"I do not believe," wrote Miss H.Ballantine, Director of Vassar College Gymnasium, to Prof.W.Thomas (_Sex and Society_, p.

22) "women can ever, no matter what the training, approach men in their physical achievements; and," she wisely adds, "I see no reason why they should." There seem, indeed, as has already been indicated, to be reasons why they should not, especially if they look forward to becoming mothers.

I have noticed that women who have lived a very robust and athletic outdoor life, so far from always having the easy confinements which we might anticipate, sometimes have very seriously difficult times, imperilling the life of the child.

On making this observation to a distinguished obstetrician, the late Dr.Engelmann, who was an ardent advocate of physical exercise for women (in e.g.his presidential address, "The Health of the American Girl," _Transactions Southern Surgical and Gynaecological Association_, 1890), he replied that he had himself made the same observation, and that instructors in physical training, both in America and England, had also told him of such cases among their pupils.

"I hold," he wrote, "precisely the opinion you express [as to the unfavorable influence of muscular development in women].