
such n pore near tho wall OF room tho back OF the
head and The hips woad touch hut not the shoulder
The correct walk Ia ,Ad by the teacher to be the
hardest ol learn. 1t calls for leg movements from the
hip not the knee and equality in the length OF tho
steps The weight IL still on the bail OF tho foot frst,
and then along the rest Of the sole
Tie exercises incuio tho proper method OF wiggng
tho third Joint OF the fingers and toes tho proper
tous OF the foot the ankle knee hip shoulders neck.
elbows wrist In fact. every Joint and muscle in the
body must be developed AMI cultured
Then there Is tho dnv!taIiz NJ exercise. Beginning
with tho joints OF the fingers and running through tho
whole frame, vitality and will power Is withdrawn
until the body almost colapses as II in faint Thus
alone s proper rest obtanAble In physical culture
The whole idea is this: The body st tho instrument OF
the soul AMI there cannot he proper expression In
thought and feeling unless tho body 10 taught to obey
The dictates Of the mind emotion OF tho soul
mind calls forth movement and expression not alone
in the face ani eyes but in the arms legs and whole
body And II course there 10 reflex action from tho
body 10 the soul and mind Physical culture has ri.
penod ard developed tho forms Of those who could af.
ford the lessons