The Gymnasium. 



GYMNASTICS-OUT-OF-DOOR RECREATIONS. 



GYMNASTICS. 



love of out-of-door recreations is natural 

 J_ to youth, and the indulgence of it within 

 reasonable limits is entirely beneficial. Young 

 people ought to get a great deal of exercise, and 

 they can scarcely be too much in the open air. 

 Employments which give them air, exercise, and 

 amusement all together, therefore, are suitable to 

 their years, and they should be permitted and 

 encouraged to indulge in them. Over-devotion 

 to such pursuits, though, of course, to be dis- 

 couraged, is better for young people than a stinted 

 enjoyment of them ; for it is seldom very in- 

 jurious, and the latter, in all probability, indicates 

 some neglect of the conditions necessary for ac- 

 complishing the first end of education the bring- 

 ing human beings to the age of manhood in 

 soundness and vigour of body and mind. In this 

 country, however, it is scarcely necessary to point 

 out the advantages that are to be had out of sports 

 which afford healthful exercise in the open air. 

 In England, the love for such pastimes has 

 always been a sort of passion, the young and the 

 middle-aged being equally possessed with it ; and 

 in Scotland, while they have at no time been 

 neglected, they have, during recent years, been 

 growing greatly in favour. To persons of mature 

 age, the indulgence, now and then at anyrate, in 

 some open-air game, is only less important than 

 it is to persons in early life ; and the gravest need 

 not feel themselves above occupations which 

 invigorate the system, and give rest to the mind, 

 by drawing it off from business cares. Before 

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giving some account of the more popular of our 

 out-of-door recreations, it will be well to give some 

 directions for gymnastic exercises, the practice of 

 which is, favourable to proficiency in all out-of- 

 door sports, and which, when pursued in youth, 

 while the joints and muscles are flexible, do more 

 than any mere pastime to develop the bodily 

 powers, and lay the foundations of a sound bodily 

 state. 



GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. 



Gymnastics are those exercises of the body and 

 limbs which tend to invigorate and develop their 

 powers.* The object of gymnastic exercises being 

 to develop all the moving powers of the body, it is 

 obvious that the greater the number of muscles 

 concerned in any such exercises, the more useful 

 it will be. 



Gymnastic exercises are best performed in an 

 open court or piece of ground, firm below, but 

 without any stones to injure the feet or person ; 

 a grass-plot is most suitable. The fittings are 

 a climbing-stand, vaulting-bcvr, leaping-poles, &c. 

 The dress of the gymnast should consist of easy- 

 fitting trousers, encircled with a belt or girth. 

 The belt should pass round the loins, and not be 

 too tight. The performances should be in the 

 forenoon, or at least before any heavy meal. 



The term gymnastic is from a Greek word signifying naked, the 

 athlctac or young persons who practised bodily exercises in the 

 public arena or gymnasium of ancient Greece, being, for freedom 

 of motion, nearly in a state of nudity. The more gentle kind of 

 are termed calisthenics, from words signify- 



gymnastics for females ; 



ing elegant or graceful exercises. 



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