In French gymnastics, exercises with simple wants and sticks are in great favor, as imparting grace of carriage and movement in the upper part of the body. The shoulder joints are especially improved with suppleness, and their spheres of movement rapidly enlarged.

Exercise Wand

In French gymnastics, exercises with simple wants and sticks are in great favor, as imparting grace…

Fairy with wand standing on a leaf.

Fairy with wand

Fairy with wand standing on a leaf.

Hand with wand.

Hand

Hand with wand.

"Helios the Sun-God." —Bulfinch, 1897

Helios

"Helios the Sun-God." —Bulfinch, 1897

"Mercury made haste, put his winged slippers on his feet, and cap on his head, took his sleep-producing want, and leaped down from the heavenly towers to the earth." —Bulfinch, 1897

Mercury (Hermes)

"Mercury made haste, put his winged slippers on his feet, and cap on his head, took his sleep-producing…

"Mercury, with his caduceus, summons the souls of the departed from Orcus, or the low world, as in the case of Protesilaus, for example, who obtained permission from Pluto and Proserpina to visit for a short period the regions of light." — Anthon, 1891

Mercury with caduceus

"Mercury, with his caduceus, summons the souls of the departed from Orcus, or the low world, as in the…