Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-11-25

upper body free from 1t, combining all
tho previous exercises Of neck, shoulder,
wrist and waist, and making unison Of
motion--which is grace.
The trouble with feet is that they are
too dependent one upon the other. Try
to draw on your stocking while stand
ing and see how you wriggle and joggle.
One should be able to support the weight
of the body on one foot without effort. A
graceful woman never founders,
blunders, falls or trips when met by
sudden surprise or obstacle in crowded
place. There is no collision or bump
ing If one steps ON the train Of her
dress. meets her in q narrow doorway.
or turns over the table by her side.
She is poised, balanced, prepared--this
is the sweet dignity that marks tho
boundary between grace and awkward
ness.
Placing the hands on the hips, de-
scribe circle around one foot with the
toe of the other. Then toe toward north,
south. east, west and half way between
each. Then the other foot. Step for
ward and back with knee bent as SOL
diers in charging. Sway the body toward
the points of the circle. resting on the
ball of the foot. This is splendid ex-
ercise. A very pretty and graceful one
is: Point the fingers above the head,
step forward as far as possible upon the
ball of one foot, leaning the body grace
fully, then step back as far as possible
with the same foot-behind the resting
foot-bending the body back as far us
possible, the hands remaining finger
tipped above the head.
1t is well to establish a system of
counting with every exercise. It gives
avigor and intensity to the work that
nothing else will.
Fencing is unique and popular
form of muscle stretching. The art Of
posing" though attractive enough. Ia
trifie superficial and finishing for the
vigorous Miss Columbia who, with her
natural good sense. sees that there is
much to be done in the building up OF
the body before the pedestal period. Les
sons in riding, walking and swimming
have had their effect, and the whole
works ON to the haven of development.
The merging of the three distinct de-
partments of athletics, Delsarte and
dress is indeed one of the curious feat
ures of the time, and worthy tho atten-
ton of people who imagine that waves
of advancement come by chance.
Attention which heretofore has been
conferred upon buttons, whalebones and
"wiggings, has come to perceive the
lines of shoulderblade, thigh and arm.
Scales have fallen from calico laden
eyes, and the awkward squad have sour
ried off to gymnasium and saddle and
have taken to supplementing nature
and correcting habit. The favored few
find training superfuous and fall di-
rectly into Greek gowns, posing and
fame. Women grumble about being
too tall, too short, too fat, too lean,
and there is more feminine deformity
about round shoulders than from any
born cause. The worst cases can be
cured by persistent limbering exercises.
holding a cane or broomhandlo back
of the shoulders, lying ON the floor. or
standing against the wall, the shoulder
blades touching. So many women lack
the character to become beautiful. In
telligent, well ordered exercise does not
produce cords and punches of muscle
as many women fear. By it general
plumpness of rounded muscle--not flesh
is produced.
No one that has not experimental
with it knows the change that may DO
wrought in the complexion by regular
physical exercise of some sort, II scarce
ly matters what, il done at the same
time and for the same length of time
each day. The gymnasium, when ono
can afford it, is the thing. but this Is
not necessary to remarkable results.
FANNIE EDuAR THoMAR