632 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



wastes nervous energy over unaccomplished work. The practice of 

 exercises which are given in this bulletin may help women to work to 

 better advantage and to accomplish more without fatigue. 



To suggest to those who in their daily occupation are usually "on 

 the go," not only from sunrise to sunset but several hours more, that 

 physical culture would be a good thing for them seems, at first impres- 

 sion, nothing less than absurdity. One can almost hear the answer 

 that such a suggestion would call forth from many a busy, energetic 

 woman, and from many a tired, weary and overworked woman. 

 "Exercise! Physical culture! What nonsense! I have exercise enough 

 in my work." Or, "I think I could give these physical culture teachers 

 a few lessons myself. Let them get the meals for my large family, do 

 my washing and ironing, take care of my house, tend my dairy, feed my 

 chickens, and they would not need any fancy exercises!" Or, the weary, 

 tired woman sighs, "What I want is a chance to rest, to get strong again. 

 Don't talk to me about more exercise." Such reasoning is reasonable. 

 It would also be essentially true if physical culture meant an increase of 

 the same kind of exercise which is necessary in the performance of one's 

 daily work. But the physical culture herein suggested means something 

 very different. The farmer and the wife often need some kind of physical 

 exercise that will tend to correct the physical faults of the daily occupa- 

 tion. The prevalence of worn, crooked and prematurely old men and 

 women is proof enough that physical betterment is needed. 



Doubtless some overworked woman has already said to herself, if 

 not aloud — "There's no use talking to me about physical culture, even 

 if it is a good thing. I've so much work to do, I've no time to learn 

 anything." If an old worn-out stove burns up twice as much wood 

 and gives out two-thirds as much heat as a new stove would, it is a 

 saving of money to spend it for a new stove. Likewise, if in using the 

 body in an incorrect way more nervous energy is consumed and less 

 work accomplished than would be by using it correctly, plainly it is a 

 saving of time to take time to learn how to use the body more economically. 



Of course it is not asserted that by means of physical culture any 

 one can lessen the actual amount of a day's work. But it is true that an 

 acquaintance with practical physical culture will enable women greatly 

 to lessen the fatigue attendant upon their work. 



Rest and Relaxation are Necessary for Health. — One of the first things 

 many persons need to do is to get rested, and the mountain of work 

 and worry will melt away into a possibility of accomplishment. There 

 are women who would not be caught napping in the daytime and who 

 would be afraid to be found sitting in an easy chair in the forenoon. 



