Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/505

LEFT GVOSDEVI 433 GYMNASTICS striking off the champion's head. He now visited his wife all unknown in his palmer's weeds, and then retired to a hermitage at the place still called Guy's Cliff, near Warwick. Before his death he sent her parting ring as a token to Felice, and she arrived in time to close his eyes, survived him for but 15 days, and was buried in the same grave. GVOSDEVI (gvos-da've), a group of islands in Bering Strait, between North America and Asia, lat. 65° 40' N., Ion. 173° 50' E. Imaglin, the largest, is 25 miles in length. They are low and des- titute of vegetation. GWALIOR (gwa'le-6r), a native state of central India, the dominions of ^he Mahratta Maharajah Sindhia; area, 25,041 square miles; pop. about 3,100,- 000. Lying partly in the basin of the Jumna and partly in that of the Ner- budda, it divides its drainage between the bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The principal export is opium. Since 1803 the country has been under British protection. In 1843 the British were compelled, on the death of the sovereign, to send an armed force, which, after se- vere fighting, succeeded in restoring his adopted successor to the throne; and during the troubles of 1857 the young Maharajah remained faithful to the British Government, though deserted by his troops. GWALIOR, a town and capital of the state of Gwalior, 65 miles S. of Agra. Its nucleus is an isolated rock of about 340 feet in height, perpendicu- lar on all sides; it measures 1% miles by 300 yards, and its citadel, said to date from the 8th century, whose guns sweep the only approach, is virtually impreg- nable against any native force. Along the E. base of this eminence lies the old town of Gwalior, containing little worthy of notice but a beautiful mausoleum of white sandstone; and to the S. W. there extends for several miles the new town called Lashkar, where the Maharajah re- sides. Nearly 4 miles to the N. E. is Morar, the British cantonment from 1858 to 1886, when its fine sandstone barracks were handed over, along with the fortress, to Sindhia, and the Euro- pean headquarters removed to Jhansi. Gwalior possesses two remarkable Hindu temples, and one of the most interesting examples of Hindu palace architecture in India; while Jain caves and rock sculptures abound on all sides. Pop. about 120,000. GWYNN, ELEANOR, better known by the name of "Nell," a celebrated mis- tress of King Charles II.; born in Lon- don about 1650. She was at first an orange girl, and also gained her bread by singing from tavern to tavei'n. About 1667 she became the mistress of Lord Buckhurst, who surrendered her about 1670 to the king. As mistress of the king she had an establishment, and was made lady of the privy chamber to Queen Catharine. She was merry and open-hearted, is said to have been faith- ful to Charles, mindful of old friends, and a liberal patroness of the poets Dry- den, Lee, Otway, and Butler. From her are sprung the dukes of St. Albans. She died about 1690. GYMNASIUM, a public place or build- ing where the Greek youths exercised themselves, fitted up with running and wrestling grounds, baths, and rooms or halls for conversation and discussion. These were the favorite resorts of youth, and for this reason were frequented by teachers, especially philosophers. The three great gymnasia of Athens were the Academy, where Plato taught; the Ly- ceum, where Aristotle labored; and the Cynosarges. In this connection it is easy to understand the transference of the name to educational institutions. The German gymnasium is an upper school where instruction is carried on largely by means of the classical tongues, preparing its pupils for the uni- versity, and corresponding roughly to the grammar and public schools of England and the grammar and high schools of Scotland. GYMNASTICS, exercises of the body and limbs which tend to invigorate and develop their power. Gymnastic games are of very ancient origin. They are mentioned in the second book of the "Iliad," where playing at quoits and javelin hurling are mentioned. Later on games of this kind were dedicated to the gods, and the rewards being called "athla," gave origin to the name "ath- letes," applied to those who contend for them. Shortly before the time of Hippocrates, gymnastics were made a part of medi- cine, and gradually they were reduced into a complete system. Public buildings, called "gymnasia," were erected for the purpose, and officers for their superin- tendence were appointed by the state. Among the exercises practiced in these gymnasia were dancing, wrestling, box- ing, running, leaping, quoit-throwing, hurling, riding, driving, swimming, row- ing, climbing ropes, swinging, mock fights of various kinds, etc. It is only since the commencement of the 19th cen- tury that gymnastic exercises have been revived as a science.