The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-05
EXPOSITION LETTER.
Written tor the Citizen.)
PARIS, September II, 1900.

ureary nail, nlIed with dull men
looking at a green covered table
at which are seated other dull
men, with the gift of talking in.
terminably. This exposition.
however, has marked an epoch
in Congresses; the other day
there was one where they danced.
1t may have been the contagious
neighborhoOd Of the Palace of
Dance; the frivolous association
of the Palace of Costume, or, in
short, of Paris itself; at any rate,
they danced.
There is at present in session a
Congress of Physical Education.
which is much interested in
gymnastics, and Mrs. Bergman
CoSterbery, the apostle Of Swedish
gymnastics, wished to show her
colleagues the results obtained
by the latter. 1t must not be
concluded that Swedish gym
nastlcs are meant to prepare one
for the TerpSichorean art. Ger.
tain dances, it is held, are nee,
essary complement of the method.
The participants were the
scholars of Mrs. Bergman Oes-
terbery, a dozen young girls.
They wore gymnaStic costume
OF black knitted wool, covered
with a tnnic descending to the
knee. The garments allow all
possible play to the muscles at
the same time swathing the form
so closely as not to be in the
way. They execute various move
ments in concert, with a rigid re-
spect for rythm and alignment.
The method consists essentially
IL a series of gestures and atti-
tudes. The gestures are rather
slow-with the exception of a few
which are extremely rapid--aud
the attitudes are held a certain
length Of time. One is struck at
once by the absence of all appa-
ratuS or accessories, and also by
the number of athletic exercises
which can be practiced without
the employment of the latter.
The gestures appear at the first
glance, to have no special mean
ing; but on investigation it is
found that all are founded on
some physiological reason. Each
has a definite object, to work or
to contract muscle or group of
muscles; and as there are many
and varied muscles, the gestures
are likewise many and various;
in this way all the body is eXer-
cised. All is regulated with sci
entitic precision and with the ex-
act knowledge of the organs
that each gesture or attitude puts
into action; and each muscle is
intended to be exercised in the
most effective manner and under
conditions most favorable, in view
of the force expended. The com
binations are ingenious; in the
exercises intended to increase
respiratory energy, for instance,
follow those that occasion breath
lessness; and during each move
ment, the prescribed attitude
causes the inactive parts of the
body to furnish the best and more
secure support for the parts in ac-
ton. All is graduated and com
bined.
1t is also aesthetic. There is
nothing in common between the
movements of the Swedish gym
nasts and those Of the tradi
tional school. The general effect
is one of harmony and grace,
there is nothing stiff or con
strained; all the attitudes seem
easy and natural. And in fact,
this is not surprising after one
has studied the exercises. They
tend to make the body supple,
and contribute especially to the
deyelopement of the muscles OF
the back and neck, Of the Shout
ders and sides. or course, the
aesthetic effect is not the result OF
the exercises alone; it is due to
the manner in which they are
co-0rdinated and prescribed.
Grace is often natural, but it may
be acquired by a judicious eduea-
tiOn OF the muscles.
After giving an exercise of
Swedish gymnastics, the director
announced an exercise Of dane
ing. This consists of steps,
mingled with attitudes, all meant,
also, to produce certain gym,
nastic effects. The dancing is
slow and varied, sometimes it re
sem bles the minuet, with a more
general participation of the body
After few grave steps, such as
might have been made by the re
ligious dancers Of Ancient
Greece, there is a pose which re
minds the observer of antique
statues The whole is SO well
co-Ordinated that the gymnasts,
who are rot particularly pretty
or well shaped, produce an effect
that has much charm, and some
times attains to real beauty.
With twenty nrettv women. we'll