The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-30
ideas tor UWon1en

cred to be the special province of the
sterner sex. She would meet him also on
the battle ground of athletics. She shows
that she is up to the level of the age.
For the colleges of today are only pri-
smarily institutions for the mental train
5ing of their students. Incidentally (and
IL is a large incident, and frequently
seclpses the ostensible central episode),
colleges give young people the chance to
develop brawn as we'll as brain. The
baseball, the rowing and the football
tournaments are really more Important
Sepochs in collegiate life than commence
srnent day. To be a famous pitcher, a
famous centre rush or q famous stroke
IN the college crew IL a more splendid
achievement thar to be the valedictordan
or the poet OF the graduating class.
Not all women, however. can go to Bryn
yMawr or vassar. Not all women. there
Store, can achieve greatness on a college
campus. But many may have greatness
ethrust upon them in the quieter, field of
everyday life. A woman may be an ath-
alete, even though she is not a college
athlete.
In recognition of the deeds of a noble
ambition -calisthenics of all sorts may
now be introduced into the humblest
home. Male and female may partake Of
'gymnastic blessings. A lawn ennis or
golf court is not always to hand. Neither
is a baseball diamond or a rowing course.
But muscles may be developed and health
stimulated and the Sound min preserved
in the sound body by other means, open
alike to both sexes.
What iS known q c the HSaffinR I'D dT1ll.'
which has been practised with great sue
cess on United States ships of war, is
n6W Invading the homes. 1t is achieving
especial success with young women who
wish to d the final perfection of buxom
health to their charms, of physical
beauty.
This consists of a series of arm and leg
exercise which usually end in a run on
a level plain. The drill lasts about ten
minutes, though it may be extended to
twenty. The movements are intended to
straighten up the figure, expand the chest
and give the subject that erect carriage
and alert movement which are the spec
ial characteristics of the nava and the
military man. Our modern amazons are
content with nothing else.
- Vii liz L4112 AA4AL - 49,
formed with arms and sometimes without.
An ordinary walking stick takes the
place Of the musket In the female imita-
ton, The movement is so well chosen
thai there is not a member of muscle of
the body that is not exercised. Arms,
legs, hips, shoulders and chest are sue
cessively and specially brought into play
by the different movements.
TF - !, urop1op raoIlu uyichac 10 he
well equipped in all the physical graces
she need not sit down and sigh and grow
thin and stoop shouldered because she has
no fine system of athletics. Let her make
one. Spend fifteen minutes every day in
developing every muscle.
"A small walking cane will do it. A pair
of dumb bells will suffice. One doesn't
want a heavy weight; only a balance is
needed to give uniformity to the move
ments.
More especially is this slight but sys-
tematic exercise needed by girls who
must stand behind desks or counters all
the day, and by teachers who must give
brain flag.
hnseS xlie9izv
Writing of Women in the Government
Departments in the November "Wom-
ans Home Companion" Mary Nimmo
Balentine says:
1T is a curious fact that this glorious
country grew and prospered from the
days of 1776 to the period of he Civil War
and founded and perfected the greatest
government upon EARTH, before women
were invited to bear a a in the public
duties, even in the most casual manner.
During all these years there was a total
exclusion of women from the work of the
executive departments. Now they are
seen wherever government work is being
conducted, in places of high trust, super
Tor kill and high emolument.
ut was in 1862 that General francis E.
Spinner, treasurer of the United States,
succeeded In opening the government de-
partments to the employment of women.
The Civil Wal was at its height, and ev-
cry able bodied man was needed In the
front for the protection of the country.
If ever I strike a successful blow for
women, now Is my time said General
Spinner. The first legal-tender notes had
been Issued; they were printed in sheets
of four notes each, and men were en-
ployed to cut them apart with shears.
General Spinner maintained that women
could handle the shears more deftly than
men, n Secretary Chase finally con-
scented to let him experiment with women
employees. The first one engaged was
Jennie Douglas. and her first days work
settled the matter in her favor and that
of ~womankind. Other women were en-
ployed. The men left, and the women
took their places. Soon, however. a ma
chine to cut the money was invented, and
the women were discharged. General
Spinner now convinced the officials that
the nimble fingers of women were pecuS
Harly adapted to the counting of notes.
had employed his daughters In his
W bank, and knew they could work
more rapidly than men.He was permitted
to engage seven women, who were regu-
larfy appointed as counters Of United
States money The seven pioneers did
their work SO well that 1T was not long
before Congress was making appropria-
tons for the employment of women in
all of the executive departments. 1t is
true the women received but half the
salary paid to men for the same work at
the beginning, but the salaries were grad
ually increased until now a woman re-
ceives the same salary as a man in the
public service when she does the same
work. 1t was a grand achievement for
women. All honor to the hero who fought
it to completion! Small wonder that wo-
as a11 - --N-J~ ~ = r. ----L