Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-17
TO GIVE WOMAN
HEALTHY LIFE
Y. w. C. A. TEACHER TALKS OF
HER WORK
NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED TAKING
PHYSICAL COURSE
Work This Spring Will Include Out
door Sports of All Kinds for
Benefit of the
SickIy

II want to. make 1000 young women
Of Los Angeles well, strong and happy.
I am sure that it is not too great an
undertaking, for love the mission of
physical education among women who
life in shops, offices and factories;
earning their livelihood, often against
heavy odds of poor health and little
pleasure, spurred on by that inalien-
able soul-hope for betterment and hap
piness. Oh, it can be done-it can be
attained
Miss Ella Stevers, director Of the
department of physical education of
the Young Womens Christian ASSOC
citation, is doing a splendid work in this
city. Her above statement, made to
an ex-newspaper man in her business
like little office at the association build
ing yesterday, was convincing, i'm
polling him to write of her work for
The Herald, even though the story may
have been told before. The enthusiasm
of Miss Stevers is not oVerdone. It is
genuine, carrying the assurance that,
after all, 1000 would not be too many
for her to struggle with through con-
tinuous classes in the big, we'll
equipped gymnasium. She is equal
to the task.
"They are my children" she said,
evoking a suppressed smile from me,
for she is hardly more than girl
herself. Each one is a plant in my
big conservatory of life and no two
are alike. Far more interesting than
the physical study Of these, my chill
dren, is the psychology of their minds.
1 am convinced that mentality is after
all the basis of all physical attain
ment, and therein lies the secret of con-
tentment and happiness that may come
to the tired shop girl if she will only
come to this gymnasium for an hour
after her days work. She may feel
that she is too tired even to change to
a gym suit, but unless she is really
lazy she should at least make the trial
and she will find that, instead of
dragging herself home exhausted she
will step out with a light heart. True,
it may take a week or a month or
even longer, but 1 am so sure of the
ultimate result that l do wish that
more of them would come. Yes, can
accommodate a thousand, and then,
if there is not sufficient space, we will
make more room.
For Outdoor Work
''You know it is my determination
to carry the work into outdoor life
this spring-tennis, golf, Craftsmanship,
long walks, swimming, rowing and all
the God-given freedom of this beauti-
full land where everybody should be
so happy-where no one can have an
excuse for not being happy. And if
the girls will only come and work and
be enthusiastic I am sure all these
things will come to us. l have been
going down to the factories and
through some of the larger department
stores, talking with the girls and urg-
dom of living.
81 am afraid that there is too much
theater at night, too much Saturday
matinee, too many chocolates and bon
bons. Why, it isn't the big hat smoth-
cred in plumes, or the fur boa and muff
that is going to make girl well, strong
and happy. I like those things myself
and / like the theater, but they are as
far beneath the real happiness of phys
ical fitness as the twfnkling lights Of
the city are below the singing pines of
the glorious mountain tops. Now, I
am not a bit finicky-please don't think
that 1 am; but I come in such close
touch with these girls and I feel So
keenly all their hopes and ambitions"
It was a mean question to ask, but
I was so amused by the thought that l
Numbered into it-"Are you SO much
in love with your work that you never
intend to get married-or, er-(noticing
the quick flush that followed the hearty
laughter Of others in the room)-what
I mean is, doesn't this gymnasium work
develop an awful amount of indepen-
dence in young girls and have ten
dency to hold them aloof from matri-
mony?"
Fitted for Marriage
'On the contrary, I am quite sure
that the opposite effect is resultant
from the work" said Miss Stevers, with
a smile. ''These girls are far better
fitted for married life and look forward
to 1t with more zest and greater con-
fdence. This result is also shown
among the married women who come
here, for we have quite a few in the
classes. Why, a man said to me yes
terday: DO you know, you have just
,-ade over my wife. She can actually
remember the meat order for dinner
now; she hoes weeds in the garden and
has given up playing bridge"
Next week the initial term of the de-
partment Of physical education will be
completed and new classes opened.
Three hundred and sixty is the present
enrolment, and Miss Stevers wants one
thousand for the new term. The di-
rector is very anxious that those who
desire to join the new classes make
application as soon as possible, to IA
cilitate the arrangement of a schedule.
While entry to the classes may be
made at any time, 1t is advantageous
to start at the beginning There are
classes mornings, afternoons and even
ings.
TAKE CARE OF THE PENNIES