Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-08
HOUSEHOLD.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

TO any one else, writes Mrs. Van Rem
sselaer in Home aud Flotcers. Her
hours for exercise may be from sun
rise TO sunset, but does she know
whether she is using her muscles cor
rectly? The proper poise is as attrac-
tive in the woman in the kitchen as in
the drawing room reception. The
proper use OF muse es to relieve strain
upon the back is as valuable in the
miles OF travel in the kitchen as on
Broadway. The proper and most
beneficial way Of breathing is just as
good over the milk cans on a back
porch as anywhere else. Women
must perforce stand for great deal
of their work, although the high stool
ought always to be ready to sit down
upon when vege tables are to be pre-
pared or other work done which ad-
mits of sitting. 1t Is a great boon to
have tables and sinks at such height
that one Is not required to stoop, for
the hours of work necessary to be
done. 1t may require some urgent
appeals to make the plumber see that
rather than put in sink at the regu-
lation height, it should be made to fit
the person using it. Kitchen stoves
are in some cases too low for the av-
erage woman to peform her work
over them with comfort.
One of the encumbrances which has
fallen to women's lot is TO "pick up"
after other people. She may as we'll
make the be st of it and esteem it her
privilege. 1t may not even in the
most approved fashion be found espe-
cially conducive to physical welfare,
but she may make it far less like
drudgery, if she will do 1t in the east
est and most graceful way possible.
Bending at the back is perhaps the
most common way of picking up ar
ticles, but bending at the knees is
much more becoming and much less
fatigueing. When one bends the
back it is often accompanied with a
sigh of discomfort, but, If one tries
bending at the knees and keeps the
head and upper part of the body erect
she has some incentive toward thank
fulness for those for whom she has
constantly to "pick up" after.
When a man lifts he uses his arms;
when a woman lifts she uses her back !;
when a man saws wood he uses his
arms: when a woman rubs clothes she
uses her back. Yet it is as easy to
use the arms in lifting and in rubbing
clothes as in saving wood. Keep the
weight on the balls of the feet, the
chest high, bend at the hips and not at
the waist, use the muscles of the arms
and not the back, and washing is not
as hard work as when it is done with
depressed chest, weight back upon
the heels, and strain upon the back.
Stair Ginning is part of woman's
work which takes much of her energy,
if there is much to be done. 1t is
doubtful if to her it will ever be a
blessing as a means of exercise. In
walking, mou citing stairs, and even
in standing the chest should be high.
When the organs of the body are
lifted up, the chin raised, the chest
high, courage and hope are indicated.
The mind follows. 1t is true that one
keeps his head up beause he is hope
full, but even If hope is wanting, lift
up the head, and it will come the
sooner. Dress a tramp in good clothes
and he has tendency to become too
self-respecting to tramp. On dark
day put on the brightest and prettiest
gown, and cheerfulness follows. 1t is
difficult for cheerfulness to express it
self in sombre surroundings. If the
knees are bent and seemingly too
weak to support the body, it is easier
for them to shake with fear than il
they are straight.
Physical Improvement consists not
alone In energizing and exercising
the muscles, but as well in repose, in
poise, in quiet self control. Yawn,
stretch, laugh, relax, and let the
knots go out of the body. There il
too much tension. Let 60.