The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-04
(W one hhnd

oo oA grace is perfect command OF equilibrium. Can this be acquired better than by series of rope-skipping exer- cfses, with backward movements?
 Study any graceful actress's method or moving. and you will find that its great charm results from her command of equilibrium.
 IT her walk is sort of harmonious swayfng toward the objective point, 1t Is because. as her feet move, her weight
 Is swung from hip to hip. keeping the body, at every stage of the movement. surely poised. This shifting of weight is her great secret. So 1t is that when. in the climax of the scene she turns on In- gomar and says, Take it," her pose is secure, dramatic, and full of that grace which properly adjusted equilibrium al- ways gives.
 When she says Leave the room," if the pointing to the door is accomplished by a movement that is graceful, 1t is because, as the arm goes out. the whole poise of ing of the arm.
 Alternate the backward jump with the forward movement, holding the arms up- lifted, the hands grasping the rope. If you raise the arms. with the hands mak- ing continuous horizontal line. the movement is stiff and awkward. If you raise the arm. the hand hanging pendant till the arm has reached position. and then lift the hand to the required horizontal, the movement is graceful.
 AS a waist reducer, skipping the rope is a positive delight By its means, if used faithfully every day. the waist will gradually taper into sylph-like propor- tions. Excess of circumference below the waist is another problem over which many a woman has worried, for inordinately large hips will spoil the effect of an other wise good figure, to say nothing of disas- trous effects to smart gowns. No perfec- ton of cut will hide the presence of over much flesh.
 To reduce the girth of the hips. stand upon a slight elevation of three or four inches from the floor, with the weight on one leg. Relax the other leg. and with the power from the thigh, first swing the relaxed leg forwsrd and backward; then swing it An a. circle around the strong legs During these swinging leg movements, keep a steady poise; the body from the hips upward must be quite motionless. Then take a skip and a jump over the rope. Repeat this twenty times.
 It is said that a woman has reduced the size of her hips no less than four inches by tfs rope-skipping exercise. An other one, equally as good, is to bend the knees, and rise on the balls of the feet rapidly, half dozen times or more, talk ing a skip and jump between each bend.
 Correct breathing is very important part of the rope-skipping exercises. Not old-fashioned, everyday breathing, but with ' EnodernsF' rhythmic breathing, as they call it-and 1t is use- less for any one to try to be bewitching and charming unless she practices rhyth- mic breathing. It gives well-rounded out lines and beautiful curves, when combined with athletics.
 With the body erect, the head and chest upright the weight resting lightly on the balls of the feet, while the heels Just touch the floor. inhale slowly and smooth ly, swelling out the lower chest. While inhaling, slowly raise both arms. the rope in the hands. as if they were lifted by the breath. Inhale until the arms are nearly on a level with the shoulders. where they are held for few seconds. Then skip lightly over the rope.
 Exhale slowly and gradually. at the same time lowering the arms. Alternate the inhaling with skip and jump.
 Don't breathe through the mouth. but through the nostrils, and don't breathe impure. dust-laden air. Stand by an open window, unless the exercise is taken out of doors The more fresh air you can breathe in daily, the more sparkling will be the eyes, the more glowing the cheeks.
 It is no earthly use trying all the ath- letics on the calendar. Rope-skipping and and-waving, with dumbbells and Indian clubs for incidental exercises, are suffi- cient Sitting or standing. always pre- serve the figure. because 1t keeps the muscles firm and well-strung, and pre- vents the sinking down of the flesh around the hips and waist so common to women over thirty With practice, this erectness of boise will, in time, become second na- ture, and the fine form. which is an es- sentlal element of real beauty, may be retained.
 However generously endowed in other respects Helen, Aspasia, Lucretia. Judith and Cleopatra may have been. they could not have made such indelible impressions on the worlds history had 1t not been fol the seductive spell of lovely forms. A cotillion figure. which is one of the novelties of this season, calls for rope The dancer. skipping over the rope. keeps | the free arm raised, passes the rope oVel her head. dances through 1t, picks up wand, grasps a handful of hanging rib bon, unfurls a fan, and all the time keeps on skipping and dancing. going round and round. always with her hand on the rope