DETERIORATING PHYSIQUE
Sandow, the strong man, says : —-“Experience shows that within recent years the physique of women has been distinctly on the down-grade. The nealth, the beauty which were so familiar to ancient nations are with us unknown things. “The artificial conditions of civilised life, the frivolities, the irrational hours, the thoughtless errors of diet, the foolish, modes of clothing to which women sacri- " fice their bodily health and beauty upon the altar of fashion, have all brought about at least a physical decline. ‘There is, unhappily, hut little doubt that Englishwomen are following more or less in the footsteps of their Frenea sisters, the results of which will be the ultimate degradation and extinction of the English race. “It is true that the various sports of the country are more open to women than they were some years ago, but, after ali, how few women this affects. The round of modern life is only too apt to leave out natural exercise. Where our ancestors walked, wel drive ; where thev climbed stairs, we use elevators. In every way we are tempted to neglect our bodies. Where our ancestors had their games anti contests the modern dame cultivates indoor amusements only. Indeed, one has a vision of a future race of homuncles, all head and no body, kept alive from day to day during their passionless, mechanical little lives by some artificial means. ‘“The changes which I should like to see in the lire of the modern woman are three;—(l) Loose, easy clothing; (,2>, freedom to engage in outdoor sports in girlhood; (3) systematic exercise carried on throughout life. “Let modern women strive to get back to the type of the Saturnian Venus, that ideal of life, purity, and beauty. The Venus de Milo is fet us the absolute type, of feminine beauty. If reduced to the height of sft. 4in. her waist would measure 24in. If any curious reader takes the trouble to sketch in a corset-waist over the figure she will find how. little . it improves the statue/'
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 23
Word Count
339DETERIORATING PHYSIQUE New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 23
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