The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-14
WOMAN'S
WORLD.

NAL is absolutely erroneous. 1t is con-
sanity said, "Oh, woman doesn't want
f.. be physically strong; a muscular wo-
man is an abomination." If by muscle is
meant large and badly distributed masses.
there is little fault to be found with the
st.tement. On the other hand, well-de-
v.loped and symmetrical muscles are alb
-olutely essential if a woman desires to
have the grace of outline. the roundness
Of limb. the pliancy and suppleness of
movement which are so universally and
s1stlv admired. You cannot have grace
and ease without strength; the prettily
oatIt woman is almost invariably strong
and active. Indeed, grace and ease are
The very refnements of strength. If we
look at say, the arm of a finely built
woman. we do not of course, wish 10 see
hinge masses of muscle. What we expect
10 see, and what pleases our eye in the
seeing. is she exquisite modelling, the flow
inc lines, and the soft yet firm appearance
of the flesh. And all that mainly depends
mon the condition of the muscles under
Meath. Looking from a distance at such
am arm. we know intuitively that soft as
looks. il will be firm to the touch; we
know that were the muscles habby and
toneIess. thotgh the limb might please a
certain order of eye by reason of its size
and heshiness, the exquisite modelling, the
wonderful blending of daintiness and pow
fr. would be lacking. And what is true
OF the arm is equally true of the whole
feminine form. 1t is the peculiar quality
of exercise that it tend to emphasize sex;
while it makes a man more virie, causes
his muscles 10 stand out, and gives him
more determined appearance, ii causes
the female form to become rounder, the
outlines softer, and, in short makes her
more womanly looking in every way.
"Womanly- looking" it may be echoed;
but does il make her more Womaniy in
character? Wen, that is a very wide sub
iect and one which 1t would be futile to
argue at any great length. Sul, 1t may
lie said that as exercise leads to health,
the woman who takes exercise is natural
TX the healthy women. And is there any
good reason for supposing that the healthy
woman Is likely, by reason of her health,
to be inferior in character and disposition
10 her weaker sister? On the contrary,
health has an enormous bearing upon the
mental aud moral qualities, and especially
in che case of women. Is not the woman
who is overlooking with health likely to
have better spirits, to have more large
minded tolerance, to be gentle ana more
considerate than the feeble creature who Is
always wrapped up in her own sick body
Ii is frequently asserted that the girl VINO
goes in for exercise is overbearing and as
sertive. Do we usually find those under
sirable qualities in the strong? Certainly
common experience does not bear out the
contention.
Those who are strongly opposed TO eXer-
else for women may contend that What
has been said with regard TO us eftects
is inaccurate, and in proof OF thelr as
sertion point to many girls who undouot-
edIv do take exercise. but who are far
from being pleasant to gaze upon. They
NAV point to the bicycle face" the an
gular figure the strained, weary express
sion the awkward gait, and exclalm TIL
umphanuy: Behold the results OF ttls
much-vaunted panacea for all the his oI
Womanhood" The writer's reply Is tAa'
he has been referring to judicious eXer-
else. as he was at pains to point out II
is undeniable that many girls do come 10
harm pursuing exercise in rasn ana
injudicious manner; but this is no afSu-
ment against exercise itself. 1t merely
shows how great is the necessity lor
pointing out that exercise, however good
in itself may be responsible for much
harm 10 such of it's devotees as pursue
il indiscreety and without due recognl-
ton of the fundamental laws of health
and life itself.
Ii is not necessary for a woman to be
profound psychologist to understand that
exercise, if carried to excess, defeats us
own object. Yet il is upon this side that
the modern girl is most apt to err. That
Is, indeed, what is to be expected. EXer-
else is so comparatively new thlng u
women that they cannot be expected 70
see il all al once in its proper perspective
Men, it must always be remembered, nave
grown up with a tradition of physical eX-
erclse behind them. No doubt in time IL
VIII become a tradition with women; put
the present generation is only just begin
nirs it. Again, boys begin at very early
age TO participate in games and sports'
ana thus by the time they come to ado-
leScenco their frames are hardened, their
muscles toughened their hearts ana lungs
IN good working order, and able TO stahd
good deal of strain without serious
injury Now, if girls wish TO properly BEN
enc by exercise they must take a leaf out
of their brothers book. Festina lente
must in fact, be their motto. Ii is owing
3" 91 neglect of his m2xip that girls
very frequently get more harm than good
OUT Of their exercise. Women in general
have a greater amount of what-for want
"' better name-we call nervous energy
IAah have men; this leads them very fire.
Ppenl.y to overtax their strength. While
under the influence of excitement, or the
ittlag born of good-natured rivalry, they
Nll attempt and very frequently succeed
l4 comprising. feats out of all proper
u'n 10 their strength, without having
worked up to them by a graduated course
% raining such as would be undergone
ny man in similar circumstances The
isSuit Is that they are making great
U-eln upon their nervous system; and, aft
q 1ne spurious strength born of excite
H'-hl and the desire not to be outstripped,
uses Off collapse and nervous prostra-
lion follow
ANoiher point in which women are wo-
,"iN lacking is that their ideas are very
10y with regard to the hygiene of exer-
ICY. To touch upon one matter-and
important matter, too-that of the
every male athlete knows the value
'I' order of the bath" After bicycle
o race, a bout with the gloves, or
"t' not, mans first idea is "a bath ami
''lHse Indeed. to the male mimi the
''H OF vigorous exercise without a sub.
t''Ht bath is exceedingly uninviting. All