THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 62, 30 August 1940, Page 34

THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

EN years ago, in London, a small, vital Irishwoman, Mrs. Bagot Stack, founded the Women’s League of Health and Beauty. This cult was something new in the way of physical development, based as it was on correct posture and the co-ordina-tion of mind and body; an ideal aimed at by the Greeks. Mrs, Stack lived long enough to see her idea taken up by 100,000 women throughout the British Empire, When she died, her daughter, the famous Prunella Stack, now Lady DouglasHamilton, continued the work. Prunella was a Juno; a magnificent figure, with lovely colouring-and she brought to the work all her mother’s originality and enthusiasm. While all this was happening, a certain English family were living quietly in Southampton, They were a happy family group, three girls and six boys-reared in the country, and leving dogs and horses and the sporting life of the countryside. Their father was a portrait painter; a romantic figure who painted most of England’s great men of the day -troamed the world-and produced a book on his wanderings, The two elder girls-shall we call them Elizabeth and Susan?-were now outgrowing the tomboy stage and turning their eyes to a more serious future. They were eventually led to take up the study of the Stack Health and Beauty Movement; a work in which they both quickly excelled. a Story Then something happened that altered their entire future. But I'll let Susan take up the story- " Maybe, we were getting restless and dreaming of further fields; anyway, the people living next door to us were New Zealanders, and they often used to lend us periodicals and papers they received from home. , "One day when we were looking through a journal, we got the great idea. Why shouldn’t we move to this new landthe whole nine of us-and Elizabeth and I could continue our work over there? "Tt is remarkable," she went on, " the misconceptions people have about New Zealand. Most of our friends told us we were crazy. All the people over there were farmers, they said; what interests would they have in Physical Culture Development? But we had already persuaded ourselves-read up extensively on New Zealand cities and their populations -and were able to give back argument for argument. Anyway, three years ago we made the big trek. It was an undertaking, too, I can assure you-Mother, and her family of nine. The Old Lady who lived in a Shoe had nothing on us."

Schools in Eight Towns Auckland was their first landing place, and this plucky family set themselves the task of settling down in their new land, Elizabeth and Susan, two ardent young crusaders, lost no time in starting on their chosen work. "Nothing is easy when you are just beginning," said Susan, "but looking back now, I think we were remarkably lucky-people were so kind to us. Elizabeth and I worked hard in establishing

our first School in Auckland, Wellington followed-and other centres. Now we are represented in eight leading towns throughout New Zealand." "But you didn’t accomplish this all on your own?" I asked. Susan showed her really lovely teeth in a smile. "Hardly-what we did was to train a number of teachers and send them out to the various centres, At the present time we are considering a scheme to extend our work to country centres. We have had so many appeals from country women, but we can’t accomplish every. thing at once," Wide Scope of Work "What exactly is the nature of your work?" I asked, "Recreational," she said, "health. giving and beautifying. The three, actually, are interlinked. Greek dancing is also a part of our teaching-for the Greek ideal was for grace of posture and movement. A thorough understanding of the body is necessary before one can be qualified to instruct. But apart from physical value, the mind is also benefited. It is impossible to feel depressed, or to nurse a grouch when you are swinging or stretching your limbs, It seems to work all the gloomy patches out of your mind," It was impressive to listen to this young girl gravely voicing these words of wisdom. Both girls typify the culture they teach. They have a perfect physical development-and a keenness and enthusiasm that infects all those about them, Elizabeth has a classic Greek face, a fair skin and short golden hair. Susan, two years her junior, looks like a goldenskinned boy, her fair hair swept upwards from her temples-with delicate features and blue eyes that slant up in the most fascinating manner. For Health-or Beauty? "Tell me," I asked Susan later, "do the older women come here for healthor beauty?" Susan considered the question gravely. " Perhaps they themselves are the only ones who could answer that question, Being feminine, I should say a little of each, This class is fairly young-you should just see my grandmothers." " Grandmothers?" "Of course," said Susan, proudly, "There is no age limit to physical wellbeing. And they are just as keen as the young ones. Not apropos of the grandmothers," smiled Susan, " why don’t you come along yourself and give it a trial?" "TI do gymnastics on my typewriter, Susan, for several hours a day," I said, "but if ever I run out of a job I might consider your offer."