The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-06-13
A WOMAN'S EXERCISE
DANCING TAKES FIRST PLACE
SAYS AN EXPERT.
Physical Reasons Why Exercises
Suited for Men Are Not Adapted
to Women-Grace Should BE Wo-
mans Aim I'm Exercise.

o0OulQ women De encouraged 10
take part in competitive athletics
and sports?" DR.. Luther II. Gulick,
president of the American Physical
Education Association and head of
the department of physical education
in the public schools of New York.
repeated the question thoughtfully.
There Is woman's problem in
exercise as there Is In many other
things" he went on. Fortunately,
with reference to exercise the differ
ences between men and women are
more tangable and we know the facts
upon which those differences rest
better than we know those in con-
ne ton with political organization,
for example.
Years ago when / was beginning
this work l believed that the differ
ence between men and women was
caused by the difference in their
training. / no longer have any such
Idea, 1 know that the physique of
men and of women differed in the
beginnlng-man to be the fighter,
the protector, woman for mother
hood.
But this is only the beginning of
the argument Women are shaped
differently from men. At an equal
height and weight. mans shoulders
are broader than a woman's. SO
that in every form of gymnastics or
athletics which depends on leverage
y 4, 20 nla "a
viii excel, even If he is not muscular
" stronger than the woman.
"a further handicap is placed on
woman in the size of her hips. Her
trunk also is longer. Therefore, in
all gymnastic work in which the
weight of the body is held by the
grms such as work on the parallel and
horizontal bars, a woman has to sup
port the bulk of her weight further
from the bar than does man. Her
ceI,er of gravity is lower.
These physical facts do not differ
entiate all men from all women, be-
cause there are exceptional men who
have shoulders and hips such as are
usually seen on women; and vice
versa, we occasionally find women
VINO are muscularly stronger than
most men, women whose bones have
the leaverage that belongs to men.
Cut | am speaking of the average.
when we come to severe tests OF
endurance we find that woman is not
less handicapped. In proportion she
has decidedly smaller lungs. TIE
red corpuscles in her blood are also
smaller than those of the man, so
their carrying capacity OF oxygen is
less.
THE weight Of woman's body in
proportion to her breathing power is
much greater than that of a mans.
For this reason she cannot compete
with him in running, any more than
she can compete with him in feats Of
muscular strength.
The athletic exercises and games
best suited to women are moderate
and graceful, not those involving
competition and strain--all forms
of callisthenics and light gymnastics
archery, lawn tennis, swimming, field
ldCIOSSS, DICyCIlHS, TONluS
canoeing, golf. skating fencing, and
basketball. In all athletic exercises
in which women engage good form
should be required rather than rec
ords.
Women may be excused for not
being as strong and enduring as meI.
bat lhey cannot be excuse. tor not
being more finished and graceful,
Good carriage, perfect po.se,. self
command and exquisite grace and re-
fnement should enter into women's
athletic performances.
But, as l sale before, for physical
Development | prefer moderate and
graceful exercise without the spirit
OF competition and strain. Women
needs vigorous exercise less than
man, and she profits by 1t less. Wo-
man stands continuous work far bet
ter than man, and she profits more
than man by mild exercise extended
over long periods.
Walking means more to women
than TO men. Dancing above all
forms of exercise IL best suited to
Yoaen.