The Washington times., 1894-10-07
The WITCH OF The WATERS
A Susceptible Reporters Interview
with Clara BeckKith.
CHAT NTH AFANOUS SKINNER
Every Girl, she Says, Ought to Become an
Adept in the Art-Swimming Quite Nat
ural to- Man-Fear the Emotion Which
Prevents success-Cramps Unnecessary

Miss Clara Beckwlth, the swimmer, in an
interview last evening, taught the reporter
the theory Of swimming.
The lady was at home. white rose was
blooming in her soft brown hair, her hands
we're working Il scarf for her brother, the suns
Of twenty-seven summers were beaming in
ner eyes. and st. Bernard dog was couchant
at her feet when the interviewer called. After
the conventional exchange Of those meaning
less phrases. which custom likes, Miss Beck
with resumed the knitting Of her brother
tie, and the reporter restlessly twirled his
watch charm For little while only the
4 ereaking OF the lady's easy chair and the
Sticking Of the shining knitting needles could
De heard.
$50 you really know how to SWIM" blum
dered the intruding man.
4 have been in the swim since earliest
girlhood. said The young lady, in tones which
would have resurrected Troy and made the
forests dance.
The water is nv home" continued she,
and the reporter wished that there might be a
Hellespont hard by, and he a Leander with
the cramp.
''The roar and splash Of waters have echoed
throughout my life. sometimes calmly, often
times rUdely. and ] hardly think Aphrodite
loved old brine-wet Neptune so well as l.
While saying this there was light IN her
hazel eyes which brought TO the reporter s
mind IBsen Lady Of the Sea"
HER SPIRITS RISE WITH THE TIDES.
"I have sometimes almost dared to think
that my heart was tuned to the throbs of the
sea-god's pulse. and that my spirits rose and
fell with the tides"
There was another lull in the talk. and the
musical clicking OF the needles as she made
her brothers Tie could be heard again. 1t was
the music Of affection playing to loved one
far away
How did you become the champion lady
swimmer Of the world?n
ION coming TO America from my natal
heath, Old Merry England, heaven bless herr
(and the strains Of 'God Save the Queen, -
rang in her voice as she said it,, Il issued
the necessary challenges. One was accepted
by Miss St. John. whom defeated. Then, in
six days contest / swan greater distance
than six challenging competitors, each swim
ming hut one dav'
Ever save lIfe?n
Eyes. several. but don't care to discuss
that aud her hazel gaze fell once more upon
her work. and the needles continued to
click Had the question been. Ibid YOU ever
~ A4ASAA a AAAA. tA4S -AbN4 4CDA AlJA nav
asked it,
It is matter Of record that Miss Beckwith
plunged from the steamer Hunter during a
stormy cruise in the Bay Of Fundy, and res
cued a little child who had fallen from that
craft. Other deeds Of this nature have been
iOtted down on the sunny side of the Celestial
blotter by an angel secretary in the name Of
this lady swimmer.
SWIMMERS MUST NOT BE TINID.
''Ihat day on which do not feel the en-
brace Of the water. seems to me almost a
blank page in my calendar. Health and vigor
are induced by swimming. and every girl
should practice it, The matter of public
swimming-pools is neglected one 1t is
about as easy not TO sink as 10 sink. Swimming
is almost ds natural to man as TO any other
mammal. Fearis the emotion which prevents
success in the requirement of the art Timid-
ity should have no place in the heart Of the
swimmer.
The use oflife preservers and other artif-
cialaids to bouyancy ought 10 be discouraged