The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-30
LEARNING 10 FLOAT

$>~>~>~>~>~>~<es~>%>o>eS{
The fret thing for the beginners to
learn Is the absolute fact that the hu-
man body. IL properly disposed, win
float for hours at time without
single movement being required to
keep the body afioat, says G. M. Ginth-
er in Drovers' Journal. Experience
in hundreds Of cases justifles the re-
mark thae this truth may be believed
by the learner, but its practical appli-
cation is required to convince him.
Therefore, let spot be selected where
the bottom slopes gently away from
the waters edge. The bottom should be
free from boulders and all uneven
ness Use no artificial aids to assist
in floating. Corks, air jackets and in
flated bladders should not be attached
to the person. Their use is decided
ly Objectionable. The place where
the first lesson in swimming is to be
taken should be so secluded that q
very slight costume may be worn
while in the water. This Is important
at first. as all drapery tends to drag
the body down. Later. after one or
two lessons, the regulation bathing
suits may be worn with ease In Or
der to further guarantee the acquire
ment OF the necessary confidence, it
has been found best to have an as
sistant accompany the learner into
the water. This assistants duty is
simply to be on hand. He or she
may not be able to swim a stroke, and
inasmuch as the learner must acquire
the art himself. this is no serious OBJ
lection to the assistant. Let the pupil
side by side until the water comes
half way up the chest. Then, with
full indrawing of the breath, let the
pupil gradually sink backward in the
water with the head towards the
shore. Bend the head back as far as
possible and dispose the hands quiet
ly at the SIDES. Keep the legs
straight and close together At the
moment the pupil begins to sink back
into the water the assistants hand
should be placed underneath the back
and a firm pressure exerted to main
tain the pupil without allowing him
sential. and the patience and caution
OF the assistant at this critical time
will have much to do with the pupils
progress. Let the pupil breathe reg
ularly and fully. without any hurry
and without any movement. The
body must be placed in a horizontal
position just beneath the surface Of
the water, with all parts of 1t sub
merged except the nose and mouth.
Let this fact be borne in mind: The
more fully the body is submerged the
more easily and lightly it will float
The purpose in bending the head back
as far as possible is to submerge the
back of the head and throw out the
nose and mouth more prominently at
the same time. The trouble with
most beginners Is that they apparent
ly cannot resist the temptation to see
what has become Of their feet, and
in the effort to crafty this desire,
the top and back of the head In lifted
from the water. This results in sink
ing the mouth and nose beneath the
water, and q great spluttering en-
sues. When the horizontal position
has been acquired and the pupil has
become quiet and regained confidence
the assistant may release the pres
sure OF his hand. The effect will be
that the pupil will at once begin to
sink. Never mind, there is no dan
ger. Remain perfectly motionless, do
not attempt to breathe while the wa
ter is over your mouth. just remain
passive for the briefest moment Of
time and your nose and mouth will
reappear above the surface and yoa
will have the trick learned. 1t is
more than likely that more than one
attempt will have to be made before
the pupil will be able to remain quiet
while the water comes up over his
head. Most persons thrust out an
arm as If the empty air contained an
anchorage, and dig one foot towards
the bottom. These errors are ex-
cusable and with the help OF the as
sistant may soon be overcome. OF
course any part of the body that is
thrown out Of the water only has the
effect Of sinking other parts still low
er. This truth will be manifest after
one or two lessons. The assistant
should accompany the pupil day after
day as long as the pupil thinks he re-
tains any fear Of the water, That IL
the thing that must be overcome. A.
soon as the floating lesson has been
thoroughly learned the beginner will
desire to propel himself through the
water, and then the first lesson in
swimming may be taken. 1t Is sug-
gested, however, that before any at
tempt is made to swim, the art Of
floating be thoroughly learned.
A Homemade Magic Lantern.