Standing in widths is same as stride position, except according to distance indicated. In teaching a class the command Class-Attention! means that when the second word is given the pupils take position and remain quiet for the next order. Hold! or Halt! means a pause in walk, march or exercise. The command Break ranks-March! means that the class is dismissed. The teacher should count aloud for the class until the order of exercises is easily remembered. Good music is not only a great attraction, but inspiring and helpful to both pupils and instructor, but care must be exercised that it does not lead the pupils to become mechanical or jerky. For Free Work use marches and polkas; for wands, marches; for dumb-bells, marches and waltzes; for marching and fancy steps, slow and quick marches and galops. NOTE.-Preliminary to the regular order of exercises, and as an adjunct in securing the most satisfactory results therefrom, attention is directed to the importance of standing and walking properly, practice in each constituting, also, a pleasing and healthful gymnastic. With these may be fittingly included the most approved way to sit, to rise, to courtesy, to kneel, and to bow. CARRIAGE OF BODY "No harmonious movement of body is possible without a correct action of the muscles."-GUTTMANN. It is not necessary when saying "that good health depends upon a proper carriage of the body," to substantiate the statement by argument, yet, how few persons while admitting the fact practice what they believe. Ever ready to recognize and admire the elastic step and majestic mien, yet they fail to utilize the natural endowments of which they are possessed. While it is not desirable that every one should stand, sit, or move in precisely the same manner, there are certain rhythmic laws in regard to both posture and attitude, the observance of which will conduce to health of body and beauty of form, without in the least interfering with diversity in manner, bearing, or personality. As the proper carriage of the body, especially of its vital organs, is both healthful and graceful, it is necessary first to learn the appropriate position that each of its members should take. The simplest position is to place the heels as closely together as the contour of the lower limbs will permit, with toes turned outward at an angle of about sixty degrees; the knees should be firm, hips inward, shoulders on line with hips, head easily erect, with crown of head highest; chest raised-that is, drawn upward, thus liberating respiratory organs and abdominal viscera. Allow weight of body to rest on balls of feet. Standing thus, the line of gravity falls between the feet near the line of the toes. In this position see that no part of the body is unduly tensioned, and that all the sustaining muscles are in tone, but pliant. This is not only a good position for a proper carriage, but it is a fundamental position in the regular gymnastic exercises, and from this other and more complex positions are taken. The line of gravity, however, must not be broken nor distorted in passing from one basic position to another, for if this happens, the entire body is thrown out of the lines of both strength and grace. The lower limbs being controlled by special laws relating to the centre of gravity, the line of gravity becomes a controlling influence in standing or in moving, and any variation of it mars the whole posture.* *The great care which painters and sculptors exercise upon this very point when placing inanimate figures upon canvas, or in chiseling them in marble, shows how important in their estimation is the observance of this rule. Should not at least the same care be taken by every one concerning his own physical being, when the object is health, comfort, capability, and beauty? . Usual Faults in Standing 1. Protruded chin. 2. Hollow or relaxed chest. 5. Both knees relaxed. 6. Arms hanging too far forward. Exercises Corrective of Faults in Standing 1. Stand with heels closed and rise on toes. 2. Extend arms obliquely forward and downward, palms of hands toward earth, at same time head and chest drawn upward, crown of head highest. Sustaining this position, let hands fall easily to side. 3. Walk about room with light weight upon head. 4. Walk about room on toes with stiff knees. 5. Poise body forward without bending in hips or knees, carrying line of gravity to toes, from toes to heels, then to right side, then to left side. Repeat many times. 6. Place one foot three or four inches in advance of the other and rise on toes. 7. Stand at the side of a room, which has neither surbase nor other projection: let the back of head, shoulders, rump, and heels touch the wall: from this position advance several paces, retaining the upright carriage of the body. NOTE. The carriage or position should be that in which one can rise upon the toes without swaying the body forward from the ankles or bending in the hips. WALKING "The natural gait arises, not from strength of muscle (false activity of the muscles), but from the law of gravity."-GUTTMANN. Some one has said that all created things having the power of locomotion, except man, move in harmonious correspondence with the law of their nature. He alone hops and halts, trudges and strides, limps and ambles, and moves over the ground in a variety of other ways, all of which are in opposition to the rhythmus of his being. Much of this, without doubt, is due to the environment incident to civilized life, more to the burdens imposed upon humanity by the dicta of fashion, and still more to carelessness and ease of self. The need to man of walking no one will question. It is an absolute necessity. To walk easily and well, should be desired by every one on account of comfort and health; to walk elegantly, should be coveted, for it is an art. When the right muscles are exercised and a proper pendulous action takes place, walking becomes a pleasure, because the exercise is made easy, because, in itself, it is exhilarating, and, being mostly in the open air is, for both sexes, a most healthful gymnastic. Faults in.Walking 1. Walking with weight on heels, thus jarring spine. 2. Bobbing body up and down. 3. Rolling gait. 4. Pitching gait. 5. Strutting gait. 6. Loose or shuffling gait. 7. Hip action. 8. Stiff leg (muscles between knee and ankle strongly tensioned). 9. Unequal or irregular step. Walking may be termed a series of arrested fallings, and has been uniquely defined as "a steady forward movement of the torso through a regularly repeated action of the lower limbs." In other words, when there is an impulse to move the body forward, the line of gravity immediately passes to one foot alone; the other foot is then loosened from the earth (the heel rising first) and the knee is relaxed; the muscles between the knee and ankle are relieved of tension, and the limb is thrust forward or pried over in a lever-like way by the powerful muscles of the thigh, in which the principal action in walking takes place. The foot is next set upon the ground, the ball of the foot touching first, if there is no artificial heel to prevent; if there is, the heel will touch the ground first, but it should be the inner part of the heel-that is, the part nearest the ball of the foot, and almost simultaneously with this should be the touch of the ball of the foot. In a similar manner the other foot is carried forward, the repeated movement resulting in a pendulous action of the body-induced by the forward shifting of the line of gravity. The body inclines slightly forward, to accommodate itself to these changes, but must not be bent at the hip. The head should be held easily but not stiffly erect, and in line with the continuously advancing limbs. The hands, unless supporting or carrying some object, should be down, at the side, and allowed to share the easy pendulous action of the body, so as to aid rather than hinder the elasticity of the step. For comfort and grace of movement the length of the step should not extend beyond the length of one's own footthat is, the advancing foot should be carried forward until the heel is distant one foot-length from the toe of the stationary one. Of course when pupils are moving in line this cannot be so precisely followed. Then a regulation step must be adopted. In presenting the mechanical processes of good walking no attempt is made to correct individual peculiarities, but |