Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-29

chances are that II he does, he VIII
never ask to be admitted to the fire
department
No, the beginner should be free from
fear as possible and should be made to
feel that there is plenty of time. Hurry
only puts off the accomplishment the
further. Slow progress with persistent
effort is far better than confused
spluttering and no progress at all.
First of ALL then, If you want to
learn To swim make up your mind to
take ii easy. You may take in
mouthful or two of water, but that is
not necessary. and If you are deliberate
and careful IL will not happen If you
are going to learn to swim by yourself
choose some place where there is no
current and where the water is waist
high. The bottom should be OF sand
for better comfort, although the only
difficulty With any other sort is that it
Is apt to startle or hurt the swimmer.
1t Is we'll always 10 wet the forehead
even II the head is not put under
water. In order to as much as possible
equalize the temperature Of the sur
face of the body
= Then for several moments crouch down
50 that the water is up 10 your neck ami
learn the buoyancy OF the water by gem
~ springing or bouncing up ana down
with your hands Outstretched This Is
simply 10 become acquainted with your
surroundings ana 10 see how much help
you can depend upon from the water it
self. When you have done this for few
minutes and feel somewhat at home
stand up on Your feet again and putting
your arms out IN front OF YOU with the
palms down and the thumb sides some
what lower than the little fingers let
yourself fall slowly forward. at the same
time keeping your arms on level with
the surface. slowly raising them as You
go forward.
When sou are in position 10 begin the
arm stroke your feet will be on the bot
tom, or just leaving it; your arms
stretched out parallel with the surface Of
.iIe water ana underneath it: your head
just above the surface. Then strongly
and slowly, keeping your toes on the boz
ton. if necessary, swing your arms apart,
turning the palms OF The hands away
from each other. The stroke should not
end before the outstretched arms make
straight line The slower and stronger
the stroke the better This should be
practiced for some time until YOU can tell
Just how much force you can get from
the stroke Then 1t would be a good plan
to put a piece of board under the chest
and try the movements OF the lower
limbs
The motion is exactly that of frog
when swimming. The knees are drawn
angle formed with the body. This part or
the movement is rather slow. Then ,-.e
legs suddenly Strengthened out 50 tn...
the entire body is a straight line. The
legs should be drawn up just the arms
are put forward and both legs and arTns
should be at the extreme positions at the
same time, keeping time together. Care
should be taken 10 make the motions
strong and slow rather than quick and
hall hearted.
As a general rule the breath should be
taken only through the nostrils and ex
liic III liHIe
with the strokes of both legs and arms
This, however will regulate itself whe
the stroke is once learned. The expeling
OF the breath through the mouth prevents
the likelihood Of water entering the
mouth and saves many a choking.
When the ordinary method of swim
ming is once mastered it is comparatively
easy to learn the side stroke, by means
of which more than ordinary speed Is oh
tanned. In this method the right arm is
thrust forward simultaneously with the
drawing up of the knees, the left hano
being brought up only as far as the chin
and both palms pointing directly down
ward. The right palm is then turned
around towards the right side without
being drawn back at ALL while the
strength of the stroke is in the backward
sweep Of the left hand which is carried
that the legs are Strengthened out. The
on the right side with the left shoulder
out of the water and the right side of tn
neck, or even the crown of the head act
ing as the cut-water If this method be
comes tiresome, the swimmer should turn
ana try the ordinary method Tor a lew
moments.
Swimming on the back is Il simpler
matter than either of the other two meth
DDS after the strokes have been once
mastered. Both hands are drawn up to
the shoulders with palms upward when
the knees are drawn up and are smulta-
neously swept back to the waist when the
knees are Strengthened out. the back of
the head acting as the cut water This
method, combined with the other two. In
sures the ability to swim for an indefi
mite distance, provided the swimmer has
the requisite strength. for one method
rests some of the muscles that are most
used in each of the others.
There is abundant opportunity for all
Augusta people to learn to swim, and
that without much trouble. With the
river running by the city and the many
inland lakes in this vicinity il should be
one of the objects of everyone who can
spare little time each day or each week
to make himself or herself a swimmer,
confident of ability to keep oneself afioar.
The effort to keep on top Of the water Is
comparatively little Most of the strength
is needed to propel the body through the
water and the slower the SDped the less