The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
GIRLS EDUCATED IN SWIMMING.
school Boards Pupils Astonish Their
Mothers and GRANDMOTHER.

Mothers and GRANDMOTHER.
As an experiment the Board OF Education
established this summer instruction in swim
ming for children at some OF tho free public
baths. Some embers OF the board objected
to the experiment In the ground that 1t was
useless as all the boys who lived near the river
would learn to swim without the city's aid.
and the girls couldn't DO taught anyway. This
latter theory was effectualy disproved by an ex-
hibition given on Friday morning by the girls
class OF the free bath at the foot Of West Fifty
first street where thirty girls varying in age
from IL to 20 years. swan and 1oated like so
many amphibians under the supervision OF
Miss Helen NJ. Clarke. their instructor.
Fancy swimming was not done. as the efforts
OF Miss Clarke have been thus far merely to
teach her pupils to be self-supporting in the
water. As she has had only two months In
which to teach them, the proficiency they
showed was remarkable. They swan easily
and confidently. using the simple arm and leg
motion and max ing good progress through tho
water. to the vast delight OF the conoourse OF
excited mothers. grandmothers and sisters
who had been invited to be spectators. In
structor Lundstrom OF the N. Y. Athletic Club
who was Judge praised the girls highly.
They show that they have confidence in
themselves in the water" said he. land that Is
the great thing. They don't get ratified and
they swim easily. most OF Thorn. II one of those
girls were to fall overheard she could keep
herself up until help came. Some Of them swim
better than many Of the youngsters in tho boys
classes,
Miss Clarke. who is herself an expert
swimmer. is enthusiastic over the work
This is only primary class. you know" she
said. When these girls came to me in July
they couldn't swim stroke. The first thing to
do. and about the hardest. was to get them over
being afraid OF the water. After girl has first
swallowed inadvertently several mouthfuls or
gone through the unpleasant experience OF
snufflng up nose or two. she Is likely to con-
slider that she's had narrow escape from
drowning. and it's difficult to cure her OF the
notion. On the other hand. a few take to the
water naturally. Even the most timid Of them
can be taught with patience The girls love the
exercise and fun Oft have had three morn
ings a week. and there's hardly been morning
that sevcnty-flve girls haven't been in. One
day we had one hundred and seven. As they
become more expert expect to teach them
diving. swimming under water and other
feats."
or the thirty girls who swan on Friday,
eighteen got mark OF 100 per cent from Mr.
Lundstrom. The boys OF the swim m I'M classes
had their exhibition yestsrday morning and
proved themselves veritabe water-rats.
Diving. somersaultng. swimm ing under water.
swimming on tho back side stroke and.racing
were shown. The exhibition closed with some
fancy swimming by Mr.. Lundstrom which as
tonished the youngsters and gave them mate
rial for future practice The baths will probably
be open until late in the month and it 10
thought that the Board OF Education 8 lessons
will be made permanent institutions.