ILL-HEALTH FOLLOWS THE "SLINKERSLOUCH."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 32, 14 March 1914, Page 3

ILL-HEALTH FOLLOWS THE "SLINKERSLOUCH."

Sagging seems to be the fashion. The woman with the slinker-slouch. walk has for the moment achieved a. . certain sort of popularity. All of the dangers that lurk in the wake of this-same, loose, slouchy carriage,appear, to have been forgotten, if they were ever really Fot after all it is ignorance more than any wilful defiance of nature's laws that is allowing hundreds of women to risk their health and beauty to fallow a " t passing and a ridiculous fad. ... - For the present day treatment of the figure ofwoman is bound to result in various diseases, all of them more or less serious and thoroughly uncomfortable. * . A sag of any part of the body is unnatural and causes contraction of many of the different organs. When . the shoulders sag the lungs and stomach contract. Thei j organs of the body quickly resent, any new departure from the regulation, -position. It invites indigestion, -. tuberculosis* heart and-a host other-bailments - that- are fatal to The - subject -of -poise -is-one of the most? important for th'e-control of the bddyas; a whole, and is* the ultianate aim of all -physical training. Without this ■ there is no real or true culture of the body. And with the slinker-slouch there is no poise. It is destitute of any symmetry. The body is actually distorted, with the lungs, the stomach, *the*hear,t, the liver, the bowels, all and ea,eh of them in constant jeopardy. Proper Chest Position. In order to stand well it must be remembered*that a centre should be established and th"e natural, normal . centre, is the chest. " This can be made active land healthy by being drawn up to a high position, annas'a result all parts'of the body will naturally fall into correct relations with it. . , W:hen this position of the chest is taken the is drawn in. This last is absolutely essential \to ,±. healthy, beautiful position, for one of the worst f of so many girls and. women is a prominent afcdojnen.. All passing freaks, of fashion to the contrary, the o»dy ! really becoming.line-for a woman to have is a straight- . line through the shoulders, hips, and ankles. , Nor should • the hips be thrown Joo far back, so, they overreach tlje - small of-the back, for this is as a position as that of #ie stomach- protruding. Only by making the chest the true and keeping \-- fact constantly in mind can this danger" be avoided. . ■ One simple, as; well fafr effective, way of Resting- -• whether ot not <me;has.'achieved *he : true carriage far by passing the back while the persotf being examined stands in a natural attitude. If the carriage is correct the ends, of the shoulder blades cannot be v felt, but if they are felt you may be .sure the,attitude is not correct. Try it and you will -be surprised how few people after:all can stand this test, ' ■ . Lounging in a Chair. ~ Another popular fashion is that of flopping down into^a;chair* instead of sitting down quietly and in a dignified manner. .It is quite as unbecoming as -the sway/back walk, ans if carried to excess,, as. so many young girls and women ire doing, quite as provocative of all kinds of ailments and aches. ~ ; , i In a sitting position but one rule is absolutely, necessary. That is to draw up. the csown of the head high and to maintain this position at ,all ..Any, lounging in a chair .should be strictly tabooed fro?<Klhe . programme of the woman who wishes to be graceful antk_'. attractive. If you are too tired and fatigued to sit up, straight, then retire and lie down until you are sufli- . cicntly rested to assume a correct sitting position, > But do not flop—or ever sit on. one foot. Then, too, sit on of the chair, and never - on the edge. It is tiring and gives one an uneasy--appearance, which destracts from the poise. And if you are reading don't lean over your book and strain; - % your eyes, bend your shoulders, and do the best in your power to cultivate a double chin. Bring your book up to your eyes and hojld your head high. No matter Ihow absorbing a book may be or how exciting', the plot, | one should never forget the essentials of carriage and appearance. Exercise Not Enough. After having kept a wrong and unhealthy position for fourteen hours out of the twenty-four' it is hardly sane or sensible to think that a few minutes of strenuous exercise is going to remedy all those long hours of carelessness. Exercise is ..only one means to the end desired. Constant maintaining of the body in good position throughout the waking hours of the day and the evening is absolutely necessary to the accomplishment of the grace desired. Few people realise the bad effects of rocking and crossing the knees. Besides being extremely bad manners they are also detrimental to the health. They throw the lower organs out ofx place and effect a constant jarring that is bad on the nervous system.' They also throw the whole body«t>ut of plumb and cause presr sure on. the various large nerves and blood thereby impeding circulation. After one is settled back in the ehair the seat should be about three-fourths as ; deep as the thigh. -If the chair is much too high a small foot stool is a good addition. In the properly adjusted seat the feet should . " just rest naturally on the floor. If possible it is a good: plan to have the chair back curved a little forwara at the waist and back at the shonlder lines. And by all means lie properly in: your resting and sleeping hours. Fortunately there.-is no particular style set for these positions that is detrimental to all health and beauty laws.- The most scientific position is to sleep on the right side,/with the right, arm behind, so that the lungs are not cramped. Teople inclined $o heart trouble should never sleep on the left side. Flex the upper leg slightly and use a firm, iow pillow.. If you are lying for rest only lie flat on "the back, legs straight, arms relaxed, and at the 1 sides. Do keep from .being a faddist. AH faddists look v decidedly like cartoons, and are far from of grace or beauty. ' ' Eemember: It is a short sighted policy to risk 1 one's health and one's permanent .good looks for a passing freak'of fashion that is ridiculous and ugly.-MLilian Russell in the Chicago "Tribune.''