The ordinary gymnastic apparatus has also been employed extensively by women, and that very successfully, wherever the exercises have been systematically organized, with agreeable classes and competent teachers.  If the gymnasium often fails to interest girls as much as boys, it is probably from deficiency in these respects,—­and also because the female pupils, beginning on a lower plane of strength, do not command so great a variety of exercises, and so tire of the affair more readily.  But hundreds, if not thousands, of American women have practised in these institutions during the last ten years,—­single establishments in large cities having sometimes several hundred pupils,—­and many have attained a high degree of skill in climbing, vaulting, swinging, and the like; nor can I find that any undue proportion of accidents has occurred.  Wherever Dr. Lewis’s methods have been introduced, important advantages have followed.  He has invented an astonishing variety of games and well-studied movements,—­with the lightest and cheapest apparatus, balls, bags, rings, wands, wooden dumb-bells, small clubs, and other instrumentalities,—­which are all gracefully and effectually used by his classes, to the sound of music, and in a way to spare the weakest when lightly administered, or to fatigue the strongest when applied in force.  Being adapted for united use by both sexes, they make more thorough appeal to the social element than the ordinary gymnastics; and evening classes, to meet several evenings in a week, have proved exceedingly popular in some of our towns.  These exercises do not require fixed apparatus or a special hall.  For this and other reasons they are peculiarly adapted for use in schools, and it would be well if they could be regularly taught in our normal institutions.  Dr. Lewis himself is now training regular teachers to carry on the same good work, and his movement is undoubtedly the most important single step yet taken for the physical education of American women.

There is withal a variety of agreeable minor exercises, dating back farther than gymnastic professors, which must not be omitted.  Archery, still in fashion in England, has never fairly taken root among us, and seems almost hopeless:  the clubs formed for its promotion die out almost as speedily as cricket-clubs, and leave no trace behind; though this may not always be.  Bowling and billiards are, however, practised by lady amateurs, just so far as they find opportunity, which is not very far; desirable public or private facilities being obtainable by few only, except at the summer watering-places.  Battledoor-and-shuttlecock seems likely to come again into favor, and that under eminent auspices:  Dr. Windship holding it in high esteem, as occupying the mind while employing every part of the body, harmonizing the muscular system, giving quickness to eye and hand, and improving the balancing power.  The English, who systematize all amusements so much more than we, have developed