The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-09

which is accomplished by very many
feminine cries. After taking to the wa
ter, the first and most important thing
is to learn to take the horizontal posi-
ton which is always hard for the be-
ginner They are given cork belt,
which is fastened about their shoulders,
preventing them from sinking. The
depth of the water inside the house is
only three feet, and the novice could
not drown there any way. With the
cork belt to keep the head and shoul-
ders well out of the water, the pupil
splashes about to. her hearts content,
usually with one foot on the bottnme
They are shown the different strokes
by Mrs. Wallberg, who never goes into
the water, except in the case of an
emergency, or when she wishes to give
individual instructions in the art.
When the pupils are so advanced that
they can use their arms and low er
limbs in unison enough to keep afioat,
they leave off the belt and plunge bold
ly into the water If they are at all
nervous they will be long time IN
learning how to swim, but if they go
in with certain amount of reckless
ness, they will master the art in few
lessons. In some cases Mrs. Wallberg
has an attachment that consists Of a
belt with a pole and rope. Mrs. Wall
berg holds the pole and the belt is
placed about the pupils waist. The
instructor stands on the side of the
bath house and holds the pupil in a
horizontal position in the water. The
pupil then is in the position OF a swim
mer, and all she has to do is to strike
out in the regulation fashion till she
is able to propel her body through the
water. When they are able to go out
eIda op6 cfrilya ont into the unknown
depths of the lake, then this fear re-
turns and oftentimes they get so ner-
yous that they splash about, and waste
enough energy that would enable them
to swim across the lake and back. T'ley
give up easily, too, and the instructor
is very careful of her charges when
they first get into the lake proper.
The class of people that frequent the
bath houses, Mrs. Wallberg says, are
mostly school marms who desire TO De-
come proficient swimmers Many are
good swimmers before they go to the
lake bath house, and others are not,
and must be taught. Then there are
many niddle-aged women who go there
for the recreation, and for the after eff
fects which dip in the cooling waters
of the lake has On their nervous sys-
tenn. Many small children frequent the
place also from the age Of 10 to 10 They
are the easiest to learn, and they be-
come quite proficient in the art of
swimming.
Mrs. WalIberg, says that her best pu-
pill is Ida Russell, II years old who
can sport about the water much after
the fashion of a water spaniel. She
took first prize last year, swimming to
the causeway and back twice, in Is
minutes, at the exhibition. She was
awarded first prize offered by the Den
holm & Mckay Company. Other pu-
pills are equally proficient in the diff
ferent lines, some being able to stay
under water for some time, and others
being able to tread water. This last
accomplishment, Mrs. Wallberg
teaches to all of her pupils, for 1t has
proven to be a life saver; should q
swimmer get cramp in the arms, he
has been able to keep afioat by treading
water with the lower limbs.