The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-09-21
ALESSON IN SWIMMING.
The Art is Not DifficuIt-Women Should
be Skilled In 1t.

/
women who understand even the first
principles of it, and even when the
papers are ringing with the accounts
of many deaths by drowning, owing tc
the fact that bathers do not know how
to swim, one-half the world still con.
tinues in ignorance of simple accom-
plishment that might some day be the
means of rescui2g them from a watery
grave.
Besides being so valuable in this par
ticular, it is one of the most healthful
and eXhilarating of pastimes, as the
exercise brings into play every muscle
of the body, strengthening equally all
of them, instead of developing one al
the expense of another.
| Though 3. is advisable to place
oneself under the care of an expert, il
is not necessary, for you can be self
taught if you but possess sufficient
courage and perseverance. With al
expert, however, you are apt to ac-
quire more graceful method of loco
motion in the water than if you take
| upon yourself the trouble of learning
in any way that suggests itself
Salt water is the best to learn in. To
begin with, it is much heavier than
water, its buoyancy giving confidence
to the novice, as it supports the body
easily. Another theory advanced by a
teacher whose name is among the most
| expert swimmers, is that in learning in
| salt water the bitter lasts of it will
compel the swimmer to keep the mouth
shut and breathe through the nostrils,
which is one of the most important les
Sons to be learned Its temperature is
also higher in summer than that of
| fresh water.
Quoting this authority's own words,
he says: ITO learn to float is the first
step. This is an easy and natural per-
Torrance, and when once the learner
| realizes that she will not sink if she
keeps still and has supply of air in
her lungs, the dread and fear of sinking
| viii be one-half vanquished. In shall
low water wade out until the water is
up to your armpits The next thing to
do is to turn your back to the land,
bend your knees as though you We're
about to sit down, letting the water
touch your chin, then gradually throw
the head back as far as it will go. You
will probably experience most I'M
pleasant sensation when the water first
touches your ears and will feel an in
clination to stand up and wade out,
declaring that you will never do such a
silly thing again.
However, if you persevere and con-
tinue to slowly put the head back until
the back of it is immersed and the
water covers the ears entirely, you will
wonder why you were so nervous in
the beginning. Put up your arms and
extend them behind your head as far
rs they will go, with the palms of the
hands uppermost and slightly hol-
lowed. Take full breath, initiate the
chest, giving little push off from the
bottom with both feet, and you will
undoubtedly feel that you are about to
drown, but this is not So Your head
will sink into the water and your mouth
will be covered, but if you keep quiet
with your mouth shut you will soon
discover that your mouth and nostrils
have risen above the water surface,
and by keeping your legs stiffened and
slightly separated the tips of your
fingers, toes and knees, as well as your
face and breast, will be above the
water.
Breathe through your nostrils, and
unless you let your nervousness over
come you, you will be able to float in
this position as long as you care to do
so. 1t is rather hard for those who
are easily frightened to counterbal-
ance their lack of confidence, vet if
these feelings are but once overcome
but a fey lessons will be needed to
make the novice an expert.
After learning to float the next
lesson will be in swimming. The same
position should be taken, lying fat on
the back, but with the hands placed at
the side. After lying quietly for a
time gently move the hands as pad
dies sending the water toward your
feet. The hands should be kept below
the surface, and much to your surprise,
if this thing is kept up gently, you will
discover that you are slowly but surely
moving ahead.
mine women out of ten will, at this
iuncture, rise up in surprised astonish-
ment to see where they are going and
will be more than Mortified to discover
that the water will not support them
in that position, and they will take a
sudden and unexpected plunge to the
bottom.
when you learn to propel yourself
head forward, reverse the action of
your hands and you will go feet for
ward, Steering can be done by using
one hand more forcibly than the other,
in fact, the system of padding with
the hands is exactly on par with the
use of oars When padding with the
| feet is commenced, all that is necessary
to do is to strike out with your legs.
with the feet apart, and bring them
together again, bringing them up and
repeating the stroke. 1t is easier to
keep the feet about a foot apart be-
meath the surface.
THE kicking with the feet is much
more easily learned than the padding
with the hands, but combination comes
easily, and in steering all one has to
do is to keep one leg quiet and use the
other in accordance with the direction
in which you wish to turn.