Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-29
LEARN TO SWIM.
The Summer Outings the Time To
Teach Boys and Girls
This Important Accomplishment. Art Not So
Hard To Learn As Thought.

When Augusta pcople tako ,toir email
boys and girls off to tho se.sid.. ~ n
the lakes for their summon ou,i,. ,,1 in
cidentaily their summer co,,;ra ar IA,
lei Them De taught that most important
i.p''s ITO" 10 swim. Even if
they nave been there without this nrc-
N""''o'i' ~ 10 "''ii not 100 late to take ~
such an all-i!nportant part of their ed1
cation.
Learning is not The tedious ana lenpthv
process TO chiidren that it is to grown
ups possip'N because the former are not
81 apt TO DC sdueamish. and possibly be
! cause the teii-Near-olds have more unrc
straining enthusiasm To give To the sport
IMAM the people Two or three times that
age.
"A lew lessons from some capable in
structor on the elementary strokes and n
rev hours devoted to teaching the small
enid to have confidence in himself. or
herself-and the trick is done.
It's only necessary to start children who
are anxious to learn a few stems Of the
way and in an almost incredibly short
| time they will be daring yol Ia come
out and follow the leader" IN a series of
dives and strokes which are more ori-i-
nal than anything else
Confidence is really all that is necessary
to make swimmer. and whether yoI be
come an expert or not depends upon your
physical strength and courage.
GIVE the little ones II chance to learn
the correct strokes before taking them
away for the summer. and besides enjoy
ing their vacation more than ever before
they will acquire an art never to be foi =
gotten. ana one that will ALWAYS stand
them in good stead. There is naay :.
man row vino wishes he had learned +.
swim when ne was a 10y. for then ii
would have come easily and naturally IL
him.
IL isn't hard TO learn to swim IN fact.
1t is surprising what Il simpIe matter il
Is to keep yourself up in the water if yon
only know how.
70 learn Incorrectly is almost as bad As
not knowing at all To ..op about ana
keep afoat is something. but Their, is an
immense satisfaction as well as pleasure
in being perfectly 1T home in the water
ana thinking no more of swimming in
water hundred feet deep than if 1t were
only up Ia your waist. lnc depth OF th.
water doesn't worry the good swimmer.
After having mastered the strokes GU,
o. the water and having accustomed you,
self To being in the water then YOU are
ready 70 strike out. and IL YOU keep you.
head the stroke viii come To Won ~ NAT
urally as walking.
The breast stroke. used in ordinary
swimming. is the first one learned Ii
get this stroke when standing upright i,
the water. throw yourself forward on
your breast and your feet will rise To the
surface OF their own accord 1t will sun
prise yol To see how long you can lie on
TOP OF The water In this way without
making single stroke and with 4 slight
movement one might keep aaoa1 Tor Il
long time.
Beginners. however. splash and pound
about as soon as they feel themselves
without any support. and ii they essa
to make strokes it is usually at more
than double quick time.
When living on the breast ready for tn
first stroke. the head is thrown back ami
the chin raised out of the water. The
arms are doubled up under the breast.
elbows down and the palms together. .Yo 4
made straight forward, keeping the hand :
under the water and the fingers together
When the arms are stretched 10 their
entire length the palms are turned down
and the arms brought round in semi
circular sweep. still horizontal and at
right angles to the body. Then when the
arms have described this movement the
forearm drops down and with the elbow
as a centre describes another semi
circle. palms vertical until the hands are
again under the chin. when the arms are
doubled up under the breast in position
for the next stroke.
The arm and leg motions ought 10 b.
practised separately and then tosether
for the most difficult part Is to master the
combination of the two in proper time
This is really the secret Of swimming.
A froglife movement best describes TIN :
leg action. An excellent way to practise
il alone is to hold on To the railing of the
n and thpn draw The feet ana kc
out The first position is with the legs OUT
straight. heels together; then the feet are
drawn up toward the body. heels SUI
touchire; and toes as nearly in line
with the body as it is possible TO Set
them. Then when the knees are bent
and the heels toueh the body me iesS
are shot out and down with a Quick KICK,
which sends the body through the water
The speed of the swimmer depends a.
tog, thcr on the strength OF the leI
movement. and particularly on the fofc"
with which the legs are brought tosetne'
again $500,
Almost AT the same time that the hand-
are thrust straight out the KICK Is ii'a .irs,
then both arms and legs assume the iirst
nosition for the next stroke. This IS inc
motion that requires practice ana "heh
you can get these tostther ana d, wv t,,'
surface of the water without making q
single ripple. then YOU may consi1tr ina.
YOU have attained good form Tor You
hnye mastered the most important ana
the breast Stroke ., 60.
1ha side stroke is comparatively easy
and intended generally to rest the
swimmer. ,, No
ga siest of all. and after you have learned
m nnot and have gained a good breast
stroLc any Of the other postureS ar"
easy enough to learn. When standing IN
Tho water. YOU wish to try swimming on
your back throw tha body backward ana
lick hard with the legs apart; them
bring the heels together, the legs SUI!
Straight The leg movements are very
mnch rhe same as for the breast stroke;
Evt.nI the arms straight over the mead
Win the backs of the hands touching N
Mad ~ the palms With Il long c!rcula.
s,rean the arms are brought through NE
! water until they reach the side OF inc
,."s palms turned inward. The lungs are
kent inflated. and with powerful leS
Str"ke great speed can be obtained.
;Th;S stroke is especially good for ions
i 80 swimming and it is less firing;
Aftnr Won have thoroughly learned inc
,,ra,s, side and back strokes. YOU can
| than devote some of your time 10 fancy
,;rrn,;nr and no doubt the youhs ~!
Iii he found practising racing strokes
WI ,rvinr turtle dives. salmon TWISTS
and the spinning Top
A diver was employed on the boom
If the Augusta Lumber Co., yesterday
| on thp SDlIpS