102 M. Clias's Sifstem of 



wards the improvement of the physical 

 powers of the body of troops under his 

 command. By training them gradu- 

 ally, to well-regulated exercises, he 

 was himself surprised at the increase of 

 their strength and rapidity of move- 

 ment, as well as at their superior state 

 of health compared with that of other 

 troops in cantonments, and accus- 

 tomed only to the common routine of 

 exercise. 



The improvement of his soldiers 

 attracted the attention of his superior 

 officers, and he was soon in a situa- 

 tion to put his plan to a more exten- 

 sive trial, which was attended with the 

 most complete success. 



When peace was restored, be turned 

 his attention to introduce gymnastic 

 exercises into civil life. The magis- 

 trates of Berne, convinced of the uti- 

 lity of his object, enabled him to carry 

 his purpose into execution. An ex- 

 tensive gymnasium was formed, and a 

 number of pupils put under his care. 

 Repeated examinations before profes- 

 sional gentlemen, and other official 

 persons, convinced them, that the acti- 

 vity, health, and morals, of the youth 

 placed under his care, had been much 

 improved. Of these facts, he is in 

 possession of tlie most satisfactory tes- 

 timonials, of which the following is 

 one: 



" The gymnastics of M. Clias unite 

 every advantage; and, if considered mi- 

 nutely, will be seen to possess every thing 

 that is essentially useful in correcting nu- 

 merous deformities, and in eradicating 

 obstinate diseases. They are perfectly 

 adapted to the exigencies of life, and to 

 the rules of living economy ; they increase 

 the energies of useful properties, and insure 

 their duration. The author, always ani- 

 mated by a desire of extending the re- 

 sources of health, invents new exercises 

 every day, in order to call those organs 

 into action which ordinary means would 

 have permitted to remain dormant and 

 useless. That wise direction so well cal- 

 culated to the wants of nature, will always 

 render the system of the Professor of 

 Berne worthy of recommendation." — Dic- 

 tionnaire des Scieticcs MMuales, tome .52, 

 page 28 et 29. 



He has also been emplo)'ed in the 

 celebrated establishments of Fellem- 

 berg, and that of Peslalozzi, where his 

 system forms now a regular part of 

 the course of education. 



For some time past he has superin- 

 tended a gymnasium, or school of exer- 

 cises, at Paris. His plan is fully deve- 

 loped in his work on elementary exer- 

 cises, where his gradations are detailed 

 2 



Gymnastic Exercises. [March 1 , 



in a series of elegant outline en- 

 gravings. 



He is now in England, and has the 

 honour of being permitted by his royal 

 highness the commander-in-chief, to 

 introduce his plan of exercise into the 

 Military Asylum at Chelsea. The ex- 

 hibition of his muscular powers, and 

 imitations of the attitudes of some of 

 the finest ancient statues, at the last 

 lecture of Sir Anthony Carlisle at the 

 Royal Academy, met with the greatest 

 applause ; as well as the marked appro- 

 bation of the president and council, by 

 whom he has been employed to train 

 and improve the attitudes and muscular 

 exertions of their living model. 



The object of M. Clias's improve- 

 ments are by no means confined to the 

 military profession. He is disposed 

 to think that they are even of more 

 utility in counteracting the bad effects 

 of too sedentary an education. He 

 has seen very striking examples of the 

 improvement of the moral, as well as 

 the physical, condition of youth, in 

 large schools, by the introduction of 

 his plans. The natural proneness of 

 youth to active exertion is well 

 known, and the propriety of counter- 

 balancing mental by muscular exercise 

 is generally allowed. M. Clias pro- 

 poses to take advantage of this prin- 

 ciple of nature, by teaching young 

 persons to develope their muscular en- 

 ergies gradually, and with propriety. 

 In the pursuit of those undirected 

 exercises, in which the natural ener- 

 gies of youth are prone to engage 

 them, some sets of muscles are liable 

 to be overstrained, while others re- 

 main dormant ; and, by sudden exer- 

 tion, strains and other accidents fre- 

 quently occur. By the plan of M. 

 Clias, every accident of this kind is 

 obviated. His pupils commence with 

 the most gentle and natural exercises ; 

 and gradually proceed, according as 

 their strength permits, to the more 

 violent. Every limb and muscle is 

 gradually suppled and brought into 

 action without being strained ; till, at 

 length, all the muscular powers of the 

 body are completely developed. 



Such are the objects proposed to be 

 attained by this system of gymnastic 

 education, which is so far from inter- 

 fering with the improvement of the 

 mental faculties, that they are deci- 

 dedly improved by its adoption. Sound 

 sleep follows fatigue, and the person 

 rises in the morning with the mind 

 refreshed, and the attention enlivened. 

 With 



