Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-27
LESSONS IN SWIMMING.
THE HUMAN BODY MADE TO FLOAT
ON THE WATER.

AITnHdGDCe, anu HOW ~ 40 0AtSA w oC-
einners-Instructions from the Teacher
at the observation-disclosures in Floating.
Different Strokes.
There is very unanimous desire on the
part of the general public to learn to swim,
and everybody, male and female, should be
able to do so; but there is remarkably large
number of people, born and raised on rivers
or lakes. who sscan't swim stroke, " and who
sink like lead if they attempt to raise their
feet from the bed of the river or floor Of the
bathing compartments They simply lack
the nerve and confidence to try to swim, and
instead of trying by following rules and IN
structions, they remain in shallow water,
and when they do strike out do SO with first
one foot and then the other touching bottom.
The only way these people learn to swim Is
by being cast, accidentally or purposely, into
ten feet of water. Then it is swim or die,
and if they have ever heard the secret OF
swimming it suddenly comes back to them,
or if they haven't their horse sense dictates
what they should do to be saved.
i One of the most amusing things in the
world is the young man just learning to
swim. The boy, or even the girl, is not SO
bad The young man wades out into the
water up to about his waist, and then ne
hesitates Generally there are enough small
boys around who enjoy the sport to splash
water all over him, SO that he has cold ch1lls
running up and down his back, though tho
water may be warm, and he begins to THINK
about going out. If he has any one to make
suggestions he is likely to get a tub or a keg
or a plank underhis chest, and paddle around
on that. but always in water where he couldn't
1o;d IL with q VppiOht
on his chest. If his friend knows anything
about the principles of swimming, and wants
to take the trouble, or if he has teacher, he
will take him on his knee and give him the
motion and confidence. This is a very easy
matter. not so hard for the teacher as it
looks. He first holds himself in shallow
water, either by placing his hands on bottom
or by catching something in front of him or
overhead, and shows the learner the motion
of the legs, and then the arms He then
shows him how to breathe, drawing in
short. sudden breath and holding it for
few seconds, may be for a minute, and then
another, the recovery being SO quick that but
one arm stroke in the water has been lost in
the refilling Of the lungs. This is the first
lesson, and very good one.
The teacher then takes the young man, or
young woman, if she desires to be taught in
that way, on his knee. He is braced i'll the
water, his Bonded knee far enough beneath
the surface to allow the body of the young
swimmer also to be covered. Thus in posi-
ton, the teacher grasps the young swimmers
wrists and shows him the arm movement,
RAPIDLY and as earnestly as if he was really
swimming. Then he drops the arm and
grasps the legs, moving them in the proper
manner, just as he did the arms. By the
time this is repeated a few times-often
single repetition is necessary-the young man
loses his nervousness and sustains himself in
the water, and really swi1ns without knowing
1t, the teacher lowering his knee SO that he
does not support the body, and releasing his
hold on the limbs, SO that the swimmer does
not receive any assistance, though he i'm
AGNES he does. When he finds he has been {
fooled, and that he has in reality been swim
ming, he finds himself in the possession Of a
growing confidence, and from that on strikes
out like veteran, and if he has any skill
soon becomes master of all the strokes, dives,
treads, floats, ETC., and does everything that
an older swimmer can do.
The lady beginner can take her first lesson
In this way if she desires, and really it would
be much better for her to do So Attired in
a neat fitting jersey costume, every part of
the body covered, except the jersey may be
cut in the prevailing decollete style, she need
have no feeling Of delicacy. If she has she
can go on the belt. This is wide belt, of
stiff material coming around the chest or
under the arms, to the back, where it is
caught by rings and hooks to ropes running
away up overhead, over pulley which runs
along a track, and is controlled by an attend
ant on the walk above the level of the water.
This attendant lets out more rope or takes it
In as may be necessary, the swimmer regulat-
ing this as she desires. She can swim along
the sides Of the tank, Or out into the CENTER
Just as she chooses. These belts are used in
water ten to twelve feet deep, and the begin
ner who selects them must make up her mind
to deep water if she declines the knee and
takes up the belt. There can be no touching
the bottom there, though she's safe from even
getting her head under water.
Frequently lessons in floating are given
before the ambitious youngster is introduced
to the mysteries Of swimming. Experts
claim that person who cannot swim at all
can be taught to float in five minutes. Illus
trating this, he fills his lungs with air before
you know 1t, the action of the mouth and
throat being SO sudden, and placing his
hands on his knees, bent in the water so that
the cap is above the surface, or even with it,
sleeping in a swing. A great many long
distance swimmers do this as means of rest
ing themselves In fact, it is the only way of |
resting where the swimmer cannot go out of |
the water. This act Is intended to show the
uninitie ted how easy it is to float on the |
water.
After the swimmer has secured confidence |
and learned to keep his hands and feet off of 1
the ground, or river bed, at the same time, |
be- begins to study the stokes First is the |
breast stroke, with the hands out straight, |
but not together working like wings. Next |
comes the gentleman's stroke, in which the /
arms are stretched full length above the /
head, the hands palm to palm. Then comes /
the overland one, the side, straight out, fat, |
and the other over and back, and then the 1
flat, over with one hand and then with the /
other while the first is returning. Then /
there is the spring breast, one hand at /
time, downward and back. The ladies' /
stroke is the easiest of ALL it being breast
one, with the hands above the water. Then
there is sculling on the back, which is done
by twisting the wrist, fiat, in the water, at
Or below the side. These strokes may be in
creased in number almost without limit, but
they all have for their foundation, one way
or another, the movements of simple SWIM
ming. These are, first, to draw the leas nm
with hands out; second, to kick out~n,;ti the the
feet, drawing the hands in. md third. IN
assume the original positir> 30 -. ~. Ii,,,bs
Globe-Democrat. 81 ID 'AAe
= ,ro.;s+,.o+, ,gested Thought.
T.,s f. Thirty days, Uncle Rastus.
~ ~ graceful that an old man like you
ould get drunki What would you think if
you were to see me reeling along the street
under the influence of liquora
Uncle Rastus-I would think, yo' Honah,
dat yo' was habbin' mounty fine time, an
swifout no danger OBJ gettin sent up fer it,
The Epoch.
Ecuador Behind the Times.
( There once was steam railroad in Ecua-