Instructions in All Kinds of Gymnastic Exercises (extract)

24 must consist of firm earth; Z> is a small ditch, which obliges the leaper to make the spring exactly at a. The ground between c and d, which is about eighteen feet long, is first dug from three to four feet deep, and afterwardsfilled with loose sand. Fig. 1, Plate I. shows the situation of this ditch upon the exercise-ground. This leap may be divided into three prin­ cipal parts; viz. the run, the spring, and the descent. The run is made from x to «; which piece of ground should be firm, and not at all slippery; its length, ten, fifteen, or twenty paces. The run consists in small steps which increase in quickness as they approach the point where the spring must be made. The body is inclined very much forward. Long stepsmust be avoided,since they considerably diminish the force of the spring. The spring is performed with one foot at the point a, As already remarked, the leaper should practice his eye, so as to bring that foot upon the point a, with which he is accustomed to make the spring. Beginners are apt to think only of the length, and too little of the heighth of the leap. They do not consider that they come