Useful Physical Culture.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 14 August 1902, Page 15

Useful Physical Culture.

Wb hear a great deal in these days (says an American exchange) of the necessity of physical culture for girls, and how neoesßary it it that they should practise gymnaitio exercises. Those who recommend such exercises forget that there is a kind of physical culture which costs nothing and is within the reach of all girls, namely, helping their mothers.

For arms, fingers, and wrists, washing and wiping dishes will be found admirable. One is as good as the other. Perhaps the water aide in giving suppleness to the joints of the fingers. That is an advantage washing dishes has over wiping them. However, there is surely a fine elbow movement in the wiping.

Bed making-, as it is still taught in the homely physical culture academies of country farmhouses, cannot be too highly recommended. With the folding of every counterpane, blanket, and sheet the arms are stretched as far apart as they will go, eaoh hand holding one end. Then standing 1 perfectly treot, the chest is thrown out. Quickly the hands are brought together again and preato I the sheet is folded double ! Bhoulderi, body and limbs are all developed by the mattress turning. The eye and the sense of

symmetry learn much from the regular arrangement of counterpane and pillows. Of oourse, this exercise ought not to be oarried too

Sweeping gives much the game motion without the jerkineu of golfing strokes. For the graceful perfection of arms and Bhoulderi, so much desired by every ambitious girl, nothing could be better. Floor scrubbing, like lawn tenni§, is rather violent and not to be tried unless you are sure about your heart. At first, it will be almost as severe on the knees as rowing ; but as you get used to the occupation it will give a subtle satisfaction of ita own. Running upstairs when mamma wants something is first-olasa exercise, and running downstairs is almost as good. Interesting diversions will be found in «gg-beating and ice cream freezing. Dusting ought to have a chapter by itself. First, you are down on all-fours, then you are on tiptoe seeing how far the duster will reach. This tiptoeing, with its ankle development, is snperb I But that isn't all. You twist yourself into all sorts of positions to rot at the corners of the oarved furniture. First, you are on one knee, and then on the other. Every muscle, every tendon is brought into Bervice before you are through. Even thiß magnificent exercise can be overdone, but you will make no mistake if you only dust every room after you have swept it— although many housekeepers dost oftener.