Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-26
Swimming for Women.

As many persons are wishing to know how
girls can be taught the use of their limbs in
the water, it may be interesting to them to
hear how the art is taught at Paris The wa.
ter is that of the Seine. This is the least
agreeabls circumstance in the case, as the wa
ter of the Seine is quite as uRfragrant in the
Summer months as that of the Thames.
Whether it is purified on entering the bath. |
do not know. Let us hope it is The bath
is nloored in the river, and the space occupied
by water is I20 feet,in length; course long
enough to afford room for all the exercises
connected with swimming A wooden plat
form, three or four feet under water, reaches
to about the middle Of the width of the bath;
and this is for the use OF children, and mere
bathers who do not swim. The other half is
of considerable depth in the middle, admit
ting OF practice in genuine diving The dress
is excellent for the purpose. 1t is made of a
light woolen flbric. which does not absorb
much water. The trowScrS are loose, and fas-
tened al the ankles. The upper dress, also
loose, extends to the knee, and is beted round
the waist, and closed at the neck 1t is Just
as decent dress as English ladies used 10
wear when Bath was called "The B nth" !" and
when wigged gentlemen aud powdered ladies
used TO wade about in fell trim, aud chat in
the water. The first step in the process Of
teaching is to make the pupils understand how
to keep on the surface, and how to sink TO the
bottom Most people know that to spread
Que the limbs is 70 float, aud to double ones
self up is to sink but it is not everybody who
knows that the quickest way of going t. the
bottom is to raise the arms above the head
This is precisely what women do when they
fall out of boat, or find themselves over
boarI in a shipwreck. Up 90 their arms in
their terror; and down they 20 to the bottom
like shot. This is the action used by divers
who want to reach that point by the shortest
way. From the ceHpg Of the Paris bath
hangs rope which travels along on a sort of
crane. Where this rope touches the water
broad belt is attached 10 it. The belt is faS-
tened easily about the pupils waist, support.
ing her in the water and lenying her at liberty
to ieara the action of the linus in swimming
She is made perfect in these, and must then
try her powers without support To render
her safe and precludc fear. the Instructor twho
is master and not MISTRESS walks along
the edge. Just before her. holding pole with
in her reach, which sh. can grasp in an instant.
if fatigucd or alarmed Il does not follow
thdt VIZ Hli>t nave SHitDIIliiI iH8Stci> III I-I--
land The art is taught all along the rivers
OF Germany, and invariably by women in the
womenS baths. In ihat case the dress is less
elaborate, and there is more freedom and sim
pIicity in the practice Il is n remarkable
light when the master is followed by 10 or 20
pupils his pole reminding one cf the magnet
which brings swans or fishes 70 the bread in q
basin of water in tie old fashion way which
aStoniSheS children The second pupil has
hand on the shoulder of the first and swims
with the other three limbs the third on the
shoulders of the second and so on looking
/ Ike shoal of mermads When so thorough
ly at ease 10 amnSe themselves for long time
in the water. the ladies' sometimes grow hun
CRY and then is seen another remarkable
sight, no; quite 50 pretty. They rash from
the bath to a c0nfectioner's shop, which opens
GPOn It, and may ba seen presently swimming
with one hand, aud with the other eating their
lunch, completely al ease. After learning the
art in fresa water, it is easy enough to swim
in the sea. from the density Of the water and
scarcely possible to sirk \ woman who
knows how to float is safe for many hours in
the SEA, as far as keeping on the sngfuce is
concerned. Among breakers or sharks. or in
extreme cold, the peril is not Of drowning sim
ply. The simple peril Of drowning might be
reduced TO something very small if everybody
could swim OHce q I-rst