The times., 1899-05-19
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
When II Came to Business. Culture
Did Not Ccunt
(From the New York SUM-

(From the New York SUM
They were seated in one of the siiedoor
cars of the Seventh Avenue Brooklyn troll
ley line. One woman was above the aver
age height, quite stout, and probab forty
Her companion was young, not over twen-
ty, of delicate build, with narrow shoul-
ders, fiat chest and a piHched face that
lacked the healthy glow usually seen in
most young women one meets. They were
carrying on an animated conversation on
physical culture, and il was apparent from
the drift of their talk, as overheard by
the other passengers, that the younger
woman was new convert to physical cul-
ture as health builder, and was return
ing from her first lesson. The stout wo-
man also took pains TO inform her com
panion, whom she addressed as My p5or
dear, that she was no novice at physical
culture, as attested by her broad shoul-
ders, well rounded chest, and sturdy look
Yes" went on the stout woman, Il was
just as delicate. weighed no more, and
looked as miserable as you until took up
physical culture, and it made a new wo-
man of me. / don't mean one of those
new women the men folks poke fun at,
but new in health and all that"
Il hope to get along" replied her COM
panion, glad of the opportunity to get in
a word.
You will. my dear. You will, I'm sure
of it," answered the stout woman, and
then she went on: What do you think of
Prof. Blank? Isn't he lovely? Such an
intelligent man; SO refined, and he takes
such an interest. ! was very fortunate
from the first in being a favorite pupil. /
hope he takes TO you, my dear"
The novice nodded her head as il she
hoped so. too. Here the car stopped to
take on woman carrying baby. The
conductor was hurrying along the step on
the side OF the car to open the door for
her, but the stout woman with look at
her companion which plainly said," Now
watch me-" stretched out her arm and
gave the door shove that opened it with
loud bang. The young woman gave a
little nervous laugh as an acknowledgment
of her friends prowess and then said:
"oh, that's just grand. How / wish I
was strong enough TO do that
The stout woman beamed on her COM
panion as she replied:
TITS all the forearm. my dear. That
is one Of the first things ! developed -
holding out an arm for inspection. The
young woman looked at the lg arm in
sincere admiratlon, then ventured to ask
II she might feel 1t.
Certainly. my dear" answered the
r.
especial privilege The young woman
worked her fingers nervously. over the
arm, all the while repeating as If to her
self, Lovely, lovely" When she had fin
ished the stout woman withdrew her arm
and there was silence for block, when
the young woman broke out:
May | grasp your arm again?''
The arm was again produced and felt by
the young woman as before, while the
ftt,
with a broad grin. Neither of the two
women saw it. for they were too busy with
the results OF physical culture. At this
point the young woman suddenly awoke
from her dreams OF development and told
her friends that the next corner was hers.
Good-bys were being said and the stout
woman was again telling her companion
what fine man Prof Blank was when the
conductor yelled out Concord Street"
The young woman jumped up hurriedly
kissed the stout woman and stood waiting
for the conductor to come and open the
door. when the stout woman reached out
and gave .-.e door a shove but II never
moved. Then she tried again. this time
putting considerable force to the shove
Still the door failed to bulge The third
| time she essayed she stood up with a flush
ed and disappointed looking face and, ex-
erting all her strength, Prof Blanks IA
vorite pupil tugged and pulled, but the
door wouldn't open.
At this moment the woman holding the
baby opposite reached out, grasped the
handle of the door and opened II without
| an effort. Every one in the car began To
grin. and II turned into a laugh as the
stout woman said:
Il think / shall get of here. too"
As the two alighted from the car a man
| in front seat remarked TO his friend:
Physical culture for development. eh
| That woman with the baby there doesn't
need physical culture. She probably got
] her DEVELOPMENT over q washtub"