Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-03-20
Physical Education and Homework.

Physical Education and housework.
It has been said that the first requisite
of success in, life Is to be good animal,
and wonder if any one ever saw sound
sense, good nature and beauty in an all
ing, puny body. Good sane judgment
should not be expected from any one
who is not in good health. Even a
heavy dinner will give bias to ones
opinions.
Exercise is a necessity from entrance
to exit and it may be said to be the way
to attain a green old age as one nears the
century mark. It is never too late to
begin, though the young woman of
eighteen or twenty years can add to her
height in a way which the lady who
is eighty years young cannot expect.
Physical education costs nothing but a
little time and some perseverance. APP
paratus may be dispensed with, though
its value must not be decried.
One thing to look out for always and
to avoid, is one-sided development. If
the right hand, right shoulder, right side
is used more than the left, there will be
a corresponding increase in size in the
part most used. This is to be avoided,
and the left side of the body should be
used as the right is. This can be done
in sweeping, washing, ironing, and 80 on,
changing broom or iron as the case may
be from one hand to tho other.
Exercise strengthens not only the
muscles engaged in the work, but in
directly benefits all the muscular tissue
in the body. 1t makes the muscles used
firm, round and strong; gets rid Of
superfuous fat, replacing it with useful
flesh, and brings more blood to the
parts so that the tissues are better
nourished. The heart muscle is made
stronger; in the immature, the height is
increased, the breadth of the shoulders
and width of the chest improved.
The joints are made more elastic; as
the unused lock and hinges of a door
creak and move with difficulty, so the
joints which are the hinges of the body,
stiffen and lose their suppleness when
the oil of frequent use, which ought to
lubricate them, is not sufficiently ap-
piled. Then they also creak, and grow
old and rusty rapidly.
Who has not noticed the 1.-the, grace
full bodies and supple easy movements
of actresses on the stage who have been
on the boards almost lifetime, calcu-
lating by the Osler method; yet they
move with lightness and agility which
put to shame the maiden still on the
sunny side of twenty. This pliancy and
easy grace has been acquired only by
constant well directed exercise. The
action of we'll trained member is
characterized by its precise and graceful
ease, while the weak one moves with a
slow, uncertain or jerky awkwardness.
Exercise also keeps the bones from
growing old and brittle, and preserves
them green and full of sap, SO that If an
accident occurs, fracture is less likely
to result, or should it occur, the bone
knits more quickly and perfectly.
There is plenty of room for the devel-
Opment of muscular structures. 1t is
far from uncommon to see thin necks,
STOPPING shoulders, narrow fiat chests
and pipe stem arms, aud as the whole
body participates in this lack of develop
opulent, the condition is at the root of
many painful pcriodicities where an un-
developed muscular structure, childlike
in size, has the work of maturity thrust
upon it.
Many muscles which clothe the chest
pass over from it to be inserted on the
inner side of the arm, so that when the
hands and arms are exercised, the mus
cles of the chest are also being called
into use and are being developed at the
same time.
Household labors call into play many
muscles, exercising them as gymnastic
work does, making them rounded and
beautiful where they would have been
thin and scrawny. Sweeping, for in
stance, exercises the muscles of the fore
arm, that is, that part of the arm between
wrist and elbow; it also exercises the
muscles ON the side of the chest. The
motion is said to have some resemblance
to golf. The broom should be changed
from one hand to another.
Washing clothes and making bread
also develop the muscles of the forearm,
principally, making this part of the arm
rounded and full, and making the grip
of the hand stronger. Hanging up the
clothes necessitates stretching the arms
upwards, does not require 80 much
strength and is similar to dumb bell
exercise where the arms are stretched
above the head. Itexercises the pectoral
muscles of the chest, and is good
breathing exercise. When ironing
clothes, the board should be placed at a
comfortable level, 80 that it will not be
necessary to stoop over 80 much, and
the left hand should be used to smooth
out the pieces.
scRUBBING FLOORS GOOD DEVELOPER
Scrubbing floors is good developer.
The position maintained while doing this
work resembles one frequently made use
of in the exercise of medical science.
The scrubbing brush should be changed
from one hand to another. This work
exercises the muscles of the forearm,
upper arm, chest and abdomen; the back
should be held as straight as possible,
chest up, the abdomen drawn in. 1t is a
good exercise to raise up the vital
organs.
WHAT TO AVOID IN HoUSEwOHK.
1t is sometimes possible to have too
much of n good thing, and though house
hold exercise is usually direct benefit
to the worker, still some women have
inherited weaknesses which cause tend
ency to rupture and dlsplacements.
Anyone having such tendency should
avoid strains such as that caused by lift
ing heavy piece of ice, or wash boiler
full of clothes; should not move around
heavy beds, or try to push along pianos
or unwieldy trunks or anything else re-
quiring great or unusual effort.
vARIcosE VEINS.
Those troubled with large veins in the
legs should never stand much in one pO-
sition; walking is not nearly SO harmful.
They should always sit down when their
duties permit it, as when pairing pOta-
toes, apples, ETC., and elevate the affect
ed leg on q stool. A good support for a
leg in such condition is to bandage the
leg with an even pressure from the toes
tothe knees.
CLEANING WINDOWS AN EXCELLENT
EXERCISE.
Cleaning windows exercises the muscles
of the throat, arms and chest. The
bending and twisting is good for the
side muscles; raising the window may
require considerable strength, the body
should be held erect, chest out and head
against back of collar. The pushing
part of the process will call into action
the triceps which ia on the outer part of
the upper arm. Bedmaking exercises
the muscles of the sides, abdomen, chest
and arms, all to some extent.