Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Margaret Edwards, 17, dubbed by reporters as “the perfect girl,” was in Spokane to perform “physical culture exhibitions and rhythmic dancing” at the Pantages Theater.

She had recently caused a nationwide sensation by appearing nude as the character Truth in the film “Hypocrites.” She told reporters she was not an actress and had never even seen a moving picture before she was cast in “Hypocrites.”

“She has developed, under her mother’s sole direction, what medical men call the perfect figure, and she has an ambition to become a dancer,” said a reporter who visited her at the Davenport Hotel. “A physically perfect body is essential to be a great dancer, she declares, and her physical training is merely the foundation for a dancing career. Mrs. Edwards is always with her.”

While Mrs. Edwards watched, she demonstrated a series of calisthenics “to cure flat chests, protruding shoulder blades, weak arches” and flabby abdomens. Her mother had been a physical culture instructor for years in Berkeley, California.

Margaret had some strong opinions of her own about exercise. She said dumbbells and other apparatus were “absolutely unnecessary” and “if there were fewer gymnasiums, the general health of girls and boys would be much improved.” She also said “basketball for girls is nothing short of criminal.”