THE PHYSIQUE OF ANGLOSAXON GIRLS.

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 61, 12 March 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PHYSIQUE OF ANGLOSAXON GIRLS.

Few things aro more noticeable at assemblies in these islands ''of fair women and brave men," as the poet says, than the improving physique of Anglo-Saxon girls. Whatever class may be made the subject of observation in this regard, the same feature (seems to prevail throughout. If Lord's Cricket Ground, for example, be visited at the time of a great gathering of the aristocracy, as on the Oxford-Oambridge cricket match, or the Eton and Harrow match, the one thing which cannot fail to attract attention is the remarkable predominance of tall and divinely fair girls who are to be seen gracefully strolling over the ground during the intervals between the innings. Then if the scene be changed and the observer make his way into the ballroom of middle-class persons, the same prevailing "tallness" of the fair dancers will meet his gaze. Thus abundant evidence is forthcoming that this is by no means an isolated feature of the United Kingdom, but that it prevails, on tne contrary, throughout all classes. Judging, however, from the prominence which it has gained duriug the past three years, there is quite the possibility that it will develop in time into a racial characteristic. The women of ancient Lacedcemon, we are told, were specially instructed to ' ' put on " as much muscle and as little clothing as possible. Each of the instructions however, were given, so as to speak, as a matter of business, in view of warlike virtues which were required to be fostered by the race. But England is not Sparta, and the tall- | ness and good physique of the girls ! in this country are features which

are not wooed as the result of commands, say, from the Secretary of State for the War Department, but merely as the outcome of healthful exercise, indulged in for the sake of amusement. Thus lawn tennis and other outdoor games in this country are producing an effect upon ouv race which could scarcely have been anticipated.