The sport of Jumping is one of those most beneficial to the health and muscles of any commonly practiced. It is divided into three branches: 1, Standing Jumps; 2, Running Jumps; 3, Pole-Leaping.

Standing jumps are either high or broad, the latter being the most common. The secret of making a high standing jump consists in standing sidewise to the bar or tape, and throwing the body over as if vaulting with one hand, arching the back inward as much as possible. The best standing high jumper on record is E. W. Johnson, a Toronto man, now keeper of the Baltimore Athletic Club Gymnasium. He jumped a bar 5 feet 3 inches high, at the Caledonian Games, at Baltimore, May 27, 1878. This beats the best English records 5 inches. In jumping, Johnson leaves the ground with the right foot first, as in the cut on next page, which shows the direction in which his feet go over the bar. The cut also shows the common leaping-bar and standards furnished with holes three inches apart, in which pegs are stuck to support the bar on the side opposite the jumper. If he strikes it by accident it falls without hurting him, being merely a light strip of pine scantling.

The standing broad jump is made straight forward into a piece of soft earth which has been dug up for the purpose. It is made with or without weights in the hands, and depends on the strength of the thigh and calf of the jumper, and on long practice.

The best standing jump on record was made by James Emerick, Oil City, Pa., Sept. 19, 1878. It was 13 feet 10 inches, with weights; besides which, 13 feet 7 inches have been done by an English professional, and 12 feet 2 1-2 inches by a California amateur.

There is but little to say about the standing broad jump except that practice makes perfect.

Running jumps are also high and broad. The high jump is made over the bar figured in last chapter, but in a different manner. We have seen Johnson try to go over it sidewise, as in his standing jump, but not with enough success to justify his method. The running high jump then must be made square to the bar, beginning with a slow run, quickened in the last twenty steps, till both feet spurn the ground with their utmost force and the leaper goes over the bar. Here, also, there is very little to be said as to proper or improper methods of leaping. Instinct teaches the right way for a high leap better than anything else, and nothing but constant practice will strengthen the muscles to enable the leaper to make a good record.

The best high jump on record was made by an English amateur, M. J. Brooks, an Oxford student, April 7, 1876. He topped a bar 6 feet 2 1-2 inches, passing the best English professionals by 3 inches and Johnson by 4 inches. The best American amateur jump was made by a Columbia student, Conover, in 1878, and is only 5 feet 6 3-4 inches—not much compared with the English record.

The running broad jump is made with or without a spring board, the only official records being those made without the board, and off level ground. The best on record is English, or rather Irish, amateur, John Lane, of the Dublin University Athletic Club, having made 23 feet 1 1-2 inches, June 10, 1874. The best American records are nearly two feet behind this performance.

Pole-leaping is either high or broad, and in either case is a very valuable accomplishment to acquire. With a pole, a practiced athlete can make light of a six-foot wall, for its hight is well within his powers. The art takes some time to acquire, and is one that exercises every muscle of the body.

It calls first for a pole from six to nine feet in length, made preferably of ash, as that is both light and tough.

To begin learning on this, the pupil rests one end on the ground, and grasps the pole with both hands above his head. Then, jumping up, he raises his body with bent arms, and swings as far as he can. With a week's practice almost any young man can learn to take a jump of eight or ten feet in breadth from a standing position. To cross a broad ditch a short run is taken and the pole is held differently.

The right hand grasps it above the head, thumb uppermost, while the left hand holds it, thumb down, as high as the waist. The pole is grasped higher up in proportion to the distance to be cleared, beginning with small ones and slowly increasing the length of pole, till it can be taken by the very end.

This becomes still more necessary in the high pole leap, where eleven feet and an inch have been cleared in England. To take such a leap requires at least a thirteen-foot pole.

In pole-leaping the weight of the body on the pole is sustained by the arms, and the whole office of the legs is to enable the body to go high enough to carry the pole to a perpendicular. The hight leaped is only limited by the possible length of pole carried.

Pole-leaping is coming into fashion but slowly in America; the best records being nearly a foot behind those of England, where there is more practice of the kind. For a sportsman in the country, pole-leaping is a very valuable accomplishment, as it would save him many a ducking in ditches and climb over fences.

In the chapter on athletic meetings will be found all the rules that govern leaping contests for prizes, to which we refer the reader.