The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-25
THE ART OF SWIMMING
MADE EASY IN PRINT
Easy to Become an Adept il One Fol.
lows the Directions and
Tries Hard.


fated bladders and the like, should be
avoided, as they raise some parts of the
body too high and allow other parts to |
sink too far below the natural plane of |
fotation. The first rule, and the most es- |
scrtial, is that the more entirely the body |
Is submerged the more easily can the |
head be sustained above the water. Con- |
fidence in the floating power of the body |
should be acquired by the learner as soon
as possible. 1t is one of the hardest
things for the novice to believe that the
body viii float in water, under certain
conditions, without any effort whatever
The easiest way to float is to lie on the
back, the arms stretched out beyond the
head. but not lifted out of the water This
attitude not only facilitates respiration
but counterbalances the weight of the
lower limbs. which should be kept en-
tireiy submerged, but barely under the
surface of the water. No better start to-
ward learning to swim can be made than
to wade out until the water comes up high
on the chest, then with a full indrawing
of the breath, to allow the body to sink
backward, with the head toward the
shore, until only the mouth and nose are
above the water. The arms and lower
limbs should be disposed as described
and IL all effort be dispensed with, and
| the body quietly and confidently submit
borne and Will not sink. When in this
position the breathing should be easy
and regular, and If kept perfectly balanc-
| ed, the body will assert its buoyancy, and
the necessary confidence be acquired.
| To attempt to propel the body through
the water while floating on the back will
very soon follow the discovery that the
body will float This is a pleasant and
very useful way of swimming, and If con-
hdence be retained the beginner will have
no trouble. The first movement toward
swimming on the back is to draw the
legs up to the body. at the same time
spreading them apart as far as possible.
The legs by one firm movement should
then be extended and at the same time
drought close together This motion sends
the body forward, and when the impetus
impaired is nearly but not quite expend-
ed the legs are to be spread apart and
drawn mp close to the body as before, and
the previous movement of extending and
drawing them back repeated. When ex-
I tending the legs the breath should be ex-
hailed, and inhaled when they are drawn
up. II greater speed be desired the
hands can be used as SOULS by carrying
them outward from the body and at the
same time level with it, palms down
ward. Just as the legs are closed the
hands and arms should be pulled strong
lily toward them.
Notwithstanding back swimming is the
most easily acquired breast swimming is
the commonest and most easily practiced.
This is begun by gently sinking the body
forward in the water and extending the
arms to their full length forward, keep
ing the fingers closed and the palms fiat.
Turn the palms of both hands outward
and make a strong stroke to the right
and left with each arm. The hands should
not be sunk deep under the water, as
this tends to raise the body. The object
-
as possible. As the arms are brought
round In the semicircle movement the
lower limbs are stiffened and brought
firmly together. Beginners should be
careful not to make the arm movements
more rapid than that of the legs, and ii
should not be forgotten that the latter
! are the principal propellers Unison in
movement and regularity of stroke and
kick are indispensable to perfection. If
all hurry and excitement be avoided, and
leach stroke and kick be accomplished pre-
clsely and completely. swimming will
: prove refreshing and invigorating.
The art of treading water seems to be
the only part of swimming that is at all
naturally performed. The movements nee
essary almost idenucal with the
movements required In walking. In case
of accidental immersion when the body is
fully clothed a knowledge of this part OF
the art will preserve life for long time
/ Inc DOuE assumes pOSl-
ton when cast into the water, owing to
the buoyaney of the lungs and the weight
of the lower extremities. When the wa
ter comes up over the mouth and eyes the
inclination of any one unable to swim is
to throw the hands out of the water. AL
such effort serves to increase the danger
When thrown into deep water one should
be perfectly inactive for a short time
|. The head will soon rise above the surface
and at that instant the hands and fee
should be employed in nearly the same
, manner as in walking, the hands beating
the water at the sides and the feet climb
ing imaginary stairs. The hands should
never be raised above the surface of the
water, and the head should be bent bach
SO as to submerge the shoulders, neck an6
as much of the head as will not interfere
with breathing, the theory being that th'
whole body Is lighter than the volume o.
water 1t will displace. If all portions o.
E the body except the mouth and nostril
be submerged IL may be kept afioat fo
hours. In this, as in all departments o
swimming, the possession of confidence
in the buoyancy of the body Is the mos
essential requirement. A living body will
n float because of the air in the lungs
while dead body will sink because tn
air has been expelled.
The side stroke is the most rapid mod,
: OF swimming The body should be thrown
o OF: the right side, for the reason tina
weight is removed from the heart whel
r in that position and the lower limbs &C
n mere freely and naturally than when oil
I the left side. When the position in thu
: water Is assumed the right arm Is thrown
a out In front, palm down. The arm 4
d stretched out full length and brough
g downward through the water toward thu
legs. The hand Is then brought up alont
r the body to the chin, when the stroke Il
d repeated. The left hand beats the waite
v ar the left side. The legs should be NOV
i ed In strong and vigorous strokes in tn
v same manner as that employed in breas
e swimming. The overhead stroke is on
of several styles known to all boys TIL
8 ipractice of swimming dog fas az
RI not advisable because the body s pro
" PEELED slowly by tAe rapid unC stroke
:: and the strength is soon exhaus -
e -<-
l.