The Open Air 



chest, and forces the organs of the body out of place 

 (what a queer expression it seems, " organs "!) have 

 not a chance in Brighton. Girls lace tight and " go 

 in " for the tip of the fashion, yet they bloom and 

 flourish as green bay trees, and do not find their skirts 

 any obstacle in walking or tennis. The horse-riding 

 that goes on is a thing to be chronicled ; they are 

 always on horseback, and you may depend upon it 

 that it is better for them than all the gymnastic 

 exercises ever invented. The liability to strain, and 

 even serious internal injury, which is incurred , in 

 gymnastic exercises, ought to induce sensible people 

 to be extremely careful how they permit their 

 daughters to sacrifice themselves on this scientific 

 altar. Buy them horses to ride, if you want them to 

 enjoy good health and sound constitutions. Nothing 

 like horses for women. Send the professors to 

 Suakim, and put the girls on horseback. Whether 

 Brighton grows handsome girls, or whether they 

 flock there drawn by instinct, or become lovely by 

 staying there, is an inquiry too difficult to pursue. 



There they are, one at least in every group, and you 

 have to walk, as the Spaniards say, with your beard 

 over your shoulder, continually looking back at those 

 who have passed. The only antidote known is to get 

 married before you visit the place, and doubts have 

 been expressed as to its efficacy. In the south-coast 

 Seville there is nothing done but heart-breaking; it 

 is so common it is like hammering flints for road 

 mending; nobody cares if your heart is in pieces. 

 They break hearts on horseback, and while walking, 

 playing tennis, shopping actually at shopping, not 

 to mention parties of every kind. No one knows 

 where the next danger will be encountered at the 

 very next corner perhaps. Feminine garments have 



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