298 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



in order that he might pick up a hint or two from their 

 superior acquirements. 



During his university career he became a most- 

 accomplished gymnast, and could perform with perfect 

 ease numerous feats seldom attempted by an amateur. 

 His course of practice was, in the first place, entered 

 upon for prudential reasons. From his very birth he 

 was weak and sickly, and during the years of his child- 

 hood, indeed, it always seemed doubtful whether or not 

 he would ever attain to man's estate. But, by a long 

 and careful course of training in the gymnasium and on 

 the running-track, he contrived, not only entirely to* 

 overcome his constitutional weakness, but to build up 

 the physique which alone enabled him in after-years 

 to carry on his severe and incessant labours. 



In his well-known "Adventures of Mr. Verdant 

 Green," the late Eev. E. Bradley, better known as- 

 " Cuthbert Bede," has largely made use of my father, 

 who stood for the character of " little Mr. Bouncer " in 

 the chapters relating to the gymnasium. I quote the 

 following from a short account of my father as a 

 gymnast, lately contributed by Mr. Bradley to the 

 Boys' Own Paper. Citing his own description in 

 ".Verdant Green," he says : 



" Opposite to the door was the vaulting-horse, on whose wooden; 

 back the gymnast sprang at a bound, and over which the tyro (with 

 the aid of the spring-board) usually pitched himself headlong. Then,, 

 commencing at the further end, was a series of poles and ropes the 

 turning -poles, the hanging -poles, the rings, and the trapeze on 

 either or all of which the pupil could exercise himself ; and, if he- 

 had the skill to do so, could jerk himself from one to the other, and 



