The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-06-16
The "Fat Contributors in the
Gymnasium.

have got gymnastics very bad now.
The gentleman in attendance says it is
the worst case of gymnastics he has ever
known. work hard every afternoon
and try my best to follow the directions
l read somewhere that when weary with
one kind of exercise person should
change it for another Climbing the LAD
der the other day | got tired when near
the top and let 90 so as TO try something
else. Failing thirty>two feet or so and
striking the floor in sitting posture tired
it rather severely.
am progressing finely in the art cf
jumping. | would never set up claim
as champion iumpist, however, for fear
some one would come along and 'jump"
my claim attempted to throw a SOM
ersault. Succeeded in throwing half Of
it and then stuck fast, when friend
kindly stepped forward and threw the
other half for me. 1t is hard on the back
where you only throw half a somersault,
one by to take the job Off my hands, or
l might never got over it.
The gymnasts in the circus who per-
form on the horizontal bar have always
challenged my admiration, and [ have
greatly envied them their triumphs of
mingled strength and agility. Whether
they hung by their toes, swung themselves
up by their eyebrows and held themselves
straight out in the air by the little finger,
or revo.ved round the bar like a grind
stone handle in hay time, the man or the
bar has never failed to excite my warm
est enthusiasm. [ secretly determined
when Joined the gymnasts, TO add the
horizontal bar to my requirements at the
earliest possible moment. Ihere was a
bar to get credit at ! So hurried through
the minor apparatus to get at the bar.
partook sparingly of the dumb bells. dned
lightly on the clubs, and merely tasted of
the weights and pullies, so great was my
impatience to get at the practice. One
day | found myself sole occupant of the
gymnasium l didn't want any one to
witness my first efforts on the bar, and
this was the moment l had been looking
for.
First thought l would try revolving
around the bar, with a grand finale in
bar and then throw double back sum-
mersault to the floor. Rejected that as
too difficult for first attempt, and con-
ciuded to undertake the simple feat of
hanging by the legs to begin with. Found
it the easiest thing in the world to hang
by the legs. Wondered people didn't try
it oftener instead of hanging by the neck
q T0ln hot
so much of my life had been spent with
out learning to hang by the legs. Hung
there long enough TO get the hang of it,
as you might say, and then essayed to
get back again. No 60. had seen how
gymnasts hung to the bar, head down,
but had neglected to observe how they
regained their ''as you were,' as we say
in military. l tried to wriggle around SO
as to get hold of the bar with my hand,
but found l couldn't wriggIe to any effect
whatever. l had faint idea that the
circus fellows let 60 with their legs and
come down on their feet in some way,
but felt morally certain if LET go would
come down on my head and 60 about al
the rest of my life with my neck in two
pieces.
The blood was running down into my
head, and the whole room was swimming
Dumb bells were waltzing madly will
clubs, and inverted apparatus of all de
scriptions went whirling around in th'
most bewildered manner. Then felt tht
strength giving way in my legs, and
was satisfied could not depend on then
much longer. / realized how foolish
was to attempt gymnastic novelties wher
no one is by. l tried to cry aloud fo
help, in violation of the rule against lou
! talking, but couldn't get the voice ou