Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-09-05
HOW TO SWIM.
Some Important Facts About the MI
tinnnt Ar,

In learning 10 swim II ~ very important
the pupil should have confidence. 4, .s
perhaps, more natural TO swim, than not,
hut the dread OF going under and getting
a "ducklnR" II. In most caHoH, 20 great
that the beginner loHre hia head becomes
confused and Is consequently unable 10
recall to mind IN their proper order the
Instructions he has received from his
swimming teacher. ahould advise all
those who have never attempted to swim,
and who are Inclined 70 be afraid OF the
water, 10 plunge the head below the sur
face number ct timca, hold the breath
and open the yea, 30 tliat they may be-
coma somewhat acquainted with the ele-
monts which Rn 4 trlcnd u very accommo-
dating, but US an enemy has often proved
fatal
II tho learning II done at The aeashorc
tho simple experiment " placing the head
under tho surface viii serve 70 demon
Ytrate the huuyanuy OF thc water. "
would Be really difnrnlt for person who
retains his wits and who knowH the ifst
pranepica OF swimming TO sink in sen
waisr,
| usually begin with my pupils by plAc-
Ing them flat on the watcr chest down,
with their iHvH stretched out starlight he
hind and their hands graAping the stop
OF a ladder, which leads down iuto the
tank II IL not necessary TO have a lad
der, a. one may got along lust % Wen on
the scashorc by restlng hts hnnda m tho
bottom In about Two or three feft of
water The fret lesson 10 merely In
tended 90 teach tho proper motions OF tao
logs.
In order to assist the pupil tate
position In the rear. seize him by the
toes " each foot, and carefully iniido
him through tho various leg motions,
THE LEO MOVEMENT,
The first motion OF the legs Is TO draw
them up. with Tho knees bonding Out.
ward. kocping The feet Aa near toscthcr
NJ possible. This motion resembles the
drawing up OF the legs OF the frog IA
he ~ preparing to make a uirpkc. Bat
the second motion on thrust OF the len
IN fWinming ~ quite different FROM tho
second motion performed by the frot,
After the legs have been drawn 49, NJ
fur ne may be done conveniently when
the thighs should cNtend outward At
right angles from the body, with the
feet near together the nest thinR II to
extend the feet outward and mufc the
lrgr backward When the lega have hoon
almost rtraightenod out they should be
drawn quickly together The object OF
this motion. or series Of nations. ~ Go
press the water backward with the great-
cst possible resisting surface, aud II ~ hi
this respect that the motion diners from
The second motion performed by the frogn.
We might naturally nupppao shat We
should initiate the trog closely IA bic
swimming motions hut on Fecond thought
N Nlll be- found thnt there ~ nm eNcelloht
natural reason why We should not The
feet Of tho frog arc provided with webs,
80 tibet when the legs are Wei drawn M,
hn gains his beat impetus forward by
simply thruntlnr the feet straight out
| behind no that the wehhch foot acts
somewhat Hike an oar or a paddle Since
| We human heingn are NO unfortunate ~
not TO havr wehbed feet, We must no
l a.. NsNs "a. nd IU
| IL accomplished MS above depcrlbrd The
motion " the feet should be somewhat
circular aud the leEa should 10 brought
| toneihrr nH though squeezing out u wpdne
| OF water between them when done prop
crly the effect " TO make tho body shoot
ahead rapidly through the water " the
| pupll should simply copy the direct hack
| ward thrust OF the frop. the result would
he what N termed double club foot" In
! the hhapnco OF wohhrd fuet very lltle
| urupellinE force lH secured by thlH mo-
| lion, Yet II ~ very common among twin
mor- who do not know the inner points
Of the art, aud who nre often 'urprlsed
| that even after the expenditure OF con
siderable effort. they make but little nro'
groHH
when this motion hos been thoroughly
| mustered tho next thing II TO learn tvs
proper use Of the Rrma Tho pupil should
begin by placing tho hands At the Guest
with tho palms down. nnRcrs closu to
Rethar, aud the thumbs touching one an
! other AZ soon RA the stroke Ia heRuf
| tho palms should he turned lNtle out
| ward 80 NJ TO assist IA moving tho hodN
forward. In making the stroke with The
arms care should be taken not To pual
the arms too far backward NJ the end OF
tho Huokon. hH IN the EFFORT to btlnB III
hauda into position again th,rc IL .
certain drag which holds lhe poul
buck,
My method IN illustrating those moiioni
| IN to stand directly in front Of tho pLpil
ana 20 place my hnndH, beginning AZ ih'
chin. IN tho various required attitudes. ll'
has then merely 10 copy my moilonH'
Nom comes what IN probably the mos
difficult thing 70 lcafn--nnmcly. how q
comblno the stroke Of tbs arms with IN
motions OF the legs II In Mighty I'M
portnnt that arms and legs should wofl
Ia harmony. and for that reason lhln par
Of ihn loason should be studied with par
tirtlAr care. The following ~ TIE pfopu
order for moving the arms ana iegni
1. When the hands are being thrust OH
etraight In front the legs should be com
ing iogether. squcesing out tho "wchg"
OF water,
2. When the arms are straight out Il
front tho legs should be straight out Dc
hind
o. when the arms arc pansing back VII,
tho stroke the legs arc being drawn VI
have always found II convenient, y
toaohing how TO properly combine gu
movement of the legs and arms 10 VA
"a pole from which 10 suspended rop'
With one end tod about tho pupil'H wais
ile IL then SURE not 10 sink, ana may y
taught more easily
These three rules can not BIO learne
TOO carefully. ! mud that the pupil has
good deal OF difficulty In applying thoI
10 practice. but whcn no has once lcarne
. TO mako tho motions IN tiolr proper ofdt
he Will not soon forget them. when IN
pupil has learned hil lesson NJ 10 w
point he may safely be allowed TO pfncue
on his own account, provided bo does PC
/. show tendency 20 got into bad habit
/, II ought not 10 take him long time
Z order 10 learn to swim. with my ow
y pupils I mover give more than ten lesson
2 10 any ono man. The majority DO not u
: aulrc more than teyon or elGtt ana som
= are able to take care of themselves hiu
a single lesson.
FLOATING AND DIVING,
{. Aftor the rudimcnis OF swimming ha,
. been acquired / should strongly advb
tho pupil 10 learn how TO float and div
|, Floating especially IL almost indispen'
able 10 oar who aspifea 10 become
swimmer. a. Il enables him TO rest h
. arms or hin legs when they have bccom
a exhausted.
y The pupil before placing himself on n
" | back Hhould M his lungs with alt, ~
y | L.an them wall ulled uii tl~ tino he