It only remains for us to give a few directions as to the time, place,
and circumstances of exercise. The best time for the elementary
exercises is when the air is cool, as, even in summer, it is early
in the morning, or after the sun has declined; and they should never
immediately follow a meal. The best place for these elementary
exercises is a smooth grass-plat, or a firm sandy sea-beach. Chasms,
stones, and stakes, are always dangerous. At the commencement, the coat
and all unnecessary clothes should be laid aside; and all hard or sharp
things should be taken from the pockets of the remaining dress. A very
light covering on the head, as a straw hat, is best; the shirt-collar
should be open, the breast being either exposed or thinly covered; the
waistband of the trousers should not be tight, and the boots or shoes
should have no iron about them.
As sudden transitions are always bad, exercise should begin gently,
and should terminate in the same manner. The left hand and arm being
commonly weaker than the right, they should be exercised till they
become as strong. This custom is advantageous, not only for all
military and mechanical gymnastic exercises, but also for all their
operations. The being cooled too quickly is injurious. Therefore,
drinking when very hot, or lying down on the cold ground, should be
carefully avoided. No exertion should be carried to excess, as that
only exhausts and enfeebles the body. Therefore, whenever the gymnast
feels tired, or falls behind his usual mark, he should resume his
clothes, and walk home. The moment exercise is finished, the clothes
should always be put on, and the usual precautions adopted to prevent
taking cold.
The necessary fittings-up of an exercising ground are a leaping stand,
a vaulting horse, a balancing bar, a climbing stand, with ladders,
poles, and ropes, which may be seen united as simply and economically
as possible, in a subsequent sketch--(Plate XVIII. CLIMBING.)
In most exercises, a belt or cincture is of utility; and it seems, in
all ages, to have been naturally employed. The weakest savage, who
could not follow others in the course without panting, would find, by
placing his hand over his abdomen, and supporting the liver and other
organs which descend into that cavity, that he was aided in running,
and breathed more easily; and thence he would make for himself a belt.
United in societies, men would still preserve their belt, though
it might not seem particularly advantageous, except to those whose
active mode of life approached a primitive state, such as travellers,
couriers, and porters.
The Greeks put on their belts before they commenced wrestling; and
many physicians, both ancient and modern, recommend the use of belts,
as being to the whole of the body, and to the parts over which they
are placed, what the exterior sheaths or aponeuroses are to the
muscles--bands which embrace and keep firm the parts over which they
are placed. The common belt has leathern straps, and buckles to fasten
it, an iron ring and a pocket. A double cincture for wrestling forms a
very strong girth, which is put on by pupils who are very strong, when
they wrestle. These belts may be made of different sizes, for youths
of different ages: of five or six inches for tall youths and men, and
of eight or ten inches for wrestlers. Their length is in proportion
to the size of the person who uses them. These belts are very useful
in strengthening the abdominal region in running and leaping. Riders,
also, should furnish themselves with belts before getting on horseback,
to prevent too violent motion of the viscera of the abdomen, and the
disorders which may result from it. The use, indeed, of belts will
by degrees prove their utility, and they will probably be worn even
externally, without reference to physical exercises. They deserve this
the more, because they give an air of lightness and elegance to the
shape, and develope the chest.
The most useful thing in existence is dangerous, if improperly applied.
In very young persons, the chest and abdomen have been compressed by
fastening the belt too tight, or making it too wide; and disorders of
digestion and respiration have consequently been caused by pushing in
the false ribs. This is an imprudence that should be avoided. If the
belt be too low, it may press too much on the lower part of the belly;
if too high, it may disorder the chest. It must therefore be placed on
the loins, so as to pass over the navel; and, as said before, it must
not be too tight. Having given these ideas of the utility of belts, and
the manner of using them, it remains only to explain the triple use
of those adopted for exercises: 1st, they fulfil, by their size and
other circumstances, all the conditions which render them useful; 2nd,
a pocket serves to inclose the articles that may be wanted, according
to the class of exercises performing; 3rd, an iron ring is intended to
suspend, by means of hooks, any thing we wish to carry, so as to leave
the hands at liberty.