On Gymnastic Exerciaet. 823 



: How far are Gymnastic Feats calculated to improve the 

 form ? 



We have frequent opportunities of observing the actual de- 

 formity which arises from the disproportinate developement of 

 any particular class of muscles. For example : the legs of 

 those opera-dancers, who pride themselves on their powers of 

 making extraordinary leaps and pirouettes, are almost Hercu- 

 lean, while their arms are comparatively diminutive. The same 

 effects are produced on the form of those who practise horse- 

 manship and tumbling, although these persons are sometimes 

 better proportioned than the dancers, from their muscular 

 system being more generally exercised ; still their muscles are 

 so unnaturally increased, by the violent exertions necessary 

 to their feats of strength, that their appearance may also be 

 considered as approaching to deformity. 



Climbing a rope or pole, or swinging by the hands on a 

 triangle, are the exercises now most frequently recommended. 

 Mounting a rope-ladder is also proposed ; few feats are so diffi- 

 cult to perform as this : for although the ladder hangs perpendi- 

 cularly, being pliable in every part and not fixed at the bottom, 

 when the climber attempts to mount the first steps they are 

 pushed forward and the body falls backwards. The weight would 

 now be sustained principally by the hands, if the chmber did 

 not attempt to keep the body in an extended line and nearly 

 perpendicular. By these combined efforts, the exertion both 

 to the muscles of the arms and of the loins is very great ; this 

 necessarily tends to strengthen these muscles. To this there 

 may be no objection, as they are not seen ; but in performing 

 this exercise, and in climbing a rope, or pole, without using the 

 knees as sailors do, a set of muscles are brought into action, the 

 increased developement of which, instead of improving, tends to 

 destroy the elegance of the figure. Is it desirable that a young 

 lady should have a strong and short neck similar to that of a 

 sailor-boy? for such will inevitably be her condition if she 

 should ever attain any expertness in such exercises. When 

 she attempts to raise herself on the ladder, or the pole, the 

 head must, in some degree, be made a fixed point ; and this is 

 done by the action of the muscles between the head and the 



