British Manly Exercises

22 LEAPING. This leapmay be practised at: 1st. Double the length of the body ; 2dly. Twice and ahalf that length ; 3dly. Three times that length. Feats in Long Leaping. On level ground, twenty feet is a first-rate leap; twenty- one is extraordinary; and twenty-two is very rarely accomplished. With a run and a leap, on a slightly inclined plane, twenty-three feethave been done. THE DEEP LEAP. This may be made citherwith or without thehands. In eitherway, to avoid the shock, the body must be kept ina bent position, and the fall must be upon the balls of the toes. When the hands are used, the leaper places them in front of the feet; and during thedescent, the weight of the body is checked by the former, andpasses in adimi­ nished state tothe latter; so that the shock is obviated. A flight of steps serves the purpose of this exercise. The leaper ascends a certain number; leaps from the side; gradually increases thenumber; and, by practising progressively higher, finds it easy to leap from heights which at firstappalled him. The leaper afterwards combines the long and deep leaps. For this purpose, a rivulet, which as one bank high and the opposite onelow, is veryfavourable.