25.  “UP TO THE AGE of puberty, if the girl has grown naturally, waist, hips and shoulders are about the same in width, the shoulders being, perhaps, a trifle the broadest.  Up to this time the sexual organs have grown but little.  Now they take a sudden start and need more room.  Nature aids the girls; the tissues and muscles increase in size and the pelvis bones enlarge.  The limbs grow plump, the girl stops growing tall and becomes round and full.  Unsuspected strength comes to her; tasks that were once hard to perform are now easy; her voice becomes sweeter and stronger.  The mind develops more rapidly even than the body; her brain is more active and quicker; subjects that once were dull and dry have unwonted interest; lessons are more easily learned; the eyes sparkle with intelligence, indicating increased mental power; her manner denotes the consciousness of new power; toys of childhood are laid away; womanly thoughts and pursuits fill her mind; budding childhood has become blooming womanhood.  Now, if ever, must be laid the foundation of physical vigor and of a healthy body.  Girls should realize the significance of this fact.  Do not get the idea that men admire a weakly, puny, delicate, small-waisted, languid, doll-like creature, a libel on true womanhood.  Girls admire men with broad chests, square shoulders, erect form, keen bright eyes, hard muscles and undoubted vigor.  Men also turn naturally to healthy, robust, well-developed girls, and to win their admiration girls must meet their ideals.  A good form, a sound mind and a healthy body are within the reach of nine out of ten of our girls by proper care and training.  Physical bankruptcy may claim the same proportion if care and training are neglected.

26.  “A WOMAN FIVE FEET TALL should measure two feet around the waist and thirty-three inches around the hips.  A waist less than this proportion indicates compression either by lacing or tight clothing.  Exercise in the open air, take long walks and vigorous exercise, using care not to overdo it.  Housework will prove a panacea for many of the ills which flesh is heir to.  One hour’s exercise at the wash-tub is of far more value, from a physical standpoint, than hours at the piano.  Boating is most excellent exercise and within the reach of many.  Care in dressing is also important, and, fortunately, fashion is coming to the rescue here.  It is essential that no garments be suspended from the waist.  Let the shoulders bear the weight of all the clothing, so that the organs of the body may be left free and unimpeded.

27.  “SLEEP SHOULD BE HAD regularly and abundantly.  Avoid late hours, undue excitement, evil associations; partake of plain, nutritious food, and health will be your reward.  There is one way of destroying health, which, fortunately, is not as common among girls as boys, and which must be mentioned ere this chapter closes.  Self-abuse is practised among growing girls to such an extent as to arouse serious alarm.  Many a girl has been led to handle and play with her sexual organs through the advice of some girl who has obtained temporary pleasure in that way; or, perchance, chafing has been followed by rubbing until the organs have become congested with blood, and in this accidental manner the girl discovered what seems to her a source of pleasure, but which, alas, is a source of misery, and even death.