496 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ever tends to its greater perfection. Therefore, if in consequence of 

 proper physical training men can do more work, live longer, and trans- 

 mit to their offspring a share of this improved condition, women also 

 should be so trained that they can do more work, live longer, and con- 

 tribute to the higher possibilities of their offspring by supplementing 

 instead of thwarting the promise which has been presupposed in the 

 higher development of the male parent. 



The question of the varieties and degree of exercise adapted to 

 young women, and the many theories unsupported by observation 

 which have been advanced, have done much to discourage the efforts 

 and hinder the progress of those who have been honestly endeavoring 

 to establish a reform from which definite results might be determined. 

 The growing recognition of the necessity for thorough work in this 

 direction is the lever which must in time remove all obstacles that 

 have thus far stood in our way. 



Professor D. A. Sargent, M. D., of Harvard College, a gentleman who 

 has much practical experience in these matters, writes with regard to 

 his observations in many of our female colleges and seminaries, " They 

 all feel the demand for improvement in this direction, but for the 

 most part their efforts are lame and impotent." He does not attribute 

 this to lack of ability to come up to the required standards, but says 

 that a need of encouragement and of suitable equipments exists. 



Although I have been refused any statistical information, upon the 

 plea that it was too early to make a summary of results, I know that 

 in a few of the colleges for women the work of the drill-room is done 

 with precision, and, what is better, enthusiasm. The late physician 

 of one of these writes : " I am inclined to regard properly-conducted 

 gymnastic exercises as decidedly beneficial to female students. There 

 has been in some instances less headache, in others marked improve- 

 ment where various disturbances to health had existed. I look for 

 benefit to all students who practice regularly and faithfully. It 

 strengthens more sets of muscles than walking or rowing ; the latter 

 takes them into the open air. They need both, in order to do tbe best 

 work." 



A lady, lately connected with a famous English college, writes that 

 gymnastic exercises were employed, but were not so popular as walk- 

 ing, horseback-riding, and tennis. She adds, "Walks of fifteen or 

 twenty miles were not so unusual as to excite remark," and mentions 

 two friends who " did " thirty miles in a day without fatigue. " In- 

 deed, one of them spent the entire evening afterward in dancing." 



These facts certainly indicate that women are not by nature lack- 

 ing in physical resources. The question, then, arises, What are the 

 best methods of developing these resources ? 



It is a well-known fact that in women the vital grasp, tenacity of 

 life, if we may so term it, is stronger than it is in man. This is per- 

 haps a necessary provision, because of the added fact that through the 



