The New York herald., 1869-06-12
GYMNASTICS.

rnefr History, Influence and Futnrc-The
I,.aerent Observation-Disclosures of Physical
CuIfure-Manly Games of the Ancients--
Modern Gymnas,ics--Thc ''Turners."
Benjamin West, our famous fellow countryman,
thus described in the London Academy OF Fine Arts
the impression the first sight of the Vatican Apollo
had made on hm:-"The most distinguished con-
noisseurs at Rome IN whose company visited the
nost holy spot OF art, were wondering what impress
sion that greatest master work OF sculpture would
make on an American who had never seen the
relics OF antique art Carried away by admiration, l
exclaimed, How like young warrior OF Mohawk y
The astonishment Of the connoisseurs changed into
Indignation over this paradoxical utterance till
had shown them how many similarites there existed
between the sublime beauty Of the Greek god and
that OF an uncivzed Tor rather uncorrupted) Ameri-
san sayage.m
Strength OF the body suppleness of the limbs, high
courage, keen senses, ajoyous feeling OF health the
faculty OF sound though simple reasoning, eoquence,
and, where untainted by corupting influences,
tiealistlc beauty indeed characteristics Of the
savage son OF NATURE whose lifelike portrait we ind
In Cooper's classic novels. Compare with him the
average creature Of our civilized, speculating
moneJ hunting age. What q contrast There q
crafty and vigorous man; here O 'smart" looking
partially or wholly weak-limbed, pale-faced, short
boon If It mako ninety-fve short-ived weaklngs
out Of every hundred of usf The answer is simply
this-The development Of the Intellectual faculties
and even of mere artificial technicaD dexterty, as
favored by the tendency OF civilization gives prepon-
derance to mental cultivation at the expense OF the
body impairs health and vigor the power Of physi-
cal enduranc and the keenness OF the senses. Add
70 this an over-refned, over.comfortable and
luxurious mode Of living, combined with
and the Inevitable result viii be decline OF indi-
vdual health and corresponding degeneration OF
our race The nervous system Is overstrained, the
muscular system remains undeveloped, and the re-
suit Is disease and weakness, as aoundantly shown
by our medical statistics.
But, again, Is there no culture possible without
enfeeblementY Is man necessarily destined to eX.
tremesf Cannot this enfeeblement, If not quite re-
moved, at least be limited TO o certain extents
These questions we propose TO answer Whoever
conceves that the man OF nature perfects himself
without any art to physical ideal solely through
exercise and physical invigoratlon, and whoever
conceves that want of motion, Of exercise and of
strength ening the body eneebles millions OF civil
tied individuals, cannot but wish that IN education
iDvIgorating bodily exercises should have place.
The system OF these exercises which has been taken
to- to develop the body and thereby to pro-
mote Dealth longevity, power OF endurance and of
action, dexterity and beauty, has been called gym
nastics."
GENERAL NECESSITY OF GYMNAsTICs.
There s no class, no calling. no sex, no age which
should altogether dispense with gymnastics.
great mass of the people DO heavy work, whereby
She body acquir es a strong, bony system, plump
force ana an inevitable awkwardness. With farm.
ers, laborers and wor kingmen 1t Is certain small
part Of the muscles only which Is daily for the
largest part OF their lives set IN motion, while The
Qya
weaker through the lasting friction and the pressure
Of those moved: second class is more frequently
occupled with lighter work in the open air, with
greater change Of limbs put In action and OF the DO
ution OF the body, as for instance, the and
the carpenter. These TWO are indeed superior the
former class as regards strength and dexterity.
Both classes, however, are endowed with those fine
then, there the third class which Is far more nu,
merous than the first and second. II works in shops
srd srs e ,hs saa 1fes t wnou. 9oay eXerton
heritage OF this classexceptions there are Of course
In each-is relax alton Of the muscles, weakness.
hhealth emotton, but little dexterity disposition
TO Mysteries and hypochondrIa often degenerating
INTO ianatcism, yisionarism or sentimentality.
Thousands annually perish through falling Sy so acs
dent, on even ground, on stairs, small bridges.
through being run over by runaway horses through
IRE or on railroads and steamboats, only because
they are IN a moment Of danger awkward, weak,
disposed 10 dizziness, because they have not the
pluck or the courage 10 help themselves with celery
and adroitness. Place well-trained man. a sea
iradesman in one and the same danger and il Is
more than likely that the first will themselves
while the second would perish. 1t is obvious that
ill-health and want OF physical resistance oppress
the most highly cultured persons Digent Intel
lectual labor and continual rest OF the body may
gradually enfeeble the strongest physique Real cui.
ture means the harmony In the development OF mind
and body, the mems sdad ~ corpo'e salso, not an
enervatlng over-re1nement. lt IL to regain this
been neglected for some time, have been
Germans, who have got for Il the word .'Turnenr-
10 turn, TO swing to move actively. Absence OF
tenness, hfelessness and death. Gymnastics offer
this element Of healthy lie IN the competest man
THE sYMNAsrIc EXERCISES
are divided Into Tree exercises aud exercises at the
der the limbs supple and TO prepare the gymnast for
the more arduous exercises at the apparatus, The
elementary exercises OF the first kind standing and
marclinel teach the gymnast 10 breathe naturally
white undergoing eXerton (this Is OF great lmpof-
tance) aud, II conducted in the proper spirit, they
materially aid In impantlng that spirit Of order and
discipline which cannot be estimated too highly In
socleties consisting Of many members. These ex.
erclses are mostly performed simultaneously by
number OF gymnasts at the command OF teacher.
The exercises at the apparatus are executed ny
ing 10 whether they are simple or compii.
Gated Beginners have, Of course, first TO master
To the more difficult ones. The apparatus In use
are:-l. The vaulting buck, square box, eighteen
70 twenty-four Inches stuffed and nxed on four
scopic legs IDS ls used Tor practising sprnging.
q fhe vauting horse, larger and higher apparatus
OF a similar KIND, with pommels on the top and the
legs with slides TO raise tue horse from three and
half to six feet. B. The rack horizontal bar for
hanging and swinging, siraining every limb IN sue
cession IA q favorte exercise IN the gymnasium,
from the variety Of changes which can be performed
on II. 4. The parallel bars, egg shaped and easily
grasped are fixed on four posts. parallel to each
other the distance from bar TO bar IA eighteen
inches. The exercises at the parallel bars are ex-
tremey useful for expanding the cheHt. but they
should be practised IN moderation or they will do
more harm than good. Besides these apparatus
may be mentioned the trapeze, the rings the swing
ing rope, the ladders, the climbing pole, balancing
beam, clubs, dumb bells weights for throwing. An
tagonistic exercises are wrestling, boxing, fighting.
Of gymnastic games, base ball, crcketing and row
ing may be mentioned; also velocipedlsn, though Il
~ not good form OF gymnastics. Out door exer-
cines strengthening large part OF the muscles are
also riding and swimming.
INDOOR GYMNASTICS.
pair OF dumb bells and horizontal bar fastened
between two door posts are good ennipment for M.