When the balancer is able to walk firmly and in good position along the
bar, and to spring off whenever he may lose his balance, he may attempt
to turn round, first at the broad, then at the narrow end, and to
return. He may next try to go backward.
In accomplishing this, it is no longer the heel, but the tip of the
toes, which receives the weight; the leg which hangs being stretched
backward, with the hip, knee, and heel forming a right angle, till the
toes, by a transverse motion, are so placed on the middle of the beam,
that the balancer can safely transfer to them the whole weight of the
body.
To acquire the art of passing an obstacle placed laterally, two
balancers may pass each other thus:--They must hold one another fast
by the arms, advance breast to breast, place each his right foot close
forward to that of his comrade, across the bar (Plate XIV. fig. 3), and
turn completely round each other, by each stepping with his left foot
round the right one of the other, as in Plate XIV. fig. 4.
To acquire the art of passing an obstacle placed inferiorly, a large
stone may be laid upon the bar, or a stick may be held before the
balancer, about the height of the knee. (Plate XIV. fig. 5.)
To pass over men placed upon a beam, the pupil or pupils who are
astride in front lie down on the beam, which they grasp firmly by
passing their arms round it. The pupil _a_ (fig. 1, Plate XV.) having
to pass to the point on the beam marked _b_, places his hands on the
waistband of his comrade _c_: he then leans upon his arms, and raises
his body to pass forward over his comrade, opening his legs widely, so
as not to touch him, till he places himself astride at _c_. He then
extends his hands and arms for a second movement, places them at _b_,
and leans the body well forward, as shown in fig. 2, Plate XV. Being
thus placed, he makes the last movement, raises his body upon the arms
to pass over his comrade’s head without touching it, which is the chief
rule of this exercise, and places himself astride upon the beam at _b_,
moving his hands immediately, and extending them to rest at _d_. This
movement being finished, he continues advancing astride, along the
beam, over the others, if there be any; raises himself to an upright
position, and lies down in his turn on the beam. This last attitude
requires some care, because the head must incline either to the right
or left of the beam, as shown in the plates, and the pupil must hold
tight to the beam with the arms and thighs, which requires both skill
and strength.
The pupil may also pass as shown in fig. 3, Plate XV. This method is
very easy for the person passing, and indeed more so than any other;
but it is necessary that the pupil who is in the position _b_ should
have learnt to raise himself up on the beam, or know how to advance
along it underneath, in a reversed position.
[Illustration: _Plate XV_
_Page 58._