WOMEN SHOULD WALK BETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 9

WOMEN SHOULD WALK BETTER.

(By ANNA BLOUNT.) “The goddess is revealed bv her walk, says Virgil. For several days i have been trying to discover goddesaes among the crowds of women at several fashionable watering-Dlaces I have seen only live women who walked iwth real distinction and grace. We English women are not taught to walk. T\© are fond of dancing and fie spend much pains in learning this art. Put many women who dance well do not walk charmingly. They cea* 1 * to l>e nimble when they attempt to walk. # On any marine parade you may study the different forms of feminine gf ,r * the Hobble, the Waddle, the shuffle and the Slouch. Pretty girls come and go in the constant procession. But how badly most of them carry themselves. Charm in movement is one of wo man’s chief attractions. It is a question of balance, flexibility and elas-t-icity. The first essential is noticeable m bpanish women, who walk with a statuesque bearing and a slight swaying of the body. In some primitive societies girls are taught how to walk in accordance with the aesthetic standard of the cosnmumty. Papuan mothers begin to train then- daughters in walking from the ago of seven, and the lessons are frequent and severe. Graceful motion is also practised by Arab women and the natives of Central Africa. Is there any systematic instruction in walking in Great Britain? Beautv of movement is a compensation for ini perfections in racial charm. The “attractive” woman is not al - ways beautiful in countenance. It is her carriage that invites admiration. Alany a shapely form is marred by an ungraceful bearing when in motion. It is a rare pleasure when one sees a lissom girl who has acquired grace in walking. Stoutly built women need not despair of learning how to walk charminglv. for the majoritv of Spanish women are stout and a f|Kh© same time light on their feet. _ A woman should take shorter steps

than a. man, and carry herself fairly erect, but not stiffly. A man walking briskly seems to aid motion by swinging the arms vigorously. A woman should not keep the arms rigid or swing them violently. The head should be poised gracefully, not bent forward or backward. Much depends upon clothing and footwear. There are modes of dress and types of shoes that are decided impediments to beautiful walking.