June Jumpstart!: Miss Elsie Scheel

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Miss Elsie Scheel

So I stumbled upon this VERY interesting news article from 1912 about a girl who was considered "perfect". 100 years later, the idea of the perfect woman is very very different!

"In 1912 Miss Elsie Scheel of Brooklyn was deemed the “most nearly perfect specimen of womanhood” out of 400 other coeds at Cornell that year. The 24-year-old Scheel had come to Cornell from Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights—she enjoyed horticulture, outdoor sports, and was an ardent suffragette. One paper declared that she was "taller than Venus de Milo," standing five feet seven inches tall, weighing in "at a healthy 171 pounds, and possessing a decidedly pear-shaped figure (it measured 35-30-40)." Isn't that refreshing? According to the NY Times report, Scheel did not have "a single defect."

I was much closer to 1912's idea of the "most nearly perfect specimen of womanhood" before I started this challenge! (At least weight wise. Measurement wise we are very very close right now) Mind. Blown.

Let's all just agree that women can be beautiful and "perfect" at a variety of sizes, yes? That if you like how you look and feel, you are perfect? (After-school special alert!)

Also, beefsteak. Mmmmm......

You can read more about Elsie here.

2 comments:

heather_herrickDecember 22, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Sariah! I am 5' 7". All summer I vacillated between 172 and 170. And those measurements are really close to mine too! I'm taller than the Venus de Milo . . .that makes me feel very lovely indeed! Ah to have been a woman in the 1912's. But seriously, your after school special sentiments are right! If we're healthy & happy we will be "perfect".
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The SmithsDecember 25, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
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How to Earn Points!

Log your food and/or calorie intake at least 5 days a week. 25 points. All or nothing.
Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. One point a day if accomplished. 1-7 points.
Daily Exercise. Up to 5 points a day, 6x a week. 1-30 points per week. (20 min=1 pt., 25 min=1.5 pt., 30 min=2 pts., 35 min=2.5 pts., 40 min=3 pts., 45 min=3.5 pts., 50 min=4 pts., 55 min=4.5 pts., 60 min=5 pts.)
Sleep at least 7 hours a night. 1 point a night if accomplished. 1-7 points per week.
Group Weekly goal. 10 points. 5 out of 7 days. All or nothing.
Personal Weekly goal. 1-5 points per week .
Weekly Weigh & Measure In. Weigh & measure every Friday & keep a record. 5 points per week.
TOTAL POSSIBLE each week=89
Weight & Inches Lost points. ?? At the end of the competition you will receive 10 points per percentage of weight and inches lost. Added to your total at the final weigh in.
Maintenance Points. 10 points per week. If you reach your goal weight, you'll receive 10 pts. each week for maintaining within 3 pounds. Added at end of competition.