Evening star., 1901-07-30
HOW TO LEARN TO SWIM.
Women May Easily Acquire the
Knack Of Keeping Ah0at.

From the New York Tribune.
1T seems marvellous to me that more
women do not learn to SWIM" said a girl
at Narragansett Pier the other day as she
shook her hair over her shoulders to dry
in the sun. 1T seems such a waste of time
not to utilize the days at the seashore by
acquiring the habit of swimming.
Hard to learn? Not a bit of it, The
first thing is to learn to float People gem
orally do not begin with that. but think
that one will have less fear If she knows
that she can float If by any chance she
should get beyond her depth. 1t is harder
for slender people like myself, but stout
girls ought to float without difficulty.
All you have to do is to lie on your back.
keep the mouth and nose above water and
keep the lungs well inflated.
1T is almost always possible at the sea-
shore to find some one who swims. and
swimmers are always delighted to teach
others. Sometimes, however, there Is no
one. and then one should not hesitate to
try II alone. of course, taking proper pre-
cautions. On the whole, am tempted to
advise girls who are exceedingly sensitive
to try to teach themselves. l have known
a number give up the effort because they
thought they looked awkward and
ridiculous while learning. 1t Is a good idea
to practice the motions In ones room un-
til they are thoroughly acquired This will
be found to relieve the first attempts Of
some preliminary awkwardness.
Stretch the arms straight out at full
length, with the fingers close together and
the palms meeting. Open the palms, turn
ing downward, and move the arms back
ward on the same level until they are in q
straight line with the shoulders keeping the
elbows firm all the time. When directly In
li1e with the shoulders stop the stroke.
let the elbows drop to the sides and the
forearms close on the chest until the palms
C1rnS together again. Repeat this stroke
until it becomes almost automatic.
The leg strokes cannot be learned on
shore. but Ii Is easier to manage one un-
familiar movement than two. Before at
tempting them try to utilize the arm
practice in the water. Wade out as far as
possible without losing the footing, then
face the shore and make the arm move
ments in the water and try to support
the body by the stroke.
Some advise wearing life preseryer
while learning, but l do not regard 1t as
a good plan. An excellent use for 1t. how
ever is 10 attach 1t by rope TO some
firm object on the pier or shore and hold
on to II while acquiring the leg stroke
This gives confidence and assures safety.
The stroke Is made by drawing the legs
together slowly, up close to the body. A
sudden. strong kick backward, and as
nearly level as possible, is the next move
of the feet held fiat against the water.
When the kick has Strengthened the legs
they must be drawn together instantly to
repeat the stroke.
"when the leg and arm strokes are both
acquired, the best way Is to put rope
loop around the waist, having the other
end safely attached to the shore. and, go
ing out TO about four feet Of water, try
the two together. The arm stroke begins
before the leg stroke, which should not
be begun until the arms have made about
half the semi-circle described by them"