PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

AN ATTRACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT

(From "The Colonist,"' May 1.) Tlie School of Music was filled in every .portion last evening to. witness tho physical culture demonstration by the Misses W. and B. Greenwood and pupils. The entertainment was in every way a success, and taste and'grace constituted its greatest attractions. Tim performers showed in the various items th-o splendid tuition received at the Neilson School of Physical Culture, and their exhibition of deportment" and aesthetic drills was of a quality rarely, if ever, before witnessed in Nelson. The lecture "The Way to Health," by Miss Greenwood, dealt most comprehensively with the subject, and contained some interesting and humorous anecdotes. The different sections of the programme were all well received by tho spectators who demanded several encores. The dresses of those taking part were tastefully in keeping with the displays. The programme opened with a pianoforte duet well executed by the Misses B. Sharp and H. McLaren. Miss Greenwood in her lecture sniil: "The majority of mankind are content to grope about 'in between tho misty flats' of more or less indifferent physical wellbeing, instead of living in accordance with laws of tho goddess of hygiene. _ The human body is not something which we have to buy at great cost a.nd long years of striving, hut something which Mother Nature' bestows upon us, as a. heritage from all the past ages, for our pleasure and profit. All slie requires of us is to feed that'body rightly, clothe it sensibly. look after it, develop it mentally a-iid physically. Many people sit 'down mentally with the idea that because they have inherited a tendency to this or that disease, that fate is' againpt them, and it is of no use their trying to do anything; whereas if they woke up to thei fact that if the right precautions are taken, hereditary tendencies'to consumption, gout, etc., can be -utterly stamped out in three generations. As to tho best way of curing such troubk-s as weak digestion, breathing difficulties, and so on. this is compa.rativc;l.y easy if the right instructions are faithfully carried out; such as regular and suitable exorcise, plenty of water to drink, fresh air in. your room night and day, and good wholesome food. The» most important food of all is fresh air. which is taken to, the lungs to be 'digested' through the nostrils. 'Shut your mouth and save your life' expresses an important truth. Mouth breathers cannot exnect >-n have eithe.r a long or a healthy dih*. If parents wish their children to grow up strong and healthy, they should see that they keep their mouths phut, ;ind '■■reathe through the nose. If there are no adanoid growths, or other obstructions, the mouth breathing is just a bad habit which can easily be cured by Huitab'.o breathing exercises. The dii> foronce that correct breathing oiten "•ak s in children, mentally and r.iri-ir •Ily, is astounding. Proper hiralliru .- equally ''mpoHint for the1 grown u'»i f they wi'-h to keep in good oor"!:i\> i, and free from colds. Ther« is no v^-v' - 'i!>r.s or disease of t,]v> b"dy vrh '-h '%'<] «> rapidly and disastrously nnr. irr ••*„ ;, L solf as a disorder cf tho lungs. T'-n 't- ■ feet 3 of oxygen starvation are rr;iyth j i rr.!>K\ Af w* 1 all know r-'«■:;;•''>. "'; i • ;••' I '•halloa breithTr' ...>•< snvar.'aiflv ■•!(•- ir*..'"i S dev'N'i- d, c(\ i--hi\- ' t■• ' <r^'.i> vor]■ •; "-Li.',- TI ( , h -u,,, ,}-^ I !v-\:n:; p rrs-ir"to; -w.<- n t f f T,-;, bathing if it i-, to ..-"i^'-rrn its V'^> >"».• I functions. Rv-immii'" is an v\c- ■'''•■+ i 'Ti^anp. of scco.'7ip!:^!Ti;-; \\sn very d hii■bio things .it th-> ~'irno t'.mc., '»■; }\ "Tfiioise find clejnlii-'O' i. O'o +i1.-^ •■^. -ilso another irinxvl.iiit subject, both ! i 'Vom tho star'd-r'nPi '.f 'to "' d of j , lx>*uty, th« idoa being tint if rh- It 'rl- , fil the refiuiromcrits of both, t\- iri (•■•.. '.a_ j I ing equally important. Physical cv.Lv: • is somotliinc. which enters into ev*:j potion cf liio, iml is not only tbinp; thj'T o:m h<. tik^n up for a loh i minutes every &\\, but ft includes r' iJ,h{

thinking » i:i | right Jiving. Physical culture, :n very different from gymnastics. Tho latter as a. rtt'e arc suitable fcjr boys, but may bo most injurious for girls. Physical culture, on tho other hand, is thoughtful, steady exorcise, with a definite purpose in view, its object being to impart strength, dignity and grace to every movement of the body, and it should bo pre-eminent as the basis of all education. Prevention doe's not receive half the attention that cure docs, although the former is on a far higher plane with regard to the well being of the race." .'■•■■

Miss Greenwood concluded by saying she wishod all her pupils to choose deliberate", y the highway of health in all departments of their lives; and never to drift aimlessly to. and. fro on the misty flat« of more or less indifferent physical well-being. Considerable applause greeted tlio conclusion of tho lecture. • Tho next item .was a series of health exercises by a number of tho smaller pupils.

Amazon or Roman aesthetic drill was demonstrated by .the, Misses R. Hamilton, E. Blecliynden, I. Andrew, and I. Greenwood. It was highly thought of by those present, and a well merited enooro was responded to. The drill receives its name from its athletic nature, and because its figures are principally studios from Amazon' statues in the Vatican, Rome. The attitudes cqmprisd the following: Amazon hurling spear ; running Amazon; drawing the bow ; heaving a rock ; wounded Amazon ; charging; retreating; Amazon with broken bow (taken from' the most celebrated Amazon statue in the world); Amamon's vow. The orchestral accompaniment to this was played by the Misses Rowe, M. Ward, Jacobs, M. Joyce and Moore.

Miss K. Blecbynden sang "Give Me Batik my Roso" in artistic style.

A troupe, of girls, headed by Miss Robison, gracefully demonstrated a no-lection of Swedish exorcises showing tlio extension and ba'anco movements, and displaying such excellent d-eport-raenb that a recall was imperatively called for.

Miss B. Greenwood's Athenian aesthetic drill must rank as the best item on the programme, with the concluding exhibition a close second. Miss Greenwood, with infinite grace and rhythm, as;sumrd the following poses: Holding upright spear ; Diana of Versailles (Louvre, Paris) ; fighting gladiator (Louvre) ; dying warrior (Vatican, Home); warrior in attack _(Vatican); warrior in defence; winged victory (Home). The scen o terminated with an effective tab'.oau. In this case .also an encore was forthcoming-

A pianoforte solo, a waltz in At>. (Chopin) was contributed by Miss JudBon, tho difficult selection being rendered very pleasingly. Tho concluding portion of tha programme was Eastern aesthetic -drill , with a vocal accompaniment by Miss K. Blochynden. The performers were tho Misses E. Blechynden, Farrow, Sclanders, D. Bisley and I. Graenwood. Tho limo-light thrown upon the Oriental costumes had a beautiful effect, and the slow, reverend .movements produced such continued applause that tho latter portion had to bo repeated as an encore. This brought tho demonstration to an end.