THE CHARM OF A GRACEFUL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 3

THE CHARM OF A GRACEFUL

If you have a few minutes to spare, just look out of the window and watch the gait of the people who pass. You will almost inevitably find that only about one person out of ten walks easily, gracefully, unselfconsciously, with the air of enjoyment. You will find too, if you watch, closely, that most people betray little characteristics in their walk. If they are fussy, they have a little, fussy, jumpy gait, and walk rather quickly. If they are self-sufficient, they also walk quickly, usually to the accompaniment of too much arm-swinging. If they are self-conscious, absent minded or have an inferiority complex, they walk with their eyes on the ground. Now, everyone has as much right to enjoy walking as much as any other occupation. You will find if walk with your head up, your body easily balanced, your limbs moving gracefully and freely, and not too hurriedly, that you will enjoy your walk and that others will enjoy watching you walk.

Suitable Strides

You should have a sense of the fitness of things in walking, however, and realise that the long swinging stride which is suitable for golf is certainly not in place In ballroom or at a cocktail party. Clothes, themselves, teach us to watch our step. A high heeled shoe immediately inclines the wearer to take short steps, but heel should never be so high as to throw the whole weight on to the ball of the foot. Women instinctively suit their gait to their clothing—the long graceful evening gown demands a graceful walk, the sports costume demands a swinging, unhampered stride, the shopping suit demands a business-like walk. If one remembers to keep one’s head up, and one’s shoulders back, all these gaits will be graceful and suitable.