ments of the positions under consideration at the time, all the students will count as described on pp. 124 and 143.

At the commencement, slow movements should be practiced, then quicker ones; afterward the command for rapid and slow movements should be given so as to take the pupil by surprise, and the same with regard to one member only, or several together.

Exercises should always be commenced as well as finished gently. This is especially important for beginners, as they are sometimes injured, and their progress retarded, by too severe efforts at first.

The instructor will remember, that the organs or parts are to be developed and strengthened by moderate and prolonged exertions, rather than by violent and fitful ones. The weaker organs or limbs should always receive more attention, and be more frequently subjected to exercises specially adapted to their invigoration.

All violent exertions should be inade when the stomach is empty, or nearly so. The best times for the more active calisthenic exercises are early in the morning, and toward evening; when practiced at school, the best times are the middle of the forenoon, and toward the close of the afternoon session. They should not be practiced immediately after meals, nor very near the time for eating, as digestion is never well performed when the system is in an agitated or exhausted condition.

THE

INSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL.

HE harmony so indispensable in the movements of the several classes of a large school, or of two or more schools, can only be attained by the use of the same commands, the same principles, and the same mode of execution. Hence, in order to render general exercises most interesting, effective, and useful, all instructors will conform themselves, without addition or curtailment, to what will herein be prescribed, until a perfect mastery is secured.

G

The movements, as described from the different positions named in this work, are intended for separate classes, or schools where there is sufficient space for students to stand in lines far enough apart to prevent their hands or feet coming in contact. The intelligent instructor will not find it difficult, however, to make such modifications and omissions as will enable him to conduct exercises successfully when the students are seated, or when they are standing in a compact body.

In the chapel, or other room for school drill, the students will have seats assigned solely with reference to their height : those that are shortest will be seated nearest the principal's platform.

The exercises of each lesson will be executed several times in the order in which they are arranged, and the lessons will be introduced consecutively; but as soon as the school shall be confirmed in the principles of Calisthenics, and taught to perform all the exercises with the utmost precision, the order of the positions, of the movements, and of the general divisions, may be varied.

During a public inspection or exhibition, the instructor will employ only the commands necessary to vary the usual order of exercises. An occasional departure from this rule may be advisable, to impart greater animation. He will not execute, himself, the movements he commands; but he may indicate by gesture both the nature and the direction of the movements. To insure promptitude and perfect uniformity, an assistant, or an intelligent student, occupying a position in front, may execute the movements simultaneously with the school.

THE

CALISTHENIC HALL.

HE floor of a calisthenic hall should be streaked or inlaid, as shown in Fig. 9. The lines must be about thirty inches apart, both lengthwise and crosswise of the room. Each intersection forms a standing. Many classes

of exercise may be executed when all the standings are occupied; but in that event it will be found necessary to make some modifications and omissions.

The preferable mode is, after the instructor has sized the ranks, to form the whole school into two equal divisions—

all the odd lines, from side to side, constituting the first division; and the even lines, the second. Then one division will rest while the other is under drill; or they will occupy the hall on alternate days, or during different hours of the same day.

The formation of the division under drill will be as follows: At the command, First (or second) division-FALL IN, every

member of the division (knowing his own relative height, rank, and position) will at once take his standing. The shortest student in the division will occupy the first standing at the teacher's right, in the front rank; and the tallest one, the last standing at the teacher's left, in the rank furthest back. The ranks will occupy every second line, commencing with the second one front.

As soon as this formation is secured, the instructor commands, In every rank-COUNT Twos; and the students count twos, as directed on page 127. At the command, Twos, one standing forward-MARCH, the twos step forward (left foot first) and occupy the standings immediately in front, thus completing the formation as represented by the feet in Fig. 9.

At the conclusion of the exercise, or preparatory to marching, the instructor commands, Twos, one standing backward -MARCH; and the twos step backward (left foot first) and occupy their original standings in the ranks.

The temperature of a calisthenic hall should be kept at from 63 to 70 degrees; but during the continuance of the exercises the windows should be opened, so that the room may be thoroughly ventilated. All heavy and unnecessary clothing should be removed. At the close of the exercise, when the quick movements and changing evolutions of the limbs and the joints have increased the animal heat and produced a sensible perspiration, the windows must be closed, and all draughts of air avoided. A perfect ventilation, however, must be secured at all times.

COSTUME.

IN

N arranging a costume' for calisthenic and gymnastic exercises, we must take into account what may be regarded as the elementary requisites of all dress: that it be

' Costume. The author, in the preparation of this article, has incorporated valuable ideas from an able

paper in the Atlantic Monthly, entitled Daily Beauty. A perusal of that paper is earnestly recommended.

comfortable and decent, convenient and suitable, beautiful in form and color, simple, genuine, harmonious with Nature and itself.

The first two requisites of dress are easily attained; for only a sufficiency of suitable covering is necessary to them. Dress, however, should not only secure these points, but seem to secure them; for, as to others than the wearer, what is the difference between sweltering and seeming to swelter, shivering and seeming to shiver?

Convenience, which is to be distinguished from mere bodily comfort, is the next essential of becoming dress. A man should not wear a Spanish cloak while using a flail or a pair of Indian clubs; a woman should not make butter in large hanging-sleeves, nor walk on muddy roads in long, trailing skirts. No beauty of form or splendor of material in cos