Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-11-24
Stand Straight.

The prettiest head in the world loses
all charm if it sinks between two
round shoulders. An erect figure.
complemented by an easy carriage.
will carry off even irregular features
with a grace that has captivating
charm of its own.
1t is all a matter of training, and
the surest way is to begin with the
children at the earliest age if pOssi-
BILE. Make them stand straight, and
II AXE them unashamed of it. Too many
little ones are nagged at school be-
cause they are so stiff, because they
stand up like ramrods. when the truth
is that they are following their
teachers directions better than any
one else in the class. and are being
nagged through jealousy. There are
very few tempers that cannot be teased
and those few are strong enough to
ward oft their own blows. so we will
deal with the more timid ones, who.
like ourselves are very easily teased
indeed.
1t is to be deploIed for many rea-
sons that old straight backed Quaker
chairs are used only for curios nova
days, for nothing was better for the
young back than those quaint chairs.
in spite of their 'uncomfortab bleness.
Little girls. almost every one of them.
want to be grown up and their idea
of being grown up is to be the prettiest
girl they know. Pick out Il girl of
your acquaintance who is Il particular
favOrite of your own little girls, and
use her as a model in your talks on
standing straight provided. of
course, that the girl herself is straight
and easy of carriage.
No child can learn. to be easy and
graceful III one week, or one month
or one year. 1t is almost always Il
matter of many years. and while the
straightncss may come of practice.
that ease is apt only to come of age.
for all children have their awkward
age, and after it their age of ease.
If you can instill into the baby's mind
that by laborirg. at old-fashioned
methods of good carriage she can be-
come like her ideal young lady, you
will have accomplished your desired
end at little tiouble.
One girl in mind used to walk a
straight mark in the floor for one
whole hour each day. back and forth.
back and forth, just because it was
her grandpa's great wish, and she
worshiped her grandpa as a hero of
the best bear stories on earth. 1t was
a heroic means of treatment. but she
grew to be straight as an Indian child
and to be complimented to her salts
faction in after years upon her grace
Of manner
A good exercise for every morning is
this: To begin with, have your
daughter stand with her heels touch
ing in the back. toes out and her knees
perfectly rigid. Have her try to reach
her knees with her finger tips. While
in this position every bone of her spine
Will be apparent, and one look will
show you whether there is any devia-
ton from the true centre. If there is,
do not hesitate to consult physician.
for he will probably he able. with sim
pie methods, to remedy the defect.
which might otherwise develop into a
deformity.
To make a girl walk erect nothing
is better than to have her do so with a
book on her head. If you have two
daughters or more offer a prize of
some simple character every week for
the girl who drops the book the least
number of times during that week.
Having succeeded in making her walk
erect in every way. to give her grace
of carriage, it is very important that
her ankles be supple