Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-13

3 The Arm stretching exercises expand
the upper part Of the chest and raises Il
upwards without strengthening the arms
4 The Backward and Forward bending
OF trunk. expands the chest, straightens
the lower part of spine and eultivates
the extensibility Of the upper part Of the
abdomen This exercise reduces super.
huous flesh.
The balancing movements are next
In order. The arm and bending move
ments which preeede this exercise In
creases the heart beat by increasing the
circulation and IL IL because Of this fact
the balance movements reimportant nj
this point. They consist of variety oI
knee bending exercises and bring into
Faay 80 Inoveznanfss ssthas propelling shs
bloodinto theheart and relieving if from
too much activity.
9 The Shoulder blade movements are
various forms Of arm movements. Arm
fiinging, for example, has the effect Of
correcting the position of the shoulder
blades, an effect much needed by the ma
iority of the growing generation.
z The Abdominal exercises strengthens
the walls of the abdomen and is a means
OF securing good digestion. similar to
the Areh-fiexion)
The side-wise bending or lateral trunk
movements consist of various forms of
bending and twisting trunk side-wise,
stretching and strengthening the muscles
around the waist and act upon the liver,
increasing the circulation of the digestive
fluids.
8 The jumping and hopping mako the
body elastic and graceful and produce
courage and q correct appreciation OF
space. Jumping and hopping are more
or less violent, put one out Of breath and
greatly accelerate the heart beat. They
must be followed by an exercise to coun-
teract these effects, sch as slow !. gmove-
ment and breathing exercises.
10 The slow leg movements are similar
to some of the balance forex-
ample, "knees bend"
IL. The breathing exercises are usually nc
by arm elevation.
Variety 10 given by changing the speed, the
duration and degree Of the force Of the move
ment, by combining movements Of different
parts and changing the rythm.
The swed .sh System of gymnastics seems in
complete, In that IL does not recognize to n
sufficient degree the elements of grace OF move
ment. and because there art iew exercises that
tend ~ produce n perfectly passive or relaxed
condition of the body.
1he Delsarte System of physical training
supplies the lack.
This system Is the invention or discovery"
of Francis Delsarle, q celebrated Swedish ac-
tor, singer, philosopher aud teacher. The thrre
steps in Delsarte training are as follows:
l. Poising Exercises.
:. relaxing Eexercises.
Elemental Movements.
Poising exercises consist Of various forms of
balancing the body, and tend To make IL erect.
Relaxing exercises free tne muscles and j.ints
from Stiffness and quiet the nerves by putting
the body IN passive condition.
The relaxing exercises give repose of man
ners, because they teach person how 70 use
only that part Of the bUdy which it is necessa-
r. to use at one Etane.
Al night, II you md difficulty In going to
sleep. simply relax all your muscles and joints.
II you feel very nervous, begin TO breathe
deeply, and at the same time poise your head
properly and relax your arms.
If you oegin 70 get angry. do the same.
Elemental Movements include an almost in
finite variety Of graceful attitudes aud motions
Of head, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
These are not intended for gestures. but they
put the body In such q condition. that when
one feels like he must make a gesture. he will
unconsciousiy make IL gracefully. The ges-
ture must always come from within and NOT
DC taken out" TO u recitation or reading be.
cause IL looks pretty"
Readers and actors. a. q rule, make altogeth.
or too many gestures. Hamlets advice 20 the
players was gc0d when he said: saw not too
much In the air with your hands." The fol-
iowing movements are called .'elementaI'' be.
cause they serve as the foundation or the be-
ginning Of the training of the body for grace
ful motion, and they are based ON definite
principles of grace viz:
l. Folding movements must be made from
the surface TO the center. Unfolding move
ments must be made from the center 10 the
surface.
:. In movements OF the arm and hand the
forearm and wrist must lead the hand.
.. In changing from one position of the arm
and hans. 10 another, the tip of the MIDDLE In
ger must be used as e pivot.
4. When two or more parts Of the body are
moved at the sane time. they should move In
opposite directions-aDout q common ceuser.
For example the head should go dow a when
the hand goes up.' Obedience 20 this Law OF
OF Opposition In movements. In position. I'm
grouping, in literature and musical compost
ton, and In short in all phases Of the Fine Arts
In most important factor In rendering our
work Artistic.
s. The differeat movements of the body
must blend smoothly, 90 that IL 10 hardly pre-
ceptible where one movement begins and the
other ends.
9. Superfiuous movements of the body should
be avoided-for rexample-the eyebrows should
not be raised unmeaningly in talking and read
ing, the body should not be swayed 20 and fro
without sufficient cause. These are only two
exercises of an infinite variety of needless
movements which people indulge In.
z. The poise Of the body should never be
last.
The Swedish System should develop the
strong, healthy body.
The Delsarte makes the body flexible and
graceful.
The two give q harmonious development of
strength, case. grace and beauty.
Books OF reference-The Swedish System Of
Educational Gymnastics. by Baron Mills Posse.
Published by Chas. Dlllsugham. us Broadway
N. 7. Price 20 teachers. sLes. An Hour With