Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
THE QUEST OF beauty
The Grace Giving Navy In
dian Club Drill.
T.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
HOW TO GO ABOUT LEARNING
HI
THEM.
Will Make Uncle Sans Nieces as
Supple as His
Nephews.

Did you know that the old-fashioned In
dian club drill is in constant use in the
navy2 1t is a common and simple enough
thing for the beginner IN gymnasium
classes and yet Uncle Sam thinks it of
quite enough importance to put his boys
through it day after day
OF course. 1t does not build up any her
culean muscles, but it spreads the chest,
limbers the arms and does modest share
of muscle building. In addition to these
virtues it trains quickness of hand and is
a wonderful school for grace. The latter
certainly makes 1t of as much Importance
to you girls as to the boys of the navy
To be sure 1t Is a very difficult thing to
become an expert Indian "clubber," but the
elementary forms of the drill are open to
all, even those who have not much time to
devote to the art. If any of you care to go
into Indian club work on an extended scale,
you cannot find prettier accomplishment.
Fancy swinging Of the clubs is charming
sight, and 1t is unique and pleasant way
to entertain friends. A clever exhibition Of
club swinging will make an evening pass
delightfully."-. Try 1t and see how much
pleasure you can give your friends and
how much benefit you can derive. The
grace that you cultivate will not be con-
fined to the club practice alone. 1t will go
into every motion Of your daily living.
Captain Constantine Chase of the 4th Ar
tillery is an authority on the physical drill
of the foot troops, and 1t is from his rules
that the navy drill Is compiled and set down
in the navy book Of drill regulations The
text of the theme is this, and good text
it is to go by: Accuracy is of the first I'M
portance in swinging clubs. for skill cannot
be acquired when the movements are care
lessly executed
Have Light Clubs.
The clubs which the navy men use weigh
from two and half to three pounds. Do
not let yours ever weigh over the two-and-
a-half, and lighter weight Is better. The
weight is not intended to be heavy. You
cannot handle the clubs lightly If they are
handled with an effort.
Whether you have a little class or club
for the work, or whether you give the COM
mands to your own reflection In mirror 1t
will add to the interest to go through the
motions as the navy boys do. Fail In line,
even If you are the whole line, and come to
attention with the most rigid discipline. The
rule for the navy reads that the men are
to fall in with the clubs slopedi the elbows
are drawn close to the sides, the forearms
are horizontal, and the CLUBS are resting
one on each shoulder.
attention means this: 1.-THE clubs fall
forward and down to perpendicular posi-
ton on each side, the thumbs and fore
fingers graspng the handles, palms to the
front, arms straight, and remain perfectly
steady.
The first exercise is taken with clubs to
the front. At the command "Attention!'
the arms and clubs to be raised up in
front of and in a line with the shoulders.
The back of the hand is down while the
arms are extended; the body is square to
the front. At "Back!'' the clubs are drawn
sharply back against the body, the handles
against the breast and the clubs horizontal.
The backs of the hands are still down while
the elbows are bent and drawn close to the
sides. Eyes to the fronti' runs the order,
would
be a good naval man.
'FRONT.' is to be thus: Thrust forward
the clubs to the full extent of the arms,
and allow them to swing smartly to the
rear as far as possible, and at the same
time the heels should be raised slightly
from the ground, the body inclined for
ward, shoulders square, head up, chest ad-
vanced, eyes to the front.
Movements Are Rapid.
At Halt" you are to resume the "atten-
ton position. 1t Is intended that these
motions be combined as soon as you are
used to them, and you can then go through
them rapidly. There is no particular skill
involved in these preliminary motions; they
merely accustom you to the handling of the
clubs and give you good standing position
in preparation for the swinging to come
later
No rules can teach you the twist of the
wrist that club swinging involves-in fact,
the twist is the whole secret. 1t Is knack
that must be acquired by practice alone. 1t
makes the wrists supple beyond any exer-
else in the world, and will be well worth
your lille If you pianist. 1t is best
to begin with the right hand alone. When
1t has acquired the art the left will initiate
1t. If some one used to the work will show
you the twist 1t will be more easy for you
10 acquire it than by any rule.
The first drill in swinging is given In this
way: You are commanded to raise the
right elbow in line with the right shoulder,
lolS.- H. ,i,,l % Or
ear; then, with a turn of the wrist, allow
the club to swing around as close as posi-
BILE to the back When the circle is COM
pleted lower the elbow to the sde bringing
the hand in front of the shoulder, club per-
pendicular.
The above exercise, practiced with each
hand in turn, is the second of the eight
exercises given in the drill book. The third
is to bring both clubs up, which means to
the chest and perpendicular, the hands In
line with the shoulders and the eyes di-
rected upward.
Must Obey Orders.
In army and navy drill the eyes even
must obey orders in the strictest manner
If you are working in front of mirror
I am afraid you must infringe upon the
eye rules until you have satisfied yourself
that your mirror pupil is drilling accurate
ly in other respects. The body must be
inclined slightly forward for this third ex-
ercise.
Now, Raise the right elbow in line with
the right shoulder, carry the hand close TO
and behind the right ear; then, with
turn of the wrist, allow the club to SWING
round as close as possible to the back,
keeping the left club steady and perpendlc-
ular, eyes directed toward its top"
OF course. you are to alternate this eX-
ercise between the hands,. and of course,
you are to become fairly skilled in it before
you advance to the others. Take one at
a time, giving days to each one. The
eight given here are merely the principles
of club swinging The variations of them
are infinite. You will be able to invent
new combinations as your progress.
"Slope" and Front"
For the fourth exercise, the clubs are
to be brought up perpendicularly In front
of the chest, the hands on line with the
shoulders. At the command SLOPE ex-
tend the arms to the full extent in front
of and In line with the shoulders, clubs
perpendicular; relax the grasp with the
third and little fingers, and lower the clubs
on the shoulders. keeping the arms as
straight as possible. At Front. extend
the arms to the full extent, clubs per-
pendicular.
The fifth requires that the clubs be hori-
zontai First they are brought up as be-
fore to perpendicular position. Then. at
Lower, you must lower them by turn
or the wrist to horizontal position, still
IN 'front.' or the chest, while the handles