Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-09-04
SWIMMING foR WOVEN.
Isabella rroctsr say. Fright Q. IA. Cause
of Most C.... of DrowRing.

,slecial CoussEonisnoe.l
ATLANTIC CITY. Aug 30.-Of all
the outdoor amuscmcnts In which
woman can indulge swimming l. prob
ably the most important. Not only
| docs u bring nearly all the muscles
= ~ tho ho,ly into play and increase the
expansive power u the lungs but
po.-,.ion ~ the accomplishment frc.
qu,ntly decides the question u life and
death. While II Is rather difficult 10
learn a gopl stroke without the aid ~
/ q master unlcs. the beginner II a child,
q few lessons from u comp.tent teacher
arr enough to give the pupil y sufficient
knowl~lgu ~ the ourr,ct motion 81 al.
low her O. perfect herself alone.
The ability to swim long distance
without giving out T. ~ gruat value and
i l. seldom pos.oss,d ly women. who can
swim iO or ~ feet very we'll, bat then
collap-e ~ hopolossly A. II they could
not swim at all II isa good plan to
swim parallel with the shore in shallow
water. and when tircd attempt 90 turn
7 over on tho hack and fnat without let.
ting the feet touch the bottom The pow.
/ er Il changing from swimming a. ii0at.
I ing. aud vice yersl, l. important Ina deep
water. a. IL gives the swimmer chanc"
to irst and then resume her progI.s,
when .ho has taken breath. The turning
/ l. accomplished by taking the stroke on
one side only and strengthening cat tho
bu.iy a. II rolls over Trcading water Il
mo.t o,.ily learned by slipping into IL
frum swimming. The pupil should
swim out foot or two beyond her
depth, gradually shorten and lower the
arm stroke and let the feet sink and the
Leg stroke b,comc alternate 40 first the
head will .ink to the liz, but it will
not ~ under unless confidence l. lo-t
and the stroke b.cOmos rapid and con-
fused After little the head and
shoulders will ri. alJye the surface.
but ~ this practice 10 rather eNhausiing
/ 10 l. safer o. swim hack into shallow
water b.forc beouming tirvd For the
side stroke. which l. very rapid and
graceful. turn the body slightly. hold.
ing the heal in horizontal position,
AMI take slow mp an down stroke
with the lower arm, while the upper
one isstraightoncd 10 make a long sweep
from tho shoulder almost to the feet.
The feet may b. moved together or al
tomatcly. II the pupil wishes 20 learn
to carry another person, she should
practice with some onc who can swim
and can therefore be- trusted not to b.
seized with panic az the tirt failure
Always begin 10 practice this In shall
low water 20 avoid the chance Of acci.
dent.
IL isnearly always fright that browns
even n0nswimmors. for nature has ar.
ranged IL ~ that whatever position the
living hody occupies In the water ox'
ccpi fiat On the face, che brcaihing ap-
paratus remains above the surface un.
les forced uniu by violent aud unskill'
iul movement II il possible 81 float
quite safely with the knees doubled MP
under the chin and the arms wrappcd
around them. or with the feet bent
back under the body and the hands
grssping the tocs.
Finally remember that splashing and
noisy swimming are the surc signs Of tho
tyrn breathe through the nostrils. take
q slow stroke, keep the hands under wa
ter and aim 10 move ~ silently a. fish.
lsABELLA PRoCToR