The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-17
SHOULD LEARN TO SWIM.
PROF. DONALDSON TALKS ABOUT
HIS FAvORlTE SPORT.

II n A Easy TO Swim as TO waik-Points
nm the subject As q Nation of Swim
m~rs We Take - Rack scat-Engiand
Leads-The Need OF Swimming Clubs.
ali the art Of swimming was difficult
and laborious accomplishment with dis
agreeable features attached 20 the task
said a wcll-known athlete the other day, 81
would not be surprised at the indifference
and even antipathy eyinccd by our people
toward this most invigorating Of sports.
But being rs IL is the easiest, most natural
delightful, healthful and strengthening oil
pastimes-I can hardly find adectiNes
enough 10 express my enthusiasm 1t GER
fainly is strange that such slight interest Is
taken therein; il is almost vital necessity
that everyone should learn TO swim, and
vet the thousands OF lives that are annu-
ally lost through neglect Of this bring no
lesson"
The speaker was rIgnt IN his reference 10
the indifference shown In this country 10
the naiatOrial art, says the New \ ORR sun.
swimming clubs are almost a rarity mere.
In England private philanthropy supports
schools throughout the Kingdom, at when
swimming is taught free, and the member
ship Of some Of these institutions runs up
mt the thousands. Handicap swimming
campct'ious are OF frequent occurre5n,ce,
and the acti9n OF the noD,li'y III iou" narS
,he schools toSetser with the contests, have
,mado !, an all.nopular snort. The result Is
that in swimming England lrr'''S,s '"0 "V''V'
rIRsI-CLAsS SWIMMERS.
Our trst-class swimmers would raS
about fourth rate over there, and English
men predOmnatc in the record tables, our
figures making an absurd comparison WIN
their time. London especially is full OF
baths at which competitions are held. the
Lambert bath being forty yards long
Handicap swimming contests, in fact, COM
petitions Of any sort. are almost unknown
here There is hardly any question that II
they were held they would stimulate the
sport and bring many recruits.
PROFESSOR DONALDSON.
A reporter called upon Professor 7. b
Donaldson, the well-knOwn swimmer and
instructor, TO get his We've on swimming
MIR. Donaldson has dabbled in sports OF all
Kinds for nigh on twenty-five years. ana i
well qualified 10 talk on the subject. lie l.
"A short, stalwart chunk Of man, about I'VE
feet two inches tall, weighing about l"o
pounds. He is a thirty-thrce degrees en-
thusiast on swimming, believes 1t to be a
panacea for all earthly ills, declares 1t the
best exercise of all. and says il is the sure
road TO health. strength, and comeliness.
He wants the universe to be amphibious,
but thinks that the fear OF water will be al
inseperable barrier 10 the fulflment of hi'
wishes.
The Professor started the interview by tbs
rather startling proceeding Of stripping of
his clothing and revealing a muscular bod.
Of a beautiful mahogany color.
'feel that leg said he.
The leg was as hard as iron.
GLOW did get it that way - inquired The
owner of the limb.
"Why, by swimming said the professor,
answering his own question.
snow feel that arm and chest, was the
next order allow did get themW
"Swimming," yentured the reporter.
"Right. ] tell YOU swimming is the most
beneficial exercise in the world. Eve tried
all, and for ten years salt water has been
nv only medicine have not been near
a physician in that time. Health awaits
every man, woman. and child IN the sea,
and is SO easy % Gain that 1t is provoking
20 see fear stepping between them and the
priceless gift. Every animal but man
lakes naturally TO the water. They need no
tuition, and, IN the majority OF cases, en-
ploy their ordinary movements to progress
sion. Yet the nObler animal shrinks from
watef as from death. | had case the
other day, the bandmaster of the Long
Beach Hotel orchestra. lie is a big, power
ful man, and took him in less than five
feet Of water 90 teach him. Although there
was no possible danger yet still he chung to
me like a child, shiycring with fear though
j understand on land he is a man of cOur-
t . - grrtl. H. flfar
Of water grown people have
TIE ART.
"The art Of swimming is not difficult Of
attainment. rather ridicu0usly easy. All
that is wanted is confidence. When the
beginner secures this all difficulty ceases.
A familiarity with the buOyant power of
water should be gained. \ good way 10 ac-
qulre this is for the beginner to advance
breast high into water and allow an egg 20
drop to the bottom. The object is TO dive
down with eyes open and bring up the egg.
lie will soon find that by depressing his feet
he can rise to the top. The thing that will
strike these beginners is the difficulty of
forcing themselves through the water 10
reach the egg. This is where the benefit Of
the experiment comes in. for the learner be-
comes aware of the great sustaining or sup
porting power Of water, and thus confidence
Is gained. iulS SUSTAINING power Oh Ndb-i
Is shown in many ways. \ stone that
would require two men 10 move it on land
could be easily carried in the water by one
man. A person might step on broken glass
while bathing without injury, because his
weight is supported by the water.
NATURAL BUOYANCY.
"a person not being able to swim, and
falling into the water, could save himself
owing to this buOyancy il he would only re-
tain presence OF mind. The body, being
but very slightly heavier than the water 1t
displaces, will, with a very slight motion
of the hands, float. When the chest l.
thoroughly inflated with air the body is
lighter than water and floats naturally. II
tue person in danger will very quietly turn
on his back, leaving only the mead above
water, he can remain ailOat until help
comes. But the greatest care must be- taken
not TO elevate the arms or any portion of
the body above the surface OF the water.
The knowledge of this ami presence of
mind might have saved many life. The
natural instinct Of person thrown
into the water is to stretch out
his arms wildly a. if 10 grasp some
object. The instant he does this he signs
his death warrant. Let him remain still IN
the water, only his face above the surface,
his arms by his side; his lungs must be
Kept luil Oh lthtn lut ihtti aus
OF waves dashng over his face. lie may
sink slightly once or twice, but if he keep.
his mouth shut and does not move he Will
come up Immediately. He must not mind
water entering his ears, for that cannot
drown him. Thousands of lives might b,
saved by these means, just lying still on
your back and keeping the lungs full Of air
and nothing but the face above water. II
sounds simple, but only one in a thousand
would have the GOODNESS and presence o
mind to do ii. The other 800 Will struggle
frantically and 90 down in a minute
though succor may be close AT hand.
TIKI BREAST sTROKE.
"The old breast stroke is the best wheI
swimming for pleasure. The hands should
be placed just in front of the breast, tn
fingers pointing forward and kept close %
getber, with thumbs TO the edge OF tn
foreingers. The hands must be made rattle
concaye on the inside, though not so muci
as TO diminish the size. In the stroke o
the hands they should be carried forward Z
the utmost extent, taking care that they d
not touch the surface Of the water. The,