It is so well understood that health and happiness depend on bodily vigor, that no girl of the present age can afford to be ignorant of the value of gymnastics. Our maiden can, either alone or with one or more friends, arrange a course of games and exercises which will send the currents of life tingling joyously through her veins, bring a sparkle to her eye, and a glow to her whole being, such as can come only through the easy play of every organ and muscle. She will understand, also, why the fragility of the past is no longer recognized as a mark of refinement and beauty.

In order to practise gymnastic exercises properly, the amateur will use a dress with a French waist, worn without a corset, and the belt two inches longer than the waist-measure when the lungs are fully expanded. The armholes are to be large and easy; the skirts suspended from the shoulders, and not quite reaching the ankles; and every part of the clothing fitted so free that there is absolutely no restraint on any portion of the person. Equipped in this way, gymnastics will be greatly enjoyed during those winter storms when open-air exercise is impossible.

One of the best games invented by Dr. Dio Lewis, who has done so much to make these exercises popular, is the throwing of bean-bags. These are made out of strong bed ticking, eight inches square, filled about two-thirds full of well-washed beans. The gymnasts arrange themselves in two rows, face to face, and six feet or more apart. While counting in unison 1, 2, 3, 4, or with some one playing a simple, strongly marked air on the piano, at a given signal all"throw and catch,"each with her opposite neighbor; the bag thrown, not tossed, from a position on a level with the chin. The movements may be gradually quickened, and a friendly contest maintained by each couple trying to outdo the others in number of throws. As a variation, throw the bag, with arms stretched at full length above the head, or from behind the neck; all giving grand exercise to the muscles of the upper portion of the body, and developing those of the chest. Learning to throw and catch with the left hand is an amusing feat ; also forming a circle, and each player throwing the bag to her neighbor on the right with the hand on that side, at the same time catching that thrown by the player with that on the left. Any number of interesting games can be devised by our ingenious youths.

Exercises with wands, rings, dumb-bells, and Indian-clubs, are almost numberless. In most of these, the floor needs to be marked, - if carpetless, with a small blotch of paint ; if carpeted, by some white cloth sewn to measured distances (which are to be four feet and a half either way), or by cer tain figures on the carpet itself. In using rings these are ignored, since the toes of the players are to touch ; but in cases where exactness is required, the heels should be planted on either side this spot so marked.

Rings, about five inches across, are used by two persons, each clasping the same pair by both hands, and"see-sawing,"by thrusting one hand out horizontally to the full length of the arm while drawing the other forward to the chest, with the feet moving backward and forward in the same manner. To vary this movement, swing the arms, joined by the rings, hand-clasped as before, alternately up and down, or sideways, meanwhile stamping out firmly with each foot, corre sponding in movement with the arm above, with the heels touching when drawn to the mark on the floor. Too many movements to be described can be improvised, exhilarating in proportion to the interest and spirit of the gymnasts and the music with which they keep time. These must not be languid and lagging, or the grace and value of the sport is lost.

Wands, or straight, smooth sticks, four feet long and an inch in diameter, are useful to cultivate flexibility of the joints of the arm and shoulder, and to give symmetry to the upper portion of the body. The veteran gymnast, Dr. Lewis, who introduced the wand, used it in no less than sixty-eight different movements, none of them severe for the most delicate person. One of the best is to grasp it with extended hands, and carry it back and forth over the head, changing this to diagonal motions over either shoulder. Or each couple, by seizing the extremities of two wands, can invent a long series of exercises, each terminating by marching while holding the wand in positions that are changed according to the step.

Dumb-bells made of wood, and very light, are used in various ways. Sometimes the girl, standing perfectly upright, extends her arms horizontally, with palms of the hands outward. At the next bar of music she raises them straight over her head, back to the first position, then drops them to her side. Or she raises them at right angles with the body, then up and down. The beauty of all these movements consists in the perfect accord of the players, and the zest with which they enter into the sport.

A thick cord of strong india-rubber, with wood handles to stretch over the back and head, is a tonic to the muscles, and increases the strength of the arms. A ring fastened by a strong rope to a beam in the ceiling is often used by the amateur to draw up the body by the hands. None of these games should be carried to extremes, and so need not be exhausting. They lose their value when they cease to be amusements; though they are really productive of health, a of entertainment, when undertaken with zest and discretion