CHAPTER III
WILL DAILY PHYSICAL EXERCISE FOR GIRLS PAY?
Look at the girls in any of our cities or towns as they pass to or from school; and see how few of them are at once shapely, and strong, and have good complexions. Some are one or the other; but very few are all combined; while many are neither one of them. Instead of high chests, plump arms, comely figures, and a graceful and handsome mien; you see many flat chests, angular shoulders, often round and warped forward, with awkward necks, pipe-stem arms, narrow backs, and a weak walk. Not one girl in a dozen is erect, whether walking, standing, or sitting. Nearly every head is pitched somewhat forward. The arms are held still; and there is a lack of spring and elasticity of movement. Fresh, blooming complexions are rare. Stop a moment and see if you can name five girls who have them. And yet what does more to make girl or woman radiant with beauty than a perfect complexion? Among eyes, plenty of them pretty, sparkling, or intelligent, but few have vigor and force. If any dozen girls, taken at random, should place their hands side by side on a table; many, if not most, of those hands would be found to lack beauty and symmetry; the fingers, and indeed the whole hand, too often having a weak, undeveloped, nerveless look.
Now watch these girls at play. See how few of their
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