The National tribune., 1909-03-18
THE FAMILY.

If one attitude more than another
helps to preserve a woman's figure, 1t is
sitting erect on the tip of the spine.
How many women who are reading this
are sitting so far back in their chairs
that the lower part of the spinal col
umnS is straight, and not curved? Few,
am sure, for one of the most common
habits is to slide little into ones seat,
and this means that weight which
should be poised is pushed down on the
spine at such point that no support
can be given.
One reason that prominent and alb
normally developed abdomens are COM
mon among women of middle age is
that as they get older they are less
careful about holding themselves erect
when sitting, and so, when the spine IS
allowed to curve the abdomen pro-
trudes, muscles and cords which should
hold it in place become limp thru dis
use, and all traces of youth in the fig
ure disappear in the huddled shape of
age.
Further, more injury is done to the
figure by sitting badly than by stand
ing in wrong attitude. l suggest as
an improvement that every woman
learn to sit as far back in her chair as
she can push, for only in this way Will
she get a straight line for her spine.
must either let them stick out or take
a lower chair. The point to be par
ticular about, however, is the angle OF
the backbone.
Next to correct position for the
backbone it is important to throw back
the shoulders. When assuming the lat
ter attitude almost involuntarily the
chin will go up, as the head takes a
In n
position. Weight is balanced on the
spine as it should be, and there is no
danger of awkwardness.
Rocking chairs are bane to good
figures, for it IS impossible to sit in one
and not double up even little. once
in awhile, as a great luxury, this does
not matter, but the practice of using
one, getting into it and sliding down
to rock, is ruination to a well-shaped
body.
Another position in which the figure
is thrown out of plumb is by standing
in such a way as to lean back from the
hips. If for any reason perfect poise
is not obtained, it is better to lean
forward than to tilt back, for the lat
ter is less awkward in results. But If
a woman will acquire the habit of hold
ing herself properly she has accom-
plished results and can keep herself
looking well for years.
Throwing back the shoulders does
not mean allowing the abdomen TO pro
trude. Indeed, all the muscles OF the
lower torso should be trained to hoio
the weight that is put upon them, ano
| they will then draw and keep IN place
that portion of the trunk. When the
shoulders are thrown back it is literal
Ily only the shoulders; the rest of the
body is kept on straight line, with a
lslight lean toward the front.
| But most vitally important of all is
| to sit on the tip of the spine. once
this is learned the greater part of the
battle for good figure has been fought
Many woman who thinks she is
making every effort to preserve the
health of her family overlooks one place
of vital importance-t'2e cellar.
There is no place in the house where
microbes collect more quickly or dc
more harm. A dusty cellar, one that
| is not aired daily or has damp walls
and defective drains, will soon mean
| sickness.
| The cellar should be as carefully
| cleaned as the drawing room or kitch-
| en-, nor should this cleaning be left to
servants without daily inspection.
Ashes should not be permitted to ae
cumulate, and decaying vegetables
should at once be thrown out: WIN
dow or ventilator should be open most
of the time, even in bitter cold wealth
er and dust should be removed so as
not to be carried up thru the heaters
into the house.
The slightest dampness should be
watched and the cause ascertained.
Whitewash is great purifier, and walls
should be frequently treated to fresh
coats in which little carbolic acid can
be mixed as an extra precaution in the
interest of health.
In renting a new house look at the
cellar before any other part is inspect
ed; if it be not sanitary the health of
the family will never be good. In build
ing sacrifice fine woodwork and other
ornamentation to a well-built, light,
airy, cemented cellar.
If milk or anything cooking on a
range boils over burns and smokes, the
disagreeable smell can be prevented
from going thru the house by lifting
the lid of the range slightly to one side
and letting the smoke draw into the
fire.
Should the smell of burnt food per-
gar on the boil and the odor will be
counteracted.
To make pumpkin pudding take one
pound of pumpkin butter, beaten to a
cream, with one pound of pulverized
sugar Beat the yolks of six eggs to a
stiff froth and stir them into the sugar
Crate the rind of two lemons and