The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-12

| by the Scots Guards or the gorgeous but
| heavy cuirass of the Horse Guards. Many
also favor following the example of the
| American army and adopting a UNIFORM
for the army thus doing away with the
| regimental uniform, but all this Is bitterly
| opposed by lovers of tradition, who like
to see the same uniform worn to-day that
was worn a hundred years or more ago
! The friends of tradition will win their
| point (they always do in England), but
| every man or officer who has given the
| matter any thought, enYies the American
fighting man, his light and business-lke
| campaign outfit. The typical Tommy At
| kins," as seen on the street and in the
| barrack room, is the most military look
| ing soldier Of Europe; all this is due to
the army gymnasium. But when he goes
| into the field with his heavy kit and
| fancy uniform, he looks as a city man
with a top hat and frock coat might look
| in hay field in the country.
| 1t is almost impossible to enumerate the
| many features of the calesthenic drill for
it has almost as many changes as there
are movements of the body. Even the
| turning of the wrist is included in the ex-
| ercise. The raising of the arms above the
| head while a step forward is taken, Is one
| of the most useful Of all. for it is not al
| ways the most fatiguing work which does
| the body most good For the legs aud
| feet the squad first stands straight with
| the hands on the hips and then bends the
| knees to a sitting posture at the same
time rising on the toes. 1t Is in reality
| sitting on the heels and raising again, re-
| peated many timeS
Some Difficult Exercises.
One of the most difficult Of all the exer-
cises given and al the same time one of
the most picturesque, involves lying at
full length on the ground face downward,
touching only the toes and the hands, the
elbows being bent so as to bring the hands
about even with the chest Al the word
Of command the arms are slowly straight
ened while the body is raised and kept
perfectly stiff. 1t is slightly similar, al
though much harder, than drawing up to
the chin while hanging by the hands from
a horizontal bar In fact, all of these ex-
ercises are much harder than they seem.
Dumb bells are much used In the gym
nasium as are horizontal bars. parallel
bars. the vaulting horse and the bridge
ladder.
An unusual and interesting exercise is
done with the "shelf." The shelf" is
really Just what the name implies. large
shelf on the side wall just out of reach
of a man when his arms are extended up
ward The men climbing up on it with
| and without the assistance of comrades.
| This exercise is designedq to teach the
| men how to scale walls. When two WORK
! together the first makes rest with his
| hands into which the second steps and
| is given what the cnlluTSu call "a DOoSt'
| As soon as he IS on the shelf the man
| on the ground springs and catches the
| edge of the shelf and draws himself up
! as far as possible when the man on top
| assists him by putting the hand on the
back of the head and lifting him up.
Officers Work There, Too.
AT the headquarters gymnasium there
are always a great number of non-com-
| missioned officers and men who are tax
| t,ar ALa for the second time with
the idea of becoming instructors. This
examination is q very strict and thor
ough one and 1t requires a wonderful
physique 10 accomplish all that 1t de-
/ mands.
Not only are non-conniss toned officers
and privates in this competition for GER
tificates but there are officers working
for the instructorship and those taking
the training for pleasure or health. Any
one in the service may obtain leave from
their duties and take a course of train
ing but on entering they put themselves
liable to all of the duties that are impos-
ed upon the recruits or privates, no ia
vors of any sort being shown them be-
cause they hold comm s ions. They enter
the same c'ass with the Drivates and the
only distinction that they receive is that
they stand on the right of the line and so
are the filst to be called to whatever task
is before them.
Boxing Is given far n ore attfn ion in the
Eng 1sh army than I'm any other of The
world and Is really cons idered a requisite
part of the soldiers education. REGULAR
tournaments are held for the champion
ship of The army in the various classes,
there beng one series Of contests for Of
ficers and ore for the men, Many of the
officers do their training for these con-
tests at The Aldershot gymnasium.
The government supplies hetic uni
TO ms to an recruits, ard to all those who
take the course officially, cons sting Of a
pair of dark blue flannel trousers white
cotton shirt a broad blue webbing belt
ard a pair of ght canvas shoes. The GUS
tom in England does not permit athletes
to wear sleeveless shirts as they do in
America and so the shirts issued are pro-
vided with uncomfortable quarter sleeve 5
that bind The arms in eXerc Sc. When the
Yale-Harvard team contested at the
Queens Club in London the members of
the team were compelled o put sleeves in
their shirts although they were greatly
annoyed by them.
Fun for the Soldiers, Too.
The club house. in connection with the
gymnasium at Aldershot, is a delight. 1t
| a., AZ, Of fha &c n