To pass over men placed upon a beam, the pupil or pupils who are astride in front lie down on the beam, which they grasp firmly by passing their arms round it. The pupil _a_ (fig. 1, Plate XV.) having to pass to the point on the beam marked _b_, places his hands on the waistband of his comrade _c_: he then leans upon his arms, and raises his body to pass forward over his comrade, opening his legs widely, so as not to touch him, till he places himself astride at _c_. He then extends his hands and arms for a second movement, places them at _b_, and leans the body well forward, as shown in fig. 2, Plate XV. Being thus placed, he makes the last movement, raises his body upon the arms to pass over his comrade’s head without touching it, which is the chief rule of this exercise, and places himself astride upon the beam at _b_, moving his hands immediately, and extending them to rest at _d_. This movement being finished, he continues advancing astride, along the beam, over the others, if there be any; raises himself to an upright position, and lies down in his turn on the beam. This last attitude requires some care, because the head must incline either to the right or left of the beam, as shown in the plates, and the pupil must hold tight to the beam with the arms and thighs, which requires both skill and strength. The pupil may also pass as shown in fig. 3, Plate XV. This method is very easy for the person passing, and indeed more so than any other; but it is necessary that the pupil who is in the position _b_ should have learnt to raise himself up on the beam, or know how to advance along it underneath, in a reversed position. [Illustration: _Plate XV_ _Page 58._ Balancing.] It is impossible for any one who has not seen the carnivals of Venice, and other towns in Italy, to form an idea of all the difficulties that have been surmounted in the art of equilibrium. To acquire the art of carrying any body, the balancer may at first walk along the bar with his hands folded across his breast, instead of using them to balance himself; and he may afterwards carry bodies of various magnitudes. * * * * *