GRACEFUL WALKING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 190, 6 May 1908, Page 3

GRACEFUL WALKING.

1 Anyone who will take the trouble to watch 3 a crowd of girls or women walking together will saiii some valuable experience on tho I possible varieties of ungraceful carriago. Wheff one walks ' correctly there is a straight. line from the ears, through the shoulders and hips, to the feet just as when one sits correctly thero is a straight' line 1 from the ears to the centres of; tho sides J of the chair. • ; Tho most important of all rules is to walk ; always on the balls of the feet. To locate 1 the 'ball, put a box or large book on tho floor, and place your foot on it, with tho t heel free. Then raise the toes, and the rc- " maining .portion is tho ball.. ' Walking 'on the heels jars the entire body ; .walkinf on

tho toes gives a mincing and affected appearance. The ball is the. cushioned part of tho foot, and is tho part intended for locomotion. IV correct and graceful walking tho chin should be in and tho chest well out. To acquire correct carriago of the chcst, practise walking with a book on the head, or place a broomstick or cane across the back under tho arms. Correct position in standing and sitting is a corollary .of correct position in walking. Never, for instance, fall into such _ ungraceful attitudes, such as slouching, which is one of the worst of crimes against good looks and graceful poise and balance. It is well to follow no fads of walking. , Tho sensible woman will-never make herself conspicuous, and when fashion decrees that . one shall, for instance, take two skips and a hop before comingto a standing position, she calmly walks 011 in the same old graceful ' and sane way. Walking'is the best of general exercises. It should be brisk, and the -hands, and arms should be allowed to swing easily at the sides to promote the circulation. In everyday walking, of course, the arms should be kept as motionless as possible: A good mile in thirty minutes' walk is sufficient for ordinary purposes (says an English paper). Both dawdling and racing, are out of place. In the city two and one-half •to three minutes should, be allowed for a block of the usual length'. 'Never fall into the obnoxious habit of waddling." Keep perfectly erect, and .swerve neither to the right nor to the left. Some women swing so over the entire area !of the pavement or road that they seem almost'to stagger. Lift each foot clear 'from-, the ground. Never let' it drag or shuffle.-. On the : otlier hand, do, not exaggerate the | raising of the feet in an

| unseemly manner.