The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Girls, by Dio Lewis

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Title: Our Girls

Author: Dio Lewis

Release Date: November 27, 2012 [EBook #41498]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR GIRLS ***

Produced by John Rodzvilla and the Summer 2012 Electronic Publishing Overview Class (Ryan Ayers, Courtney Coats, Chelsea Cohen, Elaina DeBoard, Katrina Gravel, Susanna Kellogg, Bryan Lawver, Alexis Mackintosh-Zebrowski, Melissa Malone, Anna Meier, Jennifer Riley, Kruthika Subramanyam) at Emerson College, Boston, MA.

Our Girls
by
Dio Lewis, A.M., M.D.,
President of "The Normal Institute for Physical Education,"
Physician in Chief to "a Swedish Movement Cure," Author of "New
Gymnastics for Men, Women, and Children," "Weak Lungs, and How to
Make Them Strong," "Talks About People's Stomachs," etc.

That her hand may be given with dignity, she must be able to stand
alone.-Margaret Fuller
New York
Harper & Brothers, Publishers, Franklin Square, 1874.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871, by
Dio Lewis.
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

To
My Girls
I dedicate this volume
In the School at Lexington they taught me how pure and noble life
may become.

Will they listen to another of my "Talks about Health?"
The Author.

Contents

  INTRODUCTION
  GIRLS' BOOTS AND SHOES
    Sure Way to get Broad Soles.
    Beauty of Broad Soles.
    Economy of Wide Soles.
    Thickness of the Soles.
    Of what shall the Uppers of Girls' Boots be composed?
    Should the Shoes support the Ankle?
    Rubber Boots and Shoes.
  HOW GIRLS SHOULD WALK
    Another Woman who Walked well.
    Still another Woman who Walked well.
    Important Help in Learning to Walk.
  THE LANGUAGE OF DRESS
    Low Neck and Short Sleeves
  DESCRIPTION OF DRESS
    Letter from Washington.
    Excessive Ornamentation.
    Earrings and other Trinkets.
    Finger-rings, etc.
  OUTRAGES UPON THE BODY
    Fashionable Sufferings.
  WOMAN TORTURES HER BODY
  STOCKINGS SUPPORTERS
  LARGE vs. SMALL WOMEN
    Why are Women so Small?
  IDLENESS AMONG GIRLS
    A Family Counsel.
    How it Terminated.
  IDLENESS IS FASHIONABLE
  WORK IS FOR THE POOR
    Work for Rich Girls.
    A true Love Story.
  EMPLOYMENTS FOR WOMEN
    Amanuenses.
    Bank Clerks.
    Brokers.
    Copyists.
    Dentists.
    Lawyers.
    Lecturers.
    Librarians.
    Physicians.
    Preachers.
    Proof-Readers.
    Publishers.
    Teachers.
    Teachers of Gymnastics and Dancing.
    Teachers of Drawing and Painting.
    Watches.
    Pens.
    Aquaria Makers.
    Architects.
    Engravers.
    Photographers.
    Schools of Design.
    Gardening.
    A Capital Investment.
    Merchants.
    Carpenters.
    Other Occupations.
    Employment Agencies.
  FALSE TESTS OF GENTILITY
    Conservatism is Fashionable.
    "Woman's Rights" are Unfashionable.
    The Social Evil.
  A SHORT SERMON ABOUT MATRIMONY
    My Text.
    You Want Husbands.
    Why Men do not Propose.
    Beauty of Woman's Body.
    This Dress Checks your Movements.
 PIANO MUSIC
    Vocal Music.
    Bad Manners of Piano Players.
    Vices of Modern Music.
    Italian Opera.
  STUDY OF FRENCH
    Disciplinary Value of French.
    Comparative Value of English and French.
    English Classics.
    Latin and Greek.
  DANCING
  THE THEATRE
  SYMPATHY BETWEEN THE STOMACH AND THE SOUL
    Bowels of Compassion.
    Waists of Jolly Grandmothers.
  ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES
  SUNSHINE AND HEALTH
    A few Plain Words to my Little Pale-faced Friends.
    Experiment upon a House-plant.
    Experiment upon a Rose-bush.
    Experiment upon a Rose Girl.
  A WORD ABOUT BATHS
    Oil Secretions of the Skin.
    Importance of Soap.
    Details of the Bath.
    Bath-rooms.
    Hot and Cold Baths.
    Hair Gloves or Mittens.
  HOME GYMNASIUM
  WHAT YOU SHOULD EAT
    Consequences.
    Breakfast.
    Dinner.
    Jacob Schneider and his Doughnuts.
    Wines and other Alcoholic Drinks
  WHAT YOU SHOULD DRINK
  ADDITIONAL HEALTH THOUGHTS
    Noises in the Bowels.
    How to Manage a Cold.
    Fat and Thin Girls.
    Recreation vs. Propriety.
    Care of your Teeth.
    Ventilation.
    Flannels next the Skin.
  AMUSEMENTS FOR GIRLS
  TRUE EDUCATION FOR GIRLS
  HEROIC WOMEN

Introduction

My Dear Public:—

I write about the girls because I want to, and because, after a good deal of self-examination, I candidly believe I have something to say about them.

I have always been deeply interested in the girls; when a youngster nothing so fascinated me; and, as I turn the corner, to go with the old folks, I can't see that my interest in girls is a whit less earnest.

When I was occupied with the practice of my profession, my interest in the girls was so well-known, that I had an unusual number among my patients. During the years of my public lecturing, half, at least, of my audiences were composed exclusively of girls and women. When I established the school at Lexington, it was a school for girls, and, during four years, I lived in the midst of a large family of fine girls. It was a sweet, a delightful experience. My hopes of the future rest upon the girls. My patriotism clings to the girls. I believe America's future pivots on this great woman revolution.

I am not a Yankee, but I believe in Yankees. This first great success in self-government, is a success, because guided by Yankee brains. I tremble lest the rudder should fall to hands, which, in other lands, have been found utterly incompetent. The Yankee brain has realized the brightest hopes of the political seer. The United States Government must not, cannot part with its wise, prudent helmsman.

Is it not an alarming fact, that, among Yankees, marriage is becoming unfashionable, and children still more unfashionable; that, among the very few children born, so many die in infancy; and still again, that, among the very small number who escape the perils of childhood, so small a proportion are endowed with that vigorous health on which alone can be planted a vigorous manhood. I am so sure that I know where the trouble lies, and so strong is my