The demonstrator stands perfectly erect and holds a billiard cue, or cane, before her chest as signified by B A in Figure 1. It is grasped at C D, with the elbows bent at almost right angles. The subject is requested to stand directly in front and grasp the cue with both hands OUTSIDE the operator’s hands.
The illustration shows only one person pushing against the lady but more than one may exert their combined strength. They are requested to push as hard as they please directly against the lady, as shown by line E F, and not upward toward the head, and to push steadily and not spasmodically and jerkily.
If the student will observe, their line of force begins at their feet, as a base, continues through the muscular system of the body, and passes along the arms and hands to the billiard cue. They necessarily strain and bend forward their bodies, as shown, in their efforts to push the demonstrator, and this position naturally prevents their force from being exerted toward the head in the direction of the line G H, but tends to carry it horizontally toward the chest, and rather in a downward direction than upward. The secret lies, not in a counteracting force, but in an annihilating force. The demonstrator exerts only enough resisting force to hold the cue up and in place, and keep it from being pressed downward by the reclining weight and somewhat downward pressure of the opponent. Just exert enough pressure to keep that cue UP in position, keep it from being pushed downward while you stand on one or two feet and keep your balance.
The little upward movement necessary to keep the cue in position deflects every bit of the opponent’s great pressure up into the air and off of yourself! The combined force of one or more men is annihilated and deflected upwards in the direction of line G H to be dissipated in the empty air. It is like the principle of a silk handkerchief or small twig deflecting a riffle ball or a thin piece of ice deflecting a swift-flying stone striking obliquely on its surface.
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