Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
THE QUEST OF BEAUTY
What Stands for the Sum-
mer Girls System.
PoISE, POSE AND CURVES
DIRECTIONS FOR CORRECTING OR
ACQUIRING THE NEEDFUL.
An Erect and Supple Figure Has Great
Attractiveness-G Gaining
Stature.
POISE, POSE AND CURVES

Written for the Evening Star by Katherine Morton.
1t has become the modern maids duty
to be light and 1.-THE, and, incidentally, gay.
The present fashion of flowing draperies
and wreath-crowned tresses demands de-
velopment of those womanly curves which
are so adorable and so lovable.
How, then, shall she acquire this grace
and poise? By wrestling daily with wands,
dumbbells and Indian clubs? y pounding a
bag, setting up a chest weight in her bou-
doir, or by going in for fencing?
No, these exercses-fine muscle develop
ers though they are-she dismissed with
the advent of warm weather.
Her summer program for retaining 1.-THE
figure and acquiring pose, poise and grace
is much more interesting. That 1t is also
much more picturesque adds to the beauty
of the scheme.
When she walks in her country garden
in the cool of the morning she carries the
basket of flowers which she has culed upon
her head. She is told that she looks dis
tractingly sweet by some one who has met
her "by chance, the usual way" when she
is practicing her garden athletics. She re-
plies that she feels like market woman,
and will he buy a rose?
She realizes, however, that she never felt
more buoyant or stepped forth with a more
elastic tread-that she is giving her figure
the benefit of every inch of stature to
which it is entitled.
In fact walking about with a weight on
the head is the short woman's best ally.
1t gives that erectness of figure which the
woman who is understood must cultivate If
she desires to triumph over her shortness
of stature
She Can Add Inches.
The woman who will hold herself erect
and walking about with a weight on the
head is the quickest and easiest way to &C.
Quire the african apparently add to the
height Of her figure, and impress beholders
with a far greater sense of Importance than
another woman with natural advantages
1ndinerently cultivated. She also grows
more thoroughbred in looks and move
ments.
If it happens that you are not in a posi-
ton to gather roses at early morn or dewy
eve, and rove around in highly romantic
state of mind, posing flowers upon your
head, 1T Is yet possible, in the seclusion of
your room, to follow out this system Of
beauty culture.
better STILL something breakable, a pitcher
or vase-and make the tour of your ROOM
walk on tiptoe, as this Is an excellent bal
ance movement. The shoulders should be
kept level throughout the exercise which
is then one of the best means of correcting
the habit of tipping the shoulders from
side to side when walking
In walking on tptoe one lands on the
eratum. If poise is to be cultivated
The way to learn the art Of true balanc-
ing, or standing on tiptoe, is to raise the
heels quickly from the ground and stand
as high on tiptoe as possible then lower
the heels with moderate speed.
Things to Learn.
To increase the difficulty of balancing
after becoming expert go through this ex-
ercise with the arms raised upright Grasp
Ing some object-a ball, for example-helps
to give life to the movement
Circle the arms back and forth, making
the movement with some force. This ex-
erctses the shoulders.
Almost everybody has a low shoulder
This Is caused in various ways Certain
muscles are contracted in walking, or one
shoulder is held higher than the other or
the head Is carried little to one side
Often this one-sidedness is the result OF
seemingly trif1ing habits, like leaning to
| one side white sitting.
To correct want of uniformity in the
shoulders, In addition to the exercise sug-
gested, several times during the day raise
the low shoulder slowly but strongly and
as high as possible. holding 1t there while
counting ten. Then lower slowly. This
VIII by degrees increase the height of the
shoulder.
shoulder may be too high as well as
too low. In such case draw the high
shoulder down, keeping 1t so for a few
n
the day.
A Good Developer.
Although there may be no inequality in
| the shoulders, 1t is, nevertheless. good ex-
ercise to raise and lower the shoulders
| simultaneously. This not only develops the
muscles. strengthening them IL they are
| weak. but lifts up the upper ribs, SO that
| the upper portion of the cavity of the chest
10 np1a md ftvy{t1 of~
NOTED.
Before practicing these athletics learn to
stand properly-that Is, sQuarely upon both
feet. or with the weight evenly balanced
upon the feet although it is not necessary
| to stand with the heels together Draw
| the knees in firmly, but do not hold them
tensely; draw the hips well back and con-
| tract the abdominal muscles. The chest
must be thrown out and then the shoulders
will drop down and back they should
The next step Is to raise the head slightly
and then draw in the chin.
The maid OF today also knows that the
| secret OF grace Is to teach every Joint Of
| the body to bend as much as 1t can and
| that the curves that most bewitch the eve
are made by sidewise movements and atti-
! tudes which always please more than those
| forward or backward.
| Acquires Willowy Grace.
| By taking thought and making intelligent
use Of the knowledge of athletics she
teaches her body to acquire the WilloWy
| grace Of a swaying Orc.
| Swaying back and forth does not mean
| exaggerated bending at the waist but TAX
| ing correct standing Notwithstanding in
| fact. that one is flower swayed back and
forth by the wind. The weight of the body
must be well off the heels, and on the balls
| of the feet. If the body can then move
easily to and fro. from the feet I'D. the
! posture Is correct.
| In this way physical buoyancy and lythe.
| melodious movements are acquired
| Many women, although beautiful of fea-
| ture, are not creatures of curve and grace.
| and they fail to charm. while a compare.
| lively plain woman with an erect supple
| figure has a great power of attractive
ness.
| The svelte form possesses the sweet.
| attractive kind Of grace of which the
| poets sing, and with it's exquisite curves
| of 1.-THE and shapely limbs has charm
| to which beautiful complexion. linpfd
! eyes and tresses of FURNISHED ravens
| wing or molten gold cannot lay claim.
Useful Suggestions.
Little Nell-The proper weight of women
OF different heights is given below:
| 8 feet / inch. .............120 nounds
Ieet ihcnes.- ...................26 pounds
| feet y inches. ~