The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-14
SWIMMING SCHOOLS IN PARIS FOR
WOMEN

As many parents are wishing to know how
girls can be taught to use their limbs in the
water, it may be interesting to them to hear
how the art is taught in Paris. The water
is thnt of tho Seine. This is the least
agreeable circumstance in the case, as the
water Of the Seine is quite as unfragrant in
the summer months as that of the Thames.
Whether it is purified on entering the baths,
| do not know. Let US hope it is. The
bath Is moored in the river, and the space
occupied by the water is 100 feet in length;
course long enough to afford room for all
tho exercises connected with swimming. A
wooden platform, three or four feet under
water, reaches TO about the middle Of the
width Of the bath, and it is for the use Of
children. and mere ba,hers who do not
swim. The other half is of a considerable
depth in the middle, admitting Of practice
in genuine diving. The dress is excellent
for the purpose. 1t is made Of light wool
en- fabric, which does not absorb much wa
ter. The trowsers are loose, and fastened
at the ankles. The upper dress, also loose,
extends to the knee, and is bel.ed round the
waist. and closed at the neck. 1t is Just as
decent dress as the English ladies used to
wear when Bath was called "The Bath" and
dies used TO wade abou. n full trim, and chat
the water. .s --.-.. ...-
The first step in the process Of teaching
is to make the pupils uudsrstand how to
keep on the surface, and how to sink to the
bottom. Most people know that to spread
cut the limbs is to foat, and to double one
self up to sink: but it is not everybody who
knows that the guickes, way of going to the
bottom is to raise the arms above the head.
This is precisely what women dc when they
fall out Of boat, or find themselves over
board in shipwreck. Up 60 their arms in
terror; and down they 60 to the bottom ike
q shot. This is the action used By divers,
who want to reach that point by the short
es, war. From the the ceiling of the Paris
bath hangs rope which travels along on
q sor. Of crane. Where this rope touches
the water bread belt is attached to it,
The belt is fastened easily about the pupils
waist; supporting ber in the water, and
leaving her at liberty to learn the action Of
the iin,hs in swimming. She is made per-
feet in these. and must then try her powers
without support. To render her safe and
preclude fear, the Instructor, who is mas
ter and not q mistscss,l walks along the
edge, just before her, holding a pole within
her reach, which she can grasp in 40 instant.
If fatisued or alarmed. Ii does not follow
that We must have swimming masters In
England. The art is taught all along the
rivers Of Germany. and invariably by wo-
men in the vomen's baths In that case ths
dress il less elaborate snl there is more
freedom and simplicity in the practice.
I. is o remarkable sight when the master
Is followed BY 10 or l2 pupils, his pole re-
m.nding one Of the magnet which brings
swans or fishes 70 the bread in basin Of
water, in the o.d-fashioned toy which rs
toni.hes children. The second pupil has .
hand On the shasIder Of tbs first. and swins
with the other three limbs the third 90 the
shoulder OF the seeosd and 90 on, locking
lik. shcal Of nssnaids- When 50 thor
ouS5ty at ease to amuse themselves for a
long time in the waser, the ladies sometimes
grov hungry. and then is seen another re-
narkab!s sight, Dos quite se psesss. They
rush from the bath to confee;ioner'a shop.
whseh opens upon It, and may be seen pres
snsly swimming with cne hand, and With
the other eating sssir lunch. eonpissesy At
ease. After iearsiaE the sst 10 fresh water,
il is mighty easT to swim 10 ths sea, from
the densisy Of the water, and scarcely pos
sihte 70 ssnk. 4 woman who knous how 30
i feat 10 safe for nany hours in-shs sea, ~
far - k.epsng an the surfscs 10 eoocsrn-d-
J AmaaS srsAkers or sharks, or ln extreme
so.d, the peril is not Of drowainy s;mply.-
The ssmpss peril Of drowning might Be ~
dsced TO soseshiag vsy snail II svesybsdy
esEld svIn-OAes Wsak.