In modern times, the Germans, Danes, and Swiss, have ex celled in gymnastics. Under this general name, indeed, is included every vigorous exertion of the limbs, such as balancing, climbing, leaping, running, vaulting, and walking. The use of gymnastic exercises is to unfold and strengthen the muscular system, by teaching the proper means of employing it to the utmost possible advantage; and the great utility of such recreations will be doubted only by those who are not aware that the health of the body depends upon the full and just exercise of the different members of it. A modern and able writer on this subject, after pointing out the importance of physical exertion, says, that "Exercises, moreover, inspire confidence in difficult situations, and suggest resources in danger. This consequent influence on the moral conduct of a man is such that, by a confidence which is well founded, because it springs from a perfect knowledge of his own powers, he is often enabled to render the most important services to others." When practicing the exercises, it is extremely necessary to guard against performing any one of them in particular, to the exclusion of the others; as, by so doing, the muscles most called into action will become very much developed, while those not exercised will remain weak; and that .symmetry and elegance of form which well regulated, active exertion tends so much to improve, must consequently be destroyed. The movements should, therefore, be varied as much as possible; when it will be found that a few hours' practice daily, sometimes at one, sometimes at another kind of exercise, will be sufficient, both for the health of the youthful gymnast and the graceful display of his muscular system.

General Directions.

The best time for practicing gymnastic exercises is either early in the morning or in the cool of the evening; but never immediately after meals.

The pupils should not be permitted to carry knives, pegtops, or any other toys, in their pockets; neither ought they to be allowed, while warm after practicing, to lie down on the ground, continue without their jackets or coats, sit in a draught, drink cold water, or wash themselves with it; carelessness on these points frequently causing severe illness.

A master or usher should superintend the sports, to keep the pupils from attempting feats beyond such as their strength or practice will enable them to perform with ease and safety. It is a good plan to divide the pupils into classes, according to their size and strength; and they should be made proficient in one exercise before they are allowed to practice another.

The left hand and arm being generally somewhat weaker than the right, the former should be gradually exercised until both become equally strong.

In all gymnastic performances, the pupil should rather endeavor to strengthen the body by exercises taken with moderation, then to exhaust and weaken it by violent and unnecessary displays of force and agility.

The exercises should always be begun and finished gently; abrupt transitions being very dangerous.

Walking.

In walking, the head and body should be carried upright, yet perfectly free and easy, the breast projected, stomach held in, and the shoulders back; and the arms should be allowed to move with freedom by the sides. The knees should be straight, and the toes turned out, but not to an excess; for then they look equally as awkward and ungainly as when they are turned in. In the slow walk or march, the foot should be advanced, keeping the knee and inste straight, and the toe pointing downward; it should then be placed softly on the ground, without jerking the body; and this movement

should be repeated with the left foot, and the action continuod until it can be performed with ease and elegance. The moderate pace differs from the march in one or two particulars. thus, the ball of the foot, instead of the toe, must first touch the ground, and the toes should not be so much turned out as in the slow walk. In the quick step, the body should be thrown more forward than in the other steps, the toes les pointed out, and the knees allowed to be slightly bent and springy; the head, however, must still be kept erect. All these steps should be practiced until they can be executed with grace and precision.

"In a graceful human step," observes a popular writer, "the heel is always raised before the foot is lifted from the ground, as if the foot were part of a wheel rolling forward; and the weight of the body, supported by the muscles of the calf of the leg, rests for the time on the fore part of the foot and toes. There is then a bending of the foot in a certain degree."

Running.

In running, the body should be inclined forward, the head be thrown somewhat back, and the respiration restrained; the upper part of the arms must be kept close to the sides, with the elbows bent; and they should not be swung about, but moved as rarely as possible, in order that no opposition may be given to the free movement of the body by the fluttering of the clothes. As the pupil advances in proficiency, he may try to run long distances in a given period of time; and he will find running in a circle an exceedingly good practice, if he vary the direction so as to work both sides equally. The pupil should be learned to make his inspirations as long, and his expirations as slow, as possible, long wind being of the utmost consequence to a good runner; but he must invariably cease running the moment his breath becomes short and painful, and perspiration takes place. It is highly injurious to run

immediately after meals. A mile in five minutes is reckoned good speed, although it has been achieved in four minutes and a half; and to run four miles in twenty minutes is con sidered a feat tha: the best runner would be most happy to accomplish.

The Long Leap

For this exercise, it is usual to have a trench dug in the ground, widening gradually from one end to the other; but it is not essentially necessary to incur such an expense, as two lines marked on the ground, some distance apart from each other, will equally answer the purpose. The gymnasts must try to leap over this trench, following each other in quick succession, taking the wider part as their practice renders them more expert and capable of clearing it. In leaping without a run, the body should be inclined rather forward, the feet close together, and the spring taken from the balls of the toes; the hands and arms should be thrown forward, and as the leaper descends, his body should still be slightly inclined. In performing the long leap with the run, the latter should be from ten to twenty paces, and made in small, quick steps; the spring should be taken from one foot, to be drawn rapidly up to the other, so that the leaper descends upon both feet; the body must be bent, and the arms should be thrown forward toward the spot which the leaper purposes to reach. On level ground, a distance of twenty feet is considered an excellent leap, and twenty-one is very rarely achieved.

Vaulting.

The vaulting horse is a cylinder of wood, rounded off at both ends, and firmly supported on four stout legs. Two ridges of wood are fixed toward the center of the back, leaving sufficient space between them for an ordinary sized person to sit; this space is called the saddle, and the shape of the horse and its saddle will be best understood by referring

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Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

to the above representations; leathern pads, well wadded with wool, should be buckled on the horse at any part on which the exercises are intended to be performed. In Fig. 1, the manner of leaping on the horse is shown to be by placing the hands upon the top, and springing lightly on it. In vaulting into the saddle, the hands must be placed upon one of the ridges, a spring taken at the same instant, and the body turned on one side; so that only one leg passes over the horse, and the performer then descends into the saddle in the proper position: this exercise may be performed either with or without a run. Fig. 2 shows the position in side vaulting; in which the hands are placed on the ridges, anċ at the moment the spring is made and the feet are throwi over the horse, one hand lets go its hold, as in the illustration, and the gymnast alights upon his toes on the other side of the horse this should be practiced from both sides. Fig. 3 represents vaulting on or over the saddle, in performing which, the hands are placed on each ridge, and the spring is taken between them; when the body may either rest in the saddle, or go over it.

The High Leap.

The leaping stand is formed of two upright posts, with holes bored through them, about one inch apart, and in which two movable pegs – as shown in the annexed illustration