New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-25
SOCIOLOGICAL CONVENTION
WOMEN LEAD IN THE FIRST DAYS PRO
CEEDINGS.
PHYSICAL. CULTURE PURE FOOD. HYoIENE. RA-
TIoNAL DRESS AND KINDRED SUB
JECTs DISCUSSED.

JECTs DISCUSSED.
The National Convention Of Socioogists Is holding
its meetings at Lake Bluff, Ill, and continues 70
attract the enthusiasts IN physical culture, ra-
uonal dress. pure food. hygiene and kindred topics
The more abstruse problems OF reform move
rnents in Church and State supposed to
dominate when the convocation was called. says
The Chicago Inter Ocean" but the women inter
eeted IN graceful carriage and natural attitudes,
flowing gowns and ideal underwear have really
the best Of e. and contribute much more than
half OF the entertainment and instruction Of each
days programme During the intervals between
the lectures they give practical demonstrations
OF their theories by strolling through the woods
or along the beach dressed in pretty flowing robes
or princess gowns Teachers Of cahsthenics swim
and dive IN the surf. breasting the breakers with
long. sure strokes that prove their training and
win them many converts.
Among the interesting Of the speakers AT
the grounds Miss Bertha Beatrice Lash IN
structor Of physical culture and elocution in the
Young Wonens Christian Association IN Mime
apolis.
Miss Lash is a tall. graceful young women with
large hazel eyes, pleasing features and a musical
voice. She is expert with the sword, can pull an
oar Ike a Harvard student, fire a pistol TO the
mark and swi--l ike a mermaid She declares she
Is not reformer in any sense Of the word. but
wears the gowns advocated by the rationalists be
cause they give freedom 10 her limbs and are be-
coming to her Her lecture to-day was full OF
ssnsible suggestions Her text was The Relations
OF PHYSICAL Education TO Dress" and she demon
strated the necessity of freedom in gowns TO allow
proper DEVELOPMENT. She said that a perfectly de-
veloped body in an artistic and graceful dress pre-
sents TO the eye a beautiful living picture.
RESULTS OF THE DRESS.
The results Of rational dressing. she said. were
mental and moral development Physical educa-
ZION was necessary TO make natural beings. Wrong
habits of physical position and badly constructed
wearing apparel had brought about conventional
defo-nfties Women were by nature as symmetri-
cally formed men, but RESPECTED dressing ior
generations had given them unnatural shapes
She said that men were more easily brought TO
look with favor on the sensible gowns which the
Tationalsts were advocating than were the women.
II was impossible make radical changes Proper
exercises to train the muscles 70 90 without a.
fcial supports required and systematic train
She advised her hearers to seek instruction from
course OF training they would tnernse4Vs dodEoOti
tight lacng for they would discover that artinciai
ana curve could be preserved by me na.ui - -
muscles OF the body leaving the woman freedom OF
movement and a grace that could be secured III
DR.. Evans, superintendent Of the convocauon
opened the discussion cooperation VIII In
exposition OF It's principles he poln.eu obtons
and refsrred 10 the English cooperative plans
which be said have thrived despite the sneefs u
comments Of the ADVERSE speaSsr SAID co-opera-
ton exists and works we'll IN I $1,000 " ho
IL was said there is colony OF woodworKe!s WIZ S
present he said no fault has been FOUND Win tns
system In certain factories IN Nlsc S -. he Va
Indiana the idea OF co-operatl e VS. The discus
zion aroused by DR.. Evanss aooress ne-a,ion
out q dissenting voice the system OF Cooper "'o-