124 On Screntific Physical Training 
ments of the different parts of the body, we have a basis ° 
upon which you are to act. Just as with the twenty-four 
elementary letters of the alphabet we can form endless 
combinations and also talk much nonsense, so it is with 
these elementary movements of the human body. Our 
object is not to make the greatest exertions in any one 
direction, and to do as many exercises as possible, even 
injurious ones, but to combine these movements for pur- 
poses that are useful in life. Our object is not to form 
tumblers, rope-dancers, &c., but to develop the powers of 
the body harmoniously; therefore, we seek the combi- 
nation of these simple ideas. The same movements which 
are necesssry for the first educational development of the 
body can be also made use of for the purpose of mental 
instruction, and an intelligent teacher can teach the ele- 
mentary geometrical forms by the aid of the various 
positions and movements of the limbs and body; thus 
children can be taught what a horizontal and vertical line 
is, the various angles formed by two-lines, circles, and 
ellipses can be formed, &c., as you can convince yourselves 
by looking at these models, which form the basis. of some 
other very important branches of physical training. I~ 
have also tried to introduce these elementary movements 
under the form of gymnastic games, which afford amuse- 
ment while the body is exercised. 
They form the basis of military gymnastics, because 
men are prepared forthe drillthrough these. The greatest 
and best results have been obtained in the Swedish and 
Prussian armies by preparing the recruit before he enters 
upon his military duties, by these apparently simple 
exercises. Although they appear simple, they are not so 
simple, for the man has to do them with the greatest 
exactitude, and he is obliged to think for himself. They 
are called “free exercises,” because there is no external 
help, no apparatus, no machinery is wanted. By placing 
together two, three, four, five, or more men, you can make 
them all work at the same time, and supply to one another 
the place of apparatus, This is the importance of this 
scientific basis in comparison with other systems, that you 
have a certain number of men working together at the 
same time under a certain word of command, either as 
individuals, or as one compound body, without being 
obliged to raise heavy dumb-bells, under the weight of 
which the men are panting for breath, The men on the 
right and left can supply the weight of the dumb-bell by 
