Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/352

 BEAUTY 330 finger tip; but this is only true up to the age when the increase of height ceases. After then the arm-stretch increases, and in men the breadth of the chest also increases, which causes the arm-stretch to measure relatively more with them than with women. The practical value of the understanding of the relative proportions of the human organism is that when deviations from the normal are found to exist, means can be taken to remove tbem. Health and Beauty Grow Together The beauty culturist and the health culturist must work to a certain extent upon the same lines, though the developer of beauty would call a halt long before the developer of health, especially if carried out on athletic lines. While man seeks to beat records in strength and to develop abnorm- ally large muscles, woman desires to add to the lissomeness of her limbs, to the grace of her carriage, and to her ability to take part in, and enjoy, outdoor sports without incurring over-fatigue. Her beauty is real ; it is the sign, symptom, and outcome of leading a healthy and rational life, for which she need be none the less a womanly woman. Whether a woman, on beginning to awaken to the need of physical culture, should begin by cultivating the beauty of her skin, the uprightness of her figure, or the acquirement of a beautiful bust, matters little, as the deve- lopment of all goes more or less hand in hand. The freshness, richness, and dainty tint of the skin depend upon the freedom of the circulation of the blood through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins ; the graceful uprightness of the body depends upon the perfect condition of the vertebral column, and a beautiful chest depends upon the cultivation of deep breathing. Man is physiologically constructed to respire by the nostrils. There is no greater destroyer of facial beauty than habitual mouth-breathing. The too familiar so-called " adenoid-face " is marked by its look of " gaping stupidity," and is the direct result of mouth-breathing. It causes the nose to lose its lineal definition, and the mouth the much-prized suggestion and indication of capability which add dignity and character to the face. A straight, long nose with large flexible nostrils has been described as a " longevity nose." Small and unused nostrils indicate physical weakness, and are described by Lavater as denoting " unenterprising timidity." Foggy air when passed through the nostrils is filtered and purified, over-dry air is moistened, contaminated air often becomes disinfected, and cold air is warmed before it enters the lungs. The power of the nose to limit the amount of air supplied during physical culture exercises is impor- tant, because, so long as the lips are closed, and breathing rhythmical, it is impossible to overstrain the heart, lungs, or blood-vessels. Thus physical culture and beauty culture go hand in hand. Mothers desiring to see their children unmarred in face, features and expression will give unremitting attention to the prevention of the mouth-breathing habit. An Easy Breathing: Exercise The following is an Eastern breathing exercise which gives control and strengthens the functions of nasal breathing. It should be practised in a pure atmosphere for at least five minutes night and morning : Inhale slowly and deeply, close the right nostril by pressing a finger against it, and while it is closed slowly exhale and inhale by the left nostril ; then close the left, exhale and inhale by the right nostril, and so on alternately. Single Nasal Drill. — Should there be a special difficulty in breathing by one of the nostrils, that one should be used for inhaling and exhaling some ten or fifteen times, or tiU free, during which time the other nostril should be kept closed by pressure. Then follow with the Eastern alternate nasal-drill. This exercise is one of the most valuable of any that can be devised for securing breathing control. An exercise in "facial breathing" for developing the muscles of the outer sides or wings of the nose, to strengthen and enlarge small and weak nostrils, can be performed thus • Stand before a looking- glass, with closed lips, and inhale and exhale by the nostrils, causing them to visibly move while so doing. TAliLK SHOWING THE PROPORTIONS OF NORMAL WOMEN WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED BY PHYSICAL CULTURE HHjfht Weight Clr. of neck Breadth of shmilrters Cir. of chest at rest Chest expansion Cir. of wai.st Cir. of fore arm Cir. of upper arm Straight Cir. of upper arm Flexed Cir. of hips Cir. of thigh Cir. of calf Ft. In. Lbs. Inches inches [nches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches InrhRS 5 112 llf I3i Z2 3 24I- 8| 10 II 33f 18 12^ 5 I 115 12 14 2>n 3i 25 9 loi iii- 34i i8i 12^- 5 2 118 12i ^A z?> 3i 25 1 9i loA- lU S4f 18^ 13 5 3 121 12 I4i i^y 3l 26 9^- lof iii 35i 19 M^ -: f 125 I2l- 14- 34 4 26 1- 91- II 12 36i 19^ 13* 5 5 5 6 129 13 15.T 34i 4i 27 10 Hi I2i ?)7:- 20i- 13* 134 I3i- 15I 3^ 4i 27I loi "i I2i 38i 21 14 5 7 139 13I 16 ?>5 4j 28 lOi- III- I2I- 40 22 Mi .See " .I Mia! of Anthropoiiieiiy," by Cliailes Roberts To be coniinited. F.k.C.S. ,»• M*^ . ^^^'"^ ^^ ^"'"^ ""* ^^^ supplying materials, etc., mentioned in (N.ul and Tooth Polishr-M ; T. J. Clark (Glycola) ; Edwards' Harlenc Co. (Hai Co. (Oatine Prepar?ionsl: Koyal Worcester Corset Co. (Kidfitting Corsets) ; his section : The Misses Allen-Brown (Scented Baskets) ; Thos. Belvoii •Tonic); Icilma Co., Ltd. (Toilet Preparations); Oatine Manufacturine Wright, Layman & Umney, Ltd. (C lal Tar Soap).