The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-13
THE UGLY NECKS or
CIVILIZED PEOPLE.
LADY Who recently visited out o.

q LADY who recently visited out OF
"A the way spots in Mexico says the
most nobly walking women she
ever saw are to be found among Indians
of the pure blood in Orizaba and other
country districts.
They stand straight and splendid, IS
she says. They wear few clothes to
obstruct their natural movements, and
hey have grand. statuesque necks that
never knew the confinement of high
stock or starched collar. never saw
my woman in civilization carry her
head in so queenly a way as these bare
foot Indian women do. For ages the
lative Indian women of Mexico have
borne burdens upon their heads. It
gives them grace and nobleness OF
movement"
Now, contrast this with the neck Of a
middle aged woman whom I saw lately.
She was with a friend. who suddenly
-equested her to look around a little and
see something. The woman said:
Il can't look around. ! can't turn my
neck without turning my whole body"
Here was a refined, highly educated
woman going through life without be-
ing able to turn her head to see any
thing over her shoulder. So far as any
Use her neck muscles were to her they
might have been wooden boards instead
Of muscles.
Civilized women-men, too, for that
natter-haYe treated their necks so
3arbarously that they have practically
70 use of them. And as to beauty-look
1t the neck of the average middle aged
woman or man. The woman's neck is
often utterly lost in q wad of fat and
double chin, or, If she is one of the lean
kind, 10 to 1 her neck viii have a collar
mark around 1t as disfiguring as the
harness mark around the neck of a
draft horse.
In the neckwear which-heaven knows
why-fashion has dictated for two gem
erations 1t is impossible to breathe free
~, to turn the head freely or to carry
the head in the noble. easy manner the
lady SO. admired among the barefoot In
dian women of Mexico. Most men and
women luke" their heads forward like
a turtle peering out of its shell.
It is disgracefuI not to be able with
out moving the body to turn the head
so as to see objects that are behind US.
We cranp the neck muscles so that the
blood cannot circulate freely in them.
Then they shriveI and become. weak and
stunted. In this condition they cannot
resist temperature changes. Next thing
we are constantly having colds in the
head and sore threats and stiff necks.'
We can avoid this by going back to
nature and dressing the neck and throat
loosely and lightly Cold water dashed
upon the neck and throat every morning
this followed by a brisk rubbing, does
much to harden the skin against the
cold taking habit.
Here are a few exercises that will
timber up necks already lumpish and
stinened: Turn the head from side to
side as rapidly as you can. trying to
look at objects behind you. stretching
the neck. as far as possible. Do this half
a dozen times; then try to lay your head
down upon your shoulder. first one side,
then the other. After little of this
take the third neck 1inbering exercise,
as follows: Stand erect, chin in Then
move your head backward and forward,
backward and forward, some thirty or
forty times. This works the fat and
stiffness out of your neck vertebrae.
MARY GOULD LYLE.