a high leap, with a run,—­and certainly one never finds in the newspapers a record of anything higher; yet it is the English tradition, that Ireland, of Yorkshire, could clear a string raised fourteen feet, and that he once kicked a bladder at sixteen.  No spring-board would explain a difference so astounding.  In the same way, Walker fixes the limit of a long leap without a run at fourteen feet, and with a run at twenty-two,—­both being large estimates; and Thackeray makes his young Virginian jump twenty-one feet and three inches, crediting George Washington with a foot more.  Yet the ancient epitaph of Phayllus the Crotonian claimed for him nothing less than fifty-five feet, on an inclined plane.  Certainly the story must have taken a leap also.

These ladders, aspiring indefinitely into the air, like Piranesi’s stairways, are called technically peak-ladders; and dear banished T.S.K., who always was puzzled to know why Mount Washington kept up such a pique against the sky, would have found his joke fit these ladders with great precision, so frequent the disappointment they create.  But try them, and see what trivial appendages one’s legs may become,—­since the feet are not intended to touch these polished rounds.  Walk up backward on the under side, hand over hand, then forward; then go up again, omitting every other round; then aspire to the third round, if you will.  Next grasp a round with both hands, give a slight swing of the body, let go, and grasp the round above, and so on upward; then the same, omitting one round, or more, if you can, and come down in the same way.  Can you walk up on one hand?  It is not an easy thing, but a first-class gymnast will do it,—­and Dr. Windship does it, taking only every third round.  Fancy a one-armed and legless hodman ascending the under side of a ladder to the roof, and reflect on the conveniences of gymnastic habits.

Here is a wooden horse; on this noble animal the Germans say that not less than three hundred distinct feats can be performed.  Bring yonder spring-board, and we will try a few.  Grasp these low pommels and vault over the horse, first to the right, then again to the left; then with one hand each way.  Now spring to the top and stand; now spring between the hands forward, now backward; now take a good impetus, spread your feet far apart, and leap over it, letting go the hands.  Grasp the pommels again and throw a somerset over it,—­coming down on your feet, if the Fates permit.  Now vault up and sit upon the horse, at one end, knees the same side; now grasp the pommels and whirl yourself round till you sit at the other end, facing the other way.  Now spring up and bestride it, whirl round till you bestride it the other way, at the other end; do it once again, and, letting go your hand, seat yourself in the saddle.  Now push away the spring-board and repeat every feat without its aid.  Next, take a run and spring upon the end of the horse astride; then walk over,