The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-27
FACTS ABOUT SWIMMING.
An Expert Talks Entertainingly of the Best
Ways to Move in the Water.

Every swimmer should learn to be-
at home under water" said an expert
to a New York Times reporter. "Hold-
ing the breath is the chief part of it To-
swim well under water is easy. When
you have taken your dive, instead of
throwing your head up, keep it bent for
ward and down. Send your hands out
straight in front of you-that is above
your head-and make your strokes
backward and partly upward. You
may use your feet as in ordinary surface
swimming if you wish. l use my feet
very little under water, as find kicking
helps me Tery little. 1t helps some
swimmers very much, and you must de-
eide for yourself from the result of ex-
perience. Learn to turn around and to-
turn over on your back under water.
You may have to hunt for something.
down there. Above all things learn to,
keep your eyes open under water. It is
not only absurd but dangerous for a
man to swim under water with his eyes.
shut He can't tell where he is going
He may swim under boat. If his eyes;
are open be will perceive the shadow off
something above him at once. He may
swim plumb against stone or a sunkeni
stake If his eyes are open he'll see it
Shut the eyes when you dive, of course.
Don't strike the water with them open,I
but open them the moment you are un-
der. Practice hunting for things on the;
bottom. Throw in a white stone or Al
clam-shell and then 90 down and findi
it. Don't stay under water till the last,
moment that you can hold your breaths
either. Allow yourself a moment or
two to reach the surface.
g.C, +ho4 IL
swim on the surface, let me give you a
few hints about methods. A man can't
be too strong in the shoulders if he,
wants to be a strong swimmer. In
order to get good pull on the water
you must be able to use your arms att
their full length and must move them
from the shoulder. The common error
of swimmers in using the ordinary breast
stroke is that they cut the stroke short
just at the point where its greatest power.
is developed-that is,when the arms are
at right angles with the body. The
hands, with the backs up,shOuld be shot;
out as far forward as possible Then
turn the palms backward, thumbs down,
keep the fingers together, and the whole
hand flat, like the blade of an oar, and
sweep it backward until the hands arei
almost against the thighs. Then turn
the backs of the hands up, bring them
close under the breast and send them
forward again. That's the way to get.
all your arm power into the breast:
stroke. The legs should be drawn upi
under the body and driven Backward
and outward The old advice to imi-I
tate the frog in the kick is good. As L
said before, don't try to hold your head
up too high. You waste power in keep
ing it up.
s.The old-fashioned overland stroke,
is played out. The best stroke for speed
is the side stroke. Turn on your side
you must decide for yourself which side,
suits you best, though you should learn
to swim on either side. Put your head
straight out in front, just keeping your
nose out of water. Ii you are on your
left side stretch your left hand, palm,
downward, as far ahead of you as YOU
can, and then drive it at arms length
downward and backward till it
has passed the perpendicular. Then
draw 1t up close to your side and
send 1t forward for the next stroke The
other hand should be thrown forward
| Just in front of your face. Immerse the
hand, palm backward, and arm to the
elbow, and throw it vigorously back till
| the arm is extended at full length. Then
| raise it clear out of the water and bring
| 1t forward for the next stroke. The arms
should alternate in movement; that is,
while the under arm is going forward
the upper should be going backward,
and vice versa. The best way to use
the feet in this stroke is a matter of
opinion. find can get more power
by drawing my heels up backward to-
ward my thighs, and then, with the up.
per surface of the feet and the shinsi
turned backward, kicking out hard"