The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-16

as she has travelled extensively through
this country, always pursuing her vo-
cation.
1t is easy enough to teach women TO
swim" said She, but they do not all
learn the correct method They arc
much moro apt than men TO learn
how not to do it, and therefore moro
care must be exercised with women
learners.
MANY women learn to swim club
footed'-that is, with one leg taking IL
long, heavy stroke, while the other is
drawn up close to the body and pro-
PEELED with force. This is one of the
hardest faults to overcome, and girls
who have been taught how to swim
just little usually have this pecul-
iarity.
Few women dive, and If yon will
notice they have way of their own
in this, as in other things. The cor
rect dive is made with an upward
spring and n curved leap forward and
down, touching the water first with tho
points of he-fngers and clcaving the
surface with the body The correct
position before taking dive is shown
in the famous ntatucttc, The Diver
which is now made in plaster and
sold ON the corners by the street vend-
ers. Tho incorrect or fat dive is the
one oftencst seen. 1t consists in fall
ing from raft or spring board
against the surface Of tho water, the
body entering with a thud. II isa very
dangerous proceeding, as the body sus-
tatns shock that Is not at all triiling,
but many women 60 on diving in this
fashion for years, and imagine they are
experts"
More women have learned to swim at
gymnasiums and private swimming
schools during the past month or SO
than ever before. This is one OF the
results of tho great feminine crazo for
athletics, and it is n good one. Swim
ming has become n fad, and it will,
therefore, be more popular this SUM
MGR than any other of womcn's sports.
Even little children are sent to swim
ming instructors nowadays. aud will DO
the more proficient from the fact that
they hare begun the lessons at an early
age.
a capital arrangement which is a
combination of life saver and q
swimming teacher can be made Mt
home with q strip OF heavy muslin and
pail Of corlss. Take some strong
muslin md make two oblong bugs.
Those must be filled with corks and Mt
tachrd to q band which goes around
the body just under the arms. 1t must
be Inndc very tight and fastened by
shoulder straps, else if 1t were to loosen
and get down about the feet the wearcr
would surely drown. The corlr bags
arc attached wing fashion to the broad
band. Tho wcarer may then lie Hat on
the water and will soon discover that
by no possibility can she sink or take
herself under water. Tho minute that
sho gets confidence and finds that she
doesn't fill her mouth, nose and ears
with water, she will begin to strike out
with the arms and legs. In this way n
girl can easily learn 10 carry herself
about on water Of any depth, but it will
DO some time before she can acquire
the proper nnd most advantageous
stroke. Tho first stroke TO learn is the
one which carries the swimmer the
greatest distance. This is made by
placing tho elbows against the ri bs and
putting tho palms of tho hands to-
gether on tho chest so that the tips of
the middle fingers just touch the chin.
Then, with Il slow movement, the hands
should BIO parted and ns they separate
should form small basins which first
force tho water from directly in front
of you and then gradually push it out
diagonally, The arms are then slowly
drawn in until they meet at the chest
again, tho slower the motion the moro
perfect and easier it is to get, and fully
four seconds should be allowed each
stroke when beginning. Tho leg move
ment is much more easy to acquire. as
it consists simply in drawing mp the
limbs and pushing them out, being care
full that they keep time with the motion
of tho hnnds.
The suit advocated for swimming Is
once-piece garment Of lightweight
material, similar in shape to tho union
undergarment, but with trousers end
ing at the knee. and short sleeves. This
gives freedom Of motion which is de-
MED by the sl5irted bathing suits. Tho
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