Gymnasts and gymnastics

Front matter

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Preface

TO

THE SECOHD EDITION.

Such is the rapid advance which has been made in Gymnastics since the first issue of this work, and with it a desire of further increase in the number of the Exercises to be achieved on the different apparatus by the athletes of the present day, that any attempt to lay before the public a series of Exercises on this now essential branch of education, must be received with eagerness ; for it is well known that the desire of further knowledge is as great in the Gymnasium as in the schoolroom or college, if not greater, and where that longing after new Exercises exists, whereby the whole system is wonderfully improved, that want must in some way or other be supphed.

In the present edition the number of Exercises has not only been increased threefold, but the whole of the former edition has been thoroughly revised and corrected, and in many instances entirely rewritten, and

1 06037 1 viii Preface to the Second Edition.

though some few have been expunged, they having been deemed of too dangerous a character, it will be found that they have been replaced by those of greater value to the Gymnast ; whilst, on the other hand, the Exercises themselves have been so arranged, that the embryo Gymnast may begin at the beginning, and, by following the order in which they have been arranged under the heads of the several apparatus, gradually learn and practise those which are more difiScult, without having to go from one Exercise to another. The most simple Exercises are placed first, and consequently each succeeding one is more difiB.cult to achieve than its predecessor, in accordance with the required position of the body, or the nature of the Exercise to be performed.

Having for the past three years been intimately connected with many of the leadiug Gymnasts in Manchester and the neighbouring towns, both in connection with their clubs and the athletic festivals now held annually, at two of which I have acted as judge and referee, I am enabled to present to the public at large the result of my experience, viz. additional Exercises, many of which are quite new. In addition to which, a copious description of each apparatus is prefixed to each series of Exercises, the whole being engraved from photographs of the most recent improvements in the manufacturing and arranging of the same, and now in use in the various clubs and military schools. When last in London I availed myself of the opportunity to visit the Gymnastic Apparatus Manufactory of

Preface to the Second Edition

IX

Messrs. Snoxell and Spencer, and feel convinced, from the numerous specimens of the various apparatus I saw there in the process of being manufactured, and from those ready for immediate use, that the quality of the materials with which they are made cannot be surpassed.

Therefore, from the foregoing remarks, the author hopes that the time he has devoted to the enlargement and improvement of this edition will not be as ‘ chaff before the wind ; ’ but that it will be sown as seed on good ground, some, if not all, of the Exercises herein contained yielding good and beneficial results to all who now form the Athletic School of England.

Manchester : November 1, 1867-

PREFACE

TO

THE FIRST EDITION.

In presenting tlie following collection of Exercises to the public, I have much pleasure in stating that the whole of them have been performed by myself and pupils, and are, consequently, within the capacity of any who may deem them worthy of their time and attention.

Were I to have attempted to describe every feat which is capable of being performed, I fear I should tire many of the youthful aspirants to these recreative exercises ; nevertheless, I have selected such as, I sincerely trust, will give the greatest satisfaction ; and I am of opinion that any student of the Gymnasium who may enter upon the simplest of the following, will not rest contented until he has accomplished the most difficult, and will thus be enabled to outstrip the whole of his companions.

When the young Gymnast has achieved the whole of the following Exercises, he need never fear to venture upon any other kind of athletic exercise which may be proposed for his performance.

In France and Belgium Gymnastic Exercises form a part of the education of youth, and happy is he who succeeds in achieving any one feat which leaves him sole master of the Gymnasium.