Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/209

 place on Tuesday, in the presence of a large number of members of the medical profession and other gentlemen. The institution has been established for the purpose of teaching a system of physical education, based upon scientific principles, and taught by competent professors. Such institutions are requisite in all civilized communities, and particularly so in such a city as Melbourne, which has few or no public schools where the science of gymnastic forms a part of the course of instruction. The school will also be specially useful as a drilling place for the different volunteer corps, the military ardour of some of the members of which is not always counterbalanced by the necessary physical qualifications. Fencing, likewise, will form one of the branches of instruction.

"The Victorian Gymnastic Institute is well fitted up with climbing poles and ropes, cross poles, a vaulting horse, Indian clubs, &c.; and the gentlemen who are to conduct it seem admirably adapted for the situation, one of them, Mr. Johnson, having had twenty-five years' experience in the teaching of gymnastics. The terms of subscription are moderate, as it is expected that the institution will be extensively patronized both by adults and schools, for the accommodation of which latter, both as to times and terms, special arrangements will be made.

"As this is the first school of the kind which has been established in Melbourne, it may be as well to