CHARMING DRESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20105, 11 May 1935, Page 11

CHARMING DRESS

DANCING IN COMFORT With the coming of the dancing season, special care should be given to the feet and ankles. Dancing, a recreation popular with women of all ages, is as healthful as it is delightful. But both the pleasure of dancing and its beneficial effects are entirely dependent on the well-being of the feet, on strong arches, and supple muscles. Many women complain that they look and feel tired after a long night’s dancing, but if these same women were to indulge in proper feet and ankle culture during the dance season, they would feel fresher for their hours of dancing rather than more tired. Even those who have no actual pain in their limbs after dancing or tennis would be wise to undertake this foot treatment, as it helps to keep the feet healthy and fit, makes the walk graceful, and prolongs youth and beauty of movement. It has also the effect of beautifying and slimming the ankles and increasing that coveted arch of the instep.

Proper foot baths, massage, and exercises all form a part of this necessary foot care for girls and women who dance, and in all, it should take only a few minutes a day.

Let us begin with the exercise; Sit on the floor with legs stretched straight ahead of you, heels on the floor. Stretch, then, with heels still on the floor, press the toes forward towards the shins as closely as they will go. Repeat this fifteen or twenty times. This exercise strengthens and keeps supple those important dancing muscles at the back of the ankles. It also slims away any unsightly fat round the ankle bones. J

Exercise No. 2: Stand erect, with the feet straight, rise slowly on the balls of the feet, and in this tiptoe position walk slowly and steadily round the room. This tiptoe walking, if practised for only two minutes a day, will raise and arch the instep by strengthening the muscles at the base of the toes, on which the whole structure of the foot depends.

The third exercise consists of sitting in a chair, with the right knee crossed over the left. Now rotate the right ankle vigorously for a few minutes, then cross the left knee over the right,

and repeat the exercise with the left ankle in the same way. These exercises should be done every day, and the following foot baths and massage at least three times a week. Before going to bed at night, rub plenty of cold cream into the feet—any good emollient cream will do. Massage this thoroughly into the feet and up the ankle. Work always upwards, not neglecting the point of the

heel and the toes. Hold the toes of each foot in the hands and work them to and fro without bending the rest of the foot. Now rub each foot briskly, instep and sole between the palms of the hands, and, last of all, knead the soles from toe to heel with the closed fist.

A very little practice of this massage will show you how to do it. It will bring a delightful warmth and sense of well-being to the whole foot and ankle and keep tiredness at bay as nothing else can. After this massage with cream, have ready a basin of hot and a basin of cold water, and bathe the feet alternately in the two, ending with the cold.

On those nights when you are going dancing, do not fail to have this alternate hot and cold foot bath, after which, In order to close the pores and freshen the skin, sponge the feet with cotton wool.

Be enthusiastic over the simplest part of the work. Be just as keen with two as with ten boys. Do not allow numbers to influence the quality of work. One way of gaining enthusiasm is to be thorough in ones teaching, and behind this there must not only be a sound knowledge of the subject in hand but the ability to impart the knowledge to others. This is a simple illustration of how a leader may develop personality and power. To be punctual will probably mean a great effort on his part, especially to continue being punctual, but this will develop his character and personality. And by setting an example he Is using the appealing power of persuasion. Requirements of a Leader Thus supply the thoughts contained in each paragraph and leadership will become a reality. A leader must have vision; he must be able to see the way. If he cannot see the way he cannot show It. Decision. —Nothing will shake the confidence of those who look up to the leader as indecision. He must be able to decide quickly, accurately, firmly. No doubt he will make mistakes, but with growing experience mistakes should become fewer. Be thorough—Know your job well. Know everything about one thing and something about everything is a good motto. Be willing to sacrifice time, money, pleasure, self for others. Nothing pulls like sacrifice. It is genius of the truest sort. Leaders meet slackers, that is, boys, youths and men who will lean against any prop; this is bad for the leaner and the leader. A leader is one who helps the weak to become strong; not the slack to become slacker. The slacker can most certainly be helped; find the way to do it. Use personality, persuasion, example. One cannot make his life count for so much in any other way as to put it squarely into leadership in some form of service to his fellow men. Responsibilities are to be tackled and thus character will be developed. Strength comes through striving. We never drift into* power. If a leader will study, understand, and win a “difficult” boy or youth his leadership qualities will be greatly increased.

Remember every boy or youth is a possible leader. Keep a viligant eye for those who show good conduct willingness, and initiative, as candidates for leadership. Discipline is an essential factor in

cne success oi any troop. me cmel point in discipline is obedience. Obedience should be willing and hearty. A true leader not only inspires willingness but absolute desire of his followers to be obedient and help the leader in every possible way. Leadership to be effective must be of Christian character. Points for Leaders 1. Train rather than restrain. 2. Form rather than reform. 3. Prevent rather than punish. 4. Lead rather than drive. 5. Make rather than break. 6. Use rather than abuse. The Kind of Leader Required A good leader is not an indulgent leader. The good natured leaders are usually content should simply fnark time, as it were. What we want is a leader who will get the best out of us, expect much, who will set a high standard, watch our work, praise it when it is good, blame it when it is bad, and stimulate us to higher attainment. Such a leader will be kindly, exacting, not allowing slovenly work to pass by without constructive comment and practical example.. —Physical Training for Boy Scouts"