by Lina Beard
The side motion is made by grasping the broomstick at each end, holding it down in front of you, and swinging it sideways, thus bringing the right hand up when the left is down, and vice versa. Another way is to hold the stick by both ends above your head and swing it from one side to the other, which will cause the right arm to come in contact with the right side of the head, while the left arm is extended out horizontally to the left. Next carry the stick back of and against the shoulders; then swing it from right to left, which gives another side movement. Vary all the movements in as many different ways as you can think of.
Exercise Fourth.
Stand erect always when in position for exercising, according to the directions given—heels together, toes out, etc. Now allow your arms to hang naturally down at your sides, raise your heels, and stand on your toes; now lower the heels and repeat the motion; then close your hands tightly and raise your arms out sideways at right angles with your body, next up straight above your head, and down again to the level of the shoulders, then back down to your sides as at first.
Again take position, close your hands tightly, and raise them up under the arms, bringing the elbows out to a level with the shoulders; then bring your hands down at your sides again and repeat the movement vigorously; resume position, firmly close your hands and carry them up to the shoulders, next extend them up straight above your head, down again to your shoulders, and back to the first position. A very good exercise is to extend both arms straight out in front of you, close your hands and bring them back to your chest, which will cause the bent elbows to project beyond your back.
Exercise Fifth.
Assume position, close your hands, and take one long step forward with your right foot, bend the right knee and stand with your weight resting on the right foot; then extend your arms out sideways straight from the shoulders, now bring your hands together in front of you, still keeping the arms on a level with the shoulders, and while doing so throw the body back, straightening the right knee and bending the left so the weight of the body will rest on the left foot; repeat this and vary it by taking one step forward with the left foot and going through with the same motions.
Fig. 254.—Balancing Broom-handle.
Resume position, and place your hands on your hips, with your thumbs turned forward and fingers backward. Now take a long step forward with your right foot, throwing the weight on that foot, then back again in position, and in the same manner step forward with your left foot and back again; next take a step backward with your right foot, resume position, and then with your left.
Again stand with your hands on your hips, thumbs turned forward, and without bending your knees move the body, first bending it forward, then backward, and resuming an upright position, bend over to the right and to the left.
Exercise Sixth.
In this the broomstick is used for balancing; hold it in an upright position, and first try balancing it on the palm of your hand; then on the back of your hand, next on each of the fingers in succession, commencing with the first finger (Fig. 254); be cautious, and when the stick wavers do not let it fall, but catch it with the other hand, and again balance it. This is an interesting, light, and diverting exercise, requiring all your attention, and, for the time being, your thoughts are concentrated on the effort to keep the broomstick properly balanced.
Exercise Seventh.
Pure blood means good health, and to purify the blood and keep the complexion clear it is essential that you breathe a sufficient quantity of pure air, and you cannot take in a proper amount of air unless your lungs are wholly extended. So take position with your hands correctly placed on your hips; then very slowly draw in your breath until your chest and lungs are fully expanded; next slowly exhale your breath, and repeat the exercise.
Exercise Eighth.
Screw in two large, strong hooks in the woodwork on each side of the doorway; place the hooks as far above your head as you can conveniently reach; slide the broomstick in so that it will extend across the doorway and be supported by the hooks; have the apparatus on that side of the doorway where it will not interfere with the opening and closing of the door, and be sure that it is perfectly secure before attempting to exercise; each time before commencing a new movement examine the stick, and be certain that it is not in any danger of slipping from the hooks. Unless you can be perfectly safe from liability to hurts or falls, do not include this in your list of exercises.
For the first movement grasp the bar firmly with both hands and swing the body forward and backward, standing first on the toes, then on the heels; next, still grasping the bar, raise up on your toes, then back again. Change the movements in as many ways as you like, but do not try anything that may strain or hurt you. Now screw in two more hooks, on either side of the woodwork, below the first ones, placing them about two feet and eight inches from the floor; take the stick from its elevated position and slide it across the doorway so it will rest securely on the two lower hooks. Standing in front of it, grasp the bar firmly with both hands and try to raise yourself up, feet and all, from the floor by bearing your weight down on the bar; then let yourself gently back again. When you have finished exercising, remove the stick and put it away.
Fig. 255.—The Swing.
Exercise Ninth.
In the top part of the framework of the doorway fasten a very strong hook by screwing it into the wood; then take a broomstick and, after shortening it so that when held in a horizontal position it will readily pass through the doorway, cut notches in each end and securely tie the two ends of a rope across the notches; suspend this swing by slipping the centre of the rope over the hook in the doorway (Fig. 255); have the apparatus strong and firm, capable of any amount of wear and tear. Stand facing the stick, which should be at the height of the chest, and take hold of it with both hands; now bend the knees until they are within a short distance of the floor, then rise and repeat the exercise. Next, with both hands on the stick, take a long step forward with the right foot, throwing the weight on that foot; return to your position and go through the same exercise with your left foot. Try different movements which suggest themselves, and select those you like best. When not in use the swing can be slipped off the hook and put out of the way.
Exercise Tenth.
To develop a weak voice and make it clear and sweet, and to strengthen the lungs, reading aloud is an excellent exercise; as it requires both mental and muscular exertion and performs a double duty, it should receive a full share of time and attention. Begin with something you are interested in, then you will find it much easier to read aloud than if you undertook a book or an article which might be full of merit, but lack interest for you. When commencing this exercise read only ten minutes or less at a sitting, increasing the time as you practise and the reading grows less difficult. Do not be discouraged if your voice sounds a little husky while reading; stop a moment, and then go on again. After a few trials you will have no more trouble in that way, for your voice will grow clear and distinct, and the exercise will become a great pleasure as well as an attractive, useful accomplishment.
Let your reading matter be very choice and of the best; do not condescend to waste your time on other writings.
From the ten different exercises given, select those best adapted to your size, age, and liking, and practise them for a short time daily; you can hardly realize the great advantage they will prove to be. In this way all parts of the system may be strengthened and harmoniously developed. But the constitution cannot be hurried: all must be accomplished little by little. Allow yourselves to be happy and merry; be ready to enjoy the little pleasures of life, and this, with kind and generous feelings for others, will do a great deal toward keeping you well and strong.
Out-of-door exercise is always to be preferred to in-door when one has a choice. Walking, tennis, archery, horseback, and swimming are some of the athletic sports for girls, and they all have their attractions. But there are times when we are denied the pleasure of these pastimes, and
then we are glad of a little exercise in-doors, which also affords enjoyment and recreation.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A DECORATIVE LANGUAGE.
WHEN in olden times the warriors went around the country dressed in suits of clothes made by a blacksmith instead of a tailor, their hats were manufactured at the forge also, and had iron front doors that moved upon hinges. When danger was nigh these doors were closed, locked, and barred over the poor men’s heads, leaving only a loop-hole or two for them to peep through. At such times in meeting Mr. Brown it was impossible to distinguish him from Mr. Smith, who was arrayed in like manner, and it might happen that Mr. Smith was the last man in the world that one cared to meet, not being on speaking terms or some such reason. Well, as we were saying, there was no chance whatever of telling one man from another unless he wore a distinguishing mark of some kind.
So to prevent such uncomfortable mistakes and to distinguish friend from foe, every gentleman had to be marked and labelled, like an express package, so one might read as he ran, “I am Earl Jenkins, of Thunderland, who married a Rhazor, of Stropshire.” These names and addresses were not painted in words on their owners with a marking-brush, but worked and embroidered in translatable designs on cloaks, saddle-housings, and silken banners, or emblazoned on the shield they carried with which to meet the advances of their neighbors. Since that time our more recent ancestors in England have taken great pride in preserving and handing down from generation to generation these distinguishing marks, as a guarantee to their children that they came of gentle birth, which is very interesting and gratifying for European girls, but American girls need nothing of the kind; it is sufficient that we are Americans.
Of course, some of us do take pleasure in knowing that our great-great-grandparents came over in the Mayflower, or that the name of an ancestor is among the signatures upon that Declaration of Independence which made such a stir a century ago, for that proves us to be Columbia’s daughters.
When there was no other method of distinguishing a man his label became a very important item; so these family devices were reduced to a science and protected by law.
The old countries’ coats of arms may remain abroad, where they belong, but the ingenious scheme, that was gradually evolved, of picturing ideas, mottoes, and pretty sentiments we will adopt as our inheritance, with many thanks to our mediæval ancestors with the metallic clothes, who bequeathed them to us.
We propose to revive enough of this neglected knowledge of chivalry to serve our purpose in suggesting a method of designing devices which will not only be artistic decorations, but to the initiated can be made to portray almost any sentiment or set of principles the artist may choose.
The many uses to which these designs can be applied will, we hope, at once be seen by the quick-witted American girls, and we trust will interest the reader as much as they do the writer, who in this chapter can only give a few necessary, brief hints upon the subject, sufficient, however, to explain the application that can be made of this beautiful and perfect system of
Decorative Language.
In the following directions anyone can learn how to make a device which will not only be a decoration, artistic in form and color, but will at the same time express the peculiar traits, characteristics, and virtues of the friend for whom it is intended, or the precept, code, proverb, or creed of the designer. All technical terms, as far as practicable, are discarded, but the rules of heraldry strictly adhered to, with such simplifications as are necessary to render it intelligible.
Fig. 256.—The Field.
The Field.
The surface on which the design is portrayed is called the field. This may be of any shape; originally it was supposed to represent a warrior’s shield, but you may use a circle, oval, square, diamond, or any other form.
The Points
on the surface of the shield locate the exact spot where a design or object in heraldry may be placed. Refer by numbers to Fig. 257.
Fig. 257.—Points.
1. Fess point.
2. Honor point.
3. Nombril point.
4. Dexter chief point.
5. Middle or chief point.
6. Sinister chief point.
7. Dexter base point.
8. Middle base point.
9. Sinister base point.
If you desire to place a flower on the fess point, you find that it means the exact centre of the shield, and so on.
The devices take significance in accordance with the more or less importance of their position on the shield; the honor point holds the highest grade, next to it the middle or chief point, and the right or dexter side is of more importance than the left or sinister.
The field may be divided, if desired, in any of the following
Divisions,
each of which has a significance, suggested generally by the form:
Fig. 258, the Chief, occupying the top or head of the shield, indicates pre-eminence, main object, intelligence, first principle.
Fig. 258.—Chief.
Fig. 259.—Fess.
Fig. 260.—Parted per Fess.
Fig. 259, the Fess, denotes cause and effect, the central band containing the means by which the ends, in the other spaces, are accomplished.
Fig. 261.—Pale.
Fig. 262.—Parted per Pale.
Fig. 263.—Bend.
Fig. 260 is a partition, and partakes of the meaning of the division, it is denoted by the term, parted per fess.
Fig. 261, the Pale, represents rectitude, uprightness; also union, the object in the central division uniting whatever occupies the dexter and sinister sides.
Fig. 262 is parted per pale.
Fig. 264.—Parted per Bend.
Fig. 265.—Chevron.
Fig. 266.—Cross.
Fig. 263, the Bend, is auspicious, meaning prosperity, success.
Fig. 264 is parted per bend.
Fig. 265, the Chevron, is indicative of aid, assistance, support.
Fig. 266, the Cross, suggests humility, devotion, patience, perseverance.
Fig. 267.—Saltire.
Fig. 268.—Pile.
Fig. 269.—Canton.
Fig. 267, the Saltire, a variation of the cross, is recognized as order, discipline.
Fig. 268, the Pile, being in the form of a wedge, means penetration, incision, entering to divide or distribute.
Fig. 269, the Canton, denotes an additional, separate idea or principle; also some characteristic that is added to the original design.
Colors.
These also have symbolical meanings.
Fig. 270.—Gold or yellow is expressed in black and white by means of dots, and is used in the sense of wealth, ability, or knowledge.
Fig. 271.—Silver or white is represented by a plain white surface, and being the color of light, signifies brightness, purity, virtue, innocence.
Fig. 270.—Gold.
Fig. 271.—Silver.
Fig. 272.—Red.
Fig. 272.—Red, represented by perpendicular lines, means ardent affection, love.
Fig. 273.—Blue is represented by horizontal lines; like the color in the heavens, it is truth, freedom, eternity.
Fig. 274.—Purple, represented by diagonal lines from sinister chief to dexter base, being the royal color, is understood as authority, power, grandeur.
Fig. 273.—Blue.
Fig. 274.—Purple.
Fig. 275.—Green.
Fig. 275.—Green is represented by lines running diagonally across the shield from dexter chief to sinister base. Like spring foliage, it suggests hope, life, vitality, youth, freshness.
Fig. 276.—Orange is represented by horizontal lines crossed by diagonal lines from dexter base to sinister chief. It is the color of the king of beasts and signifies strength, honor, generosity.
Fig. 277.—Crimson, or blood-color, is represented by diagonal lines from dexter chief and sinister chief, crossing each other. It denotes boldness, enthusiasm, impetuosity.
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Fig. 276.—Orange.
Fig. 277.—Crimson.
Fig. 278.—Black.
Fig. 278.—Black is represented by horizontal and perpendicular lines crossed. It means darkness, doubt, ignorance, uncertainty.
To the principal design portrayed on the shield can be added such appendages as are appropriate—crest over the top and a scroll with a motto beneath the shield—but they are supplementary, and not of great importance; their colors should be those of the shield.
Thus far our plans have followed the exact science of heraldry, but at this point comes a departure, for in the place of other armorial devices we shall place Dame Nature’s sweetest thoughts—flowers.
If we now add to the significance of the forms and colors already given the accepted and authentic language of flowers, we shall have a possibility of combinations practically inexhaustible, and with such a dictionary of symbols to draw upon, we can successfully translate almost any terse sentiment into a unique decorative design.
In order to give all the assistance in our power we have culled from the most generally accepted authorities and authentic sources a short floral vocabulary, and now that we have the material at hand let us test the system and learn
