The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05

Delicate women, says the Sun, are
out of date There was a time when
it was considered fashionable for q wo-
man to faint frequently, grow hysteri-
cal over trifes, and have at least one
chronic ailment Today such a woman,
instead of being cuddled and made
much of, is passed hurriedly by with
a word-not of sympathy, but rather of
scornful pity. She is referred to as
"Poor thing" And If there is one
thing that will make a woman cast off
her invalid ways it is that phrase.
Women nowadays are turning back
to the ways of the Spartan girls, who
believed that the physical training of
the sexes should be identical and prac-
ticed what they preached. They were
taught to run, to leap, to cast the jave-
lin, to play ball. and to wrestle. Their
Athenian sisters did nothing of the sort
and were not comparable to the Spar
tan girls. Once an Athenian said to
the wife of Leonidas:
You Spartans are the women who
rule men"
EYES," she answered, "and we are the
only women who bring forth men,"
There is q lesson in this retort for all
said to their credit, are beginning to
Apply it. OH women, young women,
and schoolgirls are giving more atten-
tion. than ever before to physical cul-
ture. Three women were discussing
the general interest in physical training
for women, in a restaurant not long
ago. 1t was one Of those little places
where a man feels himself conspicuous,
for it was patronized almost exclusive
ly by women shoppers. One of the
takers was white haired, another was
middle aged, and the third was an ath-
letic-lookng girl just out of her teens.
The middle-aged woman turned out to
be a teacher of physi-culture, and she
talked in such a clear, practical way
that pretty soon all the women at the
nearby tables were listening to the con-
servation of the trio. 1t all started this
way!
THREE QUESTIONS.
'I wouldn't order chocolate eclairs
If were you," said the middle-aged
woman to the girl.
"Why not?" asked the girl I'm not
in training now. AS long as l was on
the basket ball team at Vassar I
wouldn't have dreamed of giving such
an order; but I'm a graduate now, and
chocolate eclairs are so good. .rr-
'"Phey aren't good for you," insisted
: the middle-aged woman. You told me
yourself that you we 2 never in such
perfect health as w en- you were in
training and confined yourself to nu-
tritious, wholesome food
That's So" acquiesced the girl
meekly but without countermandng
her order.
Physical culture teachers as a rule
make three mistakes" continued the
ssmiddle- .ged woman, sailing her rare
roast beef vigorously by way of en-
phasis. IT think the first three ques-
tions they should put to a pupil are:
what do you eat for breakfast, lunch
con, dinner and between meals? How
do you sit, and how do you stand?
= l"Why, what funny questions the last
two would be-" exclaimed the girl dig
ging into the middle of eclair number
one.
mot at ALL" answered the physical
culturist standing is a lost art; and
as for sitting, so far in the history OF
this world of ours it has meyer be-
come an art. When it comes to eating
we'll / feel almost hopeless about
eating. fear that women will never
learn to eat"
what queer notions you do have, y
commented the girl, ordering a. double
portion of ice cream. vanilla and cho-
colate mixed, if you please. I'm sure
I have a good, healthy appetite" she
went on, "and think l not only know
how to eat, but enjoy it,"
There's no question about your hav-
ing a first-class appetite" put in The
elderly woman, who proved to be the
girls grandmother.
INSULTING THE APPETITE
'Yes, I won't dispute that" replied
the middle-aged woman, but you in
suit that appetite, which is the crav-
ing of a strong, healthy stomach, by
giving it eclairs and ice cream instead
of giving 1t the proper food. Nearly all
young women do the same thing. Ev-
cry time you do that you weaken your
muscles, which you tell me your are sc
anxious to train. You cannot possibly
train a muscle unless you have given II
the proper food. Now, I'm not a crank
on dietetics but every teacher of ply
steal culture, every director Of gym
nasium, every master of a swimming
school, every instructor in a bicycle
academy, should pay a great deal of at,
tention to what their pupils eat, and
Try 10 impress Oh tdCH pupll the neCeS'
sity of proper food. Every boy is anX.
ious to become a Fitzsimmons, and il
his instructor in gymnastics will tel
him what food is best for him to take
he will have it--or make life burden
for his mother. The same is true of 9
girl. Let the teacher tell a girl that
certain things will harden the muscles
of her body, giving her firm, graceful
figure and certain other things will
make the muscles of her cheeks firm
which is one of the secrets of retaining
pretty complexion, and she'll confnt
herself to those things, cheerfully Civ
ing up all rich pastries and sweets.
''Up to this timej" the enthusiast con
tinued, girls and women have devoted
their attention almost exclusively Il
the development of their arms and legs
This is a great mistake. Women need
even more than men, to give much at
tention to the development of thei
vital organs. The legs ana arms worl
much more easily Ii the vital organi
are well developed! Women should b'
trained from the time they are out o.
swaddling clothes to hold the abdom
inal muscles tense. Then We would
hear OF no such thing as displaced or
gans, But, dear me, get me started OF
T. the physical development of womei
and}I'll never stop"
"oh, it's so interesting" exclaimed
the girl. You said something abou
women not knowing how to stand cor
rectly"
- hlNdoRREcT STANDING.
-