Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-01-20

The mass of care battered shopping
women. upon whom time and want of
money press hard, huddle along in miser-.
able fashion, shoulders to ears, heads
stretched out, wobbling from side to side,
hands wildly clutching. The poor minds
are three or four blocks ahead of the
body and scattered in different direc-
tons. Faces are drawn into knotted
cords and creases, eyes are starting in
eager INDIGESTION between shop window
and pocketbook contents. Nail dints
may be found i'll the hands from the
struggle. Poor soulsi On wet days there
is the added burden of load of Tapping
wet skirts, loose packages, umbrellas.
Under the excessive nerve and muscle
strain there is a total disregard of per-
sonal ppearance-which is expression.
One longs to hear some authoritative
voice call out: Stop. stop! All stand
stilll Shake yourselves loosel Relax
muscles! Gather back your scattered
thoughts and steer them into direct cham
nels! Let go the pressure! and then start
them all over again placid and sane look
ing.
of an absolutely perfect gait Is one of the
greatest charms in the world 1t is sell
dom seen in women. frequently in SOL
diers. but could be had by all.
1t il almos. impossible to give rp1es
for graceful walking indeed, with souls
this would be idle. as before obeying any
rule it would be necessary to pass
through regular course OF ''limberins
ny" for without suppleness and pliabih-
ty OF limb it is impossible to swing nat
urally. 1t wou.d be necessary also TAI
make some important changes in ATTIRE
1t may be possible for a woman to as.
sumo a certain grace FOR short tina.
while wearing corset and high heeled
shoes or laden with dry goods conn
Ter. but 1t is not easy. Yet the mattec
of correct street costume Is one 81 slow
evolution IT. will right itself sooner e
iater-we will hot enter upon ii he:e.
Meantime a few practical hats
When changing rrom an ungrlcefrl
to different walk u Is necessary nrst o.
all % concentrate upon the act. Thls nc
tirst will produce stiffness. hut stiff cor.
rectness is better than slovenly thougnt.
,essness. After correct position Is taken
las described in last letter-step hghtlv
forward. resting first apon the hall vt
the foot. a total alteration ) maze IN
,he gait by stepping @pon the hall in.
stead of the fat foot ar heel. as Is the
commoa practice at rs this thndding
down upon the heel which ''clankS tho
slasses'l OF coarse thus mus; not ne
exaggerated, and 1t will rot be after It
has become natural, Aut in tbs change
this ,oeing forward IS absolutely aeCes-
sary. Try it--see-it changes tne whole
makeup, the feelings even
IT IS this feature OF "toeing ont" that
makes the minuet the physical express
sion of refined mentality that it is, and
tslreqnent practice would be invaluable
10 QUE who desired to walk welt
Leaning slightly forward. not stoop-
ing forward, but directing the mind in
straight limo ia 'front.' ssf tho holy, 10 90
aid in making speed Bending the knees
little apart is also helpful. The swing
of the gait should come from a symlne-
tried rhythm of the whole body. not
through the motion of any part of it.
W. lluHN shbsiltl bt iiNtlttuitSSs MillNlt
will not mean stiff il the body s in
control, but there must be no "wob-
bling" launching" "ducking' or affect
ed miucing.
Both arms swinging by the side would
produce a pedestrian appearance fcw wo-
men would care for in ordinary walking,
yet this could he made graceful and
would add greatly to speed ono arm
should not he made to look like a wind
mill arm, neither should the triangular
shape be made by crossing both hands in
front. The length Of step must DO
thoughtfully regulated. not one short
step and one long one. Above all, the
mind must be made the engine of the
body. keeping in advance Of every step,
but never breaking away from it-at
least not till after an unconscious cou-
nectiou is established.
Think where YOU are going and mind
what you are about. Lookout for the
| loose stone, the puddle OF water. the
curb. the lamppost. the loose brick.
Lookout for your neighbors. No need
| Of colliding with people so, IL one steps
on your dress or 1t is caught in "A store
door have poise sufficient TO maintain
the rhythm of yonr grace Turn cor
ners gracefully. What test Of n wom-
ans grace the way in which she turns u
corner! Leave space sufficient for your
friend to escape the iron grating. tho
cellar door, the obstruction on the in
side. Go early rather than go of on u
tangent. trotting, 'Jammng' aud bang
ing" through space like n clumsy pack
age Assert your dignity, your grace
aud spare our eyes the many assaults
to which they are now subject through
thougEtless, graceless walking.
FANNIE EDGAR THOMAS.