and Rational Gymnastics. — 125 
their power of resistance, which can be increased to any 
desirable extent, and if there is a living resistance it is 
constantly necessary that the two or three men should work 
together, as if they would form but one body, governed by 
one mind. So that in fact we have not only a machine, 
but we have here a living body, whose mental faculties are 
brought into power by the exercise at the same time as 
the body. . 
e Figs) 24, 25, 26, 27 will explain to the reader the 
mode of combining these movements, in which two or 
three men can take part at the same time, and bring into 
exercise the various muscles of the body without the aid 
of apparatus of any kind. 
To show the importance of this system for military 
‘training, I will read the following extract from a letter just 
received (12th February, 1863), from Major Rothstein, who 
is at the head of the Royal Central Institution for Gym- 
nastics at Berlin.* 
“T am happy to say that rational gymnastics are pro- 
gressing favourably in our military institutions (Kadetten 
und Kreigs-Schulen), as well as in all the regiments of the 
army; even the old commanders who did not like this 
mode of physical training, acknowledge its merits. 
“The free exercises of Ling have proved exceedingly 
useful for the development of the recruits. Here, at 
Berlin, the regiments of the Guard show much zeal for the 
practice of the gymnastic exercises. 
“In the regiments in garrison in the provinces, the pro- 
gress of this branch of military education varies according 
to the views of the commanding officers, and depends also 
very much upon social and other circumstances, but on the 
whole, progress is visible everywhere. 
“The full extent of this system on the physical develop- 
ment of our soldiers, and of our nation in general, will be 
shown only then when our youth shall = in the benefit 
of a rational physical education. 
“The greatest impediment to this attainment is the 
* In this Institution, commissioned and non-commissioned 
officers are instructed in the elements of anatomy, physiology, 
hygiene, educational, and military. gymnastics. After having 
passed a theoretical and practical examination, they return to 
their regiments, and train there a number of non-commissioned 
officers, who assist in the physical education of the privates. 
