The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-14

gymnastics others are touring with
acrobatic companies. Grace Patten,
eight yeais old. has the size AMI
strength Of a girl OF eleven. Her IA
>ther is a circus proprietor ana httle
Grace is one of his star performers
Shr can lift ner own weight 18th east
and Is so supple in all her motions
that while stIli a young child she was
advertised on the circus posters as
the Rubber Baby"
Contrast tie rubber baby with the
young American woman of twentl
who cannot even stop over w,thoui
bending her knees and touch the floor
with her finger tips. There, too is
the fat strangled woman of forty who
cannot turn her head to one side 20
look at something little back of her
without turning her whole body. The
girl of twenty and the woman OF for
ty have crimina,ly neglected keeping
their bodies up to their best.
1t is said that in all New York
city's most exclusive social circle
there are only four women who can
sit or stand gracefully. The others
sit punched down in heap or stand
with sunkcn chests and rounded, un-
| tven shoulders.
The. woman who cannot conveniently
| take regular course Of gTmnastic
training can do much for herself In
her own home. If the correct bodily
! ositioI be maintained there is M
system of physical training much bet
ter than just ordinary housework-
sweeping. Gusting. lifting the arms to
shelves above the head, running up
and down stairs, or working outdoors
al gardening. But the correct posi-
tion---straight. erect spine. chest held
up--must be maintained throughout.
The nrst direction 10 the woman at
home who would improve her he alth
and her figure is: Hold your chest up
ard ts1@ath" dee PLY OF pure air. H.
weakest, most awkward part of wo-
mans muscular system is in her lower
| limbs. partly because she does not
! use them, partly because of her ham
| pering dress. Following is one of the
| best exercises ever given for
strengthening and limbering the mus
! cles of the lower limbs and at thu
| same time developing, power in the
| spine and spinal nerves; stand, very
| loosely and lightly clad, before an
| open window. Place the hands up
| on III hips breathe deeply and slow
| ly and at the same time work the
| ieet up and down briskly by rising
! upon the toes and letting them partly
| down again Occasionally pause In
| the midst of this exercise to give play
to the fine nerve currents that you
will fell running up from your feet
through the spine Take this exercise
vigorously a few minutes each nigh:
and morning. 1t has a remarkably
soothing, Strengthening influence on
the great nerves CT the back and lower
limbs.
AS an all around outdoor exercise
for women, old and young, nothing is
better than walking, not ms slunging
slow, lifeless gait in which, so many
| saunter along aimlessly. but the
quick, sprinEy step upon the from;
part of the foot, head and chest up
lungs free. as though you We're going
somewhere and meant to get there
The fabit of walking should be &c
quired. with a long, easy stride that
can cover miles without fatigue TO tn,
walker. 1t is a fact that few women
walk gracefully. and an athletic
young man tells me that not NOR,
than one girl in a thousand can run.
A walking tour of two weeks or d
month during these golden autumn
says would put life enough into wo-
j man to last her All winter. Cos
country and maintain walks are the
/ best. In districts where IL is possible
70 wear them gymnasium boomers
/ are The best with high shoes, broa-
toed and low neeled. Women who IN