On Gymnastic Exercises* 



much better calculated for this purpose. He seems to under- 

 stand, that the position of the head and of the shoulders 

 depends on the form of the spine and ribs ; and, therefore, in- 

 stead of bringing only the muscles of the arms and legs into 

 action, he puts the figure into such positions as tend to bring 

 out and develope the ribs. In this way, the spine is necessa- 

 rily acted on, while, in the Calisthenics, scarcely any effect is 

 produced on it. 



This opinion on the Calisthenics is founded on a careful ex- 

 amination of the effects of the postures, and of the exercises 

 with the cane and triangle on the individual muscles of the 

 chest and spine, while they were performed by several young 

 ladies, (five in number,) w^ho, being slightly twisted, had been 

 taught how to do them. 



Mr. Jenkins's plan of exercise is certainly more useful for 

 girls who have a tendency to become twisted, and will probably 

 prevent perfect figures from becoming crooked ; but the attempt 

 to remedy a distinct serpentine twist by such means is a mere 

 loss of time. 



Is there any danger in performing those exercises which 

 have of late years been recommended ? 



The bad effects of working a young horse too early, and so 

 as to call for occasional violent exertion, are so generally known, 

 that a valuable animal is seldom put to a trial of its powers 

 before it has attained its full growth ; but children, and espe- 

 cially those of the poor, are often put upon tasks far beyond 

 their natural powers. The bad consequences are soon appa- 

 rent, for children who are thus treated seldom grow up vigor- 

 ously, but are stinted in their giowth, and often have some 

 bodily defect, or the elasticity and tone of their muscles are 

 lost, long before the period at which they would have attained 

 their full strength. Indeed, it is not uncommon for the poor to 

 be worn out at an early age ; and often may the face of twenty 

 be seen on the shoulders of thirteen. 



It may, perhaps, be said, that such children have not only 

 been over-worked, but have been badly fed and clothed. There 

 is no doubt that these causes will have the worst effects ; but 

 even nourishing food is not sufficient to avert the consequence^ 



