Omaha daily bee., 1914-06-07

~ HuNNkIuHH VI ~ AeHhiOH
tern Traced by Electric Lights
on the Feet of Mrs. Watts and.
Below II, the Same Pattern in
Geometrical Form.
taken, a short step back with the
left foot is the first move, the toe Of
the right foot touching the floor, both
knees perfectly straight. Carry the
uplifted arms and shoulders round
to the left until the arms form a
right angle to the direction Of the
feet.
Then the right foot comes around
and back in a sweeping inward curve,
until in line with the left foot. AS
the right foot touches the ground, the
knee should bend, lowering the body
about five inches. The left foot
should now be touching the ground
with the extreme point Of the big
toe, and although the heel will be
well raised, the direction of the
whole foot should be exactly the
same as IL was when having taken
the first step backward.
The diagram makes It easy to carry
out what would otherwise appear a
complicated movement, but It is by
this and the other exercises that the
author has succeeded in obtaining
this tension OF the body which is the
secret of II all.
Mrs. Watts claims that when per-
fectly tense the body is in conscious
connection with some external force,
to which It responds by vibration. She
asserts that II is even possible for n
human being in the highest state OF
tension to lose all consciousness OF
bodily weight, having as It we're,
come In touch with some other force,
and become part of It, to the extent
OF being able to make use OF its
power
When thus attuned we realize life
ut its maximum. and gain an insight
into the almost limitless possibilities
Of a perfectly trained will power, and
TO visualize the result of a brain
mechanism so perfect structurally
that II neither distorts nor obstructs
the stream Of consciousness which
flows through each human mind from
the Mother Sea-"
To the old Greeks the training of
that particular muscle which was of
all possessions the highest" formed
the secret Of the marvellous unity of
their development.
Mrs. Watts says "The definite re.
action OF this diaphragm upon the
spirit is proved in moments of 10y
when one takes deep, expanding
breaths which lift one up; while in
depression ones head falls forward,
ones heart sinks as the saying is.
and there is general feeling of col.
lapse"
By the practice OF tense uplifting
movements, you may induce its cor.
responding state of mind. It is this
which explains how the basic prin-
cfples OF aesthetic law are indls-
solubly connected with the dynamic
instinct, for In finely balanced, tense
movement lies the solution OF the
problem of this law, and a clear
answer Is given 10 the reason "why"
OF our perception of beauty in what.
ever form II may be expressed,
either through music or painting or
sculpture.
This answer is the power OF life,
physical and mental, and, rightly
understood, the exhortation of the
Psalmist in the words Lift up your
hearts" comes to have a literal more
than figurative meaning.
II Is the contention that ION the
strength of the diaphragm depends
the strength of the spirit, thnt un-
quenchable flame of conscious will
power, the energising fire that Aris-
totle called the reality energeia'
in contradistinction to the tempor-
ality of mere brain mechanism.
The power to respond Is the
highest desire of the human being.
Without II man is lost; with this
power developed to its utmost limits,
the road is clear and nothing can OBJ
struct or discourage"
To the human being whose organ.
ism has been trained to recognize and
respond to the highest laws comes
reward in the shape of a power to
discern and accept the inevitable
without wasting energy and strength
in useless combat, at the same time
realizing how few conditions are in
eyitable with a will strong enough TO
overcome and dominate circum-
stance rather than be moulded by IL.
This result, once achieved, is for
ever; there is no slipping back, no
growing stiffness OF knee-joints 10 be
remedied, no slackening muscles to
be worked up, no aching spine that
requires longer hours Of couch repose
each month or year. no nervous
strain or irritability or uncertainty,
only calm confidence in the power to
envisage unshaken every eventuality.
Everything works in harmony, ana
the physical disintegration, inevitable
under the law, becomes almost inn