The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-31
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

French women are not athletic. in the
usual sense of the word. but Jhey do have
a love for fresh air and sunshine. They
go outdoors "a great deal. but rarely
perform 1eats in walking. as do English
women. but women of every station give
personal attention TO marketing and
shopping. and q part of every day is
devoted 10 recreation outside the four
walls Of home.
American women are divided into two
classes those who go in for outdoor
sports and the others who find il difficult
or distastefui 10 get out of the house
oftener than once OF twice week There
is d small number between these two
classes. but not large enough 10 count
for much The American woman does
not go 70 market as a rule, and does not
always DO her own shopping. As for
recreation. she takes scarcely more than
/ IS thrown in her way, rarely taking the
trouble 10 md il. if ii means extra work
of preparation.
A musician. whose work was unusually
/ coHhning. told me that he kept a dog, al
most wholly for the purpose of exercise.
and he invariably selected a dog that
needed long, hard runs. BY this method
he obtained all the exercise he needed,
and more than he would ever take alone.
We are all more or less Ike that-we need
an incentive 20 take Us out into the
blessed air and sunshine, even those who
| have sunny Yerandas seemingly caring
nothing for the advantages offered.
No day is too cold to use one Of these
splendid aids to health Warm wraps
are all one needs and in sheltered,
sunny corner il is possible TO sit for an
hour or more with absolute comfort.
But shelter does not count for much II
one is walking-much the best kind OF
/ exercise. as IL brings every muscle into
play-so an exposed veranda will do
nicely, its chief advantage being the privi-
lege Of avoiding the process of dressing
up, which one must do when going among
men and women.
In these days Of luxuries we think
We cannot take exercise unless we own
horses or autos. Walking is much too sim
pie and cheap to appeal to US, even when
il offers the inducement Of fetching COS
tunes. ! have always had a liking for
Maine city, because at certain hours OF
the day ii IS a custom to take long walks
over certain course. and the prospect
OF meeting acquaintance and obtaining
congenial companionship IS most aIlur-
ing The finish is social half hour
around the tea table at various homes.
five O'Clock tea being an institution Of
the place
The city is small, and the opportunities
for entertainment depend almost wholly
upon the inhabitants. There is but one
good playhouse, with a limited number
Of first-class attractions. but the social
life is far above the average. and visitors
confess 10 a better time there than in
larger cities. The daily promenade. in all
kinds of weather. is like the fashionable
driving in big cities, something never to
be missed, barring accidents, and ward
robes are planned with special reference
TO IT, / believe that health is better
nerves are stronger. and life sweeter in
places where the spirit of sociaIbility is
cultivated. 1t may not be desirable 10
know ones nearest neighbor in large
city. but one certainly misses much hv
keeping everybody at arms length and
sticking too closely to the house.
BETTY RW DTFN