LECTURE III. 147 



should be perpendicularly under the centre 

 of gravity of the whole bod}^ and the 

 advancing one is brought forwards in 

 a curvilinear direction. This course is 

 the result of the rolling of the head of 

 the thigh bone in its socket, and by it 

 the advancing limb is brought forwards 

 without striking the other, and carried 

 to a position in which it is more directly 

 under the centre of gravity of the body, 

 when that is also brought forwards, than 

 it would have been, had the limb moved in 

 a straight line. The free and firm step of the 

 soldier is the result of the circumstances I 

 have mentioned. We are more struck and 

 convinced of this, by observing that carica- 

 ture of marching which is exhibited by 

 opera dancers on the stage, for these gen- 

 try will raise the advancing limb above a 

 horizontal line drawn from the front of the 

 pelvis, and, performing sundry evolutions 

 with the foot, will afterwards gently deposit 

 it where it ought to be placed in ordinary- 

 progression: afterwards, throwing the weight 

 of the body perpendicularly upon it, they 

 exhibit the same extravagancies with the 



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