WHISTLING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3506, 2 October 1882, Page 4

WHISTLING.

If the mere act of whistling can help aud cheer a man so much, why should it he denied to a woman ? If whistling will drive away the blues and be company for a lonesome person, surely women have much more need of its services than their brothers, for to them come many more such occasions than to men. There are many who have not the gift of song. Why should they not whistle as they rock tho cradle or perform their household duties, or accompany thomselves on the piano ? But there is a physical or hygienic advantage in whistling which should excuse it against all the canons of propriety or ' good form.' It is often remarked that the average girl is so narrowchested, and in that respect compares so unfavourably with her brother. May this not be due in some measure to this habit of whistling which every boy acquires as soon as he arrives at the dignity of pants, and girls seldom do ? Let anyone try for five minutes the inhaling and exhaling of the breath as occurs in the act of whistling, and the effect on the lungs and chest cannot fail to be noticed. A daily practice of this kind would be of more benefit than all the patent inspirators and chest axpanders in the market. An eminent medical authority says : ' All the men whose business is to try the wind instruments made at the various factories before sending them off for sale are, without exception, free from pulmonary affections. I have known many who, when entering upon this calling, were very delicate, and who, nevertheless, though their duty obliged them to blow for hours together, enjoyed perfect health after a certain time.' The action of blowing wind instruments i 3 the same as that of whistling, consequently the effect should be the same, according to the amount of exercise taken. —Phrenological Journal.