240 



THE POPULAE EDUCATOR 



Fig. 15. 



of this valuable addition to the apparatus of the gymnasium 

 are shown in Fig. 15. Two bars, made of deal, ash, or any 

 light wood, rounded so as to be readily grasped by the hand, 

 and from six to eight feet in length, are fixed on strong upright 

 supports, either firmly embedded in the ground, or standing 

 on a solid frame like that represented in the illustration. 

 The distance between the bars is generally about a foot 

 and a half, or such that the shoulders of the individual 

 waotising may readily pass between them. The bars should 



also be about 



j | the height 



|fl ID of the shoul- 



ders from the 

 ground. 



The gym- 

 nast starts 

 from one of 

 the cross- 

 pieces which 

 are seen at 

 either end of 

 the figure. 

 Placing the 

 hands firmly 



on the bars, he springs up into the position illustrated in Fig. 

 16. This is known as the rest. The heels should be close 

 together, the toes turned out, the head erect, and the chest 

 thrown forward. The hands may be with the knuckles out- 

 ward, as in the cut, or with this grasp reversed ; or, again, 

 with the palms and fingers extended flat on the tops of the 

 bars ; according to convenience or inclination in executing the 

 different movements. 



From this position you may (1) travel along the bars from 

 nd to end by the movement of the hands. Keep the legs still, 

 and let the progressive movements of the arms be equal on 

 either side. Do this first with the ordinary, and then with the 

 reversed grasp. 



2. From the rest, give a rapid turn, releasing one hand 

 and bringing it to the same bar that is held by the other. 

 This is called facing, and after performing the movement 



you may travel as before, 

 but grasping the one bar 

 only. 



3. Other rests are the rest 

 on the fore-arms, in which 

 they are placed flat along the 

 top of the bar ; and the drop 

 rest, in which the weight is 

 thrown upon the hands, while 

 the body sinks partially down, 

 the elbows being raised above 

 the shoulders. 



4. liaising the legs should 

 be practised in the following 

 manner. With a firm grasp 

 in the rest, begin by wing- 

 ing them slowly backwards 

 and forwards, to acquire free- 

 dom of action. Then raise 

 first one and next the other 

 alternately. Lastly, raise 



Pig. 16. them gradually in front 



of you, keeping them close 



together and stiffly extended, and endeavour to bring them so 

 high that they form a straight line parallel to the line of the 

 bars, but two or three inches higher, while the body is, as 

 it were, in a sitting position. This will try your muscles, and 

 you must not expect to do it at the first or the second attempt, 

 but you will derive benefit in practising it until you are able 

 to accomplish it with ease. When you have succeeded, open 

 the legs, moving them from side to side, and still keeping them 

 on a perfect level. 



5. Next, from the rest, raise the legs the reverse way i.e., 

 backwards. With a gradual movement this will not be so easy 

 as the last exercise ; but with a swinging motion the body may 

 be brought to the position shown in Fig. 17. Again open the 

 legs, and stretch out as in swimming. 



6. The last exercise brings us to the actual swing, which 



Fig. 17. 



must be practised cautiously, and the movement gradually 

 increased according to the strength and skill of the beginner. 

 The expert are able to swing so high, simply grasping the bars 

 in the ordinary manner, that the feet in the forward movement 

 rise above the level of the head, and in the backward progression 

 the body is brought almost into the perpendicular position, the 

 head being nearly level with the hands. But we do not advise 

 any one who practises for health's sake alone to attempt thisj 

 although he may see others perform it. 



Here we must note, once for all, that in these and other 

 exercises the young gymnast must keep steadily before him the 

 object with which he set out, namely, to develop and strengthen 

 the physical powers, thereby securing health and activity ; and not 

 to equal or exceed some other and perhaps more expert gymnast 

 or gymnasts in the performance of striking feats. If this is not 

 borne in mind, and the practice regulated accordingly, it 13 

 not only possible, but certain, that more harm than good will 

 result to the learner 

 from the usual rou- 

 tine of either a pub- 

 lic or a private gym- 

 nasium. 



7. The following 

 is the method of 

 accomplishing the 

 turn over. You 

 start from a stand- 

 ing position, and, 

 grasping the bars 

 firmly, bring the 

 legs forward and up- 

 ward with a spring, 



until the body hangs perfectly level below the bars. This we 

 will call the first stage of the turn ; and each stage should be 

 well practised before proceeding to the next. Now, from this 

 horizontal position, the weight resting upon the hands, carry 

 the legs upward until the body resumes the perpendicular, but 

 with the head downmost ; thus half the circle is described. 

 Then bring the legs downward, the reverse way from the 

 previous movement, until the body again hangs horizontally, 

 but the face directed towards the ground. This is the third 

 stage of the turn, which will be completed by a light spring 

 downwards, bending the knees as the feet touch the earth. 

 The quick and regular performance of each of these movements 

 in succession constitutes the perfect turn backwards, which will 

 not be difficult after the preliminary exercises have been 

 thoroughly mastered. The turn over forwards is accomplished 

 by reversing these movements, the legs being thrown behind 

 you in starting. 



8. To perform the roll you sit astride the bars, bend the 

 body forwards until the head is between thorn, the arms being 

 placed outside, and then throw the legs upward, and turn 

 quickly over, legs outside, which brings you back to the 

 straddling position. This may be done again and again, until 

 you have traversed the length of the bars, when you may 

 reverse the roll and go 



back to the other end ; 

 but for the backward 

 roll let the forearms 

 rest upon the bars, 

 which should be 

 grasped firmly behind 

 you. 



9. The sling or ham- 

 mock (Fig. 18) must 

 be performed by the 

 backward turn as pre- 

 viously described, but 

 instead of bringing the 



legs between the bars in the descent, let the feet rest on them, 

 and the body hang from the bars by the hands and feet in the 

 manner shown in the illustration. 



10. To vault out of the bars, raise the legs slightly above 

 them, and then turn and jump downwards cleanly to the 

 ground, either over the right bar or the left, throwing the 

 weight upon the arm, and not touching the bar with the body 

 as you descend. The light vault downward from the rest at 

 the end of the bars will need no explanation. 



18. 



