The Art of Stage Dancing / The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession

by Ned Wayburn

So believe me when I say that what I am about to put down here in black and white is not said for the fun of it nor for any other purpose but to enable every woman to increase her capital stock and secure the largest possible dividends in the beauty market.

The thin, slight, under-nourished woman will heed my words on this subject with satisfaction. Her procedure is pleasant and easy, comparatively. She can and will improve rapidly if she is determined to do so and will stick to what I tell her.

The "just right" woman wants to remain in her perfect form, and the words here printed will serve as a sign-post to direct her in the way that is best for the accomplishment of that desirable end. Her task is easiest of all.

The stout woman who would regain the more pleasing figure that nature intended she should have can do so if she will, but her inclination to indolence and indulgence must be overcome—by herself, not by anything anyone else can do for her—and she must make up her mind that she has a real task before her, and one that calls for all her will power and stern determination. And she must be patient, for in her case results are apt to be slow. But let her be encouraged: Some of the most admired women of the stage have experienced her same difficulty with too abundant flesh and have perfected themselves by this identical plan set forth here. So it has been done, and can be done in your case; but it all depends upon you, your zeal and your stick-to-it-iveness.

To see how your present weight conforms to the proper standard, I present here a table of average weights based on heights and age. In this table the weights are taken in scant costume, a single garment and no shoes. Any table of this kind can be only approximate, however, for the frame and general build vary in different people and the bone structure must be considered in fixing the weight.

STANDARD TABLE OF AVERAGE HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS OF
MEN AND WOMEN OF VARIOUS AGES

WOMEN

Heights						Weights
Ft.	In.	15-19 yrs.	20-24 yrs.	25-29 yrs.	30-34 yrs.	35-39 yrs.	40-44 yrs.	45-49 yrs.	50-54 yrs.	55-59 yrs.
4	11	110	113	116	119	122	126	129	131	132
5	0	112	115	118	121	124	128	131	133	134
5	1	114	117	120	123	126	130	133	135	137
5	2	117	120	122	125	129	133	136	138	140
5	3	120	123	125	128	132	136	139	141	143
5	4	123	126	129	132	136	139	142	144	146
5	5	126	129	132	136	140	143	146	148	150
5	6	130	133	136	140	144	147	151	152	153
5	7	134	137	140	144	148	151	155	157	158
5	8	138	141	144	148	152	155	159	162	163
5	9	141	145	148	152	156	159	163	166	167
5	10	145	149	152	155	159	162	166	170	173
5	11	150	153	155	158	162	166	170	174	177
6	0	155	157	159	162	165	169	173	177	182

MEN

Heights						Weights
Ft.	In.	15-19 yrs.	20-24 yrs.	25-29 yrs.	30-34 yrs.	35-39 yrs.	40-44 yrs.	45-49 yrs.	50-54 yrs.	55-59 yrs.
4	11	111	117	122	125	127	130	132	133	134
5	0	113	119	124	127	129	132	134	135	136
5	1	115	121	126	129	131	134	136	137	138
5	2	118	124	128	131	133	136	138	139	140
5	3	121	127	131	134	136	139	141	142	143
5	4	124	131	134	137	140	142	144	145	146
5	5	128	135	138	141	144	146	148	149	150
5	6	132	139	142	145	148	150	152	153	154
5	7	136	142	146	149	152	154	156	157	158
5	8	140	146	150	154	157	159	161	162	163
5	9	144	150	154	158	162	164	166	167	168
5	10	148	154	158	163	167	169	171	172	173
5	11	153	158	163	168	172	175	177	178	179
6	0	158	163	169	174	178	181	183	184	185
6	1	163	168	175	180	184	187	190	191	192
6	2	168	173	181	186	191	194	197	198	199
6	3	173	178	187	192	197	201	204	205	206