The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-29
REMARkABLEENG SCHOOL.
Institution Where Girls are Taught to
Play.

Situated in the midst of thick spread
ing wood, about two miles from the
pretty little Kentish village of hartford
Heath, is one of the most remarkable
educational establishments in the world,
says Answers. 1t is essentially ladies'
college, no finale creature" being allowed
within its sacred precincts except at GER
tain stated and rare intervals. But this
is not all. The point is that it differs
from NEWMAN or Girton, or in fact, all
other girls schools, in that its pupils are
taught, not the best way to work, but the
best way to play.
The idea is to train up women who
shall be physically perfect, and to this
end everything else is subordinated. For
instance, there are anatomical classes,
that the students may know which
muscles are brought into play in walking,
driving, swimming; etc.; classes in
hygiene, that they may learn what kinds
of food to eat and what to avoid. But
the be-all and end-al of the whole curri-
culum is the attainment for women of
that sound mind in a sound body, !"
which is justly esteemed SO essential to
mems well being.
The founder and principal of this I'M
ique college is Nine. Bergman Osterberg,
Swedish lady, who is. rightly regarded
as the foremost living authority upon
physical culture for women 1t was Nine.
Osterberg who was intrusted by the Lon
don school board with the delicate task of
training the board school teachers in
passed through her hands, of whom rather
more than half hold her certificate of pro-
ficiency.
The foundation Of the physical culture
taught at the college to the thirty or forty
"sweet girl graduates there assembled
is Ling's Swedish system of gymnastics.
By constant practice in a series of beauti-
full and rhythmical movements the whole
b ody is made lissome and strong. Then,
as soon as the pupil is ssfit'' all kinds Of
games are INDUCED in. Cricket, hockey,
tennis, croquet, jumping and vaulting,
racing, cycling and almost every other
form of sport is pursued with an eager
ness and an anxious desire to excel such
as would put to shame the boys of many
part Of the regular college course, a
natural swimming bath being formed out
of private part of the River Darenth.
just where it runs through and is damned
up in an old, secluded and romantic gar
den.
The college is intended mainly for the
training Of lady teachers of gymnastics,
but there are many pupils, the daughters
of wealthy people, who are undergoing
the course for their health sake A girl
goes to the training college pale, anae1nic
and listless and in the course of a few
months is transformed into a rosy.
healthy woman, fit to Ego anywhere and
do anything"
Between eighteen and thirty is the
usual age of admission, but the closer
candidates approach the former age the
better. Before pupils name is placed
on the books she has to submit to medi-
cal examination, in order to make sure
there is no organic disease present; and
she must also certify her Willingness to
abide by the college rules and regulations.
The course lasts two years, and the total
fees for the whole period aggregate about
200 guineas.
The life, though healthy, is far from
an easy one. Professors and pupils alike
go bareheaded, no matter how inclement
the wather may be, and "early to bed and
early to rise'' is rrecept that is rigidly
enforced. Then the diet, though liberal,
is plain, and must not be privately
modified without permission. The wear
ing of the uniform is also obligatory. 1t
consists of a sort of loose fitting blouse
of dark blue cloth, with plated kilt of
similar material falling to the knees.
black, wooden stockings and low tan
shoes. Corsets or any substitute therefor
are strictly forbidden. In this costume.
unless it is actually raining, the girls
spend practically the entire day in the
open air.