A System of Physical Education, Theoretical and Practical (extract)

THE LEAPING POLE. THE exercises with the leaping pole may almost be viewed as belonging to recreative rather than systema- tized exercise, being essentially for the open air, and among the few which may be left for free practice, after the learner bas acquired a knowledge of the action and position of the different exercises. They are valuable as giving precision to the eye and hand, the power of calculating distance, and of rapidly determining the moment for executing a complicated movement, with the presence of mind to execute it, in addition to the physical exercis~ of the run and leap, the balance and descent. The leaping pole should be of ash, about lt inches in diameter, and from eight feet to ten feet long, perfectly smooth, and shod with iron at the butt or lower end. First Sm'ies. Exercise 1. CouR E I. FIR T SERIES ...... Standing. SECOND SERIES .... Running. TO LE P WIDTH. Position of attention, one pace from the mark, with the pole at the balance, i. e. held horizontally across the body with the arms bent, the butt of the pole held slanting to the front, the hands at the distance, the right hand to th e