The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-27
FANCY SWIMMING.
A Clever Exhibition
by Women and
Young Girls.
PUPILS OF MISS A. C. WALBERG.
Ida Russell, IL Years Old,
lis Completely at Home
in Water.
PUPILS OF MISS A. C. WALBERG.

- An exhibition of plain and fancy
swimming was given at the women'l
bath house at the lake yesterday by
girls who frequent the swimming tank
Prizes were given for the most expert
and the exhibition was an excellent one
Several of the girls showed an adept.
ness in the art which is no less thar
boys of their age possess with the in
creased advantages which lads have
to learn to swim.
One girl in particular, Ida Russell, II
years of age, who lives at 81 AIvarado
avenue, is remarkably proficient in the
water, being able to do all sorts of fan
cy work as well as swim far and fast.
She was easily the best of the girls
and won second prize First prize
went to Mrs. Albertina Hallberg who
swan almost quarter mile out into
The lake, and later gave an excellent
exhibition in the house
. Ihe girls took to the water as kindly
as their brothers would and the excel
lence of their work was surprising.
They did all sorts of things, showing
they are as confident of themselves in
the water as on land. The fancy work
consisted of various strokes and per-
forming tricks which only long ex-
perience and perfect confidence in
ones ability can accomplish.
Six prizes We're offered and the com
petition was divided into three classes.
one for juniors, one for Intermediates,
an older class, one for seniors, and one
for adults. Mrs. Hallberg was the only
entry in the latter class. The juniors
consisted of girls who have learned to
swim this year. The seniors are girls
who learned last year and took part in
competitions held then.
James c. Coffey, clerk Of the board Of
health, Dr.. o. f. George and w E..
Hapgood We're Judges. Miss Anna c.
,Wallberg, the lady in charge of the
house, was mistress Of ceremonies.
In the junior class the girls who dis
ported themselves were Ella Arsenault
years old; F. Arsenault, 10, who live
at 10 Alvarado avenue: Edith Lund-
Derg, y, living on Highland street. and
Grace Grundler, II, living on Coburn
avenue
The girls of the intermediate class
We're Grace Coffey, a. living at IA IN
gals street; May Farley Is, living at 20
vernon street; Alice Arsenault u, liv-
ing at Is Alvarado avenue, and Cert
! rude Watson, IS, living on Lake ave-
onue.
The senior class consisted of Ida Rus
sen, IL. living at 81 Alvarado avenue;
Helga Lundberg, 16; Mamma Lundberg
IA; Mary Wyman, Is, and Nellie Wy
man. 49,
The judges took into account the rel
ative proficiency which each class was
supposed to possess on account of lon
ger experience The various classes
were put through the same program.
The younger classes raced in the tank
on on the back, breast. and side. They
dove and swan under water, picking
up from the bottom a stone. around
which white handkerchief had been
wound. They swan using one hand
only; one foot only and without using
either hand. Various other strokes. not
very difficult, but yet showing advan-
tages, were used.
The older girls gave an interesting
exhibition They performed all the
Keats that the other classes had and
gave several others which the other
classes have not yet attained. They
went outside and raced from a point on
the causeway to the float, distance of
nearly $50 yards. 1t was an interesting
race. The little Russell girl is a very
fast swimmer. She takes a short, quick
stroke, which sends her along rapidly.
The distance was nothing to her, and
when she reached the float, Yards
ahead of her nearest competitor. she
was not the least fatigued. Mama
Lundberg was second and her sister
third.
The girls then gave an exhibition of
removing superfluous clothing while in
the water. They added considerable
clothing to the bathing suits they
wore, and as they dreaded water they
removed the clothing. Miss Russell
was again first. Then they went to the
tank, where a series of races at vari-
Gus strokes was started. Miss Russell
was under handicap, yet she was in
variably across the tank first. She
was SO much smaller than the others
that when the start was made they got
got away ahead of her. But she over
took them. Only once did any of them
get across the tank first, and that was
in swimming feet first, and using the
hands only.
Mrs. Hallherg. gave an exhibition Of
undressing in the water and then swan
cut 200 yards and back She used a
long easy stroke and returned in good
forms She then gave an exhibition Of
fancy work in the tank, going through
the same maneuvers as the girls had.
The judges made the awards as fol-
lows. First prize vase. Mrs. Hall
berg; second prize. a portfolio, Miss
Russell; third prize, a bathing suit,
Grace Coffey; fourth prize, a brooch,
Miss Grace Grundler; fifth prize, a
chain, Miss Alice Arsenault; sixth
prize, box of candy Miss Helga
Lundborg. ia s
A crowd that completely filed the
bath house watched the exhibitions and
was greatly entertained.