Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-21
YOUTHS COLUMN.

The Value of hn0,cing How to Swim.
Hanging in the shrouds of sinking
ship on a wild November afternoon,
the engine room flooded from the leak,
the steam pumps not able to work, my
back tortured beyond endurance with
hard labor at the levers of the hand
pump, the deck swept by the bursting
seas, q wild and angry sky above,
the lee shore perfectly horrible in the
tempest of its waves and the thunder
of the surf that went rolling and charg-
ing by squadrOns of pillows over half
mile of low sandy bottom, | asked my
self whether, if the ship broke up, l
could manage the -tOw,-that
merciless drag backward of the sea, the
tOpmost wave washing the swimmer
illusively toward the shore, the under
most sucking him down and out.
said to myself an emphatic Yes!"
But the experiment was spared me.
and got ashore next morning In life
boat. Ever since that awful hour and
night, have had a sincere respect for
the science and art of swimming, In
which. next to God, then rested all my
hope and trust.
But before we talk about fighting an
under-tOw in wicked sea-way, let US
discuss the principles and methods OF
of swimming. To drown in river,
with the shore only few yards away,
when any dog or donkey would reach
the land, must involve q feeling of
personal humiliation as well as despair.
To be self Trustworthy is the first
thing in moments of danger; but the
art of swimming has q high value in
ha Of Of no 10
a luxury and accomplishment worth
the having, for the mere fun of the
thing. In our civilization, swimming
is an acquired accomplishment. 1t is
understood to be natual function with
nearly all kinds of animals, hogs and
humanity being the leading excep
tiOns. The inability to swim is in all
cases a defect of education
Games for Children. QuOitelle is
adapted for the lawn, piazza, or parlar,
The target is heavy wooden plate of
about fifteen inches i'm diameter, having
in the centre a hemispherical pocket
some six inches wide. The target Is
set on tripod about foot high, with
the plate inclining toward the players
at an angle. The quOits are small
StuHtu OdSs.
the pocket counts five, or upon the rim
two. When the stake behind the tar
get is struck and upset, two must be
deducted. The players stand twenty
feet from the target, and are entitled
to twenty throws each, the one scoring
the highest number getting the game.
The second game is known as the
Diamond IL" wagon. This, however. is
no indication of the wagon, which Is
104 inches by 10 inches, and of black
walnut. The wheels are polished, and
the handle is of ash. The wagon holds,
when properly packed, a number of
building blocks, some of which are
square and Others show mortar lines"
while there are upright pillars, window
frames, sashes, doors, imitation bricks
for chimneys, and all the materials for
making handsome castellated edltice,
bridge with mOats, &c, a furnace
and numerous other materials. A
walnut cover or jacket is placed on the
wagon when the blocks are packed
within, thus keeping them clean, and
furnishing pleasant article for boys
to draw and amuse themselves with.
Fam a Ounce Sr.r- whats your
namef' a teacher out in the country
asked a new pupil.
"I'm a Ounce, sir, replied the boy.
The teachers eyes dilated a little.
and thinking he hadn't understood,
said: What did you sayfn
Pm a Ounce, sir" repeated the boy.
who was rather a bright-lOOking lad.
you're a Ounce, are you'll" said the
teacher, smiling.
mo, sir" said the boy.
"Why, didn't you say sof'
"NO, sir"
Yes YOU did,
NO, sir.n
The teacher was about to appeal to
the school to sustain him when a
thought struck him, and turnin z to the
boy he asked:
"What is your first nameF'
Isaac, SIR"
And your nextf'
MAY, sir"
The teacher was quivering with
now, and he was fairly
trembling with eagerness as he asked:
"And the lastyn
"Dunn, sir.n
"Now say it again, the whole of it,"
shouted the pedagogue,
81. Nav Dunn, sir.
boys" yelled the teacher, alway
be careful and be correct and particular
in your pronunciation. Let this be
TO YOU
A Ddnbury boy asked his father the
other day what was a philosopher. "a
my SOM Why philosopher
ls man who reasons" "ls that sO."
said the boy, dejectedly. 81 thOughtit
was a man that didn't let things bother
him." The father silently patted his