The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-29
THE HOME.
A Caution to whse1womsn.

Caution to Wheelwomen.
In directions to bicycle riders regarding
the rule of the road it has frequently been
pointed out that when overtaking and
passing vehicle on the left, which is the
correct side, the cyclist must be extreme
ly watchful against the possibility of
colliding with.a wagon approaching from
the opposite direction. The fact has not
been emphasized, however, that the dan
ger in such instances is far greater for a
woman than for man. This is not be-
| cause she is less prudent or skillful in her
riding, either, but simply because of the
way in which she is dressed. Any skirt,
no matter how well it is cut and fitted,
will blow about somewhat, and in pas
sing through a comparati vely narrow
space between two vehicles there is a
chance of its becoming entangled in the
spokes of the wheels on the 'sleeward ,
side of the rider-if nautical. term may
be forgiven. Such an occurrence would
be almost certain to cause horrible ac-
cident, and yet every cyclist who has rid
den much in the city has doubtless seen
dozens Of breadth escapes from just
this state Of affairs. The only
preventive is great care as
she overtakes or passes a wagon.
Sometimes have thought that there is
more danger when she is riding with a
man, because it is natural, after seeing
him pass safely between the vehicles, to
Oh
She does not always remember in time
that her futtering skirt requires more
room. 1t is only one of the many occa-
sions in bicycling where quick thinking
and equally prompt action, the character
istics of a good rider, become necessary.
-Harper's Bazaar.
Instead of Shoulder b races.
A gymnasium director of long expert
ence disapproves of shoulder braces. They
weaken, SO he thinks, the muscles whose
function it is to keep the shoulders in
their normal position. This they do in
two ways: by relieving the muscles of
their work, and by putting constraint
upon them, and so depriving them of a
normal supply of blood. Instead of ar
tifcial shoulder braces the director rec
ommends the frequent and persistent use
of exercises specially adapted to promote
an erect carriage. 1t is not enough, he
says, to work an hour or so daily in a
gymnasium. The proper exercises should
be taken many times day, and therefore
should be Of sort that can be practised
anywhere and without special apparatus.
Some of the habits and exercises on which
| he lays stress are as follows:
1. Make it a rule to keep the back OF
the neck close to the back of the collar.
| 2. Roll the shoulders backward and
downward.
| 8. Try to squeeze the shoulder blades
together many times day.
| 4. Stand erect at short intervals during
the day-'head up, chin in, chest out,
shoulders back"
5. Wake or stand with the hands
clasped behind the head and the elbows
wide apart.
| 6. Walk about, or even run upstairs,
with from ten to forty pounds on the tor
of the head.
z. Try to look at the top of your high.
cut vest or necktie.
| s. Practice the arm moveme nts OF
breast-stroke swimming while standing
or walking.
| -. Hold the arms behind the back.
10. Carry a cane or umbrella behind
the small of the back or behind the neck.
| II. Put the hands on the hips, with ell.
bows back and fingers forward.
10. Walk with the thumbs in the arm.
holes of the vest.
10. When walking, swing the arms and
shoulders strongly backward.
IA. Stand now and then during the day
with all the posterior parts of the body,
so far as possible, touching vertical
wall.
Is. Look upward as you walk on, the
sunny side of the street.
The foregoing exercises, it will be seen
are happily varied, and are, many Of
them, such as can be practised by any
body of either sex or any age and in al
most any occupation.
The director goes on to say that even in
gymnasim one must be on his guard
against forms of exercise that tend to
induce a STOPPING posture. GAS round,
shouldered as a gymnast," has almost
passed into q proverb.-Youth's Com
panion.
Simple Remedy for Emergencies.
Many big doctors bill could have