Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-06
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

duces to normal blood circulation,
health of the heart and proper breath
ing.
It's invigorating effect on the mind
may be understood by any one who has
had the privilege Of sitting along such
row, on q beautiful Summer night,
and listening to the tall tales told there,
perhaps of fishing, or other matters.
The rocking chair, at bottom, deserves
the entire credit, for the elevated posi-
ton of the feet is only incidental.
The real effect comes from the tilted
angle of the seat. Once again we
must go back to the hotel, and this
time to the country or small town hotel.
Invariably the loafers, as some call
them, tilt their chairs back against the
wall, thus taking their feet off the
ground. This is the normal or natural
method of mankind in sitting in chairs.
1t always is followed by men, If given
half a chance, and would be by women,
too, if convention accorded them the
freedom.
The indoor fashion of men sitting on
the small of their back, as it were, with
their chests caved in, and back bowed,
is due entirely to their effort to dupli-
cate outdoor sitting conditions.
Often man who has a comfortable
with fashionable but uncomfortable sit
ting appliances.
Modern Office chairs with fitting seats
give man an opportunity to get his
feet of the ground, and permit the
body to assume position which makes
it natural to hold the stomach in and
the chest out, the shoulders slightly
back, and the head high.
The old-time rocking chair was the
only type which enabled a person to
sit properly at home, and it was finally
| banished, or practically so, by the edicts
of modern interior decoration.
X x x
Better times are at hand, however.
There Is every indication that the
rocker is coming back, rockers and ALL
No one will dispute the fact that a
rocking chair is no beauty. Its rockers
are bit too much. They stick out
in a most unlovely fashion and are
always getting IN the way.
Any one who has ever stumbled over
a rocker In the dark will be able to
understand their drawbacks. Is there
any hurt which shin can sustain more
completely than that delivered by the
rocker of q rocking chair?
The rocking chair was not made to
be stumbled over, however, but to be
sat in, and here 1t shines.
1C still SHINES.
AS well chosen specimens return in
| ever-increasing number to the living
| quarters of modern homes, men every
where will heave signs of relief.
| Their minds will run back quickly to
childhood days, when queer rockers on
glides, somewhat resembling the glider
| hammocks Of today, were favorites in
the parlor.
Perhaps it was a sort of combination
sitting room and parlor, good enough
for company, but not too good for the
| family.
The comfortable but squeaky rocker
held place Of honor by the front win
dow, but even then it was on the down.
grade.
In a few years it was gone. replaced
| by soft but not really comfortable
overstuffed chair. There was some
thing strangely right about the name
It was lover" neutrality-suspicious. over
done.
Now the rocking chair is coming
back, and it is a good thing. Newer
and better models will minimize the
runners, hold them down to the mini
mum, but the seat will be slanted, and
the slight motion will be pleasing.
Mankind was made to be in motion
Man is happiest when on the move
Even If the motion Is slight, it at least
gives the sitter something to do be-
sides listen to the radio. And, If the op-
portunity offers, a man can put his
! feet up in the chair. It is wonderfully
soothing.