ADVICE TO GIRLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1136, 21 August 1913, Page 4

ADVICE TO GIRLS.

An interesting and instructive lecture to girls was given by Dr Florence Keller, at Auckland recently. In introducing her subject of “How to Avoid Some of the Evils of Eife,” the lecturer slated that it was a recognised fact in modern surgery that the highest creation of nature was undoubtedly woman. Since woman occupied such a pinnacle, it followed that when she tell, she fell lower than it was possible for a man to do. Women being more highly strung than were men, they were less able to stand the continuous buffeting of modern life, and were liable to wear themselves out more quickly. Women, to-day, did not live easily ; the stress and strain of civilisation was drawing tighter and tighter, and the tension at which their bodies and nerves were kept was resulting in many shortened lives. “Physically,” Dr Keller declared, “we are not such fine specimens as our grandmothers. To-day we are so occupied with our work, and we have so much to interest us, that we neglect some of the most vital necessities in a happy life. A happy mind in a happy body is the most desirable possession we can have, and a happy body is of necessity a healthy one,” The lecturer then fjpumerated

the tendencies towards self-neglect that were shown by the women of to-day. In the first place, large numbers of girls seemed to have a positive horror of fresh air, and defective breathing was noticeable in many girls who otherwise appeared perfectly healthy. “I always think of the human body as being a clock which the Angel of Lite winds up,” said Dr Keller earnestly, “and he hands the key to the Angel of Death. It is for us to see that that key is not used to unwind the clock before its natural time of running down.” Another harmful tendency that many modern girls were developing was smoking, and even when they themselves did not smoke they, as often as not, breathed in air that was contaminated by fumes of tobacco being smoked by others. The harmlulness of a young woman not getting enough sleep was another subject which the lecturer dealt with. There were more people in the mental hospitals who were suffering from the effects ol insomnia than there were from any other cause, except alcohol. Insanity was on the increase in all civilised countries. A recent writer in the Lancet had estimated that if insanity went on increasing at the rate it had done iu the last few years, in 250 years’ time there would be more insane than sane people. All was due to civilisation, and unless women pulled themselves up and retrained from making nervous wrecks of themselves, the race was going to deteriorate still more, and the girls of the next few generations would not possess the healthy, happy bodies that were their natural right. “Keep yourselves as contented as is possible in this age of hurry and scurry,” finally advised Dr Keller. “Live simple, natural lives, and you will be doing your share towards keeping the Divorce Court less busy. Life is short at its very best, and if you are healthy you can diffuse happiness and sunshine wherever you go, and be able to fulfil one of the ideals of true womanhood —to bear and forbear.” At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Dr Keller.