Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-07-21
LESSONS IN SWIMMING
''f~ Ho@AH BODY MADE TO FLOAT
oN TIE WATER.

'-'''SHS ENr1les.
There is a very unaujnops d,,,u
l'ai' Oh me general public to learn to svvir,
'',iu ever ybody, male and female sbo,,Ia -
''''e 10 90 so; bat there is renosrke tIv -
number Of people. born and raised -, %
49, VINO cant swim stroke. and ~ =
"'A ny 4ad II they attempt to raise ina.
80 ~, ron the bed Of the river or floor ~ 49,
~ compartments, They simpIv 1so,
.l'e nerve and confidence 70 try to swim a,d
instead OF trying by following rules AMI i,
suructions, they remain in shallow T,,a,a.
ana when they do strike out do So with e..
one loot and then the other toucbipa.ha+,',,,
Inc only way these people learn N s,,,i,, :.
~. TVil's eAs' accidentally or purposely, into
sei' 'ee' OF water Then it is swim or die
'iey nave ever heard the secret of
swimming 1t suddenly comes back to them
" II 'hey haven't their horse sense dictates
"hat they should do to be saved
one OF the most amusing things in the
"or'd The young man just learning tn
SWIM. The boy, or even the girl is not 90
pad The young man wades out into tho
water up to about his waist. and tIten ba
he"itates Generally there are enough small
ooys around who enjoy the sport 10 smash
water all over him, so that he has cold cbiIls
running up and down his back thougb Tho
water may be warm, and he begins to thinL
about going out If he has any one To naLa
suggestions he is likely to get tub or a keg
or plank under his chest, and paddle around
on tnat, butaiways in water where he couldn't
dFowh unless he laid down in it with weight
on MS chest. II his friend knows ANYTHING
about the principles of swimming, and wants
to take the trouble, or if he has a teacher he
VIII take him on his knee and give him the
motion and confidence This is a very easv
matter, not so hard for the teacher as il
looks He first holds himself in shallow
water, either by placing his hands on bottom
OF by catching something i'll 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 a
short, sudden breath and holding it for
lew seconds, may be for minute, and then
anosher, the recovery being so quick that but
one arm stroke in the water has been lost in
the reiilling Of the lungs This is the first
lesson, and a 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 in 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 aud shows him the arm movement,
rapidly and as earnestly as if he was really
swimming Then he drops the arm and
sraspS the legs, moving them in the proper
manner, just AZ he did the arms. By the
time this is repeated few tiines-often a
single repetition Is necessary the young man
loses his nervousness and sustains himself in
the water, and really swims without knowing
it, 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
Ngines he does When be finds be 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 a veteran, and if he has any skill
soon becomes master Of all the strokes, dives,
treads floats, etc, and does everything that
nm 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 reat fitting jersey costume every part of
the body covered, except the jersey may be
nut in the prevailing deroilete st vie, she need
have no feeling OF delicacy. If she has she
ran 90 on tue 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 track. and IS controlled by an attend
mt on the walk above the level of the water.
This attendant lets out more rope or takes it
n as may be necessary. the swimmer regulat-
ny this as she desires She can swim along
he sides of the tank, or out into the center,
lust as she chooses. These belts are used in
water ten 10 twelve feet deep, and the begin
ler who selects them must make up her mind
o deep water if she declines the knee and /
axes up the belt There can be no touching
he bottom there, though she's safe from even /.
getting her head under water.
Frauuertly lessons in floating are given 4
)efore the ambitious youngster is introduced /
o the mysteries of swimming. Experts .
lain that person who cannot swim at all |
AN be taught to float in five minutes. Illus
rating this, be fills his lungs with air before /
.ou know it, the action of the mouth and /
hroat being 50 sudden, and placing his /
lands on his knees, bent IN the water 50 that /
he cap is above the surface, or even with 1t,
e drifts in the water as peacefully as if
looming in a swing. \ great many long
istanre swimmers do this as means OF rest
no themselves In fact, it is the only way Of
esting where the swimmer cannot go out Of
he water. This act is intended to show the
ninitiated how easy it is to float On the
gater.
After the swimmer has secured confidence
nd learned to keep his hands and feet Off of
he ground. or river bed, at the same time,
e hsgiDs 10 study the stokes, First is the
reast stroke, with the hands ont straight
nj not together. working like wings Next
ONES the geutleman's stroke, in which the
rms are stretched full length above the
cad, the hands palm to palm. Then comes
3a overland one. the side, straight out Hat
nd the other over and back, and then the
M over with one hand and then with the
Their while the first is returning, Then
,ere is the spring breast, one hand at a
me downward and back, The ladle;
,,,,.e IS the easiest of all, it being breast
nv ,y:rb the hands above the water. Then
.st.. ,,nullng on the back, which IS done
, tW sing the wrist fiat, in the water at
bells. jae side. These strokes may be IN
.,.s... D.. number almost without limit, but
,cy, A., 3,e for their foundation, one way
9- Lied. the movements of simple swim
i'm. laese are, first, to draw the legs up
ith hands out, second, to kick out with the
et. dl..g ing the hands in, and third, to
SUM 1lg riginal position of the limbs
lobe. Democrat.