Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-08-13
WOMAN MAY Be
GODDESS AT FORTY
Mrs. Roger Watts in New York
to Tell How 1t Is
Possible.
HE NOW is FoRTY-sEvEN
Says She Studied Five Years Before
Learning the Greeks Secret Of
Attaining Physical Beauty.

the figure OF Greek goddess and
step as light and full Of elasticity as
that of youth even if you are past the
age of 40?
They are yours If you will follow
the teachings of Mrs. Roger Watts Of
London.
Mrs. Watts frankly admits to Al
years. She doesn't look 1t, OF course,
No woman who owns up to her real
age ever does. And Mrs. Watts began
her Greek exercises to which she sGya
she owes her supplense, her girlfsh
curves, her grace and perfect balance
after she had passed AZ.
It took just FIVE years to work out
her idea, and during that time she de-
voted months to studying Greek stat
uary, Greek history and Grecian hfe
that might furnish clew to the way
the Creeks exercised.
She spent months on the Island Of
Capri originating a Greek dance to be
danced to the only piece of ancient
Greek music extant. This music be.
longs to the president of the PARTS Con,
servatorie, and he permitted Mrs.
Watts to take it and arrange her dance
The dance according to Mrs. Watts
is unlike any other Greek step, and
1t is the embodiment Of rhythm and
grace. It's presentation here will ba
awaited with interest.
The foundation of her exercise fs
the control of the mind through body
control. Coordination Of the muscles
Is the thing she works for and that
oy,I
build until physical perfection Is at
tanned.
One of the hardest cases with which
she worked during the first part OF her
studies was that of pupil who could
not control her muscles. When the
girl walked across the school roem
floor she dropped her book or her PEN
Gil Whatever she touched she let fall.
Mrs. Watts decided it was because the
girl had not her muscles to respond
to the mental call, and forthwith sha
devoted her time to teaching the pupil
MUSCLE coordination. After two terms
the girl had changed completely, 50
that her mind and her body worked IN
harmeny.
| "When you have succeeded in doing
that then you can think clearly, every
movement Of y0ur body is made with
conscious intention. I myself never
make the slightest gesture that nm
unconscious of. My hands, arms, An
gers and toes respond Immediately to
my will"
The basic principle Of her exercise
1s balance Mrs. Watts has posed on
the tips of her tees standing on a
huge bronze ball, which is one OF the
most difficult feats she performs. This
she says, shows perfect balancing pow
| er.
EVERY woman should know how to
use the ball of her foot and her great
toe" she explained. "To know this La
the secret Of my exercise, which lead
to perfect grace. Women think too 1t
Tie Of how they use their feet. To most
Of them feet are dead. and having
that feeling, how can one move rhyth.
uatically, when the whole beauty Of
melton depends upon the poise Of the
body on the toe and foot2"
For the greater freedom of move
ment of her foot Mrs. Watts has her
stockings made with an extra section
for the great toe.
when you once put these on you
will never wear any other kind" she
declared enthusiastically. why, !
have as perfect control over my five
toes as 1 have over my fingers. I
can use them like fingers"
This disciple of ancient Grecian po'
etry of motion does not advocate going
without corsets. She herself wears a
narrow and softly boned belt, and her
clothes are made after the prevailing
fashion. Her shoes are built on
special last, which she says many Eng
nsh women are copying. They have
q straight inside line from toe to In
step, and the heel is hardly hair an
inch high.
Before she adopted this style and be-
fore she began trying to demonstrate
to herself the science Of perfest body
control her feet were curved on the In
side. Now she is extremely proud OF
that straight great toe.
In her exhibitions she exercises and
poses on a stage hung with dark blue
curtains, against which her white or
Hesh-colored costume is clearly sil-
houetted. First she gives the series
of exercises witch are body balancing,
and these ara followed by postures
after famous Creek statues. She wears
for the part thin silk nesh-coAOFed
tights. with q short drapery. such 40
Greek boys wore. and sandals.
Although pose In these boyish At
titndes, do not try to reproduce the
boytsh ngure. Women should be fena-
intne; they should have the womaR's
chest and the CURVES that make them
more beautiful than boys"