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

NASA h''Aif hAASN W III hull ulcU
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
III Congresses; the other day
there was one where they danced.
1t may have been tie 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
nasticS are meant to prepare one
for the TerpsichOrean art. Ger.
tain dances, it is held, are a nee
essary complement Of the method.
The participants were the
scholars of Mrs. Bergman Oes.
terbery, a dozen young girls.
They wore a gymnastic costume
Of black knitted wool, covered
with tunic 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 i'll the
way. They execute various move
ments in concert, with a rigid re-
spect for rythm and alignment.
The method consists essentially
in a series of gestures and atti-
tudes. The gestures are rather
SlOw-with the exception of 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 OIL
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.
entific 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 oil
the back and neck, of the shoul-
ders and sides. OF course, the
| aesthetic effect is not the result OF
the exercises alone; it is due to
/ thp mannpp in which fhnV arc