The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-06-12
Love and B.
Athletics nosssn.

AthleticS MoTsnn.
Copyright. 1902. by w. r. Hearst.)
Lydia Robertson went into physical
culture with the same dauntless spirit
that characterized all her undertake
ings.
Thoroughly Jealous and determined,
she did not falter when the inevitable
obstacles presented themselves.
The battling Inconvenience. the an
couraging to the beginner. served only
to strengthen this young woman's pur-
pose.
Even the complaints and criticisms
OF her immediate family. who regard
ed the matter as simply another fad
OF Lydia's, could not deter her. The
unsympatheuc attitude of her relatives
there was neither room nor reverence
In the for Lydia's chest weights,
dumbbells n other paraphernalia.
However, when the family objected
to having the dining room turned into
q gymnasium, h cheerfully trans
ferred her beloved trappings to another
apartment. Met with further opposi-
ton. she continued the transferring
process, nothing daunted.
But he time came when the oppos-
Ing powers utterly refused to tolerate
her various apparatus in the house.
Then 1t was that a kindly fate stepped
In and took sides with Lydia. In other
words, fortune favored the brave.
It came about that she no longer had
need Of he ''trappings' which proved
such a bane to the family place. Ply
sical culturists We're beginning to IA
vor new n Simpler methods and less
violent exercise. The particular school
which Lydia ~patronized dispensed al
together with d~ulnbbells, chest weights
and similar aids to development. claim
ing that better results could be OBJ
tanned without their use.
The main thing now was to breathe
deeply and to exercise moderately and
regularly in the open air.
All this Lydia took pains to inform
the family, who. while rejoicing in the
Punishment Of gymnastical appliances.
felt justified in ridtculing afresh the
cause which she SO ardently espoused.
The e theory was Jestingly re-
ferred to as "Lydia's latest and many
We're the surmises as to what the next
departure would be. AS for the girls
plan to take her exercises hereafter
In the open air, there was much hilar-
ious comment.
That any person, knowing the limita-
tons Of life IN a Harlem fat, should
seriously consider suchsan absurd prop
osition seemed too amusing for belief.
Where will you take your ymnas-
voice ofmirth. 'Out On the front steps
for the benefit Of passersby?"
NO." answered Lydia, pleasantly;
but l intend to take them in the open
air, Just the same. Wait and you'll
They did see. So, also. did Roland
Hastings, the windows of whose apart
ment overlooked the court where, In
the early morning, Lydia proceeded
each day to stretch her muscles and
breathe deeply as she had been in
structed.
Hastings, himself a disciple Of the
cause, had battled with all Its accom-
panying problems-especiauy with
those difficulties which block the path
OF the city dweller-and could appreci-
ate keenly the bravery Of the young
woman's efforts.
When first he saw the girl he felt a
thrill Of genuine admiration for her
dauntless disregard Of conventional
limitations. How thoroughly unton-
scious she was Of everything except
the purpose in mind! How utterly she
ignored the possibility Of curious on
lockers, applying herself to her task
with an absorption that permitted no
thought OF d~istracting influences from
without.
Hastings watched every morning now
for the 1.-THE figure in the comfortably
fitting suit of blue. He had a fear,
somehow. that the girls enthusiasm
would wane, as was so often the case
when a woman undertook such self
discipline.
But as time went on Inc she contin-
ued to appear regularly in the court
below, he was conscious of a glow at
such indomitable perseverance.
There's q girl who possesses stick-to-
ttiveness, bless her hearth BY Joye, it's
a refreshing thing in this day Of dis
tracing frivolity! I wish I knew her"
How odd it seemed. after all. that he
should live in the same apartment
building with her and yet have no
means Of becoming acquainted. So
much Of the unkind customs and con
venttons of modern city lifel
Regarding his own progress in mat
tiers athletic, he began to feel decidedly
dissatisfied. A stufy bedroom was no
place to take ones exercise in and wire
screens at the windows were certainly
q great obstruction to fresh air. After
all there was no reason why he should
not also use the as q gymnasium.
It was free to him as well as to her.
OF course he would choose a different
hour o hers-but no. that would be
impossible. He would necessarily be
obliged to take his gymnastics in the
morning before going downtown { o
work ana mat was just the time n
used the court. He hated to 1ntrude and
! yet
Lydia's sister was the first to make
the discovery. Standing at the dining
room window she called out to the as
sembled family: ooh, do CONE quick
and look what's happened now! There's
a young mar out there taking physical
culture with Lydia-he's talking to her
do comet"
The affair was spoken Of as "Lydia,s
very latest" The girl endured the tokes
at her expense with her Characteristic
calm.
Have all the fun you please" she
said cheerfully. Mr.. Hastings is a
splendid fellow, as you'll all find out
some day. He wants to meet father
and mother. I told him he might CALL"
Did any one ever hear Of such an I'M
conventional arrangement? But then,
u mo- A,,cA i{1ra 1.ndioi