The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-11

IN COUPLE of ordinary chairs and
IAN two broomsticks are whole
Nl gymnasium in themselves. Per-
haps this may seem rather an
exaggerated statement TO boys VINO nave
never tested their possibilities. put hati
an hours work with these domestic ar
fscfcs. IL the suggestions offered In TINS
article are followed, viii be sufficient 10
persuade anyone OF their athletic USE
fulness
Take. for instance, diagram number
one. A boy is here kneeling on cnair
with a tempting lump Of sugar, seem
ingiy just within reach OF bis teeth
but the moment he reaches for 'ne suss -
the chair tips forward and the prize -
lost. The best way of succeeding y TO
bring the weight 81 the body as much as
pessible TO either the right or left OF the
center: but even when >this is borne IN
mind the sugar IA seldom tasted.
Another extremely amusing spectacie y
offered when some boy aspires 20 ac
,.or,ryIsb tho trick shown IN diagram num-
Der two. In this case not lump Of sugar
hut 4 BIT or wax is the desired prize;
but as In the former trial an ignominious
tumble II the usual termination. There -,
Of course. not the slightest danger OF be-
ing hurt. for the one who IL making the
trial can easily catch himself with ms
hands. In diagram two bit OF wax -
stuck to the back Of the chair ana must
be removed bv the teeth without the boys
touching either hands or feet TO the moor.
After capturing the wax he mus be able
to regain his seat in the chair
In witch Girls Excel.
Diagram three shows an experiment In
which the feminine sex easily outciass
all masculine rivals. I have never known
more than one or two boys who could sue
cessfulIy regain his equilibrium after TAX
ing the position shown; but al least Two
girls In every three can do II quite scasiiy.
Measure back three Of your own feet from
the wall Of room and place chair be-
tween YOU and the WALL then bend over
the chair until your head rests against the
wall. Now raise the chair and attempt,
without moving your feet or touching the
chair to the floor or wall. to regain your
upright position. Any boy. unless he dif-
fers materially from the rest OF his sex,
will md that the thing simply can't ne
done suppose the relative size OF the
feet has something to do with the success
which usually attends girl In this ex-
perimcnt The extra weight which man
carries In the shoulders may also have
something TO do with 1t.
Diagram number four shows an interest
Ing trial Of the accuracy OF the eye. Place
chair at one end OF room ana tnen
let some one walk rapidly from the oppo-
site end OF the room towards the chair.
his right arm held stiffv In front OF him.
A. he PASSES the chair he will attempt to
snap or 8. cork balanced on the back OF
the chair. Nine people out OF ten will
snap nj feast ar inch too high. The way
10 sue .esd IN hitting the cork Is to quietly
get ciosc enough TO the chair to make 4
mental note Of the exact button, wrinkle
or scaIl In your clothing which IL exact
" or a level with the cork. II Is then
an easv matter to hold your hand nj Just
the right height as you approach the cork.
A hoy who rides a bicycle or In some
other way has developed the muscles In
the calves Of his legs will. after few
trials. md little difficulty In kicking over
4 cork an shown In diagram Ave. Measure
three OF your own feet from an imaginary
line on the floor and place a cork up
right at that distance. step back to your
starting point ane attempt to kick the
cork over and retain your equilibrium
without touching the floor In front OF
ycu,
Diagram number six shows some fun
with ono of the broomsticks Place one
end against the angle formed by the wall
Of room and ask some friend TO pass his
body under 1t without lifting his feet
from the foor. He will naturally face the
wall IN his undertaking, and in this POSI-
tion Il il next TO impossible TO get safely
under the stick with your back to the
wall however you can. to your friends
deep chagrin. pass under the stick quite
easily. This Ii also an excellent way 70
practice the bend back which Ii so essen
tinl 10 any kind OF tutnhling
usins "a nroomstick.
The frat tlma I tried to climb around n
stick. as shown IN diagram seven. !,
seemed to me that even a professional
contortionist could not possibly extricate
himself from such smart without dis
locating every toirt IN his body. The feat
however. Is net really difficult for a boy
who II az ali supple Grasp the stick
firmly, leaving two and half or three