San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-06
FIT. SAM HOUSTON NEWS.
THE OALISTHBNIO DRILL, WHICH
is so CAPTIVATING.
Description Of the Beautiful Movements
As Executed By The Soldiers.
Garrison Gossip.

comment at the recent lHlerSldle uiih'
! is the prettiest movement ever per-
formed by trained men. 1t is not
drill in arms, but strictly drill for the
purpose of developing the soldiers
physical strength.
1t is performed in silence and to mu-
sic, there being four distinct exercises,
the commander only giving the order
to change from one to another, no
other commands being given.
Suitable music is played and the men
merely keep time with it in the exc
cution of the various movements.
Daisy Bell or the Seaside Waltz"
having Sc beats to the minute, are US
ually the pieces by which the first two
exercises are executed, and 1.-TWO Lit
tie Girls in Blue" with So beats to the
minute, and the Sidewalks of New
York" with los beats are usually play
ed for the execution Of exercises three
and four
Each exercise is executed four times,
when the men come to halt, stand
at attention, rest a few seconds and
begin on the next, etc. The only COM
mands they receive is ready" exer-
cises so and so and the men execute
the program by counting one, two,
three, ETC., to themselves in order to
keep the movements in unison.
This beautiful drill usually takes
place at the post every Friday morn
ling.
At the command of ready the
men come to port arms at two
they bring the rifle quickly to hor-
izontal position in front of the body,
sling it downwards, right hand grasp
| ing it by the small of the stock with
the left hand inside the upper band
and both arms at their full extent
without deranging the erectness ofthe
body; at three" the right foot is car
ried about twelve inches to the right,
the knees being kept straight.
For the first exercise, the men begin
by bending quickly to the front with
arms and knees being kept straight
the rifle to the instep, after. which it is
raised and swung above the head,
arms and knees beinbg kept straight
and eyes directed we'll to the front
Inc next movement IL " DCllu bhC
arms and bring the rifle to the Shout
der behind the neck, the chest being
forced we'll forward and the eyes re-
naming directed well Ito the front
The fourth movement in this exercise,
consists in regaining the second posi-
ton, with arms extended above the
head. The rifle is then brought to
ready by bending the arms, which
completes the first exercise, the men
coming to a halt and standing at at
| tention.
For the second exercise the position
of ready is assumed as in the first,
starting off on the first movement by
swinging the rife sideways to the right
to horizontal position above the head
the butt leading with the arms straight
and wrists bent back, body turned on
the hips to the right, back followed,
eyes directed to the rifle, knees braced
up, rising well upon the left toe and
keeping the right foot fiat on the
ground. The second movement consis-
is in swinging the rifle down with the
muzzle leading and up to the left for
right, and vice versa, until each move
ment is completed four times.
The third exercise begins by the men
standing at ready" as before except
that the heels are kept together.
The first movement is called the right
llunge" and consists in keeping the
left foot on the ground and the left
leg straight, the right foot being lung
ed to the right about thirty-six
Inches, the leg from the knee
downward being int a perpendicular
position. The body is then turned to
the right and bent backwards from the
hips, the rife at the same time being
thrown to horizontal position and
parallel to the shoulders above the
head, the wrists being bent back and
leyes directed to the rifle. The second
movement is to regain the ready"
position without bending the left leg.
Then comes the front lunge" and the
left lunge" which are performed in
the same manner as the right lunge."
In making the lunge the toe of the
front foot points in the direction given
and the heel of the rear foot is kept
firm on the ground, the rear knee be-
ing braced back.
The fourth exercise begins by throw
ing the rifle out to the front, the arms
being Straight, the back of the hands
. being UP and in line with the should
ers. The rifle is then brought smartly
2 to the breast about six inches below
the chin, the elbows being close to the
sides. The rifle is then thrown up.
wards, the chest being forced well for.
{ ward in so doing. The rifle is ther
= lunged to the right followed by the
turning of the body, and head, KEEP
erect. The rifle is then thrown to the
front and brought to the breast as II
the beginning, without changing the
position of the feet. The position i:
then reversed, the left knee being ben