West-Jersey pioneer., 1868-07-17
SWIMMING.

Every animal except man will, when
first thrown into deep water, save itself
from drowning by swimming. We ra-
tional beings, as .we complacently term
ourselves, though better supplied by ma
ture than most inferior creatures with the
means of keeping afoat, do not avail our
selves of them; but obstinately resisting
our instincts, sink gurgling to the bottom.
We must forsooth be taught to swim,
and when we have submitted for long
time to some artificial process or other for
the purpose, we discover at last that we
we're always swimmers from the beginning
had we but known it. The timidity Of
man prevents this knowledge, and curl
ously enough forces him to resort to the
teaching of art in order to acquaint HIM
self with an endowment of nature. Swim
ming is instructive, and there is no doubt
that man would, if he were either more
or less rational, avail himself of it at once,
when the occasion required, without any
previous study. If man were less rational
be would trust like. brute animals to in
stinct; if more, he would SO master his
fears as not to allow them to interfere
with the exercise Of his natural powers.
In either case he would swim and not
sink, as most self-termed rational beings
persist in doing.
The whole art Of swimming consists in
getting rid of the excessive fear of deep
water, and acquiring a consciousness Of
the natural power possessed by man of
keeping afoat. A guide or teacher,
though not absolutely necessary, will
greatly facilitate the process. Most Of
the swimming baths in Europe have in
structors connected with them. These
men try more or less to mystify their art
by various pedantic contrivances; but
their whole system, when shorn of its re
dundances, is nothing more than this
The pupil is supported in the water not
far below its surface, by means of a rope
attached to band around his waist. The
neophyte, thus conscious of his safety,
soon acquires sufficient confidence to
avail himself of his instructive power of
floating. In regard to moving in the
water he can not have better guide than
the frog, whose movements are exactly
those which are best adapted to man, who
in fact instinctively initiates them. With
a rope, a waistband, and strong arm, OF
a hook with pulley attached to the roof
of the bath, to sustain the weight, the
most timid man, woman, or child will
soon overcome all obstacles to being a
swimmer.
Notwithstanding the facility of acquir-
ing what people wrongly insist upon call
| ing the art of swimming, and its obvious
advantages, it is surprising how many
there are who know nothing at all about
! it. The majority Of men are unable to
swim, and female swimmer is almost as
rare as mermaid. Is it possible that
some fastidious notion of delicacy. has
prevented the fair sex from acquiring the
art of keeping themselves afoat in the
water ? Their lives in these days Of
travel are as much exposed to danger al
those oi men; and there is no argument
which can be offered in favor Of the util
! ity Of swimming to the one, which is not
applicable to the other. Perhaps the
female sex is relying upon the gallantry
of the male as security against drown.
ing. Cold water, we would remind our
gentle danes, is very apt to quench all
the fire of chivalry, and to wash away all
superfuous sentiment from the human
heart and leave it in its naked selfshness
Learn to swim, and trust to your own
skilled arms for safety, and not to the
chivalrous interposition Of your male
friends. 1t is, moreover, exceedingly
difficult even for the strongest and most
skillful swimmer to save from drowning
a person entirely unable to aid in his own
rescue.