The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-29
Why BUSINESS WOMHN IS MHNLIK6


succeed in the business race with men,.
They have got to reorganize dress and
customs a little, too.
Fancy, for instance, criticizing a
woman for not standing on the elevat-
ed trains SO that she is bound to lose
her balance at every curve! If men
gave up their seats any more to wom-
en--oh, | know they still do about
twenty third Street-but If business
women didn't have to as a rule stand
up all the way home they wouldn't
practice masculine ways of keeping
their balance.
"A wise woman stands with her feet
little apart at curves on the surface
or elevated roads, not because men do,
but for the same reason they do,
namely to avoid the embarrassment of
sharing, unasked, the seat of-possibly
the liberal man himself
by distributing her weight she
avoids the strain that comes on spine
and knees when the feet touch, and
she doesn't purpose that her pride and
dignity shall be laid low While she is
absorbed in studying the pretty preci-
sion of her neat boys shoes. She pre-
fers specific gravity to general Ievity.
and all business women don't in
variably clasp their hands back of
them when they stop to-talk; for that
matter, they don't often stop to talk.
But know some who put their hands
back of them occasionally, in and out
Of the office, for the very sensible rea-
son that it's bit of good exercise, of
which they get very little.
ITO clasp the hands firmly back of
one throws back weak shoulders, lifts
and expands the tired chest and
straightens the spine-the sort of thing
society women pay SIS a lesson to learn
how to do. l can assure you that it
doesn't occur to her that in doing this
reasonable, healthful thing she is pos
ing as masculine. She is just resting
as the liberal man would, simply and
wisely.
And when she crosses her knees,
which she may occasionally, as she
moves back from a desk, she is really
putting into effect some very common
sense principles of physical relaxation
and not indulging in a silly fad. Cross
ing the knees relaxes the nerves and
muscles not only of the legs, but Of
almost the entire body.
Men have apparently known this for
years. Business women are just be-
ginning to find it out and to under
stand that one reason why they tired
out hours sooner than men do at the
same work is only because they did not
know the wisdom Of relaxation.
THE business man has probably been
Taught, DIS IIldny Ol us nave DGGn, LnaL
it is good form for women to be rigid.
1t is only comparatively short time
since we ceased to feel distinct moral
shock If the tip of a tiny foot crept out
>of the confines of the skirt hem. To-
day comfortable large tan feet tramp
about some three inches below the
skirt hem frankly unconscious of any
indiscretion or any need of shrouding
their useful career in mystery.
oil I,nT5 a H. ID
desk woman has got to be a smooth
running machine first and a social con-
formist second. And placing social
smartness second does not mean for
getting 1T.
''She must not let noise and confu-
sion and responsibility, or rudeness or
vulgarity, and lack of rest or proper
food, encroach one atom on her own
repose, or courtesy or kindness, or
gentleness, or good taste.
But our dress and physical vigor we
must adjust to new and very trying
conditions.
"Why shouldn't we, for instance.
talk sometimes with hand on knee?
It's wonderfully restful to arm, neck
and back, sheer contrast to desk rigid
ness.
And it is quite plain that the liberal
man is not an athlete, or he would rec
ognize in the business woman's walk
the long, swinging hip walk taught in
half the gymnasiums in the country.
And for that matter most Of the smart
outdoor girls have adopted this sensible
walk, and you see it in the drawing
room and on the golf links, as well
as on lower Broadway.
"To take little mincing steps with
knees rigid and hips motionless may
be ladylike-it was accepted as such