Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-29
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
BY NJ. MAE JACOBS.
From Ladies' Edition.

From Ladies' Edition.
1t is we'll established fact that
a thoroughly healthy body means
greater power to develop our men,
tai faculties.
At one time there was wide
spread conclusion that good mental
development meant poor physical
development. Our free school sys-
tenn is for the education of the
masses, and by far the greater num-
Der in after life become wage earn
ers. Hundreds pass from our
schools to become dressmakers. mil
liners, office helps, ETC., and some
before they have fairly entered the
grammar departments, are taken
out of school to be "nurse girl.
If they have some physical prepare
ton las well as mentaD in school,
we will have stronger men and
women. Realizing the fact that
keeping pupils too long in abnor-
NAL positions is injurious to health,
there is scarcely a school now that
has not adopted some form of gym
nastics, and in a form more or less
enlightened attempted to develop
the body as well as the mind. We
are in the a, b, C of physical cul-
ture yet; our methods are more or
less imperfect, for we are apt to
cultivate one portion of the body
at the expense of other parts. TO
be well developed physically all
parts of the body must receive
ebual attention. How can we ex-
pect to attain the highest stage of
mental development if we feed our
brain on thin or impure blood, and
all of the food or nostrums we take
into our stomach will do us but lit
tie good if we do not care for our
bodies properly. The school room
should be. the starting place for
physical as well as mental develop
ment for the masses. Physical cul-
ture need not be, nay should not
be, neglected by those of mature
age of either sex. If our delicate
invalids and nervous people could
realize the benefits derived from
the right method of physical cul-
ture (which l claim is Delsarte)
they would never rest until they
had given it thorough trial. Hum
dreds will testify to the good the
Delsarte method of physical culture
has done for them. Every girl
should be taught the best method
of preserving her health, of ap-
lpearing graceful and beautiful.
God made all things beautiful for
us, and it is duty we owe Him, as
well as ourselves. to take care of
this frame of ours. Grace is what
every girl, woman and man }
too, wishes to possess. Our own
beautiful city can boast of fine
system Of physical culture. We
have teacher who tries to CLEAN
the best from all, and she is doing
all in her power to develop the
children. Mothers, teachers, chill
dren, help her by throwing away
corsets and all tight clothing and
by practicing what she teaches.
You will reap rich reward in after
years. 1t is not an uncommon sight
to see a young lady walking or
standing on the street arms ''akim-
bo," one hip elevated and chewing
gum. Now if they understood any
thing about attitudes, they would
know that, that position meant
self assertive affection for yourself,
and girl who would be truly grace
full would never be guilty of assum-
ing such an attitude, and as for
chewing gum, she would as soon
be guilty of chewing tobacco. The
more grace we acquire the more
love we have for the truly good
and beautiful. 1t is duty we owe
to others, as we'll as ourselves, to
be as near the nature God wants us
to have. Practice physical culture,
throw away corsets, breathe pure
air, and, if it is possible, take a
thorough course in the work, either
by reading or under some compe-
tent instructor. Iwish every poor
nervous woman would try it. If
she would she would be astonished
at the result.