Instructions in All Kinds of Gymnastic Exercises (extract)

18 the other; the knees are drawn forcibly up towards the chin, and the soles of the feet are kept at an equalheight above the ground. See fig. 1, Plate II. In the stretched out position, the leaper immediately throws, at the commencementof the leap, the foot with which he has not made the spring, straight forward over the cord, and draws up the other by a quick bend of the knee. See fig. 2, Plate II. The Run taken previousto the leap, should not exceed in length more than ten paces. The eye of the leaper is directed more to the spot from whence he is to make the spring, than to the cord ; particularly if he is accustomed to springwith one particularfoot, since it is necessaryfor him to judge his dis­ tance so that this foot may arriveat the re­ quiredplace. This greatly depends on prac­ tice; but the beginner is recommended to spring with either foot, and at times, with both feet. He should also observethis rule: viz. that the distancebetween the point from which the spring is made, and the cord, ought to be about equal to half the height of the latter from the ground. Fault*. —These take place when the pre-