The Open Air 



a perfect woman! Simply as a living, breathing 

 creature, can anything imaginable come near her? 



There is such strength in shape such force in form. 

 Without muscular development shape conveys the 

 impression of the greatest of all strength that is, 

 of completeness in itself. The ancient philosophy 

 regarded a globe as the most perfect of all bodies, 

 because it was the same that is, it was perfect and 

 complete in itself from whatever point it was con- 

 templated. Such is woman's form when nature's 

 intent is fulfilled in beauty, and that beauty gives the 

 idea of self-contained power. 



A full-grown woman is, too, physically stronger 

 than a man. Her physique excels man's. Look at 

 her torso, at the size, the fulness, the rounded firmness, 

 the depth of the chest. There is a nobleness about it. 

 Shoulders, arms, limbs, all reach a breadth of make 

 seldom seen in man. There is more than merely 

 sufficient there is a luxuriance indicating a surpass- 

 ing vigour. And this occurs without effort. She 

 needs no long manual labour, no exhaustive gym- 

 nastic exercise, nor any special care in food or train- 

 ing. It is difficult not to envy the superb physique 

 and beautiful carriage of some women. They are 

 so strong without effort. 



Ill AN ARM 



A large white arm, bare, in the sunshine, to the 

 shoulder, carelessly leant against a low red wall, 

 lingers in my memory. There was a house roofed 

 with old grey stone slates in the background, and 

 peaches trained up by the window. The low garden 

 wall of red brick ancient red brick, not the pale, 



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