the tension out evenly so the cords will not kink. In this way we may gain flexibility of body capable of responding to the most delicate thought and feeling, even as the violin strings may be attuned to finest expression because of the flexibility. So make the whole physical body flexible that there may be a responsive element for the divine soul within to play upon.

PHYSICAL CULTURE NOTES.

"THE SPINAL COLUMN contains all of the motive power of man; upon the spinal column depends all the symmetry of the body. Nearly every malformation results from wrong positions of the spinal column. Preach the gospel of the spinal column everywhere, as our physical culture is based upon it. The spinal column cannot be overstraightened. Elevating it produces instantaneous effect upon the stomach nerve, with very beneficial effect upon digestion.

GOING UP STAIRS is hurtful or not, according to how it is done. The mind has much to do with it. If you feel hurried, you do not do it easily or gracefully. Think only of keeping the chest high, then the head seems to float up. Various ways of ascending stairs,-pounding up because a feeble will makes any one feeble; bustling up out of breath. Don't put the foot up and climb up after it. Learn from the Greeks to poise the Mental Kingdom on the physical, with the mind shining from the candlestick of the body. Keep the crown of the head firm. Never surrender your manhood or womanhood to your activityyour individuality is greater than anything you can do; maintain it ever.

LEADERSHIP of the spinal column is the crown of the head, leadership of torso, the chest; of arm, between hand and elbow; limb, in walking, half between the knee and ankle." Dr. Charles W. Emerson.

THE BREATH OF LIFE.

The blood and breath are the vital forces of life; neither can exist without the other. It has come to be of greater importance that we have red blood in our veins than that we have blue blood even. It is the breath that keeps the flame of life glowing and gives the red blood.

It makes a difference what you breathe, how you breathe, and how much you breathe.

If all virtues of medicine, all kinds of physical exercises all kinds of voice culture could be summed up in one thing, it would come nearer to being a concentrated whole in this one act: correct breathing. It is through this more than through any one thing you may gain nerve to master your circumstances; and in this way, if any may you "add years to your life and life to your years. No person can any more afford to be careless about breathing than about other nourishment for his body.

The advantages gained by cultivating the breath are very numerous; among them may be mentioned, health and strength; a cure for nervousness and embarrassment; increase of bodily warmth; control of rhythmic circulation of the blood; a basis for improved voice production and means of speech.

"Calenus and Galen and other Greek and Roman physicians recommended deep breathing and retention of air as a daily exercise and as a remedy. They believed thereby to increase the heat of the inner organism, to enlarge the chest, to strengthen the respiratory organs, to remove the impurities from the breast, to open the pores of the skin, to thin the skin itself, to drive the fluids through it. "

Says Gladstone- " All time and money spent in training the voice and body is an investment that pays a larger interest than any other.

BREATH ORGANS.

The Organs of Breath are the Diaphragm, Lungs, Trachea and Bronchial tubes with all their Muscles and assisting Motive Organs.

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Think of the lungs themselves in a general way as a big rubber bag without power of its own to act. It possesses great elasticity and can be expanded. The pressure of the outside air comes in the lungs when opened and fills them as a bottle is filled with air when the cork is taken out. Of course certain muscles assist in pumping in the air besides. The air may be expelled from the lungs by the pressure of certain muscles. There are several ways of doing this, some of which are far from right, yet we pass without discussion; but will endeavor to present that which experience and careful investigation have shown to be the right way.

However large and ample the lung capacity may be,naturally with a cramped chest there can be but little room for the expansion of the lungs, as the case of bone and flesh covering them is heavy, and easily crushes the very delicate lung tissue out of its rightful place and gives too little room for vigorous and healthy working.

In expanding the lungs, first stand erect, lift the bony corselet with the ribs at the sides, lifting up and out like two bucket handles, that there may be room for the air of heaven to come in. Do not be satisfied with little sips of air, the whole heaven is full of it free at your disposal; so as you value your life and want to nourish it partake freely of all of this life giving sustenance, and cultivate a camel's capacity for holding it. Feel as if the limbs are hollow tubes through which you draw the air into your body. In this way seem to breathe from the tips of the toes. Try to inflate the whole lung tract. And it is wonderful how accommodating the lungs are, how elastic, how quickly a

little effort will cause them to expand. be noted with the aid of a Spirometer.

The progress may

As in blowing up a rubber bag you aim directly at the bottom of it first, in the same way aim to fill the lower part of the lungs first.

People afflicted with some forms of lung difficulties often receive benefit by going to a climate of rarer atmosphere. This kind of a change of climate makes it necessary for the patient to breathe deeply in order to satisfy, thus making it needful to exert the breathing organs with more vigor. From this increased activity of the breath organs comes much of the benefit derived from the change. One may gain the same advantage at home by exerting the will and learning to expand the lungs and to take in the breath of life.

When we consider how few people breathe correctly we must admit nature is very generous with her children, and compromises in every way possible to help out in some other way, even making it more difficult for us to do wrong than to do right.

Most people are unwilling to be convinced that they are breathing incorrectly, thus allowing themselves to be deluded and cheated. While being able to breathe naturally is an advantage, yet the trained cultivated breathing organs far surpass the natural. We find examples of natural breathing in animals and little children. The natural breathing in children begins to change when selfconsciousness begins; still greater changes come with embarrassment, which is little fear and disturbs the breath.

THE DIAPHRAGM is the great motor muscle concerned in breathing. This muscle may be trained even as a hand to work the bellows that supplies the wind for a great organ. The exercises for training this most important muscle will be found at close of the chapter under Breathing Exercises.

LUNG CAPACITY. Recognized authorities tell us that the lung capacity of a man of average height is 335 cubic inches. 225 cubic inches of air can be expelled, while 109 cubic inches remain in the lungs. The lung capacity bears a uniform relation to the height of the person increasing 8 cubic inches for every inch above 5 feet. When sitting or lying down the lung capacity is diminished. After a hearty meal the lung capacity is lessened from 10 to 20 cubic inches.

SKILL MORE THAN STRENGTH. Inspiration is the opening and enlarging of the chest cavity. Expiration is the diminishing of the size of the chest cavity. Inhalation is the passive part of breathing. Exhalation is the active part of breathing.

INHALE ONLY THROUGH THE NOSTRILS." Shut the mouth and stretch the nostrils wide. " The reasons for doing so are plain. The nose is so made as to filter out the dust from the air. The crooked passage through the nostrils to the lungs affords an opportunity to warm the air, that it may be of the same temperature of the body before it comes into the lungs, that it may not chill the delicate membrane.

Taking the breath through the nose prevents dryness in the throat of the speaker. The breath taken through the mouth, even in speaking or singing absorbs the saliva and causes dryness making it necessary to exert greater energy, causing unnecessary fatigue.

The tongue pressed against the hard palate at the moment of taking the breath serves as a barrier to prevent the passage of the air beyond through the mouth.

MOUTH BREATHING cannot be too strongly condemned. Aside from the bad effects on the organs of respiration, lungs, bronchial tubes, throat etc., it has a harmful influence on the nervous system. Careful tests show that mouth breathing weakens the intellect. The habitual mouth