The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-14
Is the Slender or Plump
 Woman the Ideal Type9 ?

Is tfle Slender or Plump
 Woman the Ideal Type? 5. pr. Richard Root Smiths statement
 that sstfe imperfect or defective type of woman is that represented by the
 very slight thir-c1lested and nervous
 woman at present so favored by fash
 ion has started an international
 newspaper controversy. In answer to the question, Is the slender or plump
 woman the Ideal type 2? should say,
 yes Nature intends some people to
 be plump, and others to be thin, and
 both are normal and represent fine
 physical types. To@ a physical cur
 turist who has made a 1ife-1ong study
 Of the human body and its develop
 ment, there doesnst seem to be any
 choice except that of individual pre-
 ference based on aesthetic grounds. In
 some countries. especially in Northern Africa, the very! fat woman is con-
 sidered the most beautiful. and the
 latter she is the more she is admir- ed Tn most civilized countries the
 thin woman now enjoys a larger meas
 ure of popularity than her plump sis Of course, the facts in the case are that some women are naturally in cIined to fat and other to slenderness. Thinness that reaches the point of
 cancellation, and p1unpness that verges on obesity are alike to be summed, as mani ifestations of diseased condf- ton. To hazard generalizafion, I should say that from the viewpoint Of health the girl or young woman who is inclined to p1unpness is the more fortunate, while among the middle- aged and elderly thin women have the
 best chance Of survival. The very thin girl is in danger of contracting tuberculosis, but the danger from that | source is usually left behind in the early thfrties After thirty the thin woman may develop enerves,' but that ailment is rarely fatal, while the too- plump mature woman is subject to serious ailments affecting the heart, liver and Kidneys
 l The slight nervous person, man or l womany usually has to exercise much care in regard to diet, exercise, fresh air and other essentials to health, and falls an easy prey to dissipation and violation of natures. laws. If they heed natures warning signals, how ever, thin and frail people may and often do live much longer than the sturdy, plump and healthy people who go merrily on their way, paying no attention to their bodies, until nature calls them to a sudden and often fatal 1 reckoning.
 There are many fine physical types, some plump and some slender, and 1t l Is as difict1It to say that one is st1- 1 perior to another. and back up the assertion with proofs, as 1t is to say whether blue, black or brown eyes are I preferable, or whether a bantam weight or 8 heavyweight more nearly I represents the ideal physical type.
 Even a College Student
 Needs Little Education.
 I think it was MT. Devery who sue i cinctly remarked that Even police i man has got right to have some l sense
 | am reminded of this by the pro- l posaI of Coach Charles E. Courtney, 1 or the Cornell crew, that the course for the annual varsity race at Pough- 1 keepsie be reduced from four to two l miles.
 The veteran Cornell rowing sharr declares that the task of preparation l for the griIling foar-n1i1e race requires
 so much training that the oarsmeE i must necessarily neglect their studies Evidently Courtney believes thai
 even a college student has got a right I to have a little education
 The troubles with American col I leges, as see it from the outside ] looking in, is that nine-tenths or so oi | the students develop their minds al the expense of their bodies and health l and the other tenth reverse the pro I cess
 Il During my long experience in th' training and physical development o : men and boys, athletes and near-in