TRY A FEW SOMERSAULTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12111, 4 July 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

TRY A FEW SOMERSAULTS.

If girls would direct their, athletic attention to turning•somersaults; _ they would find the pastime both! novel and exhilarating. •.--'• ■!.■-.'

Springboard jumping the modern maiden calls this feat. A springboard and a gymnasium, mattress are all the paraphernalia needed.. The end and aim of every woman who goes in for this vaulting and tumbling is to get sufficient momentum from the elastic plank to send her high into the air, over in a complete somersault and so lightly down, toes first, on the mattress. It looks as easy as anything!, but is really a difficult bit of work. The charm' of it lies in the fact that, once tried, no woman ever deserts the springboard nmtil. she can make at least one aerial revolution. If uncommonly skilful, she. will easily do Wo turns in the air. .

By way of initiative,, one first learns to , take somersaults, on the floor'and. then on the board. Tot get the proper momentum the body must oV-gathered smallest compass. Then one springs out into space with, arotary motion, -'whichl turns the somersault and brings : one earthward, feet ■foremost.-""- '..".:''''■- '',, ■ .'■]•..' :, • Oh alternate days the devotee ;to athletics, pounds awayat a big jgooseberry■shaped ball bound in pigskin. [lt is suspended' at a convenient height from the floor to permit the maiden to pound it vigorously after the'manner iff a prizefighter. Of course the ball is father light< and soft. Anyway, its assailant," who plants-'.- mighty blows in its sides, wears padded doeskin gloves to piotect her knuckles: -' : . ~ j The effect on the complexion, is of first importance.... The exercise is also good for forearm and shoulder muscles, for,it must be remembered that sinews always grow at the: flesh. \ . ■■- The ball puncher usually retires weak and- weary from the first boxing bout, i but strength and pugnacity- cojne with re r peated trials.: To keep herself in training there are a few exercises less Vigorous in character which she can practise daily. One is to swing the arms around; in;a circle," one at a time, and both together. Then, placing the tips of the fingers on the chest,tne ; ;arms are flung out and back, until they are at" right angles to the body, i : Twisting the body roiind in both directions from the waist is another movement; Leaning forward and then backward as far as possible, also to the,right andj to .the left, is also good practice. Interlocking the thumbs, and with the knees straight, bend until the tips of the r fingers;toich,the floor. Rise to an upright position, with the arms above the head.

Besides adding roses to the cheeksi these exercises also expand the lungs and cure dyspepsia. No woman need resort to a diet—the most melancholy and depressing method of- restoring health—-if she will go in for these vigorous athletics witn all her heart and mind and muscle.

People sometimes complain of being too weak and breathless to take exercise. This is a delusion. The weakness, the quick and the short respiration arise from want of exercise. The heart groans .under.-./it's burden, and yet nothing is dtrae to help impel the blood forward to the extremities. The lungs are similarly oppressed, but nothing is done to relieve them of their trouble. ~ ,

The less exercise one takes, the less one is fitted for. and the more one needs it. Nerves will become disordered, the blood thick and sluggish and muscles will.grow flaccid.