The record-union., 1891-08-21
TEACH THE GIRLS.

Ellen LIE Garde in recent essay quotes
of a woman they wished to speak
severely of, "She neither reads nor
swims." What was by them deemed
lofty physical accomplishment, is not
less so now, and is indeed in these days
of much travel and much peril, neces-
gity
1t may not be generally known that
girl more readily learns to swim than
does a boy. That fewer do learn, how
ever, is due to the fact that to boys there
open more opportunities. The natatori-
um therefore, is a special blessing for
girls, and wherever there is one decently
maintained and conducted the girls of the
community ought TO avail of it.
Swimming is by no means difficult
art to acquire. The chief elements of
success in it are, confidence in ones own
power and presence of mind. AS rule
the girl should be taught to swim as soon
as she is physically able. She should
these support her with pole attached to
a belt about her breast. But where father,
brother or mother is the instructor the
hand beneath the breast is preferable as it
can insensibly be withdrawn and thus the
pupil be more early taught the capacity
of her own powers. The fewer artificial
aids the better, as rule, and the cooler
and more patient the instructor the more
rapid the advancement of the child.
An admirable exercise in the training
is species of gymnastics on land, in the
stroke movements, the side reaches,
treading, breast padding, overland
work, etc. Miss LIE Garde tells us that in
English gymnasiums she has witnessed
large classes of girls and women under
instruction in these exercises, and she
adds that many English women, expert
swimmers, keep up these out-of-water
exercises during winter, finding them
extremely beneficial when the swimming
season opens.
But aside from the danger against
which the art protects the girl and
woman it is to be said that swimming
cultivates the graces of person; promotes
an erect carriage; develops lung power
and all the muscles of the body; brings
into play indeed all muscular functions
and thus contributes generally to phys
ical health and comfort and consequently
to human happiness.
The swimming art should therefore be
looked upon as essential for many rea-
sons, and the use of the swimming bath
ought to be encouraged among women as
means to greater enjoyment of life The
things to be guarded against in the use of
the bath by children are the disposition
TO remain in it too long and the danger of
physical exhaustion by overexertion
As rule twenty minutes in the swim
ming bath for any one is enough, and
more time than that spent in the water is
injurious, no matter how delightful the
sensation while in the water. The sug-
gestion of chilliness or WEAKNESS is ma
ture's warning to desist and should be
obeyed.
With the opportunity to teach all girls
to swim must be coupled good judgment
as to time and continuance of the exer-
else. The swimming lesson should not
be taken soon after meal, nor yet upon
an empty stomach, and should not be
continued until dizziness sets in or the
blue line is apparent about the mouth
and the flesh begins to manifest soften
ing and to feel numb. Nor should the
lesson be confined at any time to swim
ming in one position. Exhaustion is
avoided by change from front to back,
the latter being restiul and the breathing
being easier since the body does not have
TO be lifted with each breath. To know
how to breathe in swimming is essential
TO success, and how to proceed slowly is
as necessary instruction as to learn to
support one'sself in the water at all. If
the bath is taken in the middle of the day
and the weather is warm the head should
be kept we'll wetted. The reasons for all
these things should be explained to the
child and their Importance impressed
upon her.
7 here is no reason why in the we'll
conducted bath the girl should not be
taught while the other sex is in the nata-
toriums. Bathers at the seaside enjoy no
exclusive hours on account OF sex, and
the proprieties of the swimming bath
do not differ from those of the surf
The sensibility that is SO delicate as to
prohibit swimming in the general hour
by both sexes in the natatorium ought,
TO be consistent, also prohibit it at the
seasidesif it is at all defensiblc. In fact
in the swimming tank there is much
greater privacy than in the surf and far
less liability to offense of any character.