may be placed at any height required; weights are placed on the feet of these posts, to keep them from falling, and over the projecting ends of the pegs a line is laid, having a sand-bag attached to its ends, in order to keep it straight; the leap being always taken from the side of the stand toward which the heads of the pegs are turned,

if the gymnast's feet should happen to touch the cord, it is, of course, pushed off, and falls immediately. The high leap should be practiced, first standing, and then with a short run; in the standing leap, the feet must be kept close together, and in the leap with a run which ought not to exceed ten paces as directed for the long leap. In all these leaps, the performer should alight on the balls of his feet, so as to deaden the shock and descent, which, if not thus broken, might occasion injury.

The Deep Leap.

In practicing the deep leap, the body must be bent, and the hands placed in front of the feet, so that they touch the ground before the latter; or this leap may be made without the hands. This exercise is likely to affect the brain if the descent be made on the heels, instead of the balls of the toes an effect only to be prevented by constantly practicing progressive exercises, from three or four to twelve feet: for this purpose, a flight of steps is the best adapted; the pupil ascending a certain number, jumping from the side, and increasing the number of steps, or height, as he attaina proficiency.

10*

Climbing the Upright and Slant Poles.

The upright pole may be two inches and a half in diameter the slant pole about three inches, and both of them perfectly round and smooth. Th, climber should take hold of the pole with both hands, as high as he can possibly reach, and raise himself by drawing up his legs; he should then hold very fast on with the latter, and move his hands higher; again draw up his legs, and thus continue ascending, moving his arms and legs alternately. When descending, he should slightly loosen the grasp of his legs, and take his hands from the pole, yet hold them in a guarded manner on

each side.

Climbing the Rope.

To climb the rope, cross the feet, and hold the rope firmly between them; move the hands one above the other, alternately, and draw the feet up between each movement of the hands. In the sailor's manner of climbing, the rope from the hands passes between the thighs, and twists round one leg, just below the knee, and over the instep-as shown in the annexed figure; the other foot then presses upon the

rope, and thus an extremely firm support is obtained.

The slant rope is best climbed by placing the sole of one foot flat on the rope, and the other leg across its instep. In descending the rope, the pupil should not slide down, but lower the hands alternately; else they may be injured by the friction.

Climbing the Wooden Ladder.

The learner should seize each side of the ladder, and, by moving his hands alternately, ascend as far as his strength will permit. He should next try to climb the ladder by the

rundles, by bringing the elbow of his lower arm firmly down to the ribs previous to pulling himself up by the other He may, when perfect in this exercise, try to ascend by seizing one side of the ladder, by its outer and upper part, with both hands, and moving them alternately upward. In these three exercises, the legs must be kept close, and as straight and steady as possible.

Climbing the Rope Ladder.

The rope ladder should have several rundles to keep it spread out, and prevent its getting twisted. The great point to be overcome in climbing this kind of ladder is the method of keeping the body stretched out and perfectly upright; for, from the flexibility of the rope sides of the ladder, its steps, as it hangs, are very easily pushed forward, and the climber is consequently thrown into a slanting position, with his weight upon his hands; the necessary straightening of the body can only be attained by steady and careful practice,

The Inclined Board.

The inclined board should be two feet wide, about two inches thick, and rather rough on the upper surface. The pupil must take hold of both sides of the plank with his hands, and placing his feet flat in the middle, ascend by moving his hands and feet alternately. The board may make an angle of about thirty degrees with the ground, during the first

attempts; but when the gymnast has, through practice,

acquired power and precision in his movements, the plank may be raised until it is almost perpendicular. When the board is thus slightly, or not at all, inclined, the body should be curved inward, and the legs raised up, so that the highest leg is nearly even with the hand. Ir descending, small and quick movements should be made both with the hands and feet. It is not requisite that the young beginner should climb to the upper part of the board at the first attempt, but stop about half way.

First, raise the body by the hands, as shown in the illustration; then pass from one end of the bars to the other, by alternately moving the hands; and next practice the same motions backward. Afterward, endeavor to pass along, by moving both hands at once, and keeping the legs close and straight. In performing the swing on the bars, support the body on the arms, and swing from the shoulders, allowing the feet to rise equally high before and behind, as in the annexed representation; at the third swing, throw the body over the bar, either to the right or left, loosening hold of the opposite bar at the same instant; and this must also be practiced backward. To lower the body by bending the elbows gradually, le. yourself down until the elbows are level with the

head; at the same time draw up the eet toward the hams, but without allowing the knees to touch the ground; then straighten the arms, and regain the original upright position on the bars. Another exercise may be performed thus: when the pupil is in the position represented in the first figure, the right elbow should be lowered to the bar, and after that the left; the right arm should then be lifted up, next the left, and the first position resumed.

The Horizontal Bars.

In the exercise on the horizontal bar, the first position is assumed by taking hold, with both hands, of the side of the bar toward you, and raising yourself until you can look over it. When you can perform this easily, place the hands on the further

side of the bar, and raise yourself as before. In the next exercise, place your hands on each side of the bar, then raise the body off the ground, and endeavor to pass from one end of the bar to the other, by making a succession of small springs of the hands; and afterward by passing the hands alternately; the legs being, in the mean time, kept close and as straight as possible. Another movement consists in lifting up the legs above the bar, and then allowing them to drop again into the perpendicular position: and when the pupil can swing thus by holding on with his hands and feet, he should try to pass along the bar by moving one hand and one foot alternately; if he can not achieve this, he may slide his feet along the bar, and only move his hands alternately. Next, practice hanging by the right arm and right leg, whilst the left hangs down; and by the right arm and left leg, and left arm and right leg. When perfect in these exercises, take hold of the bar firmly by the righe hrad, throw the right