Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
HEALTH IS CONSIDERED MOST
NECESSARY AND FIRST.
Society Ways and Manners Come
Next in 1mpor-
lance.


of young women noted for their slim waists
and a delicacy amounting almost to fra
gility The finishing school Of today grad
yates an entirely different type of girl. She
| Is prepared solely with view of ornament
| ing society as it f1ourishes at the beginning
of the twentieth century, which happens
| to be after the correctly strenuous fashion
The young woman who springs armed
and equipped from such school room into
| the social arena is the product OF evolution
and environment. She enters the scnooi
| crude. awkward and self-consclous. She
leaves it graceful, cultured In the social
| code and with a certain poise and assur-
ance which comes only with knowing what
| is what. She is prepared to meet every SO,
cial emergency and Is armed 1or an socia s.,
demands Every study hour and every
recreation period has been bent toward the
| one object-sOcial success.
A Hard Course Of Training.
The course of training is long and often
arduous on the part of the instructors
who must produce the necessary polish
without offending the pride. Girls crude in
figure and speech and bristling with pro-
yincialisms must be taught everything, from
acquiring a proper waist line to the soft
intOnations of the high-bred society wo-
man. AS all the gifts are founoea on
health, the physical reformation OF 'he
growing girl Is lIlStltutCu ihiAAA>o-s
her arrival at the school,
thorough examination is made by
graduate nurse. who is constantly III a.
tendance upon the members OF the schooi
If no serious defect is discovered the pupil
Is passed on to the gymnasium, where she
is received by a teacher of physical culture,
scientifically educated for this work. He
lays down the rules for her exercise, both
in and outside the gymnasium, according
to her condition and strength.
The Work Closely Watched.
In the gymnasium the Swedish move
ments are first taken up, and are espe-
cially adapted to the requirement of young
girls. Even these simple exercises are per-
formed under the watchful eye of the pro-
fessor A single false movement, repeated
daily for a week or so. might undo the
good results secured from months of pa
tient and careful training.
Girls who suffer from exaggerated all
ments or deformities are given special at
tention. Exercises are fitted to their cases.
and II necessary, massage is administered.
Gymnastic work is obligatory in all the
better class of schools.
The exercises are at first light, and are
increased so gradually that the pupil is
never permitted to feel fatigued. Within a
short time dropping shoulders lift hollow
chests fill out and weak spines stiffen. The
polishing process Is taking effect.
In the gymnasium Of a fashionable New
York school for girls a motto reads: THE
purpose of the gymnasium is, first, to cor
rect the physical imperfectfons; second, to
exaggerate the eXhilaratfon of health"
The chaperon on the daily walk plays her
part in the physical development, insisting
upon correct carriage and proper inhala-
lions of air.
Basket Ball Fad.
Athletics are elective. but desirable They
are encouraged by all progressive teachers,
and grounds are provided at the highest
priced schools. If the grounds attached to
the school are limited in size campus is
secured at some convenient point. While
some girls scorn the idea of great muscu-
lar development, the up-to-date girl, as
rule, goes in heavily for school athletics.
She has positive ideas keeping pace
with her brothers-and some chaps who
are not so closely related. In vacation days
she proves her right to tramp over hills
with the sterner sex, to hold her own in
golf game and to give tips on basket ball.
The laSt-named game is Just now much
in vogue at fashionable schools, and at
least once a day the pupils don their SUITS
which include boomers and sweaters, for
an hours practice on the court
A feature of the basket ball team which
appeals to the up-to-date girl is the pos
session of a mascot. Rivalry between
teams for the most unique mascot is always
keen. One team in a fashionable school
near Philadelphia wearied in turn of a
goat dog and cat, and finally settled
down to pickaninny wearing the teams
colors. The mascot Is always in evidence
at the annual tournament.
Archery Taught for steadiness.
: Fencing is taught as means of aceuir-
inr agility and grace. AS this exercise
brin,-s into play nearly every muscle of the
body. 1t is practically obligatory In all
finishing schools.
Archery cultivates accuracy of vision and
steadiness of hand and limb. Fine records
are made by some students. Bowling alleys
are provided in connection with all first
class gymnasiums. and for schools located
In the suburbs there are tennis courts and
golf links.
All these sugar-coated forms Of physical
training are administered for the purpose
OF developing the all-round athletic girl A
knowledge OF up-to-date games is as essen
tial to the modern girl as was smattering
Of French to her great-grandmother
The girl who lays a good physical foun-
dation never slouches or lounges indoors.
makes her sure Of foot and bearing when
she enters room, as well as when she
dashes across the links. She Is sure of
herself and fears no criticism.
When the muscles are made strong and
pliable, Delsarte is taken up to add grace
and ease. The pupil is taught the grace
and beauty of repose. She learns that IL ia
| not well-bred to flourish her arms to fidget.
or to arrange nervously her hair or attire
She may not play with her handkerchief.
1t is the nervous, unbalanced girl who
breaks these rules. not because she does not
know what is what. but because she lacks
control of herself. Once her health is es-
tablished, the proper things become second
nature.
"The Harmonious Pose"
The foundation of good manners is known
to instructors Of such schools as the har-
monious pose. This pose, which, by long
cultivation, becomes habitual. is based
first upon hygiene and then upon beauty
The body is properly balanced, with the
chest held high, so that plumb line drop
ped from chest to floor would fall slightly
| In front of the toes. The weight of the body
is thrown upon the balls of the feet The
heels, when placed together should be
turned out at an angle of forty-five degrees
There should be no concave curve at the
waist In the profile outline. The weight of
the arms should hang from the shoulder
blades and not from the chest.
The student is also taught to hold the
| spine erect when sitting. II support is
necessary, she must sit well back In the
| chair and a foot stool should be placed at
her feet to relieve all pressure on the spine
| She learns that all bending of the body
should come from the hips and not from
| the waist.
How to Rise and Stoop.