The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-31
WOMEN LEARNING TO SWIM.
Latest Rules for Their Requirement
 of the Art.

of the Art.
 Brooklyn Eagle.
 Strike out, chin up" There. that's better, but too fiat yet; you ought not to fall on your chest" Kick now, out hard Kick, don't stop don't give up" Tell the truth now, don't you think you've had about enough?"
 It was not a prize fight-nor a foot ball match; it was only swimming school in full swing, and the instructors were calling out words of encouragement to the faint hearted and advice to the awkward T declare it's as good show as the circus" declared an interest ed on-looker of the fair sex.
 The scene was in truth an animated one. It was woman's day at the school and some half dozen figures clad in black brilliantine boomers and oil skin caps were splashng in the large pool of blue green water or sitting on the marble margins chatting merrily. Suddenly there was a shriek. "Oh I'm going down." This from a timid swimmer but she was given a helping hand and reassured. You're doing all right, you only need little more confidence" That Is the main difficulty with many women," ex- p.ained an instructor. they lack con- tidence and it makes it so much more diff ficult for them to learn-which is an ad ditional argument for teaching girls to swim, while they are young.
 Are many women learning to swim now?"
 Yes more tl@ ever before. Since the advent of the athletic girl, women have learned that there is no better physical developer than swimming. It is an all | around developer, it improves the general circulation, makes a woman more active | and graceful and brings all the muscles | into play. In the first place 1t strength ems the chest and develops the bust, and l along with this it teaches correct breath | ing, 1t being necessary to take a good deep breath in swimming. l have had many women tell me with astonishment 1 of the increase in chest expansion after they began to take swimming lessons Be- side developing a good pair of lungs it is beneficial in strengthening the back and abdominal musc.es. While developing the muscles it does not make them as hard as gymnasium work does In fact l those who have hardened their muscles to any great extent with gymnasium work are more apt to get cramp in the muscles in long distance swimming"
 Professor Mac Levy of the Mac Levy Physical Culture Institute of the Hote St. George is a warm advocate of swim ming as a physical developer. After al
 
 observer of the swimming lessons jus chroniced she was given minute direc tions on the athletic art as taught in thi! institute. These, if followed to the letter should help if not wholly teach tho woud-be learner. By way of preface, ad vice was given to the beginner to avoiC going out in a boat and jumping iron it to swim or going with compa nions in clined to duck the novice. A fright re ceived in the beginning often takes year to overcome and flinders the learner seri ously. The first thing taught is the move ment of the hands and feet in swimming this being learned with d life preserve on. Afterward this is removed and rope put about the waist and attached :, d pole held by an attendant. The breath ing should be through the mouth. as onl! in that way can sufficient fresh air b, taken into the lungs. Take full oreatl through the mouth at the beginning 0 the stroke. blowing it out the same Va as the stroke is in progress. What i called the breast stroke is divided int three-for the first stroke, draw the hand in front of the breast. the fingers to gether the palms facing downward; tn knees are drawn under the body. wit heels together tdo not make the commo error of keeping the knees straight an drawing the heels over the back); mex shoot the hands out straight and at tn same time kicking the legs out far apar in sort of V-shape.
 For the second stroke, from flat tur the hands slightly outward and with e bows straight throw the arms a rigt
 angles with the body; at the same tim
 bring the legs together sharply. maxim
 the heels touch. Remain in this positio until the force of the stroke has sper