Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-29

EVERY BOY anu gill Silo sa.slss-lE:
to swim, and yet how many OF them
grow up to be men and women VIII
ont acquiring this important accom-
ptishment. True a large number Oh
hovs manage to acquire this art but
bowo Chiefly by stealing away surrep-
titiously to- encounter the dangers OF
tho water without intelligent super
vision or proper safeguards. Every
summer season brings its recurring
LIST of accidents. its sad, sad bereaVe-
nents. coming as a result of the mex
perienced dangers. Every parent
would be glad to have his boys ana
girls taught to swim, If he could be as
sured that it could be done with entire
safety to them. AS gentleman re-
marked to us yesterday my boy has
never learned to swim. / should pe
glad if it were otherwise; but nave az
ways had a horror of the river, ana
have forbid him going in swimming.
He has been obedient to me, and. as
a result knows nothing about swim
ming. l should be glad to have him
taught if | could be assured of his
safety"
Another well known gentleman said,
81 hired two good swimmers to teach
nv boy the art, and was glad to pay
them well for it. l knew that he was
pretty sure to be about the river more
or less. and felt that the investment
would do much to insure his safety
and relieve my anxiety on his account.
At the same time | am frank to say
that l do not believe that a river, Win
its swift currents and dangerous up-
dertows, is a suitable place for boy
to learn to swim under the most law
orable circumstances. These are fair
examines of the feelings entertained
nv parents not only in this city but all
over the State. and yet where in all
Maine. is there to be found a properly
conducted swimming school where
boys and girls may be taught, under
conditions of perfect safety, this most
important art? If such there be it has
never come to our attention. The cit
les of Augusta. Hallowell and Gardi-
ner have a combined population of
20 900, to say nothing of the outlying
territory and yet in none of them IS
there a place where young people may
be taught in perfect safety how to
swim. We believe that right here is
an opening for profitable business. A
we'll constructed swimming tank well
supplied with running water, whose
depth could be regulated to the ages
of the pupils. and in charge of capable
instructors of beth sexes, ought never
TO lack for patronage, espec ally IN Inc
warm summer months. There could
he certain days in the week set aside
for girls, where in charge of capable
| lady instructors they might acquire
| this important art in which most OF
them are now so sadly deficient. Dur
| ing the other days of the week the boys
| in the care of gentlemen well qualified
| for the task, or of their fathers, in
case they wished to accompany them,
might acquire this important art free
from attendant risks, and without oc-
casoning any worry in the home circle
The pupils of such a school might prop
erly be divided into classes according
| to their ages, and certain hours in the
day set aside for each. one condition
| to the success of such school would
| be imperative viz: 1t would have to b.
conducted by parties in whom the peo-
pie could have implicit confidence. As
| a stock enterprise we feel that there
are interested parents enough in our
| three sister cities of the kennebec &c
supply the necessary capital. Would
not such a school supply an important
| public need and-even aside from III.
patronage that might reasonably be
| expected from swimmers themselves
are not the conditions favorable for its
| financial success?