The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-01
THE BEAUTY QUEST.
WHY THE JAP GIRLS MUSCLES ARE STR
PHYSICAL CULTURE OCCURS FUNDAMENTALLY IN HER EVERY DAY LIFE-soME OF THE EXERCISES WHICH BUILD UP HER BODY AND GIVE HEALTH-How THEY WILL BENEFIT THE AMERICAN GIRL.
BY KATHERINE MORTON. Copyright, 1903. by T. c. Mcclure. ]

l Every day of the year that the little Japanese girl lives she is training her muscles. Her dancing lessons are only ! a part of this training.
 has never been tall. Students differ as | to the reason of this. Some ascribe 1t to diet, some to climate and nowadays we are hearing that it is because of sit- | ting on the floor. Whatever be the true reason, 1t has stunted physical develop ment in only that one way. Whatever forces have combined to make dolls of the Japanese have not narrowed their shoulders or lessened their agility. The Japanese maiden Is a sturdy little ath- letc.
 When was visiting Nagasaki with 8 | friend" said traveller the other day. we happened to fall into frolic with | two merry little maidens who were be- witching in the gayest of lowered kimo- mas. They were as playful and as harm less and as rough as two fat Newfound- land puppies: In the good-tempered tus- sle they had us worsted so soon that we had to flee to save our vanity. My com- panion's hair was disgracefully mussed. my necktie was awry and our collars were limp, It was all absurd and un; dignihed,, but one could no more demand dignity of such simple, primitive little girls as these than of pair of kttens.
 What I learned from the incident was and merry. I don't know of three quail ties that promise more for her own ad- vancement and thar of future genera tions."
 So, all unconsciously, little Miss Japan is doing her share toward building up a. race of strong people--the kind that wear sound minds in sound bodies. The phys ical culture which comes to her casually in her everyday life gives her a rounded figure. graceful motions, bright eyes and disposition wards off wrinkles and a dropping mouth.
 One thing that. gives strength to the little trunk Is her manner of sitting. It may be what prevents her towering to a Gibson height, but it gives her back bone sureness that We may well envy.
 T am so miserable without my corset" many an American girl says. T need 1t feel as if my spine were going to col- lapse. I am entirely dependent on it."
 Whoever heard Miss Japan say a thing like this? She does not know the mean ing of & corset. Furthermore she has not even chair back for support.
 Now. I am not a dress reformer and do not condemn all c3rsets. I have d feminine liking for the shapeliness which spring suit of tailored cheviot But if had a monopoly on all the corsets in the world I would never let a woman have one until she ceased to want it. I would hold 1t danging above her as a reward and say. When your spine holds itself up independently, when you learn to ba strong and erect and elastic without Is aid. when you are no more dropping and weary without 1t than with it--tben you may have the daintiest little affair." all aoorned with ribbons and lace and rose- buds, from my santa Claus pack |"
 The Japanese girl educates her spine with never q reward except virtue's own Probably she would see no charm in even the prettiest of French corsets [ knew a little Japanese woman who came to this country and adopted our style of dress. She owned that for weeks she shed tears into one of our strange cloth handkerchiefs every morning when the problem of dressing confronted her. The