The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
PHYSICAL CULTURE
In THE HOME
Correct Performance Of Housework
Best Sort Of Exercise.
BY DOROTHY DIX.

young girl who longs to be beautiful
and to possess the willowy fgure that
we see depicted In the public prints.
writes me a most discouraged letter. She
says that she is not able TO take lessons
| In physical culture at 3 per, nor has she
/ the wherewithal 10 set up an elaborate
gymnasium in the small Harlem NAT
which she occupies with her family.
And she wants to know what can q
poor girl do.
Help mother, daughter. You will find
perfect substitute for weights and pull
Ieys, and chest developers and waist re-
| ducers in the homely utensils Of the
kitchen. Try them.
The potato masher is a good substitute
| for Indian clubs.
The proper way to use them is 20
grasp one firmly in each hand and at
i tack a nice, hot steaming bowl of po-
tatoes with them. Throw vim and vigor
and energy into pounding the potatoes.
using first an up and down movement,
and then getting a rotary action on them.
This exercise will be fine TO develop ths
muscles OF the upper arm and give fiex-
ibility to the wrist.
N. Bit has also an extremely good
effect upon the potatoes.
A Perfect Dumbben.
A hatiron makes a perfect dumbbeIl.
Take a firm hold Of the handle OF the
iron and thrust the arm forward with a
lunging movement, keeping the body
meanwhile erect. There are three results
TO be obtained from this exercise. II Is
splendid for strengthening the back, as
the weight at the bottom Of the arm re-
quires force TO keep II moving. II also
reduces flesh about the hips and adds
| TO ones grace OF movement.
/ u a. O.
ularly effective when performed upon
the family wash.
For the cultivation OF grace and 1.-the
ness OF movement the best known medi-
um Is the broom exercise.
To do this get q good. solid grip on
q broom handle every morning. immedi-
ately after breakfast, and after throw
Of fresh air sweep the house rapidly and
thoroughly.
The continual bending backward and
forward OF the body at each stroke of
the broom renders the muscles of the
back and chest firm and smooth. II
also develops the arm and the STOPPING
down TO sweep under the beds and
dressing tables supplies the Joints and
gives great elasticity to the entire fig
ure.
When supplementary exercise Is
needed what is technically called max
ing the beds Is peculiarly effective. The
latter movement is most effective be-
cause beating up the pillows. turning
over mattresses, and shaking out sheets
I and blankets exercises the arm muscles
and guarantees the svelt form so much
desired to-day.
n. B.-These exercises likewise save the
price OF a housemaid.
To Reduce.
To reduce the waist measure and the
abdomen try the tub exercise.
Take ordinary wash tub and board.
FIJI the tub three-fourths full OF hot
water. then immerse a piece OF cloth in
the water and rub IL up and down, TAX
ing care that the hands reach the bot
tom OF the board each time. This motion
will efectually remove the fatty deposit
on the stomach, strengthen the back, and
promote grace and symmetry. II is par
ticularly recommended to elderly ladies
who are fond OF rich eating
n. B.-This gymnastic stunt will also
save you three or four dollars a week
laundry bill on your lingerie blopses.
To soften the hands and keep them
white and smooth. try dish washing.
Remove the china from the table i'm
mediately after each meal and submerge
IL in hot water. The grease from the
soiled plates will be found an excellent
emollient. Repeat this process three
times a day. Immediately after eating.
N. B.-This exercise, IL kept up regu-
lsrly. will prolong mothers life, and
prevent her hands from getting corns
on them from overwork.
These are only a few of the many
admirable exercises that the kitchen
gymnasium affords, free of cost, to any
girl who will try them. These exer-
cises bring every muscle into play, and
observation will show that any woman
who habitually takes them has no need
to go to high-priced cures for robustness,
or study DelSarte theories for grace.
The finest figures in the world are pos
sessed by housemaids, and many a ser
want girl has arms. and shoulders, and
a neck that her mistress would give e
fortune to possess. More than that, the
home gymnasium gets the glad hand
from men, and the girl who acquires her
slim, strong. straight figure by exercis-
ing with the broom, and juggling the
pots and pans will have no difficulty In
capturing a husband with II.
The kitchen gymnasium has the ex-
pensive athletic club beaten a city block.
Try It, daughter, try IT.