rs. Various devices have been proposed to help the
pupil out of this difficulty. Our booksellers furnish a simple rack,
which is shown in Fig. 9. It holds one or two books. In Fig. 10 two
books are seen resting upon it. Fig. 11 shows the position of the pupil
while using the book-rack. An eminent professor in a New-England college
said to the assembled students, the other day, "This book-holder will
add years to a literary man's life."

[Illustration: Fig. 7. Fig. 8.]

_Chairs._

I promised a word about chairs. Our manufacturers do not consider health
in designing the shape of chairs. The seats are too high, and too nearly
horizontal. Boys and girls occupy seats seventeen inches high. A girl
twelve years old should have a chair with the seat not more than twelve
inches high. For a man even, it should not be more than fifteen or
sixteen inches. (These dimensions apply to the front of the seat.) The
back part should be at least two inches lower. With this inclination,
the sitter will slide backward, against the back of the chair, instead
of sliding forward, as he generally does. This sliding forward produces
a strain upon the small of the back, and is, in fact, the cause of most
of the fatigue in sitting. The width of the chair-seat from front to
back should be the same as the height in front.

[Illustration: Fig. 9. Fig. 10.]

The chair-_back_ should project farthest forward at that point which
corresponds to the small of the back. Instead of this, there is
generally at that point a hollow. This error is the cause of much pain
and weakness in the lower part of the spine.

Fig. 12 shows an unphysiological chair. It is a fashionable
parlor-chair. Fig. 13 is a physiological chair. Two hours in this will
fatigue less than half an hour in that.

[Illustration: Fig. 11. Fig. 12. Fig. 13.]

_Walking._

Americans are bad walkers. It is rare to find an exception, even in our
army. Among Europeans, and the aborigines of our own continent, a noble
mien is not uncommon. I understand the causes of this ugly defect, among
our people, but my present purpose is simply to call attention to it,
and to point out the remedy.

In English and French books on the military drill and physical training,
whole chapters discuss the subject of walking. We are told that this or
that part of the foot must touch the ground first,--that the angles must
be so and so, &c., &c. I will not say this advice is not right, but I
will say that v