The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-10-17

briefost and most superficial obser-
walton demonstrates. To hold ones
self tense as II braccd against some.
thing, is 80 common as 20 be almoet
universal This habit OF body has tia
source almost invariably IN uneon-
scious habit Of mind.
The value of various forms OF INV.
steal culture Is the correcting OF thls
fixed tension In various parts of the
body 80 that the tubings are normally
open. Il is pointed out that there
are two reasons why ordianry physical
culture does not reach the more intri-
cate of these conditions.
First, a person is not by any volun-
tary act able to locate them. and
would not. even II they we're dlscov-
cred to him, be able to reach them
by movements controlled by his con-
scious mind.
Again, physical culture is racial
rather than special, and as each indl-
vidual is different from every other
It is only when alwlse nature Is set
in operation that the need OF each is
adequately met.
To understand just what Is asserted
for the natural movement system of
exercise It Is necessary to take into
account that mans inherent and per-
sistent tendency In his subconscious-
ness is to be healthy and to return
ever and again to the normal This
is demonstrated by the healing Of
wounds by first intention, and in many
other ways.
Still, man is so truly a free moral
agent that in a thousand ways his
body Is contracted and hardened by
his own action; while the strong nat
ural tendency is to openness and hexi-
bility. When the tense and stiffened
condition is continued so persistently
that it becomes fixed, the human
mechanism can do but partial and
imperfect work, as certain parts are
then incapacitated and their duties
are thrown on others, which have no
capacity to fulfil them. It is said that
the natural movement system of exer-
else by putting the subconscious self
in control secures restoration to per-
fectly normal conditions.
AS the author relates, this system
was worked out from very simple
beginning. When preparing herself
to teach, in waiting as her instructor
directed, perfectly quiet for the breath
to come with which to sing, she OBJ
served that certain uniform move
ments followed. She became interest
ed and began a series Of experiments
and observations
In doing this she found that when
ever she completely relaxed herself
and waited in quiet silence she was
invariably inclined to movements
which were quite involuntary. Yield
ing to these, she found that from
day to day they progressed in a reg
ular sequence, and, also, she found her
health constantly improving.
Incited by her success with herself,
she set about studying as did Preyer
and Darwin. When she was satisfied
that she had found law which, while
simple, was far-reaching, she proceed
ed to test the value of the system
thus evolved.
To make sure that she had made a
valuable discovery, she obtained per-
mission to see what she could do with
patients at the Boston dispensary in
Boston. Here she treated, and is said
to have cured several cases Of st.
Vitus' dance, and a case of sciatica
of long standing. One child who had
spinal trouble was, by actual meas
urement, four inches taller at the end
of six weeks treatment than at tho
beginning.
It was found that nervous diseases
were almost invariably helped by this
exercise. A United States senator,
suffering from extreme nervousness
and insomnia was cured, and he now
constantly practices these exercises.