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horse, as in this case the sudden stop is likely to throw you over head forwards in a rather ignominious manner; but if you practise assiduously, when you feel that you can do it, and make up your mind for it, you are almost certain to clear it.

FIG. 42.

It will, of course, take some time to master this thoroughly; but it is a fine dashing feat, well worth the trouble of acquiring. Only don't think you are doing it if you are satisfied to pitch short and paddle along on your hands for the rest of the distance; you ought to pitch clear over at one movement. If horses of various lengths are available, they will prove of immense service in practising this exercise.

HANGING RINGS.

These are very useful for developing the muscles of the arms and shoulders. We have, therefore, found room for a few exercises upon them as a guide to

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the young gymnast, who will find little difficulty in supplementing our instructions with exercises of his own.

Commence by drawing yourself up, as in Fig. 43, holding one ring at arm's length, and the other close to the body.

Draw in the outstretched arm and straighten the other, and repeat this as often as you like, as it is very good preliminary exercise for the trapeze.

Now, from this position gradually spread the arms wide apart, suspending the body between them, as in Fig. 44, and then let the body gradually sink down until you hang straight down by the arms again.

There are many other strength movements on the hand-rings, but you will soon find them out for yourself; we will, therefore, pass on to the swinging

exercises.

Commence swinging simply backward and forward, increasing your momentum by drawing yourself up by contracting the arms as you ascend, and when at the highest, lowering your body with a drop, and by this means you will swing higher each time, until you are able to bring your arms and legs straight and nearly into a horizontal position, as in Fig. 45.

FIG. 45.

FI. 46.

Also swing in different positions in order to get command of yourself while swinging. Practise by drawing the legs over the head when at the end of the swing, as in Fig. 46, passing back in this position to the other end, and then bringing the legs smartly over, and shooting them straight out (in order to preserve the momentum), and coming back all straight again to the startingpoint.

Repeat this several times, and you will find it very good work for the muscles.

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Also swing with the hands close to the groin, and the arms nearly straight by the side, and supporting the body, as in Fig. 47; keeping yourself from

pitching your head and shoulders too much forward at the end of the swing by bending the arms and projecting the legs, as in Fig. 48, which represents the bent position which you assume when beginning to descend.

FIG. 49.

Another variety of this swing is shown in Fig. 49, where the bɔdy is kept horizontal throughout.

CLIMBING LADDERS, ROPES, POLES, &c., &c.

Climbing the rope is a very useful exercise, which should be practised by every one, as it may often be the means of saving life in cases of fire or shipwreck, &c.

FIG 50.

FIG 51.

FIG. 2.

FIG 53.

We mean climbing by the use of both legs and arms. Fig. 50. shows the way of taking hold of the rope, and Fig. 51 the position when climbing.

At a gymnastic festival lately some of the competitors ascended on a rope in this way to the height of upwards of one hundred feet.

Another method is by holding on and raising yourself by using the hands only, but this is more difficult.

Another exercise is by climbing the knotted rope, and also one with short cross-bars fixed at frequent intervals.

Climbing the pole, either fixed or hanging, as in Fig. 52, only varies from the same exercise on the rope by its being rather more difficult to grasp, from being thicker and also rigid.

Climbing ladders, fixed both in vertical and horizontal positions, and at various angles, furnishes a good variety of exercise for the arms, and is very easy to commence with. Fig. 53 shows an exercise on the horizontal ladder, in which you hold by the outside, and progress by moving the hands forward alternately. Fig. 54 represents another movement, in which you walk along under the ladder, increasing the length of the step by holding the rounds at some distance apart, the intervening ones being passed. Fig. 55 shows one

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of the movements upon the perpendicular ladder, in which the object is to keep the arms and legs as straight as possible while the steps are taken. Fig. 56 is the oblique ladder, which may be practised by moving both up and down by the hands.

The "giant's stride" is a very good exercise for beginners, and consists of a very strong and firmly-fixed upright, about fifteen feet in height, having an iron cap at the top which will revolve easily, and around which ropes are fixed, each having a short cross-bar at the bottom, so that several may exercise at once, cach one holding a bar and running round, increasing the speed until the body takes the same angle as the rope. Various evolutions may be gone through in this manner, which will be found very amusing.

It is hardly necessary to say that there are some simple rules to be observed in practising.

One is, never over-tire yourself by practice, as that will do more harm than good. And be careful not to get into a heat without having a wrapper handy to put on when you leave off; and do not practise after a full meal.

Dress must also be suitable, as it is highly important to have all the limbs free and unfettered; and therefore light and loose garments, and gymnastic shoes, should be worn. A belt may be used by those who require it, but it is not indispensable.

GYMNASTICS WITHOUT SPECIAL APPARATUS.

THE THREE CHAIRS.

Even should the young gymnast be without any apparatus, he can train his body in various ways, so that, when he obtains apparatus, its work will be half done.

For example, he may practise the "Three Chairs" exercise, which will strengthen the loins immensely; that being just the portion of the body that is least exercised in the artificial life of the present day.

The young gymnast should take three chairs, and set them in a row, the

two endmost chairs facing each other, and the central one set sideways. They should be just so far apart that the back of the head and the heels rest on the two endmost chairs, and that the central chair supports the middle of the body. Now curve the body a little upwards, so as to take its weight off the centre chair; take the chair with the right hand, draw it from under you, pass it over you to the other side, and with the left hand replace it under your body. This should be done several times, so as to pass the chair from side to side.

The easiest way of learning this really useful exercise is to begin by putting the head and nape of the neck on one chair, and allowing the feet to reach nearly to the middle of the other. This will greatly take off from the difficulty; and as you feel yourself getting stronger, move the chairs gradually apart, so that at last you lie exactly as shown in the illustration.

KICKING THE CORK.

This is a capital exercise, and has the advantage of being exceedingly amusing.

Draw two lines on the ground (like a reversed), one at right angles to the other. Place your right foot with the heel just touching the cross-line of the 1, and the foot pointing along the upright line. Next, put your left foot in front of the right, with the heel just touching its toe, and then place the right foot in advance of the left in a similar manner. You will thus make three short steps, each the exact length of your foot.

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