103. Position as in the 61st exercise. Now bend down and kiss the bars right and left. 104. Swing on hands—while in full swing stoop down and kiss the bars alternately. 105. Swing on the fore-arms, then throw the legs gracefully over the right bar behind, like this, and come to the ground on your feet, unless you like to come on your head better. RV 108. Swing in the middle of the bars, and throw both legs backward over the bars, and bring them in front. See action 101. This requires not only more energy, but a tact, which confidence, the result of practice, alone can give. 109. Swing on hands, arms stiff, and throw a somerset, keeping the feet close, so as to come between the bars, catching the arms between the bars on coming down, Don't be afraid, I shall stand by you; only keep your legs close. 106. Swing on the fore-arms, and then throw your legs over the left bar, coming to the ground in a similar manner. Mind you catch hold of the bar. 107. Turn on fore-arms, and take a somerset backward slowly. This is different from the 100th exercise, for it is in fact merely a rolling over on the bars. 110. Suppose we take a serpentine walk. You have only to sustain the body on the bar outside; throw the legs underneath one bar, and over the other, as (a). Seize this other bar with the hands on each side of the legs, draw up the body so as to sit on the bar, the legs being outside; gradually slide down, catch the bars with the arms, as (b)—at the same time throwing the legs so as to catch the opposite bar behind by the instep, release the arms separately, and bring them underneath-hold on bar, 112. Walk along the bars with bent arms, grasshopper fashion-first forward then backward. 113. Swing while in grasshopper po sition. 114. Swing and jump along the bars with bent arms, first forward, then backward. 115. Walk from one end of the bars to the other, with legs spread in front, afterwards with legs spread behind the arms. 118. Swing and spread the legs while above the bars, both before and behind. 119. Take a short run towards the bars on the outside, catch the nearest with the right hand, and spring over the bar, immediately let go the right hand, and catch the same bar with the left, passing the right hand to the other bar, and without coming to the ground swing the legs gracefully over that other bar behind. 120. Take a run as before, catch the nearest bar with the left hand, spring over, immediately letting go the left hand, and catching the bar with the right; at the same time pass the left hand to the other bar, and, without touching the ground, swing both legs with ease over the other bar in front. Early to bed, and early to rise, Will make a man healthy and wealthy and wise. I think, my little friends, I have pretty thing like rising early, my lads; you all well explained to you all the useful prac- know the old proverb, tices at the bar-sufficient to make you expert barristers, even if have never you studied Tidd's Practice. I think I hear you say, This is good fun; we feel ourselves stronger than we were, and should like to accompany our friend to the Pole. With all my heart: come to me tomorrow morning at six o'clock precisely, and we'll take an excursion thither; no- gain next month. Good bye, good bye. In truth, I tell you once for all, that these exercises should be performed "before breakfast; it is wrong to use much exertion immediately after a hearty meal, or at least till digestion is fully accomplished. So, good bye till I see you a Curious Old Customs. EXTRACTED FROM THE JOURNALS OF EVELYN AND PEPYS. 1637. There came in my time to the Oxford college, one Nathaniel Conopios, out of Greece; he was the first I ever saw drink coffee, which custom came not into England till thirty years after. 1652. Having been robbed by two cut-throats near Bromley, I rode on to London, and got 500 tickets printed. The robber refusing to plead, was pressed to death. 1654. I now observed how the women began to paint themselves, formerly a most ignominious thing, and only used by wanton women. 1660. Jan. I staid up till the bellman came by with his bell just under my win dow, and cried,' Past one of the clock and a cold frosty winter morning.' When friends parted, they said, God be with you.' My dining-room was finished with green serge hanging and gilt leather. I did send for a cup of tea, (a China drink) of which I had never drank before. November. To sir W. Batten's to dinner, he having a couple of servants married to-day; and so there was a great number of merchants and others of good quality, on purpose after dinner to make an offering, which, when dinner was done, we did; and I gave 10s. and no more, though most of them gave more. CURIOUS OLD CUSTOMS. 1661. Feb. Sir W. Batten sent my wife half a dozen pair of gloves and a pair of silk stockings and garters for her valentines. May. We went to Mrs Browne's, where sir W. Penn and I were godfathers, and mrs Jordan and Shipman godmothers. And there, before and after the christening, we were with the woman in her chamber above. I did give the midwife 10s. and the nurse 5s. and the maid 2s. But forasmuch I expected to give the name to the child but did not, I forbore then to give my plate, which I had in my pocket, namely, six spoons and a porringer of silver. July. A messenger brought me word my uncle was dead. I rode over and found my uncle's corpse in a coffin, standing upon joint-stools in the chimney in the hall, but it began to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth in the yard all night, and watched by my aunt. In the morning my father and I read the will; after that done. we went about get ting things, as ribands and gloves, ready for the burial, which in the afternoon was done; we served the people with wine and other things. Nov. To church, and heard a simple fellow upon the praise of church musique. and exclaiming against men's wearing their hats on in church. Civet-cats, parrots, and apes, sent as presents to ladies; and gentlemen lighted home by link-boys. 1663. Oct. To Guildhall; we went up and down to see the tables. By and 119 by the lord mayor came into the hall to dinner, with the other great lords, bishops, &c. We had plenty of good wine, but it was very unpleasing that we had no napkins, or knives, nor change of trenchers, and drunk out of earthen pitchers and wooden dishes. 1664. Home to bed, having got a strange cold in my head, by flinging off my hat at dinner. To my lord chancellor's, in the garden, where we conversed above an hour, walking up and down, and he would have me walk with my hat on. 1666. Feb. 14. This morning came up to my wife's bedside little Will Mercer to be her valentine; and brought her name writ upon blue paper in gold letters, done by himself very prettily. But I am also this year my wife's valentine, and it will cost me five pounds. I find that mrs Pierce's little girl is my valentine, she having drawn me. But here I do first observe the fashion of drawing of mottos, as well as names. My wife's motto was Most courteous, most fair,'-mine I have forgot. One wonder I observed to-day, that there was no musique in the morning to call up our new-married people, which was very mean methinks. 1667. June. Find my wife making tea, a drink which her potticary tells her ist good for her colds and defluxions. 1669. May. My wife got up by 4 o'c. to go to gather May dew, which mrs Turner hath taught her is the only thing in the world to wash her face with. |