Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-07-25
MAKES 1T EASY TO SWIM.
tBY rRoF F. e pALToN)


For those who have never tried to
swim these brief bot thorough IN.
structicns are prepared.
When undressed rub yourself
down with a rough towel, and then
walk into the water.
The first thing to be done on en-
tering is to put your head under
water, open your eyes and accustom
yourself to the look of things under
water, which will overcome any fear
that you may possess. After this has
been done two or three times place
any object that is hard and white at
the bottom of the water, then try to
pick 1t up, which will necessitate
opening the eyes.
When thoroughly accustomed to
the water; get an ar bladder. Per-
sonally, think an air bladder is of
more assistance in holding person
in the water than friend, as the
bladder keeps one up to uniform
height. Many who learn TO swim
often wonder at their slow progress
through the water, which is solely
occasioned by Sc many learning the
strokes incorrectly; therefore, par
ticulsr attention should be given to
the elementary or initial stages.
In my varied experience | have
found that most nervous people gain
confidence quicker ON the back, as it
is not only more natural position
but it is much easier for beginner
to breathe, as so many have the ten
dency to tightly close the mouth
when swimming on the breast.
Start then by lying on the back,
either held up by person or by the
aid of an air bladder, straighteu
yourself out, hold the head way back.
the ears being under water. Some
persons do not like the water pene-
trating the ears; to overcome this
place little cotton or wool in each
ear, then initiate the abdomen, draw
your arms up alongside the body and
straighten them out in a straigh:
line with the shoulders; then push
the arms and hands through the
water until the latter touch the legs.
After some little practice those move
ments will come easy.
One great point beginners should
always rememher-keep the hands
and legsunder the water. Any begin
ners get frightened by having so
much of the water wash over their
faces. This can always be overcome
by keeping the hands below the
water. When you have mastered
these arm movements fairly well
commence on the leg strokes. Start
with the legs slaughtered out, the
heels together, draw the feet up to-
ward the body, keep the knees we'll
turned out as far as possible. Shoot
the legs out wide, then finish the
kick by bringing the legs straight
together with snap. This stroke
and way of swimming on the back
will be found to benot only the easiest
but the best, for one can lie on his
back and rest by simply stretching
out the arms back over the head in a
straight line with the body.
For the breast stroke commence
by practicing the arm and leg move
ments on shore. The hands should
be brought together to the chest and
shot out straight in front then turn
the hands fiat, palms downward, and
bring them straight round in line
with the shoulders; from there bend
the elbows back and bring the hands
together at the chest. For the leg
action lie face downward on a stool,
draw the legs up, then kick them out
as wide as possible, then bring the
legs straight together.
The leg movement is the same as
on the back.
Practice. the arm strokes first as
they are easiest to manage. When
you have had few days practice, try
and swim; commence by bending for
ward with the hands straight in front
OF You and give yourself slight
push with your legs, then try and do
the movements slowly and do not
shorten them.
In diving always be collected and
cool when you dive. Have the lungs
normal, or rather don't dive with all
the air out of them; it is dangerous.
Neither dive in strange or muddy
water.