Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-28
TO MAKE SEWING HEALTHY.
Correct Position Makes of 1t an Exer-
else That Will BE of Great
Benefit.

There is a right way and wrong
way to sew and she who pursues the
right way arises from her days work
greaiy benefited. She may be wearied,
but her WEAKNESS is that WEAKNESS
brought on by healthy work, like the
WEAKNESS which follows game of out
door sport, says the American Queen,
Sewing. as women usually sew, is in
furious to the health and to the ap-
pearance. 1t makes the shoulders
round. the chest hollow, the complex
ion muddy, and, furthermore, causes
Indigestion and headache. But there
IL no reason why this should be So
Correct sewing is governed by a few
simple rules. which, ii followed out,
make the plying of needle and thread
an exercise which deepens the chest,
improves the carriage, strengthens the
back and shoulders, clears the complex.
ion and brightens the eyes.
In the first place the sewing room
should be well ventilated. The air in
it should be as fresh and pure as the
air out of doors Three operations go
on in the sewing room, viz, cutting,
the seamstress standing at the table;
stitching, seated at the machine; sew
ing, with the material in the lap. In
cutting. the manner in which the seam
stress bends over the table is every
thing. In order that she may bend
over properly, she should first take for
two or three minutes the following
simple. easy and beneficial exercises:
Stand perfectly erect, the heels to-
gether, the chin and abdomen in, raise
the arms, held stiff, from the sides out
ward, until the hands meet over the
head, and at the time the hands meet,
the lungs should be filled to their full
est extent with air. Slowly exhaling
the air, lower the arms to the sides
again. Repeat this movement 20 times
This exercise straightens the back.
develops the lungs and gives to the
body the precise poise that it should
have. The seamstress. having through
it acquired the proper bodily poise, can
set to work at her cutting table TAX
ing care to bend over only from the
hips. Working in this position is per-
fectly healthy. The chest is expanded,
the back, neck and knees are straight,
and the abdomen held in. Hence the
longer the seamstress bends over the
table the more good she does to her
self, insuring a graceful carriage and
Strengthening the muscles. She should.
all through her work, breathe with
long, deep breaths
In sitting to sew with the material
on the lap. rocking chair should new
er be used. A rocking chair throws
the body out OF balance by pitching it
backward at an unnatural angle. In
it the muscles of the front Of the body
| the muscles of the chest and dia-
phragm contracted, the chest is
made hollow. the ribs are pulled down,
and the back is rounded
A chair with a straight back or a
stool should be used. and the body
should be held in the same erect posi-
ton that the cutting table requires.
chin and abdomen in. back straight.
chest out. OF course, it is necessary.
when sewing on the lap. to bend for
ward. but the bending should be done
from the lips-ths back should not he
rounded Sewing at the machine, PROV
erly conducted. Is an admirable exef-
| else. Let the seamstress sit erect,
bending only at the hips, and the rapid
pedaling will be beneficial as health
| full exercise