The backward inclination of the neck, especially in women, should be slight (Fig. III).

FIG. III.

From this fourfold exercise of the head proceeds one exercise :

3. The Head Circle (10, 20, 30).

The four head movements are united by a circular line (Fig. III, α- - b), and also make a funnel-shaped movement without the head passing to its normal position. From the forward inclination of the head we pass to the left side, to the back, to the right side, and again to the forward movement, repeating the whole exercise in reversed order; the upper part of the body remaining in its base position, and the uninterrupted circular form slightly indicated.

A strong, muscular neck is not a feminine trait, surely; but women often greatly strengthen the muscles of the head and neck by gymnastic exercises. While the neck has to sustain the not inconsiderable weight of the head, an oblique carriage of the head may be easily brought on if the neck, from weakness or relaxation of its muscles, cannot perform the required service. In case of this oblique carriage of the head, mothers and teachers have sometimes used collars set with bristles so arranged that the bristles at once cause a disagreeable sensation if the neck inclines to one side. Tissot tells of the superior of a convent who corrected this habit by instituting a sort of game in which a ball or some other slippery object was carried on the head, the pupil who let it fall paying a forfeit.

A lady pupil came to the author of this work, -a singer who, after two years' study with another teacher, could not sing a note without turning her head considerably toward the right shoulder, which, while giving her an awkward appearance, also greatly injured the tone. He adopted the following method: As soon as she began to sing he had her turn her head to the left shoulder, not allowing her to sing a note

in any other position. After some months when he saw that the inclination to the right shoulder had wholly disappeared, he let her hold her head erect. Now in singing there was a conflict between the right and left muscles, but the effort to obey neither much facilitated the erect position of the head, and the oblique leaning was wholly cured.

II.

TRUNK EXERCISES.

1. Shoulders Up and Down (30, 40, 50).

Raise both shoulders as high and as forcibly as possible, then allow them slowly to return to their original

FIG. IV.

position. A too sudden lowering in frequent exercising would jar the head (Fig. IV).

Begin the exercise with both shoulders, then alternate, retaining strictly the base position, except in regard to the arms, which, without bending the elbows or keeping them too stiff, will be drawn along by the shoulders.

2. Shoulders Backward and Forward (8, 12, 20). Draw the shoulders backward and forward singly, and afterward both together. From the combination of these movements we have exercise

3. Shoulder Circle (8, 12, 20).

Move the shoulders upward, backward, downward, forward and again upward, without interruption, not in jerks, but so as to describe a circle; then the same in reverse order, that is, upward, forward, downward, backward, etc.

In all these exercises we must be very careful that only the muscles which are to be exercised be active, and that all the others are perfectly at rest.

4. Turning of the Trunk (10, 20, 30, to and fro).

In this exercise the trunk is turned on its axis, alternately to the right and to the left, without moving the hips, the vertical position being always retained, the legs kept firmly in the base position, and the arms set akimbo (Fig. V).

FIG. V.

5. Inclination of the Torso Forward, Backward (10, 20, 30), and Right and Left (20, 30, 40).

With the legs in the base position and the arms set akimbo, the trunk, kept straight from the hips to the crown of the head, is bent slowly forward until it forms a right angle with the legs, and then is brought slowly back to the base position; without stopping it is in like manner bent backward as far as possible, returning again to the base

position. This exercise must be performed at first slowly, then more quickly, and at last with a certain stress, as though the upper part of the body were about to be thrown to the ground and were suddenly ierked back to the base

FIG. VI.

position, and then beyond (Fig. VI). In the same way the trunk should be bent to the right (Fig. VII, a) and left (Fig. VII, 6), but without the already-mentioned stress.

-7

b

FIG. VII,

The sideward movement, and still more so the backward movement, can be executed only to a limited extent. From the combination of these movements we have

6. The Torso Circle (8, 16, 30).

In this exercise the trunk, perfectly straight, moves round on the hips without changing front. (Fig. VII. The arrows indicate the direction of the movement a, b, c, from right to left, and then vice versa.) This exercise will be best executed with the arms set akimbo. The back and the abdominal muscles are by these movements especially developed, and this is absolutely necessary for singing and speaking, as well as for every very exerting position. This exercise, too, must finally be performed with articular stress.

7. Elevating the Torso (4, 8, 12).

The pupil should lay himself flat on the floor, on his back, with his arms folded over his chest or laid along his sides, and must then, without changing the position of the legs or separating the feet, raise himself slowly without a throw to a sitting posture, and, after a couple of seconds, let the body sink again to the floor. Many will at first find it impossible to perform this exercise, especially persons with weak abdominal muscles. These should place a pillow under the head, or place the toes under some firm object. After a while they will be able to dispense with these aids.

This exercise has for its object the strengthening of the abdominal muscles, which, as I have already said, is necessary not only for our health, but also for oratory and song.