The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-11-22
GRACE FOR THE HOUsEKEEPER.
How Exercise for the Body May he Com
bincd with Daily Duty.

boW tNercise Tor the Hody May he Com-
bincd with Daily Duty.
Not a very fellcitous title some may
think; but by housekceper I do not
mean the typical English dgnitary we
frequently see upon the stage nor the
more common character who prcsdes
over the welfare of many widowers'
households. | use 1t as my physician
did when filling out my application for
life insurance policy. He said: 81 call
you housekeeper i'm answer TO this
question asking your occupation, be-
cause in the small place left blank for
an answer l could not name all the
professions in which you are proficient,
for by turn you are teacher, nurse,
seamstress and cook" SO please un-
derstand housekeeper, as he did to
mean wife and mother who has all
she can do and share our laugh when
we read the next question: do you
lead a sedentary life?"
practical woman, when asked to
Interest herself in physical culture, is
very apt to feel that II grace is to be
gained by any additional burden upon
her strength IT is folly for her to think
of the matter. But her mind may be
influenced by the following verbatim
reports OF a few bona fide conversa-
tions heard in one classroom, patron
lied solely by the class which she rep
resents.
EVERY time / open my oven door I
make low courtesy, and | feel that 1
have improved so much in my manner
of doing II that have quite an assured
sense of grace and dignity when I'cour-
tesy in the presence of others. like
to feel that am not growing stlff and
awkward"
II close my door after me with
backward step and pleasant bow 1t
is surprising what a good effect 1t has
had upon my temper. l used to be an
noyed at people for leaving them open
at improper times, while now l often
find myself thinking here is another
opportunity to relax my tired muscles"
II do all my stair climbing with an
erect carriage, so call my chamber
work physical culture"
Said another, who sews part OF every
day: II expand my chest with a West
Point exercise before / sit down in my
sewing chair. 1 work as long as l can
sit properly, then rise for a few min
utes to do something which calls into
play the muscles l have not been us
Ing. II 1t would not scandalize my
neighbors, l would go out and run
around the house, but l compromise
with my inclinations by always doing
all the housework out of doors l can
In pleasant weather My front porch
Is then my favorite sewing room and
numberless kitchen duties are per-
formed in my pleasant back yard.
Nothing disgusts me more with many
women than to see them make slavery
of their daily work, to the extent of
shutting themselves in dark and un-
ventilated rooms"
"I," said a rather delicate woman.
have learned how to rest. 1 find the
five minutes I now take In trying
part Of the day. lying fiat on my back.
with relaxed muscles and closed eyes.
does me more good than fifteen min
utes would sitting In the most COM
Portable chair my house affords. II
can spare fifteen minutes. though,
now divide II in halves-the first half
for the recumbent position. then push
a large pillow behind my back, so that
/ can read without inJuring my eyes
and at the same time give the lower
half Of my body the rest 1t seems to
require resume my work with re-
freshed mind which 1 consider an ex-
cellent preventive of weary body
Another had found how uselessly she
had tired herself In carrying her baby
or parcels or lifting heavy articles. BY
exerting too much will power or by
directing II through improper channels.
Ladies sometimes hold their prayer
books with such rigid muscles that one
could but imagine the beautiful VOL
umes must weigh as much as Web
sters International
This unnecessary waste OF strength
by people who 80 frequently complain
that they have not enough to do hair
they wish, can be remedied by such
course of physical culture as will make
them understand how to use their
bodies.
A lesson In point may be secured by
observing a colt learning to draw
load--how II tires itself to exhaustion
while the horse by its side, doing seven
eighths of the work, Is cool and pa
tient! There is just that difference be-
tween a woman who does not Know
how to use her vital force properly and
one who does.
All bending exercises from the waist
line can be most advantageously prac-
ticed as one Is doing housework. ana
II one attempts to do this she will be
greatly benefited by the dress IT VIII
compel her to wear. Indeed. house,
keepers may be congratulated on the
opportunities they possess for physicai
self-improvement, compared with those
whose employment encompasses them
with witnesses. Mary NJ. Hale, In
Good Housekeeping.
Help for the Kitchen Maid.