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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
 
 @(mp, iojujrig^t Iftu 
 
 Shelf. >i!3 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 The Library of Congress 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/howtobecomegymnaOOmaGd 
 
HOW 
 
 TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Containing Full Instructions for All Kinds of 
 
 Gymnastic Sports and Athletic Exercises. 
 
 EMBRACING 35 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 s 
 
 / 
 
 BY PROF. W. MAODONA: 
 
 f *- C OP YRl «H 
 
 H9 
 
 A Handy and Useful Book. 
 
 New York: 
 
 FRANK TOTJSEY, Publisher, 
 
 31 and 36 North Moore St. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by 
 
 FRANK TOUSEY, 
 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 
 
|ow to JJecome a gymnast. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Some generations since, the state of society was so essen- 
 tially combative, that men valued mere brute force far be- 
 yond the more ethereal qualities of the mind, and cultivated 
 it accordingly. 
 
 To train the body was the grand end of education; and the 
 best-educated man wa3 he who could strike the heaviest 
 blows, and endure the greatest labor. 
 
 Sometimes a knight and a gentleman possessed the ac- 
 complishment of reading, and thereby obtained the character 
 of a great scholar; while, if he could alao write sufficiently 
 to sign his name, was in some danger of suspicion as a 
 wizard. 
 
 As civilization proceeded in its onward march, men be°;an 
 to feel that learning and science did not really degrade hu- 
 man nature, and perceived that a knight might chance to be 
 a better gentleman if his mind were cultivated as well as his 
 body. 
 
 There seems al3o to have been a little jealousy at work; 
 for as learning was, as a matter of course, confined to the 
 cloisters, it naturally followed that their inmates exercised a 
 sort of increasing influence over the strong-handed but pud- 
 ding-brained race that surrounded them. 
 
 So, by degrees, it happened that the brains of Americans, 
 after being for many generations systematically cramped, 
 besan to expand and develop themselves. 
 
 Then followed a reaction, which has continued nearly to 
 the present day. 
 
 Nowadays the brain is stimulated from early year3, forced 
 like a cucumber under a glass shade; the intellect is culti- 
 
4 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 vated at the expense of the body, which is left to grow as it 
 best can. 
 
 In this book I say nothing of the education of the affec- 
 tions, for this subject belongs to another place. 
 
 But people are beginning to awake to the idea that the 
 body is a very important portion of the humanity, and to feel 
 that the health of the body is most influential upon the 
 mind. 
 
 When the body is indisposed, the brain is indisposed also, 
 and the mind cannot act properly upon its disordered me- 
 dium. The intellectual powers lose their grasp, the fancy 
 ceases to glitter under the pressure of illness, and a tempo- 
 rary attack of indigestion, which is mostly caused by inert 
 habits, might lose an empire. According to history, it did 
 once lose a battle. 
 
 Happily there seems now to be a general feeling that body 
 and mind ought to be developed to the utmost, for they are 
 both gifts to us, and for the proper use of both we are re- 
 sponsible. 
 
 I have for years been much impressed with the exceeding 
 value of gymnastic exercises in educating the young, and 
 have always introduced them as a regular part of education. 
 
 Even irrespective of the increased health that those studies 
 impart, and the spring which they give to the mind, they 
 possess one great advantage, namely, that they endow the 
 gymnast with great presence of mind in difficulties. 
 
 By practice a gymnast's fingers and toes cling like burrs, 
 where ordinary people could find no hold at all; and he 
 feels himself perfectly safe, where others would assuredly 
 perish. 
 
 It is curious that we, who possess perhaps the finest and 
 strongest figures of all nations, should leave ourselves so 
 undeveloped bodily. There i3 not a man in a hundred who 
 can even raise his toes to a level with his hands when suspend- 
 ed by the latter members: and yet to do so is at the very be- 
 ginning of gymnastic exercises. 
 
 We, as a rule, are strong in the arms and legs, but weak 
 across the loin3 and back, and are apparently devoid of that 
 beautiful series of muscles that run round the entire waist, 
 and show to such advantage in the ancient statues. Indeed 
 at a bathing place, I can pick out every gymnast, merely by 
 the development of these muscles. 
 
 It must be remembered, too, that a man need not possess 
 very large muscles to be a very strong man. 
 
 At first the effect of these exercises is to enlarge all the 
 muscles; but after awhile they become smaller in volume, 
 but wiry and sinewy in texture, with no superabundant fat 
 among their fibers. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 5 
 
 EXERCISES WITHOUT APPARATUS. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT. 
 
 At the beginning of gymnastics there is no need for any 
 apparatus whatever, and the beginner will find that several 
 of the feats which I am about to mention will tax his powers 
 to no small degree before he takes to rope3, horses and 
 poles. 
 
 If he should feel himself fatigued while learning any feat 
 he should rest awhile, and when refreshed, either try again 
 or pass to another movement, 
 
 DRESS. 
 
 The best costume for a gymnast (if he uses any costume at 
 all) is a light and loose flannel suit with a belt round the 
 waist, that can be buckled to suit the convenience of the 
 wearer. 
 
 Some gymnasts like their belts to be very wide, and toler- 
 ably stiff'. 
 
 The shoes should be quite light, made of soft leather, and 
 without heel3. 
 
 Always keep a coat or wrapper at hand, and put it on 
 while resting, for there is nothing that is more likely to give 
 cold as to sit in the open air, or in a draught, while heated 
 and fatigued. 
 
 The gymnast will find himself much benefited by a spong- 
 ing with tepid water immediately after he has finished his 
 exercises. If practicable, a shower-bath is even better. 
 
 ECONOMY OF TOWER. 
 
 The study of gymnastics does not only increase the bodily 
 strength, but teaches the learner how to economize that 
 power which he possesses. 
 
 When an unskillful person is trying to perform any feat — 
 such, for example, as raising himself by his hands — he makes 
 a series of violent struggles, and flounders about with his 
 legs. 
 
 Now every movement, except that which is requisite for 
 the performance, is jus t a waste of so much strength, and 
 only serves to exhaust, instead of assisting. 
 
 A good gymnast perform s all his feats quietly and easily ; 
 and, indeed, it is almost a general rule, that when some feat 
 appears to be especially easy, it is in reality exceedingly 
 difficult. 
 
 We now proceed to the first exercise. 
 
 EXTENSION. — NO. 1. 
 
 Place the feet close together, and stand perfectly upright. 
 Now stretch the hands out straight in front, at the level of 
 the shoulders, and place the palms together. 
 
6 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Separate the hands, and stili keeping them at the same 
 level, and the arms straight, trj r to make the backs of the 
 hands meet behind you. 
 
 Continue to practice this movement until the hands meet 
 easily behind. It is very difficult at first, but soon becomes 
 easy, and is a splendid mode of opening the chest. 
 
 Take care to keep the feet together, and the body upright. 
 No. 2. 
 
 Stand as before, with hands in front, palms upwards. 
 
 Close the hands, and bring the eloow's sharply backwards 
 until the hands are level with the sides. 
 
 Send them forward again, as if you wanted to annihilate 
 the enemy in front, and repeat until tired. 
 No. 3. 
 . Stand as before, but bring both fists to the. shoulders. 
 
 Send them upwards, as if the enemy were in the clouds. 
 Bring them down as if there were another on the ground 
 who must be crushed with the elbows. 
 No. 4. 
 
 Stand firmly and uprightly, throwing the weight of the 
 body rather on the front of the feet- 
 Stretch out both hands, with fists tightly shut. 
 
 Now bring them slowly over the head and make them re- 
 volve in circles, first forward and then backward. 
 
 These exercises should be done very slowly, and especial 
 care taken that the body is kept upright. 
 
 These extension movements are intended to give ease and 
 pliancy to the arms and their joints. 
 
 The beginner must expect to find himself rather stiff after 
 he has been performing them, especially after No. 1; but 
 the feeling will very soon wear off, and does not again make 
 its appearance. 
 
 TOE PRACTICE. 
 
 Place the bands on the hips, and stand quite upright. 
 
 Rise slowly on the toes as high as possible, and remain so 
 as long as possible. 
 
 Do this many times, for it strengthens the calves of the 
 legs mightily. 
 
 Remember to keep the knees quite straight. 
 
 After practicing this movement for some time, vary it by 
 jumping on the toes, keeping the knees stiff", body upright, 
 and the heels well off the ground. 
 
 KNEE PRACTICE — No. 1. 
 
 Stand as before, and kick your thighs with your heels, 
 using each leg alternately, and as rapidly as possible. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 7 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Keep the body very upright, and strike the chest with 
 each knee alternately. 
 
 Be very careful not to stoop forward so as to meet the 
 knee with the chest. 
 
 This exercise is intended to loosen the knee-joints in an- 
 other manner. 
 
 No. 3, 
 
 Stand as in No. 1, and kick both thighs with both heels 
 simultaneously. 
 
 A slight spring from the toes is required to achieve this 
 feat properly. 
 
 If rightly performed, the feet should come to the ground 
 on precisely the same spot. It looks very clumsy if the per* 
 former loses his balance, and keeps altering his place. It 
 shows that his body is not perfectly upright. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Place both feet together, the toes on a line, and the hands 
 on the hips. 
 
 Now kneel slowly until both knees rest on the ground. 
 
 Rise a^ain, without removing the hanas frcm the hips or 
 the toes from the line. 
 
 Do it twenty times at least, without stopping. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Now for the first hard one. 
 
 Stand as before, with the toe of one foot on the line (say 
 the right foot) and the other foot oft' the ground. 
 
 Keep the left foot from touching the ground, and kneel 
 upon the right knee. 
 
 Rise again without moving the toe from the line. 
 
 This is rather difficult, and requires a nice balance of the 
 body. Be careful to kneel very slowly, or otherwise the 
 knee will come down with such a thump that it may suf- 
 fer no small inconvenience. 
 
 Practice this with each foot alternately. 
 No. 6. 
 
 Plenty of knee practice. Here is another stiff one. 
 
 Stand on the right foot, bend the left knee, and hold the 
 left foot in the left hand. 
 
 Now touch the ground with the left knee, and rise up 
 again without losing hold of the foot or suffering it to 
 touch the ground. 
 
 As in the former cases, the right toe should remain on a 
 line and never move from it. 
 
 At first it will appear as if some resistless power were 
 
8 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 dragging the foot out of the hand, but after awhile it be- 
 comes easy. 
 Practice with both feet. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 As the preceding, only do not hold the foot or suffer it 
 to touch the ground. Take care not to lose the toe-line. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 \ Hardest of all, and very comical. 
 
 Hands on hips, toes together on the line, body quite up- 
 right. 
 
 Rise on the toes, and then sink gradually down, the knees 
 projecting in front, until you sit on your heels, the whole 
 weight of the body being supported on the toes only. 
 
 Down you go, so pick yourself up, and persevere until you 
 succeed. It is not so much the strength as the knack that 
 is needed here. 
 
 SITTING PRACTICE.— NO. 1. 
 
 Stand upright, cross the feet, and sink gradually until you 
 rest on the ground after the tailor fashion. 
 
 Rise again, without moving the hands from the hips or the 
 feet from their places. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 This exercise is a capital test of the ability of the tailor 
 who makes the gymnastic suit of clothes; for if there should 
 be a defect in the nether garments, they will fly asunder with 
 a report like a popgun. 
 
 When the gymnast can manage this feat, he may congrat- 
 ulate himself on having made a considerable advance. 
 
 Stand upright, extend both hands in front as a counter- 
 poise, which is much needed, and hold out the left leg in 
 front, at right angles with the body, and knee quite straight. 
 
 Now, still keeping the left leg in its position, bend the 
 right knee very slowly, and sit on the ground. 
 
 Being seated, rise again, preserving the same attitude. 
 
 Don't be in too great a hurry to take your seat or you will 
 come down with a run. 
 
 This is an invaluable exercise, as it gives a power of rais- 
 ing the body when in a position from which none but expert 
 gymnasts could even stir. It is very difficult at first, for we 
 feel a great repugnance to let the body sink sufficiently low, 
 and most who try it declare it to be impossible. 
 
 However, after a few trials, they get over its difficulties, 
 and manage it easily. 
 
 CUTTING CAPERS. 
 
 . Stand with the toes together, and hands on hips. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 9 
 
 Spring upwards, and, as you rise in the air, cross your feet 
 and return them to the same position. 
 
 The toes must be kept pointed, as they will strike against 
 each other as they attempt to cross. 
 
 Do not heed the curious sensation as if the feet were Leld 
 by bonds, but persevere. 
 
 FOOT TO HAND. 
 
 Keep the body upright, hold out the right hand in a line 
 with the shoulders, and kick it with the right foot. 
 Practice both feet alternately, knees quite straight. 
 
 THE COMPASSES. 
 
 Easy enough, but useful. Spring into the air, and spread 
 the feet as widely apart as possible, bringing them together 
 again before touching the ground. 
 
 THE HANDSPRING. 
 
 Siand on the toes, lower yourself as in knee practice No. 8. 
 
 Throw yourself forward at full length, body stiff, and sup- 
 port yourself on the hands and tips of the toes. Take care 
 of the nose. 
 
 Then spring from the ground with the hands and clap 
 them together before they touch the ground again. 
 
 To rise neatly from this position bring your feet between 
 the hands with a sudden spring. It looks neat if you clap 
 your hands as you bring up the feet. 
 
 TOUCHING TOES. 
 
 Hold the hands above the head, the palms in front and the 
 thumbs just touching each other. 
 
 Now, keeping the knees stiff and straight, bend over until 
 the fingers rest on the toes. Continue to practice this until 
 you can pick up a sixpence at each heel while the knees are 
 kept straight. 
 
 OVER THE STICK. 
 
 Take a stick of any kind, a poker or a walking-stick will 
 do, and hold it with the hands three feet apart. 
 
 Stoop down and place your knuckles on the ground in front 
 of your toes, still retaining hold of the stick. 
 
 Then step over the stick without loosing your grasp or 
 moving the knuckles from the ground. It is capital prac- 
 tice. 
 
 JUMPING THROUGH THE HANDS. 
 
 Hold both hands in front of the body, place the tips of the 
 middle fingers together and jump through them without sep- 
 arating the fingers. 
 
 Take care not to knock the chin with the knees, for both 
 those portions of anatomy have to approach each other very 
 closely before the feet can pass through the arms. 
 
10 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Don't attempt to perform this feat if your shoes have heels 
 to them, or your thumbs will suffer. 
 
 EXERCISES ON THE PARALLEL BARS. 
 
 THE BARS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 The Parallel Bars are very simple in their structure. 
 They are two wooden bars, about six or eight feet in 
 length, four inches deep and three wide, with their upper 
 edges rounded off to prevent damage to the hands. 
 
 They are placed about eighteen o? twenty inches apart, 
 and four feet high, and fixed according to pleasure. 
 
 If they are intended to be permanent, they can be support- 
 ed on four posts firmly driven into the ground. 
 
 But if they are to be used under cover they ought to be 
 supported on a wooden framework. And it would be much 
 more convenient for the frame to be nicely mortised together 
 and held by screws, so that, in case of removal, it can be 
 taken to pieces, and packed in a small compass. 
 
 This mode of manufacture is just as easy as any other, 
 and infinitely more convenient, 
 
 If I were to give an account of every maneuver that can 
 be executed in the Parallel Bars I should require a large vol- 
 ume especially devoted to that subject. 
 
 I shall, therefore, content 
 myself with noticing the 
 more important feats that 
 are generally executed, and 
 leave t.he reader to invent 
 as many more as he chooses. 
 
 TO GET ON THE BARS. 
 
 Stand between the bars, 
 with hands closely pressed 
 against the sides. Spring 
 up, and placing a hand on 
 each bar, remain suspended 
 between them. This is call- 
 ed the first position. 
 
 When fairly established, 
 accustom yourself as much 
 as p )ssible to the bors, 
 and practice the wrists in 
 their work. 
 
 SWINGING. 
 
 The next feat is called the swing. 
 
 While suspended between the bars, with the kneel straight 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 11 
 
 and the feet touching each other, begin to swing the body 
 backwards and forwards. 
 By degrees increase the swing, until the body, when swing- 
 
 ing backwards, is nearly upright in the air; and when going 
 forwards, the feet come nearly over the head. 
 
 The accompanying figure shows a learner who can nearly 
 accomplish this feat. 
 
 THE WALK. 
 
 First position. 
 
 Now walk along the bars, using the hands as feet, and 
 when you have reached the end, walk back again. 
 
 It is not so f>asy as it seems, and the back walk tires the 
 arms entirely. 
 
 Keep the arms straight, and don't shrug your shoulders 
 over your ears, or make irregular and hasty steps. 
 
 THE LETTER L, 
 
 First position. 
 
 Raise the legs to a level with the bars, making them form 
 a right angle with the body, and keeping the knees quite 
 straight. 
 
 In this attitude the gymnast turns his person into a repre- 
 sentation of the letter Tl. ' 
 
 After doing this 
 figure in the first 
 position, stand be- 
 tween the bars, 
 pass the hands 
 under them, and so 
 grasp them from 
 the outside. Then 
 make the L again 
 as shown in the cut. This is a very useful figure to learn 
 and strengthens thesloins greatly. 
 
 SITTING ON THE BAR. 
 
 When in the first position swing the legs forward, and you 
 will be able to seat yourself on either bar, as shown in the 
 engraving. 
 
12 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 A more powerful impetus will enable the gymnast to throw 
 himself entirely over the bar and to come to the ground- 
 
 The swing in either direction will 
 be found sufficient to throw the gym- 
 nast over the bars without any ap- 
 parent exertion, only he must be 
 careful to keep his knees straight, and 
 to clear the toes. 
 
 THE JANUS. 
 
 Sit on the bars as on the saddle — 
 one leg over each bar, and the hands' 
 resting on the bars behind the legs. 
 
 Now disengage the feet, swing 
 boldly through the bars, and seat 
 yourself astride, with your face in? 
 just the opposite direction. 
 Be sure to swing high enough, or the shins will be sadly 
 knocked against the bars. 
 
 RISING AND SINKING. 
 
 First position. 
 
 Sink gradually between the bars, until you assume the 
 attitude shown in the cut. 
 
 Remain in that 
 attitude for a short 
 time, and then rise 
 again. 
 
 There are fev ex- *s 
 ercises that open 
 the chest more de- 
 cidedly than this. 
 
 There is rather 
 a neat modification 
 of this maneuver, 
 called 
 
 KISSING THE BARS. 
 
 Sink between the 
 bars, as in the preceding paragraph. 
 
 Then ki3S each bar successively behind the hands, an$ 
 rise. 
 
 It tries the wrists somewhat, as well as the chest* 
 
 BAR-JUMPING. 
 
 First position. 
 
 Now proceed along the bar3 by a series of jumps with the 
 hands. 
 Practice this at first with bent knees to make the work 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 13 
 
 easier, but do not rest content until you can jump along back- 
 wards and forwards with straight knees. 
 
 THE ARM SWING. 
 
 First position. 
 
 S ud d enly 
 bend the el- 
 bows, and 
 rest with the 
 fore-arms on 
 the bars. 
 Swing while 
 in this posi 
 lion, and look 
 out for elbows. 
 
 When you have swung sufficiently, hang suspended be- 
 tween the bars, and then raise yourself on the hands again. 
 Practice the drop upon the fore-arms and the rise as often 
 as possible. 
 
 STANDING ON THE BARS. 
 
 Now one of our former exercises ^Sitting Practice No. 2) 
 comes into play. 
 
 Sit astride 
 either bar, 
 and secure a 
 good balance 
 of the body. 
 
 Then place z^ mmm * ■■..,,. ». t , 
 
 the sole o f «/ - = 
 
 one foot on JSi ^- JI - M-^^ 1 ^-^ | ' M 
 
 the bar, and W m 
 
 hitch the other toe under it. 
 
 Now, by means of the toe, draw yourself to an upright 
 position, and bring both feet together. 
 
 This is a very neat little exercise, and often entirely baffles 
 those whose previous training has not fitted them for it. 
 
u 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 THE BARBER'S CURL. 
 
 Go to either end of the bars, and do 'he letter L. 
 
 Count ten and turn slowly over, as the central figure in the 
 engraving, until you assume the attitude represented by the 
 right-band figure. 
 
 Count ten and re-curl yourself to the L, when you may 
 again count ten, and then rest yourself. 
 
 Be careful to keep both kne^s quite straight, and the feet 
 well off the ground. 
 
 THE SAUSAGE. 
 
 Begin by kneeling on the bars, and placing both hands on 
 them. 
 
 Slide the hands 
 ^ forward and the 
 9 legs backward, 
 hitching the toes 
 over the bars, un- 
 til the body hangs 
 between them. 
 Count ten and 
 draw yourself up again. 
 
 Don't be afraid. You will not snap across the middle, al- 
 though you may feel as if you were about to do so every mo- 
 ment. 
 
 THE SPRING. 
 
 Swing at one end of the bars, and, when in full course, 
 launch yourself forward, alighting on your hands in the grass- 
 hopper fashion shown in the engraving. 
 
 Very o-reat care must be taken of the accuracy of the bal- 
 ance, "or^down vou 20 between the bars and come flat orr 
 your back on the ground. 
 
 TOUCHING THE BARS. 
 
 First position. , 
 
 Now, suddenly take the right hand from its bar, and touch 
 the left bar in front of the body, instantly returning the 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 15 
 
 hand to its own bar. Look out, or you will drop through 
 the bars. 
 
 Do the same with the left hand. 
 
 When you can do this easily, practice it with .thi3 modifi- 
 cation—that you pass the hands behind the body in touch- 
 ing the bars. , 
 
 THE GIANT STRIDE, 
 
 Or Flying Step. 
 
 Many schools possess this admirable piece of apparatus, 
 but in very few is it used properly, or its powers rightly 
 shown. 
 
 Generally the.pupiis are contented with taking hold of the 
 ropes and running round the pole. Then they complain 
 that the thing is useless. 
 
 Whereas, the Giant Stride is a capital affair for a school, 
 as it can accommodate from four to six players at a time, 
 and lends itself to all their peculiarities. 
 
 If they come out on a cold day, and want to be warmed, 
 five minutes of Giant Stride will send a glow through their 
 systems that will defy any frost. 
 
 If they want to jump over heights, the Giant Stride will 
 launch them over a ten-foot pole, if they wish to perform a 
 series of graceful movements, the Giant Stride affords facili- 
 ties little short of those given by the ice. 
 
 STRUCTURE OF THE GIANT STRIDE. 
 
 It is composed of an upright pole, tipped with a revolving 
 cap, to which are fastened sunary ropes. 
 
 The central pole is best made of a tree trunk— if a rooted 
 tree, and it can be left undisturbed, so much the better. 
 
 Otherwise, it must be of thoroughly weH-seasoned wood, 
 strong and genuine. 
 
 The lower end should be charred, in order to keep it from 
 rotting, and the hole in which it is set should be quite six 
 feet deep, and paved with stones. 
 
 From the ground to the top of the pole should be about 
 fourteen to fifteen feet. 
 
 An iron cap is then placed on the top, traversing freely on 
 a pivot, and carrying four rings, on which are fastened four 
 ropes. To the end of each rope should be fastened cross 
 bers of elm or ash about two feet in length. 
 
 The apparatus being thus completed, the gymnasts are to 
 hold the cross bars at arms' length, and run round the pole, 
 bearing their weight on the ropes, so that their hands, 
 heads, and feet are in ihe same line with the rope. Their 
 feet will then gradually leave the ground, and only touch at 
 intervals. 
 
16 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 After practicing this from right to left, do the same from 
 left to right, until it is as easy to run one way as the other. 
 
 Take care not to lose your balance, or you will turn round 
 and grind yourself on the ground very unpleasantly. 
 
 This is but the beginning. The young gymnast should 
 then run round, keeping himself constantly rotating, which 
 may be done by the touch of the toe against the ground. 
 
 Another accomplishment is to describe four circles in go- 
 ing round the pole, making the hands the center of each 
 circle, and the feet the circumference. 
 
 A pole should also be erected, about a yard outside the 
 range of the feet, and to this should be fixed a number of 
 pegs, which will support a string passing from the central 
 pole. Over this the gymnasts should leap, performing the 
 movement merely by the centrifugal force, and not by the 
 spring of the feet. 
 
 About ten feet 13 considered a good height for a boy to 
 attain, but a man can go higher. 
 
 CLIMBING THE BOARD. 
 
 Let a board be fixed at an angle against some object, 
 such as a wall, and capable of alteration. 
 
 Let it first be fixed at an angle of forty-five degrees or so, 
 or even at a less angle than this if necessary. 
 
 Then grasp the outside edges of the board with both 
 hands, set the feet fiat upon its center, and try to mount by 
 moving hands and feet alternately. 
 
 Make very little steps both in ascending and descending, 
 and. in the latter instance, be specially careful to avoid a 
 sudden slide down the board. 
 
 As you improve, set the board more upright, until you can 
 ascend it when it is quite perpendicular. 
 
 It is also possible to ascend a pole in the same manner. 
 
 Remember that the soles of the shoes must not be new and 
 slippery, or neither pole nor board will be surmounted. 
 
 CLIMBING THE POLE. 
 
 The ordinary mode of ascending a^ pole or a bare tree- 
 trunk (in some places called " swarming,") is by grasping it 
 with the arms and legs, and alternately raising them to high- 
 er positions. 
 
 Some jrymnasts ascend the pole as stated in the preceding 
 paragraph; and it certainly has the advantage in point of ap- 
 pearance. , 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 17 
 
 In descending the pole, be careful not to slide down too 
 fast, or tnere will be excoriations of skin and damage to 
 clothing. 
 
 CLIMBING THE ROPE. 
 
 This most useful exercise should be constantly practiced. 
 
 In every gymnasium there is at least one rope suspended, 
 which ought to hang freely, and to be witnout knots. 
 
 The easiest mode of ascending the rope is by grasping it 
 as high as possible with the hands, and holding it also with 
 the feet, one of which is under and the other pressing upon 
 the rope. 
 
 Thus the weight of the body rests considerably on that 
 portion of the rope that is held by the feet. 
 
 Then, as the hands are raised to take a higher hold, the 
 feet sustain the body, and vice versa. 
 
 But one who means to be a true gymnast despises the feet 
 in rope-climbing and pulls himself up solely by the alternate 
 action of the hands. 
 
 Be very careful never to descend by letting the rope slide 
 through your hands, as it will assuredly inflict a painful 
 wound, and may cut them to the bone. 
 
 Always descend hand under hand. 
 
 Many exercises may be performed on the rope, which will 
 suggest themselves to the gymnast. 
 
 For example, it an'ord3 a decided contrast to the ordinary 
 mode, if you grasp the rope with the hands, and then, in- 
 verting your position, throw the feet over the head, and hold 
 the rope between them, keeping the knees straight. 
 
 In this attitude ascend the vope and descend again, taking 
 care not to let the hands slip, or the strength of your skull 
 will be unpleasantly tested. 
 
 Again: Grasp the rope at a point about two feet from the 
 ground, and retreat as far as you can, holding the rope in 
 the hands. 
 
 Now leap into the air, and swing as far as you can, launch- 
 ing yourself forward, and marking the spot where the toes 
 touch the ground. 
 
 Be careful to curl the body well upwards as you swing for- 
 wards, or you will assuredly scrape the ground just under 
 the point where the rope is suspended, and the consequences 
 wilJ be disastrous to clothes and cuticle. 
 
 THE HORIZONTAL BAR. 
 This is a very simple piece of apparatus, being merely a 
 
18 ' HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 pole fixed horizontally at any height that may best suit the 
 gymnast. 
 
 There are several modes of fixing it, the most usual being 
 to fasten each end to an upright post, which is furnished with 
 mortises, so as to permit the height of the bar to be altered 
 at pleasure. 
 
 But there is one- mode, which I especially affect, called the 
 triangle, which can be used wherever there is a beam of suf- 
 ficient height for its suspension. 
 
 It is made as follows: 
 
 Get a bar of any strong wood—deal will do, if it is uniform 
 in grain and quite free from knots. Its diameter is about 
 two inches and a half, and its length a little over three 
 feet. 
 
 Also, get a piece of well-made, but not very thick rope, 
 about eighteen feet long, and securely fasten the ends of the 
 rope to the ends of the pole. 
 
 Fasten an iron ''eye" into the center of the rope, and you 
 have the most important part of the triangle made. In fact, 
 the rope and pole do form a triangle when suspended from 
 the " eye." 
 
 Have a strong iron pulley firmly fixed into the beam, pass 
 a stout rope through it, fasten one end of the rope to the 
 "eye " of the triangle, and haul away at the other until you 
 have suspended the pole at the proper height. 
 
 Make fast the loose end, and then you have an apparatus 
 that can be adapted to little boys of eight years old, or tall 
 lads of eighteen year3 of age and six feet of stature. 
 
 The proner height for the horizontal bar is when the raised 
 hands cannot quite reach it, and a small jump is requisite 
 before the gymnast can suspend himself by his hands. 
 
 The triangle is useful, because it swings and twists about, 
 and requires the gymnast to exert his power exactly in the 
 proper direction ; for if he does not so, away goes the bar 
 out of his reach. 
 
 Besides, it is good to be accustomed to maintain a safe 
 hold on so changeful a support, and not to heed any amount 
 of swing or spin. 
 
 Having adjusted the triangle to the proper height, we 
 begin by 
 
 HANGING ON THE POLE. 
 
 Jump up, and seize the pole with both hands, taking care 
 to have the knuckles upwards, and the thumbs on the same 
 side of the pole as the fingers. 
 
 This is indispensable. Never grasp the horizontal bar as 
 you would a broomstick, but merely hitch the fingers over 
 the bar in a fish-hook style. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 19 
 
 Watch a monkey gamboling about his bars, and see how 
 he holds them. The sloth, too, merely hooks his curved 
 claws o\er the branches, anil de- 
 fies the gales to shake him off. 
 
 So, imitate the sloth as well 
 as you can, and curve your hand 
 into a hook-like form. 
 
 Let the body hang quite 
 straight, but noc stiffly so, the 
 knees straight, and the "toes rath- 
 er pointed. 
 
 After awhile, practice hanging 
 by each hand alternately, letting 
 the other arm hang easily by the 
 side. Don't twist round, or you 
 will lose your hold. 
 
 A few blisters may be ex* 
 pected at lirst, but they are 
 caused almost entirely by unskill- 
 ful management of the bar, and 
 will soon get well again. 
 
 THE WALK. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and make 
 alternate steps with the hands, so as to carry you from one 
 end of the bar to the other. 
 
 Do this first to one end of 
 the bar, and then return 
 by the same method. Be 
 careful to make the move- 
 ment equably, and don't 
 kick the legs about. 
 
 When you can execute 
 this movement properly, 
 place one hand at each side 
 of the bar, and do the same 
 thing. 
 
 BREASTING THE BAR. 
 
 Hang on the bar, 
 knuckles uppermost, and 
 slowly draw yourself up 
 until the chest rests 
 against the bar. 
 
 Lower yourself as slow- 
 ly, hang for a moment, 
 and again draw yourself 
 up. 
 
 This should be practiced continually, as it is the founda- 
 
20 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 tion of most of the exercises, and strengthens the body and 
 
 chest; very considerably. 
 
 Let the legs hang quite 
 still while doing it, and do 
 not be content until you 
 can draw yourself up 
 twelve successive times 
 without feeling fatigue. 
 
 SWINGING. 
 
 This exercise cannot be 
 practiced on the triangle. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and 
 communicate a pendulum 
 movement to the body, 
 gradually increasing i t 
 until you feel yourself in 
 danger of flying off. 
 
 This soon happens at 
 first, but after practice the 
 body can be swung through 
 the greatest part of a cir- 
 cle. 
 
 When you are well accus- 
 tomed to the swing, you 
 will find that when the body has swung nearly as high as the 
 pole, the hands bearbut lightly on the bar. 
 So, take them off altogether, and launch yourself boldly 
 
 into the air. An inch or two will be sufficient at first, but 
 many gymnasts can spring a foot or so from the pole. 
 It has a bold and dashing effect. 
 
 THE GREAT CIRCLE. 
 
 If the gymnast will only dare he will achieve. 
 
 But it is a trying affair for the nerves, both of performer 
 and spectators, and never fails of producing quite a sensa- 
 tion. 
 
 Swing as in the preceding exercise, and when at the full 
 swing backwards, with the body at its highest elevation, put 
 on all the steam, and go completely round the bar. 
 
 There must be no half measures about this exercige 3 for 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 21 
 
 every particle of strength will be wanted to drive the body 
 round so large a circle as that which is formed by the feet as 
 a circumference, and the hands on the bar as a center. 
 Of course this is also impracticable on the triangle. 
 
 KICKING THE BAR. 
 
 Hang by the hands, and then slowly gather up the body, 
 
 drawing up the feet until they touch the bar. 
 
 Both feet should 
 be kept together, and 
 the movement per- 
 formed with steadi- 
 ness. 
 
 One point to be 
 observed in this ex- 
 ercise is, to throw 
 the weight of the 
 body and head as 
 much behind the 
 arms as possible, so 
 as to make them 
 counterbalance the 
 weight of the legs 
 and feet. 
 
 Do not attempt to 
 jerk yourself up, or 
 plunge about in the 
 
 exertion, for you might strain yourself by so doing. 
 Lower yourself slowly, and if you fail at the first few 
 
 trials do not be discouraged. The strength and knack will 
 
 soon come. 
 
 RISING ON THE BAR. 
 
 Draw yourself up to your breast, and then with a sudden 
 impulse straighten the arms, so that you raise the body 
 until the bar crosses it at the hips. 
 
 It is better to throw yourself an inch from the bar 
 while you make the spring, as then the friction of the bar 
 against the body is no hindrance. 
 
 This is a much more difficult feat than making the 
 41 Great Circle," although it appears to be nothing at all. 
 Practice it by rising with the right arm first, followed by 
 the left, then vice versa, and lastly with both arms together. 
 
 THE ROLL OVER. 
 
 After raising yourself as in the preceding exercise change 
 the position of the hands so as to bring the finger-poinis 
 on the same side as the body, then lean forward and roll 
 fairly over the bar, dropping lightly to your feet. 
 
22 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Take notice that in all cases the toes should be kept 
 pointed; and that when the gymnast comes to the ground, 
 he should do so on the tips of his toes, and not on the heel 
 or the sole of the foot. 
 
 PASSING THROUGH THE ARMS. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and curl yourself over as in Kicking. the 
 Bar 
 
 But instead of letting the feet touch the bar, pass them 
 neatly under it, and continue to pass the feet on until they 
 hang as in the engraving, 
 
 Then, after hanging as long as possible, drop to the 
 ground. 
 
 After you have practiced 
 this well, instead of dropping 
 to the ground, re-ascend, re- 
 pass the feet, and then drop. 
 
 This is a magnificent exer- 
 cise for the shoulder blades 
 and the muscles of the back. 
 
 By practice you will be able 
 to let the feet hang nearly as 
 low when the arms are thus 
 twisted as when they are 
 straight. 
 
 SITTING ON THR BAR. — No. 1. 
 
 Pass the feet under the bar. 
 Then, instead of rolling over, 
 stretch the feet quite straight 
 into the air, so that you are 
 in a perpendicular position, the 
 heels in the air and the head 
 pointing toward the ground. 
 Rest a moment in this position, and then draw yourself up- 
 wards by the arms until the weight of the legs and feet brings 
 vou upon the bar seated. 
 
 Take care not to overbalance yourself and come round the 
 wrong way, a mistake which a beginner generally commits. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Hang on the bar and pass one foot, say the right, between 
 the hands, and hitch it over the bar at the knee. Let the 
 left foot hang as low as it can. 
 
 Give a good swing backward, using the left leg as a 
 weight to increase the power of the swing, and come up- 
 right upon the bar. 
 
 Now, bring the left leg over the bar, taking care not to 
 overbalance yourself by so doing, and then you are eeate& 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 23 
 
 LEAVING THE BAB. 
 
 There are two neat modes of getting off the bar when you 
 are seated upon it. 
 In the first method you put your hands on the bar, with 
 
 the finger-points for- 
 ward, ' slide easily 
 backward, keeping 
 your knees bent, roll 
 over backward and 
 come on the feet neat- 
 ly. 
 
 The other plan 
 resembles that adopt- 
 ed on the parallel 
 bars. 
 
 Place both hands 
 on the bar, either on 
 the right or left side, 
 the finger-pcints turn- 
 ed away from the per- 
 son. 
 
 Then, with a slight spring, bring the feet over the bar and 
 vault to the ground. Take care not to hitch the toes against 
 the bar. 
 
 BAR-JUMPING. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and, by 
 means of the arms, jump along 
 the pole from one end to the 
 other. 
 
 This is a capital exercise, 
 and should be performed with 
 the knees quite straight. 
 
 It tries the arms considerably 
 at first, and the hands too. 
 
 Practice it with the hands 
 under the bar, and then with 
 one hand at each side. 
 
 CIRCLING THE BAR. 
 
 Now for a stiff one. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and draw 
 up the body and legs as if I 
 about to kick the bar. 
 
 But, instead of kicking, or ' 
 passing under it, raise the feet 
 above the bar, continuing to draw yourself upwards until 
 you have come quite round the bar. Do it slowly. 
 letter L. 
 
 Hang on the bar, and then raise the legs until they form a 
 
u 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 right angle with the body. Count fifty before you drop the 
 feet. 
 
 ROASTING-JACK. 
 
 Put one knee over the bar, letting the other hang down, 
 and hold on with the hands. 
 
 Now, swing backwards, and give yourself such an impetus 
 that you come right round the bar, and come up again as 
 before. 
 
 You should be able to spin round the bar a dozen times 
 without stopping. 
 
 When you have practiced this exercise backward, do the 
 same thing forward, of course shifting the hands to the oppo- 
 site side of the bar. In the forward roll it is better to sit 
 nearly astride the bar, 
 
 THE TRUSSED FOWL. 
 
 This exercise is calculated to test the power of the grasp 
 and the force of the joints, as it seems at first to have the 
 effect of pulling every joint out of its place. 
 
 Hang on the bar, draw up the feet, and put the insteps 
 against the bars. 
 
 Now push your body right through the arms, as if you were 
 trying to turn yourself inside out, and after remaining in 
 this attitude as long as you conveniently can, return in the 
 same manner. 
 
 THE TRUE LOVER'S KNOT. 
 
 This is an exercise difficult to describe, and not very easy 
 to do. 
 
 Proeeed as follows: 
 
 Grasp the bar; pass the 
 left knee through the right 
 arm, so as to let the knee 
 rest in the elbow; pass 
 the right knee over the 
 instep of the left foot ; 
 let go with the left hand, 
 and~ with it grasp the 
 right foot. 
 
 You will now be sus- 
 pended by the right hand, 
 and will be packed up in 
 a remarkably small space. 
 
 Take care of the light 
 wrist, or you will spin 
 round and twist off. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 25 
 
 By means of this exercise the wrist is very much strength- 
 ened, and the power of the grasp increased. 
 the L ROLL. 
 
 Hang on the bar, forming the letter L. 
 
 Now, bring the feet through the arms, as has been already 
 mentioned, but keep the knees straight all the time. 
 
 THE GRASSHOPPER, 
 
 Sit on the bar, and hold firmly with one hand on each 
 side, points of fingers to the front. 
 
 Let yourself gradually 
 slide forwards until the 
 bar crosses the small of 
 the back, and the elbows 
 project upwards some- 
 thing like the legs of a 
 grasshopper. 
 
 Then draw yourself up 
 again, and assume your 
 sitting position on the 
 pole. 
 
 This is about the most 
 difficult exercise that has 
 been mentioned, and 
 tries the shoulders mar- 
 velously. But it should 
 be learned, for it is very 
 ^ , , useful. 
 
 ft STANDING ON THE BAR. 
 
 V r ■ v Sit astride the bar, and 
 
 place both hand3 on the bar, just in front. 
 
 With a sudden spring, bring both feet upon the bar, the 
 feet crossing each other at the heels ; at the same time rais- 
 ing the body to an upright position. 
 
 It is not strength that is required in this exercise so much 
 as a good balance and presence of mind. 
 
 Another mode of standing on the bar is that which has 
 already been mentioned in the Parallel Bars, viz., by placing 
 one foot on the bar, hitching the other under it, and drawing 
 up the body by the latter foot. 
 
 HANGING BY THE LEGS. 
 
 Sit on the bar; then suddenly slide backwards and drop, 
 catching yourself by your bent knees. 
 
 Be careful to drop quite perpendicularly, and not to com- 
 municate any swing to the body, or the legs may be un- 
 hitched and the gymnast come down on his nose. 
 
 When the young gymnast can hang by both legs easily, 
 
26 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 let him take one of them from the pole, and remain sus- 
 pended by the other. He should not (as some teachers rec- 
 ommend) catch the instep of the suspending foot with the 
 knee of the other. There is quite sufficient force in the one 
 
 knee to hold him up, and if he 
 keep it tightly bent, there will 
 not be the least danger of its 
 unhooking. 
 
 HANGING BY THE FEET. 
 
 We now proceed to a more 
 ambitious performance, name- 
 ly, that of suspending the body 
 by the feet instead of the knees. 
 Hitch both insteps over the 
 pole, forcing the toes upwards 
 as much as possible. 
 
 Then loosen the hands from 
 the pole and let the body hang 
 perpendicularly, without a jerk 
 or a swing. 
 
 To raise the body again is 
 not so easy, but it can be done 
 with a little practice. But the 
 neatest way to leave the polewhen in this attitude is, by 
 dropping to the ground on 
 the hands, and so letting the 
 feet come to the ground. 
 
 HANGING FROM THE TRIANGLE. 
 
 If you have nerve, here is 
 something wherewilh to as- 
 tonish the natives. 
 
 Sit on the bar, folding your 
 arms. Then throw yourself a 
 regular somersault back- 
 wards, as if you meant to 
 throw yourself out of the 
 triangle. 
 
 But as you come over, 
 spread the leg? so that the 
 feet catch agninst the ropes. 
 Let them slide down ,the 
 ropes, and you will be held by 
 your insteps at the angle 
 formed by the unction of the ropes and the bar. 
 
 I once saw a man perform this exercise in a triangle raised 
 fifty feet in the air. It had a most startling effect, "for, as he 
 turned over, it seemed as if he must be inevitably dashed to 
 pieces. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 27 
 
 THE ARM CHAIR. 
 
 Spring upon the bar, and support yourself upon the fore- 
 arms, as shown m che cut. 
 
 This is rather a trying 
 exercise. 
 
 KISSING THE BAR. 
 
 Another difficult exercise. 
 Raise yourself on the bar, 
 as before mentioned, until 
 the bar crosses the waist. 
 
 Sink gradually down, un- 
 til you can touch the bar 
 with your lips, and then 
 raise yourself again. 
 
 THE WOODEN HORSE. 
 
 The series of horse exer- 
 cises is extremely interest- 
 ing. The performers al- 
 ways like the horse exer- 
 cises, and bystanders seem 
 to appreciate them even 
 more than those on the ho- 
 rizontal bar. 
 There is more scope for change of attitude than on the bar, 
 
 and the legs are exercised as much as the arms; in some of 
 
 the feats much more so. 
 
 CONSTRUCTION OF THE HORSE. 
 
 The wooden horse is made of a great cylinder of wood, 
 generally part of the trunk of a tree. 
 
 It is mounted on four posts for legs, which are either driven 
 firmly into the ground or fastened to a strong framework, so 
 that no amount of force will push it over. 
 
 A saddle should be placed on the back, rather nearer one 
 end than the other, which saddle should be made of stout 
 rough leather, and nailed firmly in its place. 
 
 Two pommels, made of wood, and covered, if desirable, 
 with leather, should also be placed on the horse, and the hind 
 pommel should be rather higher than the other. 
 
 A shallow pit, of a few inches in depth, and some four feet 
 square, should be dug in the off- side of the horse, and filled 
 with sawdust, on which the gymnast may alight after some 
 of his lofty leaps, or into which he may chance to tumble, 
 should he miss his mark. 
 
 The paving on the near side should be of sand if practic- 
 able, or very fine gravel. 
 
28 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Many gymnasts like to have a spring board from wlncl: to 
 leap, and I rather recommend it. 
 
 The board should be made of several narrow boards, placed 
 side by side, and firmly nailed to stronger pieces that lie 
 across them. 
 
 On the center of the board should be fixed a piece of leather 
 or carpet in order to afford the feet a firm hold in jumping; 
 
 Each end of the board must be supported on wooden 
 blocks, so as to give it space for springing. If the ground 
 is hollowed under it, the same result Will be attained. 
 
 The height of the horse is regulated by that of the gynv 
 nast, the top of his nose affording an accurate criterion ; for 
 the top of the saddle ought just to come up to that feature* 
 
 MOUNTING THE HORSE. 
 
 Stand on the near side of the horse, placing one hand on 
 each pommel. Then spring up, and bring the arms straight, 
 so that the body is supported by the hands, while the legs 
 rest lightly against the horse. 
 
 After remaining for a few moments 
 in this attitude, jump to the ground 
 and up again immediately. Continue 
 to practice this jumping, until it can be 
 done easily, and remember always to 
 come down on the toes. 
 
 When you can jump up and down six 
 or seven times successively, make a 
 rather higher leap than usual, throw 
 the right leg over the saddle, removing 
 the right hand to let it pass, and then 
 you are fairly mounted. 
 
 Practice mounting both ways; it's 
 only a wooden horse, and does not feel 
 insulted even if you do mount with 
 your face to his tail. 
 
 DISMOUNTING. 
 
 To dismount properly and neatly, 
 place the left hand on the fore-pom- 
 mel, and the right hand on the saddle. 
 
 Raise yourself a little on the hands, and throw yourself off, 
 coming on the ground nicely on your toes. 
 
 SUSTAINING THE BODY. 
 
 Spring up as in the preliminary exercise, arms stiff and 
 legs straight. 
 
 Now throw yourself a little away from the horse, and 
 bring yourself back again by the arms, without suffering the 
 feet to touch the ground. 
 
 This is a useful exercise to prepare oneself for a real horse 
 that starts away as it is being mounted. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 KNEE PRACTICE. 
 
 29 
 
 Place both hands on the pommels, then leap up and kneel 
 with the right knee on the saddle. 
 
 Leap down, up again, and 
 come with the left knee on the 
 saddle. 
 
 Afterward kneel with both 
 knees, taking care not to go 
 too high, as you may chance to 
 topple over ignominiously. 
 
 THE KNEE LEAP. 
 
 But as it is possible that you 
 might so err the following ex- 
 ' ercise will teach you how to es- 
 cape the danger of a fall. 
 
 Leap up with the knees on the 
 saddle. Lean well forward, and, 
 with a bold spring, clear both 
 legs of the saddle and come to 
 the ground. 
 
 There is not the least difficulty 
 about this exercise, although 
 when it is first attempted the 
 legs feel as if they were secured 
 to the horse. Only daring is required, an d alter doing it 
 once you will do it aftarward with perfect ease. 
 
 ; LEG THROUGH ARMS. 
 
 Hands on saddle as 
 before. Now leap up 
 well and pass the right 
 leg clean over the saddle 
 between the arms. 
 
 Make a slight spring 
 from the arms, with* 
 draw the leg and arms 
 to the ground, imme- 
 diately springing up 
 again and passing tie 
 left leg through the 
 arm. 
 
 Let the unused leg 
 hang down easily, and 
 keep the body upright. 
 A stooping attitude has 
 a most awkward effect. 
 
$0 
 
 ^HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 SWINGING PRACTICE. 
 
 Mount, but instead of seating yourself in the saddle, do so 
 
 behind it 
 
 Now place the 
 left hand on the 
 fore-pommel, and 
 the right on the 
 hinder, as in the 
 engraving, and 
 swing the body 
 completely round, 
 so as to seat your- 
 self before the 
 saddle, your face 
 looking toward 
 the hind pommel, 
 and the feet nor, 
 touching the 
 ground at all. 
 Then change hands and swing round again, so as to bring 
 
 yourself into the position in which you started. 
 This is very useful exercise for developing the power of 
 
 the arms. 
 
 KICKING THE SAD- 
 DLE. 
 
 Hands on pom- 
 mels. Jump up and 
 bring the toes to 
 the top of the sad« 
 die, as in the illus- 
 tration. 
 
 Afterwards sro a 
 lHtie higher, place 
 the soles of the feet 
 on the saddle, let 
 go the pommels, 
 and come up stand- 
 ing erect on the 
 horse. 
 
 ARM PRACTICE. 
 
 Mount. Place the hands on the front pommel and raise 
 the body as high as you can. There is not the least dan- 
 ger of going too high. 
 
 When you can thus suspend yourself for a short time, 
 try to do so while you swing your body gently. 
 
 Lastly, raise yourself up as before, and slap the soles of 
 your feet together over the top of the saddle. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 31 
 
 CROSS PURPOSES. 
 
 Which cannot happen accidentally. 
 
 Mount, and, placing both hands on the front pommel, 
 swing yourself as high in the air as possible, crossing your 
 legs at the same time, and twisting the 
 body so as to seat yourself again on the 
 saddle, but looking in the opposite di- 
 rection. 
 
 Having done so, swing up again and 
 resume your former position, 
 
 A very decided swing is required here, 
 or you will kick your shins with your own 
 heels, which is one of the most irritating 
 of occurrences. 
 
 THROUGH THE ARMS. 
 
 Hands on pommels. Take a good 
 spring, and bring yourself completely over 
 the saddle, passing through your arms 
 as you do so. 
 
 When your feet are well clear of the 
 horse, give an impulsion with the arms, 
 and alight on the ground neatly. 
 
 This is very effective exercise, and does 
 not require so much strength as boldness. 
 If you hesitate, down you go. 
 
 SIDE SADDLE. — No. 1. 
 
 Stand with the right side to the saddle, hands on pommels. 
 Spring np well, and throw the right leg into the saddle, lift- 
 ing the left hand to 
 let the leg pass, but 1 
 retaining the hold of 
 the other hand. 
 
 Dismount, and in- 
 stantly leap up 
 again; but mount 
 with the left leg, re- 
 moving the right 
 hand. 
 
 Persevere in this, 
 and then proceed to 
 the next, which is 
 more difficult, and 
 requires a neater 
 balance. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Hands on pommels. Leap up, and throw both feet com- 
 
32 
 
 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 pletely over the body of the horse, and seat yourself behind 
 the saddle, as is here shown. 
 
 Down, and, with 
 a spring, seat your- 
 self in the same 
 way on the front of 
 the saddle. - 
 
 Take care not to 
 put on too much 
 steam, or you will 
 slide over the horse 
 and come down in 
 the sawdust; while, 
 if [you do not put 
 on enough, you will 
 come slipping 
 backwards, doub- 
 led up in an absurd 
 fashion. 
 
 Do it at first with the aid of a short run, but afterwards 
 with a simple jump. 
 
 THE VAULT. 
 
 Hands on pom- 
 mels, and throw 
 both legs complete- 
 ly over the back of 
 the horse, as in the 
 cut. 
 
 Practice the vault 
 first with the feet 
 to the right, then 
 to the left. Indeed, 
 all these exercises 
 should be so prac- 
 ticed, or they will 
 not develop both sides of the body equalty. 
 
 SIDE-SADDLE 
 LEAP. 
 
 Spring up as in 
 Side-Saddle No. 
 2, but let the legs 
 pass completely 
 over the horse, 
 while the knees 
 are kept straight, 
 the body erect, 
 and one hand on 
 the back pommel. 
 
 i.rn.l?^ 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 33 
 
 THE BACK VAULT. 
 
 Sit behind the saddle, placing both hands on the hinder 
 pommel. 
 
 Raise the body on the hands, and with a powerful effort of 
 the arms, throw yourself clear off the horse. 
 
 THE SINGLE HAND LEAP. 
 
 Try to leap into the saddle, while one hand only holds the 
 
 pommels, and 
 the other hangs 
 quietly by the 
 side. First right 
 hand, and then 
 left. 
 
 THE SOMER- 
 SAULT. 
 
 Take a short 
 run, put both 
 hands on the 
 pommels, and 
 fling yourself 
 faiily over, not 
 loosing your 
 hand of .the 
 
 pommels, until the feet have well passed the center of the 
 
 horse. 
 Don't be afraid. If you only hold on well by the pommels, 
 
 you must come down properly. There is no need for a vei'e 
 
 powerful 
 
 swing, for 
 
 the best gym- 
 nasts come 
 
 over quite 
 
 slowly. 
 
 THE DOUBLE 
 SOMERSAULT. 
 
 This exer- 
 cise I believe 
 t o b e my 
 own special 
 invent ion, 
 and I never 
 saw any one 
 who could do 
 
 it except the inventor. .But there is no reason why_ every 
 one should not learn to do it, for it merely depends on the 
 exact preservation of balance. 
 
 Go over the horse, as in the preceding paragraph, but do 
 
34 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 not loosen the hold of the hands when you come to the 
 ground. 
 
 Your attitude will be row rather curious, the back bent 
 like a bow, the head falling backwards, and the hands over 
 the head. 
 
 Now make as powerful a spring as the legs can achieve, 
 and with the arms draw yourself over the horse again, thus 
 performing exactly the reverse of the forward somersault. 
 
 There is a slight error in the engraving, for the fingers 
 ought to be turned inside the saddle, and not outside it, as 
 shown by the artist. 
 
 In rolling over the saddle, the head is bent forward, or the 
 nose would get a sad scrape against the back of the hors*. 
 
 • :o:- 
 
 PEDESTRIANISM. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF PEDESTRIANISM.' 
 By Pedestrianism is understood, in racing parlance, the 
 contest between two or more men, or between a man and 
 time, in walking, running, leaping, vaulting, etc. 
 
 In Quick Walking, which is the only kind useful in racing, 
 the body is inclined forwards, and the heel touches the ground 
 before the toes, which next receive the weight. As the former 
 is raised from the ground by the straightening of the ankle, 
 at the same time projecting forward the whole body, the 
 toes come under the center of gravity and receive the weight; 
 and as the body is still further pushed forward, the other leg 
 swings by its fellow; and before the toes of the first are 
 raised from the ground, the heel of the second reaches it. 
 Hence, this is called walking " toe-and-beel." In this kind 
 of walking, from 180 to 200 steps per minute aie usually 
 taken, according to the distance to be walked; and in very 
 short spirts, with small, quick, and active men, fully 220 
 steps are the average per minute. From 6 to 6 1-4 miles per 
 hour is the outside rate of walking, except in very extraor- 
 dinary pedestrians, who, some years back, walked 7 miles 
 per hour; and. in a match have completed 1 mile in 7 min- 
 utes 13 seconds, 2 miles in 15 minutes 20 seconds, and 4 
 miles in 32 minutes exactly, which, if correct, is the fastest 
 time on record. There was, however, great doubt as to the 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 36 
 
 fairness of the walking. The great art'is to keep the knees 
 suppie and not too straight, and to make use of the arm as 
 a balance spring, or even as a kind of fulcrum; but in this 
 respecl walkers vary a great deal, some use great aclion of 
 the arms, while others keep them as still as if they were 
 glued to their bodies. 
 
 Running is a different action to walking, being, in fact, a 
 series of small leaps, with one foot at a time, and each alter- 
 nately, whilst hopping is with one foot only. The upper part 
 of the body is inclinded forwards, the head well up, and even 
 a little uack, except in running ** spirts." The breast is well 
 expanded, and the shoulders thrown back, with the arms 
 raised, the elbows bent, the fingers clenched into the palm 
 of the hand, and the whole upper extremity as rigid as pos- 
 sible, in order to allow of the auxiliary muscles of respira- 
 tion acting with their full force. There is a great variety in 
 the use and action of the legs in different runners; most, 
 however, keep their knees rather straight, and almost graze 
 the ground with their feet; the tread is on the balls of the 
 toes, and slightly also on the toes themselves; and the 
 spring is made rapidly Irom one foot to the other, each pass- 
 ing its fellow and taking its turn with great rapidity; at the 
 same time there is a very slight movement of the arms in 
 unison with the legs, but scarcely visible except on close in- 
 spection. Good wind is as great a requisite as good legs, 
 and no one should attempt a running match unless he has a 
 full volume of lungs, and a sound and strong heart. The 
 best time in which the various distances have been done is as 
 follows: A quarter of a mile in a minute; half a mile in 2 
 minutes down-hill, or 2 1-4 minutes on level ground; 1 mile 
 in 4 1-2 to 5 minutes; 2 miles in rather less than 10 minutes; 
 4 miles in 20 1-2 minutes; 30 miles in the hour; 15 miles in 
 1 hour 35 minutes; and 20 miles in 2 hours and a quarter. 
 Pedestrians have walked 1,000 miles in 1,000 successive 
 hours; and lately the feat has been exceeded, by doing 1,000 
 half-miles in 1,000 half-hours. 
 
 The Conditions of walking matches are generally in writ- 
 ing, specifying that the man or men shall start at the drop- 
 ping of a handkerchief, or other sigual agreed upon; and 
 that the walker must keep to a fair " toe-and-heel walk" — ■ 
 that is to say, that either the toe of one foot or the heel of the 
 other must always be in contact with the ground. An um- 
 pire on each side is appointed, who follow the men closely, 
 and if either exceeds the " toe-and-heel " walk by running 
 (in which case there is a moment when both leet are clear of 
 the ground), the umpire named by his opponent calls to him 
 to turn, and he must do so or lose the match, unless the or- 
 der of the one umpire is disputed by the other, in which case 
 
36 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 the referee, who has also been appointed by the umpires, de- 
 cides between them. On being called upon to turn, the 
 walker must turn completely round, and also alter his mode 
 of walking, or he is again called upon to turn, and thus 
 equally loses the match by the necessity for constant turn- 
 ing. The distance and ground to be walked over are also 
 fixed by the articles. 
 
 In Running Matches there is no necessity for conditions, 
 except to specify the ground and the distance, as well as to 
 name the umpires. &c. 
 
 Leaping is effected by a sudden contraction of the legs, 
 followed by a still more sudden and jerking extension of all 
 the joints, by which the body is projected into the air clear 
 of the ground. It may be either from a standing position or 
 will) a run, and both may be over a height or across a width. 
 Vaulting is leaping with the assistance of the bands, and in 
 addition sometimes the aid of a pole is called in, termed 
 "the leaping-pole." In all leaps, besides those of the lower 
 limbs, the whole of the muscles of the body are violently in 
 action, and especially those of the abdomen and back. 
 
 In the Standing-leap over a Height the legs are brought 
 close together, the knees are considerably bent, the hips are 
 thrown back and the shoulders forward, with the head well 
 up. The arms are slightly and slowly swung backwards and 
 forwards, the body sinks till the calves touch the back of the 
 thighs, and then by a rapid extension of all parts in unison 
 wi f h the swing of the arms, the body is projected over the 
 height to be cleared, and descends upon the toes and ball of 
 the fcot, with the legs bent, in order to form a spring to 
 break the fall. In this way some men can clear the height 
 of their waists. 
 
 The Standing-leap over a Width is effected in the same 
 way, but with less contraction of the limbs, and more swing- 
 ing of the arms. The greatest 1 have ever known thus 
 cleared was 14 feet. 
 
 The Running Leap over a Height requires a start of 
 about 9 to 12 paces, The take-off should be at the distance 
 of half the Leight of the object to be cleared, and the legs 
 should be well drawn up in front of the belly during the 
 spring. In this way, and by a trick of throwing the legs 
 into a horizontal position, some men can clear an object 
 higher than their heads. With the aid of a spring-board and 
 a descending run three times this height has been sur- 
 mounted. 
 
 The Running Leap over a Width will be better managed 
 with a run of about twenty paces, and the steps should be 
 very quick and short, increasing in these points up to the 
 moment of springing, which is from the very edge of the 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 37 
 
 Space to be cleared. The jumper comes down either upon 
 his heels in a very wide leap, or upon his toes in one where 
 his whole powers are not exercised. On level ground 21 1-2 
 feet have been cleared to my knowledge, and 22 feet are said 
 to have been done. 
 
 Hop, Step, and Jump, is a very common kind of contest in 
 leaping, 'and is conducted as follows:—" A starting point " is 
 marked off, then, 10 yards further, another, called "the 
 spring." The players are ranged in jine on the first, and 
 must run to and start from the second, when the one who 
 can cover the most ground by one long hop, one long step, 
 and a similar jump is the winner. 
 
 Vaulting is effected by leaping with the aid of the hands, 
 from a standing position or a very slow run or walk. The 
 vaulter stands in front of the gate or bar and springs up- 
 wards, placing his hand on the top; in this way he swings 
 his body over, lifting it by a muscular effort of the arm and 
 shoulder still higher than the legs alone would carry it, and 
 then guiding it by the aid of the arms it is dropped gently on 
 the feet beyond the gate. Sometimes the vaulter throws the 
 body obliquely over the gate, using one hand and arm only, 
 and sometimes through both arms. By vaulting a man can 
 easily clear his own height, and often considerably more. 
 
 The Leaping Pole hi either of fir or bamboo, about two, 
 three, or even five feet higher than the height of the party 
 using it, and becoming stronger towards the bottom. When 
 used for leaping wide ditches, a pole with a flat disk of sev- 
 eral inches diameter at the bottom is of great use in pre- 
 venting its sinking into the mud, and in peaty bottoms often 
 savo-s a ducking. The pole is thus used: The right hand is 
 placed at the height of the head, and the left on a level with 
 the hips; then grasping it firmly, it is dropped into the 
 ditch till it touches the bottom, when making a spring with 
 the left foot the weight is carried upon the arms, and de- 
 scribes a segment of a circle, the center of which is at the 
 end of the pole fn the ditch. In thus swinging over, the 
 body passes the pole, and from facing the side to which it 
 springs, it changes to facing that from which it sprung. The 
 leap should be made the moment the pole touches the bot- 
 tom, and too much weight should not be carried upon it. 
 The learner should begin by clearing small ditches, gradual- 
 ly increasing their width, and when expert in these, try 
 wider ones until he cannot proceed further without a run; 
 then venturing upon a few yards 1 preparatory run, which 
 will give additional power in clearing space; and finally 
 adopting a good quick run of about six, eight or ten yards, 
 gradually taking hold of the pole higher and higher as he in- 
 creases the width of his jump. 
 
&8 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST 
 
 In leaping over high objects it is only necessary to fix the 
 attention upon the gate or bar to be cleared, and endeavor 
 to surmount it by an eflbrt of the legs; at the same time 
 raising the weight by the arms on the pole while in the air, 
 and reversing the position as in jumping over a ditch. At 
 firs", there is some difficulty in managing the pole over the 
 object, but to effect this, the leaper at the time of crossing 
 the bar, and just when he is beginning to descend, must 
 draw the pole upwards and raise the lower part with his one 
 hand while he depresses the upper pan with the other; by 
 which action the pole is tilted over in unison with the body, 
 and the small end reaches the ground first. When the leap is 
 to be a very high one indeed, the leaper leaves his pole on 
 the taking offside, quitting hold of it as soon as it touches 
 the bar, or rather just before that time. 
 
 TRAINING FOR PEDESTRIANISM AND OTHER 
 PURPOSES. 
 
 Sect. 1. --Preparatory Treatment. 
 
 General Remarks.— ft is an indisputable fact that no 
 animal is so much improved by training as m&n — none stands 
 such long and severe preparation with advantage — and none 
 displays the difference netween condition and its absence in 
 so great a degree. Next to him in this respect stands the 
 thorough-brea horse, which certainly displays these attri- 
 butes almost to the same extent; but still the advantage is 
 in favor of man, who can sustain without injury repeated 
 trials of his powers to their utmost limits — whilst even the 
 thorough-bred horse requires the greatest care, lest by con- 
 tinual and constant work his speed, and what is still worse, 
 his temper, should be ruined. But it is not only that man 
 may be enabled to do certain feats of activity and strength 
 that training is desirable, but that he may do them with 
 pleasure to himself, and even with advantage to his general 
 health; and this marks the grand principle which every man 
 who values health should constantly keep in view, namely, 
 that no one should attempt to compete in any contest re- 
 quiring agility or strength, unless he has had such a prepa- 
 ration as shall enable him to perform his task without feel- 
 ing any ill effect from it. 
 
 For instance, the man in condition can row through a race 
 of three or four miles, in which his whole powers are taxed 
 to their very utmost, and shall, at the end of it, be almost 
 blind from the exertions he has made; and yet before he gets 
 out cf the boat he is *' all right," and could go through the 
 same in half an hour without injury— whilst the man out of 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 39 
 
 condition lies nearly fainting, or perhaps quite insensible, 
 for many minutes, or even still longer, and is only revived by 
 stimuli to an extent which will not allow any further liberty 
 to be taken with his naturally strong constitution. Pluck 
 will do much in place of condition; but numberless are the 
 instances of ruined health from the excessive drafts which 
 have been mode upon this valuable quality, whilst a little 
 care and abstinence would have prevented any such irrepar- 
 able misfortune. To enable a man who is of sound constitu- 
 tion — but, from mismanagement, out of health — to restore 
 himself to such a state as will allow him to go into traiuing 
 without mischief, is rather a difficult task in most cases, be- 
 cause it not only requires some skill to know what to do, but 
 also great self-command to avoid that which ought not to be 
 done. In the vast majority of instances the health has been 
 impaired by excess of some kind, and in many by every 
 variety of excess which human ingenuity can suggest. 
 
 Butit is wonderful how completely the anticipation of an 
 Oxford and Cambridge match at Putney, a pedestrian match, 
 or any similar coufest, will enable a "fast man " to throw all 
 temptation on one side and to adhere to all the rules laid 
 down for his guidance with the ridity of an anchorite. His 
 reply to all tempting offers is, "No, that is bad trair)ing. ,, 
 Such is not always the case, it is true; but to a great extent, 
 and more pluck is frequently shown in abstaining from temp- 
 tation than in sustaining the prolonged efforts which such a 
 race demands. There are two kinds of excess in eating, 
 drinking, etc., and excess in literary and other sedentary 
 pursuits. Either will for a time upset the powers of the 
 stomach, and in fact of the whole system, and each will re- 
 quire very different treatment in order to restore those pow- 
 ers. These conditions will also vary very much according to 
 the rank in life, habits aud natural constitution of the individ- 
 ual. For instance, a gentleman's son, having been gener- 
 ously brought up, goes to the university and indulges to ex- 
 cess, in wine, smoking, etc., all the while taking strong exer- 
 cise. For a time his naturally strong constitution enables 
 him to withstand the attacks of the poisonous doses of wine 
 and tobacco which he is taking, but soon his hand begins to 
 shake, his appetite for solid food ceases, his eyes become 
 red, his sleep is restless and unrefreshiug, aud he is threat- 
 ened with an attack of delirium tremens. 
 
 Now, if in such a state as this an attempt is made to go 
 suddenly into training, the consequence is, either that the 
 above disease makes its appearance at once, or, in milder 
 cases, that the stomach refuses to do its duty, and the prescrib- 
 ed work cannot be performed, from giddiness, faintness, sick- 
 ness or headache. By a little care and time, however, this 
 
40 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 state of things may be removed. But suppose tbe case of a 
 young man in a lower rank, who has been brought up on a 
 spare and rigidly abstemious fare, and who from circum- 
 stances is suddenly allowed to indulge in all the temptations 
 of the public-house; he has no other resource— no hunting or 
 cricket to take up his attention — no lectures to attend, and 
 the consequence is that beer and tobacco commence the day, 
 and tobacco and spirits wind it up. Such a man suddenly 
 finds all his energies going, his mind dull and enfeebled, his 
 body weak, flabby and bloated; in a happy moment he be- 
 thinks himself that he will take to boating, or some other 
 amusement which he has formerly perhaps been addicted to, 
 and at once proceeds to the river or the road. Well, what 
 is the consequence? Why, instead of feeling the better for 
 the exertion he is completely knocked up, and perhaps per- 
 manently discouraged and deterred from any further trial; in 
 fact he requires a much more careful treatment to get him 
 into a state of health lit for such an exertion than the Oxon- 
 ian or the Cantab, because the change from his former habits 
 has been greater, because the imbibition of beer and spirits 
 has been more uninterrupted, because the rooms he has fre- 
 quented have been les3 perfectly ventilated, and because he 
 has taken little or no exercise. 
 
 Indeed, it is astonishing what quantities of intoxicating 
 drinks may be imbibed without much injury, provided that 
 a corresponding amount of exercise is regularly taken. I 
 have my myself known young men take from one to two gal- 
 lons a day of strong ale for many months, besides occasion- 
 al bottles of wine, &c, without any great injury. One of the 
 most plucky oarsmen I ever knew regularly swallowed the 
 above quantity, and still pursues the same course, apparent- 
 ly uninjured by it. This gentleman, however, is always walk- 
 ing or riding; and is also by nature of an iron constitution. 
 But a far more difficult task lies before the reading man, who 
 has been devoting 12 to 18 hours a day to a preparation for 
 honors; and who, finding his health giving away, determines 
 upon going in for honors of another kind. Here the nervous 
 system has been overtaxed, aided by green tea, wet cloths 
 round the head, and perhaps a liberal supply of tobacco; the 
 consequence is that the neglected muscular system is unfit 
 for exertion, and the limbs become stiff and cramped on the 
 slightest effort. This state of thing? requires many weeks, or 
 even months to restore the system to a state fit for under- 
 taking any severe work, because the muscles are wanting in 
 solid material, and the nervous system is so irritable as to 
 be totally incompetent to stimulate them with that stead- 
 iness and regularity which is essential to success. 
 
 The same state of things often occurs in the counting- 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 41 
 
 house. A young man is confined for ten or twelve hours a 
 day to the desk and ledger; he has no time for exercise, 
 and his nervous sysiem is over-stimulated by incessant cal- 
 culation, and also by the constant view of the white paper 
 spread before his eyes; he gets the "ledger fever, " and 
 many a young man is rendered by it utterly incompetent to 
 continue this kind of drudgery. Some relieve this unnatural 
 condition by early rising and pedestrianism, or horse and 
 rowing exercise. This plan, if carefully entered upon, is of 
 great service; but it requires some caution at first, and is 
 almost wholly useless if persevered in without those essen- 
 tials which I shall endeavor to point out. 
 
 Treatment of the Free Liver of Active Habits.-— I 
 have already observed that the free liver who has usually 
 taken a due amount of exercise, has a comparatively easy 
 task, if he only has the power to command himself and to 
 check those practices which he has been indulging in. But 
 let this be done with due caution. Many is the man who has 
 been driven to delirium tremens by suddenly leaving off all 
 stimuli. The best plan is to substitute ammonia in some 
 shape for a part of the accustomed alcohol, and fortius pur- 
 pose to take the following draught once or twice a day, or 
 oftener if that dreadful linking sensation comes on which is 
 go distressing to those who have indulged to excess in wine 
 or tobacco: Take of aromatic confection ten grains, sal 
 volatile one drachm, bicarbonate of soda five grains, tincture 
 of gentian one drachm, water one ounce — mix. 
 
 The quantity of beer, wine, or spirits should be diminished 
 one half every two or three days, until brought down to the 
 allowance to be hereafter fixed for training purposes; 
 tobacco should be totally eschewed. I have invariably found 
 that totai abstinence from smoking is easier than temper- 
 ance. There is not the same danger in leaving it off as is 
 the case with wine, spirits, or beer, in fact there is no 
 danger whatever in so doing; whilst in alcoholic drinks the 
 reverse is the case. My advice, therefore, is in all cases 
 where the constitution has been impaired by smoking and 
 drinking, to give up the former at once and entirely, but to 
 be very careful in gradually leaving off the latter. With 
 regard to the kind of stimulus which should be adopted, 
 much must depend upon the previous habits. In most 
 cases, when the stomach is not much upset, malt liquor 
 will suffice; and, if sound and unadulterated, is the most 
 wholesome beverage; but in many cases it will not do to 
 leave off suddenly wine and spirits, and adhere to malt 
 alone. In such cases an occasional glass of brandy and 
 water, or claret must be allowed. The latter, where it 
 
42 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST, ^ v 
 
 agrees, is an excellent wine for the purpose of gradually 
 lowering the stimulus. 
 
 No wine suits the nervous system better, and, if mixed 
 with soda-water, it may be drunk to a considerable extent 
 by those who have accustomed themselves to a stronger 
 stimulus. When the stomach is very much disordered, it 
 may be mulled and taken warm. It is not good while in 
 training, but as a preparative for that process it is exceed- 
 ingly valuable. Those who have been smoking and drink- 
 ing to excess, have stimulated their kidneys and skin to 
 secrete a greater quantity than is natural to those organs. 
 This is an effort of nature to get rid of the poison which has 
 been absorbed into the system, but the effect does not im- 
 mediately cease on the removal of the cause. Hence the 
 thirst continues, and some liquid must be given to quench 
 it. It is for this purpose that I advise claret and soda- 
 water to those who can afford it; or to those whose pockets 
 will not allow this luxury, porter or bitter beer mixed with 
 soda water in equal proportions. Great care must be taken 
 in all these cases in the exhibition of purgatives. No free 
 liver is able to bear strong aperient medicine without some 
 injury to the system, and although very commonly given, it 
 is a practice which ought to be very cautiously- adopted. If 
 the liver is acting well (which may be known by the yellow 
 or brown color of the faces), a simple black draught may 
 be taken, consisting of half an ounce of sweet essence of 
 senna, with a small tea-spoonful of salts dissolved in an 
 ounce of warm water; or one or two compound rhubarb 
 pills may be taken at night. 
 
 If, on the contrary, the motions are of a clay color, 5 
 grains of blue pill should be taken at night, followed by the 
 above draught in the morning. Should the bowels be re- 
 laxed, and inclined to act more than once a day a wine- 
 glassful of decoction of bark, with a teaspoonful of the com- 
 pound tincture of bark should be taken two or three 
 times a day. If very loose, 20 or 25 drops of laudanum may 
 be adced to each dose; and if very watery, with griping 
 pains 25 to 30 drops of diluted sulphuric acid may also be 
 given with it. This will almost always check the diarrhoea, 
 and is also useful in giving tone to the stomach and produc- 
 ing an appetite; but if more severe remedies are required, 
 the aid of a medical man should be sought for at once. Dur- 
 ing, the time in which this plan of proceeding is bnving its 
 effect, it is of the greatest consequence that the mind should 
 be occupied, or rather amused, in some way. This point 
 cannot be too much insisted on, for upon it deppnds in great 
 measure whether the attempt to restore health to the body 
 shall be successful or the reverse. Thereis no point more 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 43 
 
 Deflected, both in the preparation for training and in the 
 actual period of severe work, than this, and yet it is really 
 the one which ought most to be inculcated. In the first 
 place, bodily exercise without amusement is mere drudgery; 
 it tires, but does not lead to a restoration of power; whilst 
 if given with some mental excitement, the fatigue is scarcely 
 felt, and what little is experienced is speedily followed by a 
 reaction which asks for more work of a similar character and 
 tendency- 
 Let any one contrast the effects of a walk or ride, without 
 object or companion, with either the one or the other when 
 taken for the purpose of making a call, or any other specific 
 object, especially in company of an amusing companion. 
 From the former (called a " constitutional" because it does 
 not benefit the constitution), he has returned jaded and out 
 of spirits, whilst from the latter he has experienced an amouut 
 of exhilaration varying of course with the nature of the ob- 
 ject and the agreeability of his companion. JNothing con- 
 duces more to a successful prosecution of this plan of self- 
 treatment than the mutual agreement of two persons whose 
 object is the same, to assist one another by their example. 
 Let two persons agree in earnest to restrain one another 
 when tempted, and also to amuse one another by sparring, 
 or fencing, or riding, or walking together — or, indeed, any 
 kind of gymnastic exercise. This will aid the purpose of 
 both, as far as the restoration of health is concerned, and 
 they will also find it much more easy to " put the stopper" 
 upon each other than upon themselves. Even if they are not 
 both going into the same kind of training, the preparation 
 for all kinds is the same, the grand object in all cases being 
 to leave oft injurious food and drinks, to avoid smoking and 
 venery, and to take sufficient exercise, conjoined with amuse- 
 ment, to tire without prostrating the muscular system. 
 
 During this period the diet should be plain, but varied. 
 Roast beef and mutton, or chops and steaks, with any veget- 
 ables that agree with the individual, may b« indulged in. 
 Poultry, game, and fish, are not injurious; and even pastry, 
 if good and plain, will do no harm whatever. It i3 better to 
 pul: oft the period of rigid dieting to the actual time of train- 
 ing, as the stomach will seldom bear it for any length of time. 
 In the present day, it is scarcely necessary to inculcate the 
 free use of cold water every morning. It is not desirable to 
 bathe during this time, though in warm weather a mere 
 plunge into a river, or, better still, the sea, is very service- 
 able; but at all seasons the whole body should be sponged 
 every morning, using in very cold weather water at the 
 temperature of 60 or Qo degrees of Fahrenheit. The body 
 should be well rubbed with a wet cloth, until a glow ia 
 
44 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. , 
 
 produced; and the aid of an assistant is here very bene- 
 ficial. If re-action is speedily produced, a calico shirt may 
 be worn; but if otherwise, flannel in the winter should be 
 put on under the shirt. This, however, is seldom necessary, 
 since those who are so delicate as to require it are seldom 
 tit to go into training. Such is the comparatively easy task 
 of those who have continued to take strong exercise, con- 
 comitantly with their free indulgence in wine, tobacco, and 
 all their little et cseteras. 
 
 The Treatment of Indolent, Free Livers, who have in* 
 dulged themselves in the same way, whilst at the same time 
 their bodies have been wholly idle, or they have only gone to 
 the limits demanded by the necessity of seeking" for the 
 gratification of their appetites, is much more difficult. In 
 such a case very strong control is required, and unfortunate- 
 ly it is in such persons generally absent, Few young men 
 indulge themselves in this way unless they are of a weak and 
 yielding nature, easily led away by importunity, and unable 
 to resist temptation. Many men of strong mental and bod- 
 ily power have been led into a course of dissipation; in fact, 
 they have not been led, but in the impetuosity of their tem- 
 peraments have rushed into it. These natures have only to 
 resolve and the thing is done. But far different is it with 
 the man of perhaps herculean body, but weak and vacillating 
 mind. He, alas! resolves and breaks his resolution forty 
 times a day, and is at once an object of pity and contempt. 
 Such a man may be restrained by a master mind, but rarely 
 has he the power to control himself. 
 
 The sight of a public house is too much for him, and he 
 cannot, resist the temptation it presents. But though, if 
 taken in hand by another, he may be made use of for a time, 
 he is rarely worth the trouble he gives, as the slightest want 
 of vigilance leads to an outbreak which upsets ail the good 
 effects of the previous careful supervision. The great difficulty 
 here is to find amusement for the body and mind — the habits 
 of intemperance and idleness have led to a dislike of all ex- 
 ercise, or rather, perhaps, in many cases the natural indoi-. 
 ence of body and mind has led to habits of intemperance, 
 If, however, it is desired to effect the change by means of 
 this supervision, it must be as gradual as in the former case 
 with regard to diet, and much more gradual and careful with 
 reference to the kind and amount of exercise. It sometimes 
 happens that a good-natured and easy tempered man has 
 given himself up to excesses and idleness,and yet being a good 
 oarsman his services are demanded for his college or univer- 
 sity boat. Here some trouble may be spent in restoring him ; 
 but such a case is the only one in which it will be repaid, 
 and even then it is a hazardous experiment; the only plan 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 45 
 
 is to hand the poor fellow over to some one person, who is 
 likely to exercise a firm, yet quiet control over liim; and to 
 inculcate over this person the necessity of carefully watching 
 hia pi'otege at all hours of the day and night. 
 
 He should walk, ride, etc., with him; beginning by short 
 distances and gradually increasing them. Let him by all 
 means take him to ball matches, coursing meetings, races, 
 etc., or any kind of out-door sport which is most likely to 
 occupy his attention, and at the same time to keep his body 
 gently exercised without exhaustion; then get him home, and 
 after a moderate diuner, and a game at billiards, chess, or 
 cards, for an hour or two, if possible let him be persuaded to 
 go to bed. Here it is not desirable that the hours of bed should 
 be shortened; let him lie till nine or ten in the morning, be- 
 cause he will from his previous habits require longer rest than 
 the average time, and because there is already great difficul- 
 ty in occupying the hours of the day, so as to keep him 
 out of temptation. In this manner these two classes of men 
 may be restored to health, or at least to such a state as will 
 fit them to undertake the severe work and strict dieting 
 which training for such a match will require. Both are like- 
 ly to be considerably stouter and heavier than the weight at 
 which they will be best able to exert their powers; but this is 
 not always the case, as it sometimes happens that the man 
 who has been indulging to excess in every kind of tempta- 
 tion has lost weight to a considerable extent, and regains it 
 on submitting to the loss of those stimulants which have up- 
 set his stomach. 
 
 The Over-studious Man. — Before proceeding to the 
 treatment of the over-studious, let me earnestly remind those 
 who are desirous of excelling in literary pursuits, that with- 
 out bodily health the mind is unfitted for exertion in acquir- 
 ing knowledge. It is true thai many men who have already 
 stored their brains with facts, are enabled, even after be- 
 coming complete valetudinarians, to impart knowledge to 
 others; but no one can grapple with difficulties for himself 
 while in that state; much time is often lost, and strength 
 squandered, through over anxiety in reading; but I am fully 
 and firmly convinced that if eight, or, at most, ten hours a 
 day are well employed — that is to say, if any man really 
 works hard during that time -he will have done all of which 
 his mental powers are capable. This will leave him seven 
 or eight hours for sleep, and six or seven for meals, exercise, 
 etc. Few men, however, of ardent temperaments and stu- 
 dious habits are capable of thus portioning their time; but 
 they may depend upon the fact that, beyond the hours that I 
 have named, they will gain nothing by poring over mathe- 
 matical problems or classical authorities. If this advice were 
 
46 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 acted up to, there would be no occasion for the directions I 
 am about to give; but, from the constitution of the human 
 mind, it is not likely to be followed in many cases. 
 
 It is needless for me to remark, that in a mind upset by 
 literary study or mercantile accounts, the best plan, if prac- 
 ticable, is to give up reading and writing entirely, for a time; 
 but this is seldom to be effected; and if not, all that can be 
 done is to improve the health of the body as much as possible 
 whilst the strain upon the mind continues. In the case of a 
 man who can arrange his owu hours of study, and has only a 
 certain object to effect by a given time, I should strongly 
 recommend him in no case to exceed eight hours a-day, and, 
 if possible, not more than six. This will leave him ample 
 time for the prosecution of any bodily training which he may 
 require; and if the health lias not been much impaired, and 
 the constitution is naturally strong, he will find that in pro- 
 portion as he is able to increase the amount of bodily exer- 
 cise, so will his mental powers recover their tone. But to 
 proceed to details. Few reading men determine upon pre- 
 paring for a course of training until they are a good deal up- 
 set by confinement, and in them some little care i3 necessary. 
 First and foremost, I should insist upon their giving up 
 smoking, green tea, and^ coffee, except at meals. 
 
 There should be no over-stimulation of the brain; but 
 what work is done should be done without any unnatural 
 stimulus. It will be found a very good plan to ba\e two 
 reading-desks — one of a height for sitting to, and the other 
 adapted for standing. Then, when drowsy or unable to fix 
 the attention to the sitting desk, let the change be mace to 
 a standing position; and in this way the necessity for green 
 tea, or wet cloths to the head, may be avoided. Next, I 
 should advise that the hours of study should be divided into 
 two equal periods— the first commencing immediately after 
 breakfast, and the second immediately after tea. In this 
 way all the middle of the day may be given up to recreation, 
 dinner and exercise: and the following hours are those which 
 I should lay down as the most proper, though of course they 
 may be slightly varied to suit particular circumstances: 
 Breakfast, at 8: reading, 8.30 to 12.30; light lunch, on bis- 
 cuit or sandwich, and glass of bitter beer, or sherry and 
 water; exercise, irom 12.30 to 4.30; dinner at 4.30; revaxa- 
 tion of body and mind till 6.30, when take a cup or tw o of 
 coffee or black tea; then read for two, three or four hours, 
 according to circumstances. Then go to bed. When first 
 these hours are adopted the exercise must be very gentle, 
 and of an amusing character: if on horseback, so much the 
 better, though this kind of exercise is not sufficient for the 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 47 
 
 purpose of training, except as a preparation for walking or 
 running. 
 
 Many men are enabled to indulge in a nap after dinner 
 with advantage to themselves; but generally speaking it is 
 prejudicial. If, however, the mouth feels moist on waking, 
 and there is no palpitation of the heart or flatulence, I am 
 strongly of opinion it does good rather than harm. It is the 
 natural instinct of nil animals to sleep after eating, and cer- 
 tainly it is that of man. The reason why sleep after dinner 
 is said to disagree with everybody is that it is so often inter- 
 rupted that it seldom has fair nlay. Now disturbed sleep 
 we know to be prejudicial at any hour, and if it cannot be 
 obtained without much chance of interruption it is better to 
 avoid it altogether. If, however, an hour, or rather more, 
 can be devoted to a nap, aDd it is found to agree with the 
 individual trying it, the mind will be refreshed as well as the 
 body, and after a cup of tea or coffee the studies may be 
 prosecuted with renewed vigor. Thus I have shown how the 
 studious man can devote sufficient time for the purposes of 
 preserving or restoring his bodily health, and, as we shall 
 hereafter see, enough also to allow him to go into training 
 for any ordinary competition in rowing or pedestrian ex- 
 ercise. Now with regard to the counting-house clerk. 
 Here the hours are fixed, and all that can be done must 
 be done before 9 or 9:30 a. m, or, in the summer sea- 
 son, after office' hours; nevertheless, men have trained 
 themselves in spite of these difficulties, but it is arduous 
 and up-hill work. In the winter season there is no light be- 
 fore eight o'clock, and consequently it is quite out of the 
 question to attempt anything in the way of regular training. 
 Health, however, may be preserved and reparations made 
 for training during the summer. 
 
 For this purpose, the best course to pursue is to arrange 
 so that it shall be positively necessary to walk backwards 
 and forwards to the counting-house night and morning. This 
 is much better than attempting a walk without any special 
 object, for in our climate the obstacles offered by the weather 
 are so numerous that it would be postponed three or four 
 times a week; but when it must be undertaken through all 
 weathers, the benefit to health is fully attained, and the 
 Americaan's privilege to grumble is also gratified. Thus, 
 by devoting only one hour, night and morning, to a four- 
 mile walk to the house of business, sufficient bodily exercise 
 may be obtained to keep the health tolerably good during 
 this season; and in the summer it is possible to extend the 
 walk, or even, by very early rising, to go into actual training 
 for any particular exertion. Wnilst discussing this subject I 
 would strongly impress upon all those who have the manage- 
 
48 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 merit of those establishments where young men are collected 
 for the purposes of trade, that it is very important that some 
 set time should be fixed for their meals. It is, I believe, the 
 custom for one-third, or one-half, of the young men engaged 
 to dine first, and then, as soon as they have hastily swallowed 
 their meal, for the next division to take their places. This 
 plan is supposed to be very advantageous to tne* proprietors; 
 yet even of this fact I am very doubtful; but to the assist- 
 ants it is exceedingly injurious. 
 
 In many cases, ten hours a day (in some few even a longer 
 period) are given up to work, interrupted only by the 
 scramble for a meal. This is more than the human frame 
 is calculated to bear; even the farm laborer, or the " factory 
 hand," is allowed his breakfast and dinner-hour; after which 
 he returns to his work, having laid in a fresh stock of nerv- 
 ous excitability. Tie consequence of the long strain upon 
 the mind and animal spirits is, that at times they are over- 
 powered, and that errors occur that do more harm to the 
 parties interested than is counterbalanced by the apparent 
 saving of time. The above directions are suited to those 
 cases only in which the state of health is still such as to al- 
 low of a prosecution of the usual studies or employment. 
 But there are numerous instances in which the mind and 
 body amboth totally upset,;andin which it is not only prudent, 
 but imperatively necessary to give up all attention to busi- 
 ness. These are somewhat beyond my province, for in such 
 cases the aid of a medical man must always be required, and 
 his counsels ought to be implicitly followed. They also rare- 
 ly occur unattended by such a disordered state of stomach as 
 to require the use of medicine and diet; and, moreover, such 
 cases are tnose in which the moral control and superintend- 
 ence of a judicial medical man are demanded. There may be 
 some few in which change of air and scene, agreeable so- 
 ciety, moderate exercise, etc., would be quite enough; but it 
 is impossible to draw the line in such a way as to be useful, 
 and, therefore, my advice would be such as I have given 
 above. 
 
 Sect. 2. — Actual Training.— General Management and 
 diet. 
 Training for Walking. — Whether the object is to compete 
 in running or walking, a li^ht run before breakfast for half 
 an hour will just empty the small intestines of their last 
 meal, and prepare the stomach for breakfast; more than half 
 an hour, however, I am confident, is too long to wait, espec- 
 ially if, as ought always to be the case, the supper has been 
 a mere apology for that meal. For an hour after breakfast 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 49 
 
 — that is, till near 11 o'clock the pedestrian should amuse him- 
 self as he likes best, with billiards or any other game; but at 
 11 he should be ready dressed in his walking costume, which 
 should be of flannel throughout. For shoes there is nothing 
 like dogskin upper-leathers, and a moderately thick sole for 
 walking, or a much thinner one for running. From 11 till 2, 
 or half-past 2, his first walk should be kept up without stop- 
 ping for a moment — that is to say, after the first week, dur- 
 ing which time he has been gradually increasing the time from 
 an hour and a half to the above lengthened period, in any 
 case the pedestrian should be accompanied by his trainer, 
 who should amuse him as much as possible by anecdote or 
 other mode of conversation. After dinner, one or two hours 
 should be allotted to rest, in the recumbent position on a 
 hard mattress, or horse-hair sofa; after which the same dis- 
 tance should be gone over, or nearly so. It should be borne 
 in mind, that according to the intention of the pedestrian 
 must be the distance over which he is trained; thus, if he is 
 only preparing for a short race, either running or walking, 
 he need only get himself into g;ood health, and keep in that 
 state by the means I have already described ; and, in ad- 
 dition, take two or three hours walking and running exer- 
 cise per day. 
 
 More than this has a tendency to diminish the speed, 
 though, if the intention is to train for a long distance, that 
 quality must, to a certain extent, be sacrificed. There is no 
 question that speed is, to a certain extent, lost, if the work 
 is kept up more than three or four hours a day — that is to 
 say, speed for 100 or 200 yards. But if the object is to at- 
 tain the highest speed for ten or fifteen miles, then the pow- 
 ers of endurance are to be tested; and the training must be 
 not so much at a top speed for that distance, as at a less 
 pace with occasional spirts for five miles farther at the 
 least. The trainer should be a good walker himself, and 
 should draw out the powers of his pupil by walkiug against 
 him, taking care not to dishearten him, even if he has the 
 power, by walking ahead; but just stimulating him by com- 
 petition, and yet keeping up his spirits by allowing him to 
 beat him in the amicable contest. Everything in many 
 cases depends upon mental treatment, and many races are 
 lost by the anxiety which is felt for many days and nights 
 prior to the day of trial. In other animals there is not this 
 knowledge of what is to come; but this is the worst diffi- 
 culty met with in training men, many of whom will lie 
 awaKe night after night from a nervousness as to the result. 
 Hence the trainer should by all means encourage his man, 
 and endeavor to do away this fear of losing by inspiring 
 confidence in his powers on all occasions. 
 
50 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 Training for Running is conducted on similar principles 
 to that for walking, except that it is necessary to avoid too 
 much running work in short matches. Here walking must 
 be made the means of improving the general health, and 
 running only adopted for about the length which is to be ran. 
 Beyond this, long-continued running makes a man slow, and 
 he is apt to get his hands down, a habit which is fatal torun- 
 ning sprints. The trainer will, in preparing his man for 
 these short matches, make him run daily two or three times 
 over the distance intended; and either run against him with 
 a start of a few yards in advance, which gives confidence, or 
 time him exactly, keeping the result to himself. When the 
 distance is a longer one, it must be done once or twice every 
 day, according to its length, at a good speed, and with ail 
 the encouragement and excitement of competition with the 
 trainer. In all cases of training for long distances, at least 
 five or six hours a day must be spent in walking and run- 
 ning, changing from one to the other as a relief during the 
 early part of training; but at last going a little beyond the 
 racing distance every day, unless that is the very outside of 
 which the man is deemed to be capable, when he will be over- 
 worked if he attempts it every day, and he must only do just 
 as much as his trainer thinks he can perform without this in- 
 jurious effect. Man, however, bears severe work in a won- 
 derful manner; and if the appetite continues good and the 
 sleep is sound, without dreaming or starting, the trainer need 
 not be apprehensive that his man is doing too much. 
 
 Reduction of Fat. — It will, I think, generally be advis- 
 able, before commencing strict training, to take an ordinary 
 dose of aperient medicine. This may be either castor oil or 
 Epsom salts and senna, commonly known as black draught 
 or the compound rhubarb pills will answer very well in some 
 persons. If the liver is torpid (which may be known by the 
 pale color of the motions), then five grains of blue pill should 
 be taken at night, and the oil or draught in the morning, 
 and the same should be repeated every two or three days 
 till the color becomes of a good brown or yellow. For any 
 other purpose aperient medicine is to be avoided, and it will 
 generally be found that beyond the first dose, which I think 
 good as clearing off all undigested food, it will seldom be 
 wanted. Some men have such an abundance of fat that 
 they weigh 2 or even 3 st. more than they ought to do. The 
 consequence is that not only is all that weight a dead loss, 
 but the fat itself actually interferes with the due action of the 
 muscles, and especially of the heart. Two modes of sweating 
 may be adopted— one natural, the other artificial; but either 
 should be used the first thing in the morning, rising from 
 bed a little earlier for the express purpose. 
 Natural Sweating is managed by putting on extra cloth- 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 51 
 
 ng over those parts more particularly which are loaded with 
 fat. Thus, if the legs are very fat, two or three pair of 
 trousers should be drawn on; if the abdomen is full, then a 
 double apron of flannel should be suspended from the neck 
 under the trousers; and if the arms and neck are loaued, 
 one, two, or three thick Jerseys may be pulled on, and a 
 woollen shawl wrapped round the neck. When thus clothed, 
 a brisk walk, or slow run of a few miles, bring on a profuse 
 perspiration, which may be kept up for an hour or so, either 
 by being covered up with horse-rugs or a feather-bed, or by 
 lying in front of a good tire. At the expiration of this time 
 the whole of the clothes should be stripped off, beginning 
 with the upper part of the body, and sponging each limb 
 with hot salt and water before drying it with a coarse towel, 
 after which Dinneford's gloves should be used freely, and the 
 dressing may be as usual, taking care to expose each limb 
 as short a time as possible. Such is the natural mode. 
 
 Artificial Sweating consists in the p A an first proposed 
 by Priestnitz, and since then so much used in this country 
 by other practitioners. It is as follows: — The whole boJy 
 should be stripped and immediately wrapped in a sheet 
 wrung out of cold water, but not so as to get rid of ail the 
 water. Then, rolling che patient in a thick blanket, and 
 including the arms like a mummy, he is to be placed be- 
 neath a feather bed, covering all up to the chin. In a 
 quarter of an hour, or rather more, reaction comes on; and 
 a most profuse perspiration breaks out over the face, and, in 
 fact, over the whole body. Among the hydropathists it is 
 usual to supply the patient liberally with cold water, by 
 small draughts at a time, during the sweat; but for our 
 purpose this is not desirable, because it causes too great an 
 action on the kidneys, thereby weakening the frame consid- 
 erably. When this sweating has continued from an hour 
 to an hour and a half, everything should be taken off, and 
 cold water poured over the whole body, either by means of a 
 shower-bath or common watering pot; then rub dry and 
 clothe. 
 
 This artificial mode of sweating is not so likely to give cold 
 as the natural one, and it does not exhaust and tire the frame 
 nearly so much. It also produces great buoyancy of spirits, 
 and it may be graduated much more exactly. It has, how- 
 ever, the disadvantage of producing liability to boils, which, 
 in the rower, are sufficiently annoying without this sweating 
 process. Wherever there is an unusual colleciion of fat, on 
 that part must, in either mode, be heaped a greater amount 
 of clothing, and especially if the shoulders should be clogged 
 and loaded. No one can reach well over his toes if his shoul- 
 der blades are confined, or if his abdomen is too bulky ; and 
 
52 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST, 
 
 the first thing to be done is to sweat down the fat as I have 
 described. Either of the above processes may be repeated 
 two or three times a week, and they tire far better than night 
 sweating by Dover's powder or any of the sweating liquors 
 which formerly were so much recommended. 
 
 Use Sweating Liquors. — Whatever medicine is taken for 
 this purpose, it would oe unsafe either to use cold water 
 next morning, or to expose the body as in rowing; and 
 therefore they are quite inadmissible in an exercise which 
 positively necessitates exposure of the body. It has been 
 long held that for long continued or fast work sweating 
 medicines are absolutely necessary; and no doubt many of 
 our best runners have used them. I believe, however, in all 
 cases, the hydropathic wet sheet packing will be found far 
 better for pedestrian purposes. It gives much greater light- 
 ness of spirits, more agility of limb, and less tendency to 
 rheumatic stiffness. Let any person make trial of it and he 
 will "throw physic to the dogs " ever afterwards, at least 
 for this purpose. It may be used twice or even thrice a 
 week, before breakfast, and 1 l-21b. to 21b. or ever 31b. may 
 be got off each time it is applied. In sweating for pedestri- 
 an^purposes the arms and body should be clothed much 
 heavier than the legs. The great object is first to unload 
 the great viscera from all fat interfering with their functions, 
 and next to reduce the absolute weight of the whole body 
 above the hips, including the abdomen, chest, neck, and 
 arms, which are all of little use in walking or running as 
 compared with the legs. 
 
 It is very easy to apply the wet sheet exclusively to the 
 trunk and arms and to clothe the legs only slightly, or 
 only just so much a& to prevent a chill. Natural sweating 
 is wholly inadmissible in this kind of training, since it short- 
 ens the stride, from the quantity of clothing, and makes the 
 pace slow, slovenly and dull; the choice, therefore, is be- 
 tween the wet sheet packing and a sweat by a scruple of 
 Dover's powders at night, or half a pint of whey made with 
 white wine, aad with thirty drops each of antimonial wine 
 and sweet spirits of nitre added. This is, no doubt, a strong 
 sweater, but it upsets the stomach and leaves the skin to be 
 eas ; ly chilled. In any case the whole body should be rubbed 
 with gloves night and morning. 
 
 The Following Diet will, I think, be found the best for 
 all training purposes: 
 
 Breakfast.— There is no doubt that the very be3t food for 
 this meal is oatmeal porridge, with the addition of a certain 
 allowance of beef or mutton, and a little bread; but many 
 have the greatest objection to this diet, and never eat it with- 
 out loathing. For them, I believe the next best beverage ig 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 53 
 
 a pint of table-beer, home-made, and not too strong, and 
 giving with it a larger allowance of bread. It is not desir- 
 able to stint the appetite, unless very enormous, or unless 
 there is a great superabundance of fat; but I believe it will, 
 in most cases, be found more advantageous to reduce the 
 weight by work and sweating, than by starvation. The be3t 
 mode of dressing the meat is to broil it; and here I must say 
 a word about the degree of cookery to which it should be 
 subjected. It i3 generally directed that the steak or chop 
 should be quite underdone; this, I am sure, is a fallacy. In 
 broiling, very little nutriment is lost, after the outside is once 
 caught by the Are. Now, if nothing is lost, there is much 
 gained by keeping the steak on the gridiron till properly 
 done through; for the food is rendered much more palatable 
 to mo3t, and certainly more digestible to all. I have known 
 many Who were thoroughly disgusted by their "red rags," 
 as they have called their underdone steaks, and, from their 
 dislike to such food, were quite unable to digest them. Tea 
 and coffee are uot good for training purposes, though I do 
 not think them so bad as is generally supposed, if not taken 
 too strong; cocoa is too greasy, and not so good as tea — 
 which, if taken, should not be green. 
 
 I am inclined to thick, that in those cases where tea or 
 coliee is habitually taken, and porridge or beer is much dis- 
 liked, it is better to allow them than to attempt too great an 
 alteration in diet. Butter, sauces, and spices should be care- 
 fully avoided; and nothing but salt, and a very slight dash 
 of black pepper used as a condiment. 
 
 Dinner. — This important meal should consist of roast beef 
 or mutton, or, occasionally, a boiled leg of mutton may be 
 allowed as a change; but veal, pork, and salt beef or bacon 
 should be avoided; also goose, duck, and wildfowl generally. 
 Roast fowls, or partridges, or pheasants, are very good food. 
 Hare is too apt to be accompanied by high-seasoned stuffing, 
 without which it is scarcely palatable. Nothing is better 
 than venison, when come-at-able; but it should be eaten 
 without seasoned sauce or currant jelly. As to vegetables, 
 potatoes may be eaten, but very sparingly— not more than 
 one or two at a meal; cauliflower or broccoli only as an oc- 
 casional change, and no other vegetable is allowable. Bread 
 may be given ad libitum, and about a pint to a pint and a 
 half of good sound home-made beer. If this does not agree, 
 a little sherry and water, or claret and water, may be allowed 
 with the meal; and a glass or two of the former wine, or of 
 good sound port, after dinner. 
 
 When the training is continued for any length of time, and 
 the previous habits of the party have accustomed the stom- 
 ach to it, I have found the occasional use of white fish— such 
 
51 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 as cod or soles — a very useful change. Nothing disorders 
 the stomach of man more than keeping to one diet, and this 
 must be constantly borne in mind by the trainer. The 
 round he can make is no:, very extensive, but let him by all 
 means stretch it to the utmost limits of which it is capable. 
 It is even desirable to give an occasional pudding, but it 
 should always have bread for its foundation. A good cook 
 will easily make a very palatable pudding of bread with a 
 little milk and an egg or two, ana this, served up with fresh 
 green gooseberries boiled, or in any common preserve, is by 
 no means disagreeable to the palate or unwholesome to the 
 stomach; but let it be only as a change, not as otherwise 
 useful. The grand articles of diet are beef and mutton, with 
 bread or porridge, and if the stomach and palate would ac- 
 cept them gratefully, no change would be neceessary ; but, 
 as they seldom will, the Lest plan is not to attempt too 
 much. 
 
 Supper. — Many trainers object to this meal; but I am sat- 
 isfied, from experience, that unless the training is of so long 
 a duration as to thoroughly accustom the stomach to the 
 long fast from dinner to the next morning, it is much better 
 to allow a light meal at eight o'clock. Oatmeal porridge is 
 for this purpose the best; and no one will be the worse for a 
 pint of it, with some dry toast to eat with it, or soaked in the 
 porridge itself. I do not believe that meat is ever neces- 
 sary at night, except in very delicate constitutions, who re- 
 quire unusual support. For such cases I have found a chop 
 at night, with a glass of port wine, or even of eg^ and sher- 
 ry, a very valuable means of keeping up the strength. In- 
 deed, it will be found that no absolute rule can be laid down 
 for all cases; and the trainer requires great experience and 
 aptness for his task to enable him to bring all his men out 
 in the same degree of relative strength. Notbing is so likely 
 to destroy a boat's chance as a variable state of condition 
 in the component parts of the crew. It is far better that all 
 should tire equally, than that half should shut up early in 
 the race, while the others are capable of using their full 
 strength. » 
 
 Hence, as I have before remarked, some will require much 
 more liberal and generous diet than others. If, for instance, 
 the habit is gross, and the appetite good, it will be needful 
 to allow only the plainest diet, and to vary it very little. By 
 this precaution, enough, and not too much, is sure to be 
 taken, and the amount of work will insure its digestion. If, 
 on the other hand, the constitution is delicate, with a want 
 of appetite, want of digestion, and tendency to too great a 
 loss of flesh, then it is desirable to allow considerable change 
 from day to day; and, as far as is prudent, to comply witU 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 55 
 
 the particular fancies of the palate. Many stomachs bear 
 port wine well; and in those who have a tendency to diar- 
 rhoea it is often indispensable. Others, again, are purged by 
 oatmeal, and this is a sufficient reason for avoiding porridge. 
 In some all the bread should be toasted, to prevent diarrhoea, 
 whilst in others, when constipation is present, coarse brown 
 bread, make from the genuine undressed flour, is a good 
 remedy tor that troublesome evil. Whatever bread is eaten 
 should be two days old, and the beef and mutton hung as 
 long as the weather will permit. The best part of a sheep 
 for chops is the leg of a two or three-year-old wether; and 
 for steaks, a well-hung rump or the inside of a sirloin. 
 
 It is often the practice to allow the crew to put into a 
 river-side tavern duringHhe hours of practice, and take half 
 a pint or a pint of beer or poster each. This plan I am sure is 
 bad, the strength ought never to depend on immediate stimuli, 
 and it is far better to shorten the practice than to keep it up 
 by these means. I am quite sure that in training there are 
 very few who require more than three pints, or at the outside 
 two quarts of good beer per day, of the strength of five 
 bushels to the hogshead; and the average quantity required 
 is certainly not more than two pints and a half per man. 
 Allowance must of course be made for previous habits, and 
 for strength or weakness of constitution. In the early days 
 of practice, and in the race itself, great distress sometimes 
 occurs; there is considerable blueness of face from conges- 
 tion, and the breathing is labored and difficult. The best 
 remedy for this state is a glass of warm brandy and water, 
 and plenty of hard friction on the feet, legs and thighs; or, 
 if it still persists, a warm bath at 98 degrees. 
 
 Sect. III. 
 
 Treatment of Accidents Occurring in Training. 
 
 Blisters of the Hands and Feet.— These troublesome 
 little companions occur either on the hands from rowing, or 
 on the feet from walking; in both cases without due prepara- 
 tion. They also occur in a still more troublesome situation, 
 either from the thwart in rowing, or from the saddle in rid- 
 ing; but in the latter case only in the very raw and young 
 equestrian. Should they arise on the hands, they should be 
 pricked with a fine needle, if this can be done before 
 they have burst. The needle should be inserted obliquely, 
 and the watery fluid contained in the blister should then be 
 pressed out; and this should be repeated as soon as the blis- 
 ter has filled a second or third time. In this way the contact 
 of the air is avoided, and in two days the true skin becomes 
 
56 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 protected by a new cuticle or scarf-skin. If, unfortunately, 
 the blister is broken, the best plan is to apply some collo- 
 dion with a brush ; but it gives considerable pain and seldom 
 remains on more than six hours, after which time it requires 
 renewal. If the pain of this i3 objected to, then apply either 
 finely carded (medicated) cotton in a thin layer under a kid 
 glove, or finely powdered gum arabic; but in either case the 
 hands must be kept from water carefully till the expiration 
 of twenty-four hours. 
 
 If possible, three days should elapse before the oar is again 
 taken in hand; but if the oarsman cannot be spared, a kid 
 glove should be put on over the collodion. When the. feet 
 are the seat of the mischief, there is the same necessity for 
 the preservation of the cuticle, and the needle should be 
 used in the same way; if, however, this protection is remov- 
 ed, a piece of fine kid should be spread with soap plaister, 
 and applied over the skin, extending for at least half an inch 
 beyond the blister in every direction. This treatment an- 
 swers on the feet, while on the hands it is wholly useless, 
 because the friction of the oar soon rubs off the plaster, while 
 under the shoe it remains tolerably well and smoothly ap- 
 plied. Where the blister exists on the seat of honor, in con- 
 sequence of the friction of the thwart, it is very difficult to 
 manage, and I have seen hundreds of men with their flannel 
 trousers extensively stained with blood from this cause. 
 Collodion is the best remedy, but even that is of little use, 
 and the only plan I have ever known at all effectual is to 
 wear a pair of tight, wash-leather drawers, extending only a 
 few inches down the thighs. If these are made to fit very 
 nicely, and are well oiled with neatsfoot oil, they will af- 
 ford astonishing relief, and enable a man with extensive 
 " raws " to row with tolerable ease and comfort; they re- 
 quire, however, to be carefully cleaned and oiled each time 
 they are worn, without which attention they are worse than 
 useless. 
 
 Corns and Bunions. — Blisters are troublesome enough to 
 the pedestrian, but corns are a thousand times worse. The 
 former are only temporary evils, whilst the latter are a per- 
 petual source of discomfort and misery. Corns are of two 
 kinds, haid and soft; and this distinction is not only depend- 
 ent upon situation, as some people imagine, for the essence 
 end even the cause of a soft corn are entirely different and 
 distinct from those producing the hard variety. The soft 
 corn occurs only between the toes, and partakes more of a 
 warty character than that of the true corn. There is really 
 a growth of the cutis or true skin, which shoots up some 
 little sprouts covered with a cheesey matter, and these be- 
 come exquisitely painful if pressed upon by the adjoining toe. 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 57 
 
 On the other hand, the true or hard corn is simply an effort 
 of Nature to protect a part unduly pressed upon; but the 
 effort is carried to an inordinate extent. It is an over secre- 
 tion or formation of cuticle, which, as it becomes thicker and 
 harder, is again pressed into the inflamed cutis by the shoe, 
 and thus, by acting as a foreign body, aggravates the mis- 
 chief, and causes it also to react on itself, by increasing the 
 already inordinate secretion of cuticle. 
 
 Thus these causes act and react on each other, till you 
 often rind a deep process or processes of hardened cuticle 
 driven into the skin, and which are often called by the corn- 
 cutter the root or roots of the corn. But it must be under- 
 stood that these do not grow first, but are the last results of 
 a very obstinate and long-standing mischief. In all cases 
 the corn, first of all, has no root whatever; its growth is not 
 from within outwards, but from without inward, and the 
 term "root," therefore, is misapplied. Many tricks are 
 passed off upon the credulous patients of the corn-cutter, by 
 passing off' pieces of quill or nail, or horn, as extracted from 
 thexorn, and often a fee is charged for each root removed. 
 I have known thirty-six guineas charged for as many " roots " 
 extracted at one sitting, and paid, too, for an operation 
 which has afforded only present relief. Bunions are differ- 
 ent in appearance and character from either hard or soft 
 corns; they are frequently caused by pressure, but in them 
 the skin is not the seat of the inflamation, but the synovial 
 bag on the inner side of the ball of the great toe, or sometimes 
 on the outer side of the middle of the foot, or on the instep. 
 In all cases they are soft, pulpy, bag-like projections, often, 
 though not always, without hardness or roughness of skin. 
 They are attended with great pain and tenderness, and cause 
 considerable lameness. 
 
 The treatment of soft corns should be as follows: With the 
 nail pick off as much of the cheesy matter as can be re- 
 moved; then, if the next day can be given up, apply a piece 
 of lunar caustic to the surface, rubbing it pretty well in, but 
 avoiding contact with the adjoining skin. After this, keep a 
 piece of carded cotton between the toes night and day, and 
 it will be found that after twenty-four hours' rest all pain will 
 have disappeared, the surface will have lost it3 moisture, 
 and will have become hard, black and dry. If the cotton is 
 renewed daily this state of ease will be maintained for a week 
 or ten days; but then it is necessary to pick off the black- 
 ened surface and reapply the caustic, again using the carded 
 cotton. This second application will probably last a fort- 
 night, but by that time the edges of the blackened cuticle be- 
 come loose, and the application should be repeated ; but not, 
 in all probability, till three weeks have elapsed. In this way, 
 
58 HOW TG BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 by three or four applications, the most obstinate and painful 
 soft corns yield to treatment and become permanently cured; 
 but the skin between the toes should be kept constantly 
 washed and rubbed with a soft towel, so as to remove 
 every particle of secretion daily. 
 
 With regard to hard corns, nothing will be effectual as a 
 cure unless the pressure which caused them is discontinued. 
 In that case they require very little treatment; but if it is 
 continued, as it must be when they occur on the sole of the 
 foot, the only remedies are palliative, and require constant 
 and careful repetition. Corn-cutters are constantly holding 
 out certain hopes of a cure, but this is a fraud upon the un- 
 wary, and only leads to the picking of their pockets. It is 
 quite true that a skillful corn-cutter will remove, without 
 pain, every vestige of a corn, and will give instant and en- 
 tire relief; but this only lasts for a fortnight or three weeks, 
 the time varying according to the rapidity of growth in each 
 particular case. Any one, however, who has the use of his 
 hands may readily treat his own corns, if he will attend to 
 the following directions:— In the first place, the cuticle 
 should never be allowed to <rrow to such a degree as to occa- 
 sion pain ; it should be carefully removed before that time, 
 and the best instrument for its removal is a pair of nail-scis- 
 sors; with these a small piece of the thickened cuticle should 
 be caught hold of and raised from its bed at *,he same time, 
 then gradually closing the blades, it is removed without any 
 great pain; for if much is given, it is only necessary to raise 
 the scissors still more, and, as it were, drag the corn out of 
 its bed, when the pain ceases, and the excision of that por- 
 tion is effected. 
 
 After removing this small slice, another adjoining slice is 
 to be taken hold of and removed in the same way, till all 
 vestige of the hardened cuticle is gone; after which the part 
 may either be covered with a piece of wash-leather spread 
 with soap-plaister, or left to its fate. The former is of 
 course the better plan; but, if the corn is removed as often 
 and as fast as it grows, there is no necessity for adopting it. 
 On the sole of the foot the scissors cannot be used, and 
 this is the most unmanageable situation by far. It is almost 
 impossible for the sufferer to cut these himself, either with a 
 knife or scissors; aud he should remove them either, when 
 dry, with a piece of coarse sandpaper fixed on a rounded 
 surface, or, when soaked, with a piece of pumicestone. This 
 treatment will suffice for corns which are troublesome while 
 training; but when rest can be given they should be re- 
 moved, either with caustic, as described for the soft corn, or 
 with tinnture of iodine applied with a paint-brush. In either 
 case the cuticle should be first pared down, and then one or 
 
HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 59 
 
 other of the above remedies should be applied; but the in- 
 flammation, especially after the second application, is con- 
 siderable, and rest must generally be given. They are both, 
 therefore, inadmissible in training. Bunions should have 
 two or three leeches applied to them every other day for a 
 week, after which they may be left alone till the bites are 
 well, and then they should be brushed with tincture of 
 iodine every third day. This treatment will generally suf- 
 fice, but not in very obstinate cases. Such cases, however, 
 are sek'om adapted for training, and therefore are not within 
 my province. 
 
 Boils. — These are an effort of nature to get rid of a dead 
 piece of cellular membrane by means of inflammatory ac- 
 tion. In consequence of some peculiar condition of the 
 blood, of the exact nature of which little is known, a death 
 (or sloughing, as it is called) of a portion of cellular mem- 
 brane takes place under the true skin ; to remove tnis for- 
 eign body nature sets up an inflammation, which is invaria- 
 bly of a slow and congestive character. It appears as if the 
 poisonous nature of • the slough irritates the surrounding 
 parts to such a degree as in some measure to interfere with 
 the process of absorption, and consequently a painful and 
 hardened circle of swelled and reddened skin is formed 
 around the dead cell. In most cases the thickening is so 
 great, as to stop the circulation in the interior of the circle, 
 and the boil remains stationary for a long time. The only 
 remedy for this condition is either application of some 
 stimulating greasy application — such as a linseed poultice, 
 or the division by means of a knife. Either of these reme- 
 dies more or less speedily put an end to the inactive condi- 
 tion, and then a healthy suppurgation goes on to remove the 
 cell, and by throwing up fresh granulations, as they are 
 called, to restore what has been removed. Such is the na- 
 ture and ordinary treatment of a boil; but In training it is 
 almost impossible to bear the use of the knife if the boil is 
 on any part which is subject to much friction. 
 
 In other situations it may be used, but if a toil occurs on 
 the seat of the rower, as is often the case, if the knife is used 
 at least a week or ten days musi be lost before the patient 
 can expose the raw surface to the friction of the ihwart. 
 Here, therefore, the best plan is to apply a plaister, spread on 
 leather, and composed of equal parts of mercurial and opiate 
 plaister. This stimulates and relaxes the inflamed vessels, 
 and the opiate relieves the pain to a great degree; but even 
 this is only a partial remedy, as without rest it is impossible 
 entirely to relieve boils. To those who are known to be sub- 
 ject to boils I would recommend, as a prevention, the use of 
 a wash of nitrate of silver of the strength of 15 to 20 grains 
 
60 HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST. 
 
 to the ounce. This should be painted over the part every 
 night, and will, of course, turn it more or less black; but it 
 seems to give tone to the vessels, and to prevent that low 
 and congestive state which precedes the death of the cellular 
 membrane; at all events it prevents the formation of boils. 
 
 Hernia or Rupture is a mechanical protrusion of a por- 
 tion of intestine, and, in the ordinary way, may oe either at 
 the naval or at the groin. Wherever it is it requires the 
 constant use (by day only) of a truss; and all that is requir- 
 ed is, that the instrument should be exactly adapted to the 
 part which it has to perform. A rupture may be generally 
 distinguished from other tumors, even by an unskilled per- 
 son, if the hand is placed upon it during the act of cough- , 
 ing. At the moment when the cough is heard, a strong im- 
 pulse will be given to the hand, and the hernia will for a mo- 
 ment appear much harder and somewhat larger. This 
 peculiar sensation can scarcely be mistaken, and the sufferer 
 should at once proceed to a good surgical instrument maker 
 for the purpose of being fitted with a good truss. 
 
 Hgemorrhoids, or, as they are commonly called, piles, are 
 very often exceedingly troublesome in training; they are 
 generally symptomatic of congestion of the liver, and are 
 relieved by those measures which remove that condition, 
 The reason for this is obvious—the veins which return the 
 blood to the heart from the lower bowels pass througk the 
 liver in their way, and consequently, whatever impedes the 
 passage of the blood through them has a tendency to pro- 
 duce the effect on the hoemorrhodial veins. Hoemorrhoids 
 are, in fact, varicose veins in the rectum, sometimes bleed- 
 ing in consequence of their walls giving way; they are also 
 divided into externa) and internal piles, the distinction, how- 
 ever, being only one of situation. It will be unnecessary 
 for me to describe the appearance of these troublesome little 
 swelllings, as they are so exceedingly common as to be well 
 known to almost every one. In their treatment three points 
 are to be attended to — first, to unload the liver; secondly, 
 to prevent mechanical irritation by the presence and pas- 
 sage of solid foeces; and, thirdly, to allay the inflammation 
 already existing by local remedies. The first and second of 
 these objects may generally be combined, but in very badly 
 congestive states of the liver a dose or two of blue pill must 
 be given in addition to this remedy. It should be avoided, 
 however, if possible, as its immediate effect is rather to ag- 
 gravate than allay the local irritation. 
 
 [THE END.] 
 
THE GOLDEN WEEKLY 
 
 Is a Large 16 Page, Illustrated Story 
 and Sketch Paper for Both Young 
 and Old. Its Stories Cannot be 
 Surpassed, and Its Authors 
 Have a National Reputa- 
 tion. Read the Follow- 
 ing Array of Talent 
 Who Write Ex. 
 clusively for 
 
 THE GOLDEN WEEKLY: 
 
 Alexander Douglas (Scotland Yard Detective) — 
 Tom Teaser— H. K. Shackleford— Ralph Mor- 
 ton — Allan Arnold— J. T. Brougham — Hal 
 Standish— A. F. Hill— D. W, Stevens— Tom 
 Fox (Philadelphia Detective) — Frank 
 Forrest — John Sherman — Horace Ap- 
 pleton — Richard R. Montgomery — 
 Col. Ralph Fenton— Percy B. St. 
 John — Capt. Geo, Granville, 
 U.S.A. — Alexander Arm- 
 strong — James D, Mon- 
 tague, and many others. 
 
 THE GOLDEN WEEKLY 
 
 For the year 1889 will be sent to yonr address, post-paid, tor 
 $2.50; for six months, $1.25; and for three months, 65 cents. 
 
 CLUB KATES : 
 
 For every club of five names, sent at one time, together with 
 the subscription price, we will send one copy free. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent to your address, post- 
 paid, on receipt of price. Address 
 
 FRANK TOTTSEY, Publisher, 
 
 Sox 3730. 34 and 36 North Moore Street, K. I. 
 
SOME GREAT STORIES 
 
 Published in the 
 
 OYS STAR 
 
 32 Pages. 5 Cents. 
 
 106 Simple Silas Among the Moonshiners, by Harry Rockwoo<2 
 
 107 The Black Band, by Paul Br iddon 
 
 108 Pacific Dick, the Pirates' Dread, by J. G. Bradle7 
 
 109 Shorthand Dick ; or, The Young Reporter in Omaha, 
 
 by Robert Maynard 
 
 110 The Mystic " 7 ;" or, The Terror of the Bandits, 
 
 by Gaston Game 
 
 111 Little Crow; or, The Tomahawk and Scalping Knife 
 
 in Minnesota, by Robert Lennox 
 
 112 The Tattooed Hand, by Paul Braddon 
 
 113 Lost in New York ; or, A Country Boy's Adventures, 
 
 by C. Little 
 
 114 Simple Silas and the Night-Riders, by Harry Rock wood 
 
 115 The Ocean Scout; or, Captain Low's Last Cruise, 
 
 by Don Jenardo 
 
 116 The Haunted Island, by Robert Lennox 
 
 117 Torpedo Tom ; or, What a Yankee Boy Can Do, 
 
 by Howard De Vere 
 
 118 Lightning Joe, by R. T. Emmet 
 
 119 Among the Thugs; or, Two Yankee Boys in India, 
 
 by Hal Standish 
 
 120 Young Phenix ; or, Avenged From the Grave, 
 
 by Gaston Game 
 
 121 General Grant's Boy Spy;or,/The Hero cf Five 
 
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 122 The Pearl of the Border; or, The Girl Avenger, 
 
 by Robert Maynard 
 
 123 The Boy Captives ol the Zulus; or, Held For Ran- 
 
 som, by Capt. Geo. Granville, U. S. A. 
 
 124 The Invisible Scout, by P. T. Raymond 
 
 125 The Mysterious Five; or, The Terror of the Bandits, 
 
 by Paul Braddon 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent to any address on receipt 
 of price, 5 cents, by 
 
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 Box 2730. 34 and 36 North Moore St., N. Y. 
 
HAVE YOU READ ABOUT 
 
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 Below You Will Find a Complete List of the 
 
 FRANK READE STORIES 
 
 Published in The 
 
 5 Cent Wide Awake Library 
 
 No. 541 Frank Reade, and His Steam Man of the Plains. 
 
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 Greatest Flight. 
 
 No. 750 Frank Reade, Jr., Exploring Mexico in His New Air- 
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 No. 791 The Electric Man; or, Frank Reade, Jr., in Australia. 
 
 No. S15 The Electric Horse: or, Frank Reade, Jr., and His 
 Father in Search of the Lost Treasure of the Peruvians. 
 
 No. 849 Frank Reade, Jr.'s Chase through the Cloud3. 
 
 No. 855 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Team. 
 
 No. 877 Frank Reade, Jr's, Search For a Sunken Ship. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or, sent by return mail on re- 
 ceipt of price, 5 cents per copy. Adress 
 
 FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 
 
 34 & 36 North Moore Street, 
 
 P. O. Box 2730. New York, 
 
EXCITING STORIES 
 
 Published in the 
 
 hi York DetectiYB Iran. 
 
 Price 10 Cents Each. 32 Pages. 
 
 842 Chasing the James Boys ; or, A Detective's Dangerous 
 
 Case, by D. W. Stevens. 
 
 343 A Masked Mystery ; or, Tracking a Bird of Prey, 
 
 by J. T. Brougham. 
 
 844 An American Detective in Egypt; or, Exciting Work 
 
 Amoiig the Pyramids, by Allan Arnold. 
 
 845 A Pile of Bricks; "or, Old King Brady and the Box of 
 
 Rubies, by A New York Detective. 
 
 846 " 3-4-6-9 ;" or, The Bank Burglars' League, by A, F. Hill. 
 
 347 The Johnstown Detective ; or, Tracking the Robbers of 
 
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 348 The James Boys and the Detectives, by D. W. Stevens. 
 
 349 Young Royal, the "Always on Time" Detective and 
 
 Bis Horse of Many Disguises, by Old Cap Lee. 
 
 350 The Padded Room; or, A Detective's Search for an 
 
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 351 The Lightning Change Detective, by Allan Arnold. 
 
 352 C. O. D. ; or, The Mystery of a Trunk, 
 
 by Police Captain Howard. 
 
 353 1001 ; or, The Detective's Mysterious Foes, 
 
 by J. T. Brougham. 
 
 354 The Belt of Gold ; or, Old Kins Brady in Peru, 
 
 by A New York Detective. 
 
 355 1 Against 100; or, Working a Clew "in the Dark, 
 
 by Allan Arnold. 
 
 356 The James Boys ; or, The Bandit King's Last Shot, 
 
 by D. W. Stevens. 
 
 357 An Iron Bound Keg; or, the Error that Cost a Life, 
 
 by Old Cap Lee. 
 
 358 Sam Sixkiller, the Cherokee Detective ; or, The James 
 
 Boys' Most Dangerous Foe, by D. W. Stevens. 
 
 359 Old King Brady and the James Boys. 
 
 by A New York Detective. 
 
 360 Nick Neverseen ; or, The Invisible Detective. A Start- 
 
 ling Story of Two Great Cities, 
 
 by Police Captain Howard. 
 
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