The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-07
MRS. FRANCES n. BURNETT
She Has Novel Massage Apparatus
Rugged Up in Her own House.

Rugged Up in Her own House.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett, most
famous of living American novelists,
author of Little Lord Fauntleroy" and
of that very different work, "a Lady of
Quality" is employing a novel, elabor-
ate and ingenious system of machinery
to reduce her weight and figure to ain
ideal standard.
Mrs. Burnett has a parlor in her
house fitted with massage machinery,
which she herself manipulates.
When Mrs. Burnett first discovered
that she was laying on too much soft,
loose flesh, she took to long early
morning walks, SO much in vogue in
England. AS that availed little, she
learned bicycle riding. Finding the
bicycle did not put her in proper form,
she consulted masseuse, who put her
through regular course of treatment.
The authoress liked and seemed to ben-
eft by massage, but 1t was not always
convenient for her to leave a story
when her train of thought was good TO
keep an engagement at one OF these
professional parlors, so she asked her
self why she should not adopt the
Swiss method and obtain just as good
results at home.
The Burnett house in Washington
faces Massachusetts avenue from the
south side, and the rear has all-day
sun. A basement, divided into four
compartments, extends from front to
rear of the house. Putting her massage
ideas into execution. Mrs. Burnett fit
ted up with rugs and tapestries a rear
room measuring perhaps sixteen by
eighteen feet, that was well lighted
by a large window, exposed to the
south.
Machine massage consists of infinite
repetitions OF rubbings and squeezings
and beatings by rubber balls and pads
upon different portions of the body
that need treatment. The thumpings
and the revolutions of the instruments
that rub run from 500 to 10000 min
ute and the effect is great The ma
chimes which administer massage treat
ment are of every description. The
simplest of these is the "concussor,"
made in Germany, OF which kind there
is but one in the United States besides
that of Mrs. Burnett. 1t resembles al
nCst identically the foot-power drill
which dentists use when filing teeth.
Instead of the drill variety of small
instruments, consisting of rubber balls
and corrugated cylinders, are attached
TO the tube end OF the machine. AS
foot power is applied these little in
struments produce various effects from
soft taps TO tattoo OF lively blows.
Mrs. Burnett could not obtain con
cussor,' but she got machine after
the pattern OF one OF DR.. Zander's
Swiss massage machines, and for mo-
tive power she uses a small gas engine.
Her appliance resembles somewhat q
straight backed chair with few over
head contrivances for holding COM
pound machinery and a pneumatic
tube. The gas engine. which is quickly
started and stopped, sets the wheels in
motion and these produce, through the
bell-iike instruments. which are de-
tachable and changeab!e, precisely the
eject that is desired.
II she has been sitting in a cramp-
ed position writing for several hours
and desires to take the stitch out or
her back, she puts on a loose hous,
gown, starts the gas engine and takes
her position in the chair, and the
throbbiHg, padded instrument is moved
up and down her back. In treating
| obesity other instruments that kned
| The flesh are attached to the end of the
machine, and by the rapioity of their
operation and the gentle friction pro-
duced the desired effect is had.