The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-24
FROM HIGHEST
POINT OF BRIDGE
Countess LlIjsnstolphs Anxious
TO Gain Fame as a Diver.
SHE DECLARES IT IS EASY.
Only Need TO knsw How, She Says-Ris
Gaired htnvWn as a Swimmer snd
IrSiructress.
SHE DECLARES IT IS EASY.

Chicago, april H.-Pretty, protegee OF
society, a countess and the holder OF a
medal given by King Oscar Of sweden.
Marian Liliens, n student at the Rush
Medical college, wants 10 dive of the
highest point OF Brooklyn bridge. if
guaranteed against police interference:
Miss Lil1sns has every. reason to I'VE.
and the offer Is not made that she may
commit suicide. She Is the Instructor
OF swimming at the Woman's Athletic
club. When she saw statement that
Arthur G.. Holden was the champion hisl
diver OF the world with record OF rs
feet Miss LilJens said:
II am ready any day 10 dive from a
height ten feet higher than he will al
tempt Will Jump from Brooklyn bridse
at its highest point. IL II can be arranged
so that the police will not Interfere
ter 'fS Palmer mem Mrs. r. Phiiip p. A Armour ana
other prominent society women. who Sc
cured her appointment as instructor OF
swimming at the Woman Athletic club.
in order that she might pay her tuition
through the Rush Medical college. She
has two ambitlons-hrst. TO be a physician
and second TO dive from > greater height
than any one else has ever done. Her
friends believe both will be realized soon.
She is confident she can make the dive
without injury
IT'S as easy 10 leap from Brooklyn
bridge as from pier" said Miss LilJens,
III you only know how"
CONCENTRATION THAT'S ALL.
According to her. any one can make
the high dive IL no or she has the will
power and perfect control OF the muscles
OF the body. Tie first is necessary, she
says. because all thought OF everything
but the dive must be ban,shed from the
mind. A moments hesitation. she says,
would prove fatal. Control OF the mus
cles is essential. for the rate Of the de-
down horizontally until Just before strik-
Ing the water, and faster by going perpen-
dicularly.
she won the Swedish Championship swim
ming medal. which Is given every nine
years by King Oscar: She won from a
sonally presented 10 her by the king, The
distance was about six and three-quarteI
miles. One OF the spectators at the con
test was Count LilJenstolphe. who fel
in love at first sight with the beautiful
swimmer and married her. lie had q
large fortune and they made triT
position was such as to insure hearty
reception fo- them at all European capt
tails.
King Edward, then Prince Of Wales
saw the countess and when told of he
feats in the water expressed a desire &
see her make a high dive. A private ex
hibition was given and the prince wa
delighted
KING FELT HER BICEPS.
How did / liko the prince? on.
.. thought him rather Jolly lie felt tn
muscles OF my arm, but I don't thin
my biceps were quite To- his taste. l an
afraid they were too hard"
When Count Liljenstolphe died. afte
losing his fortune his widow came {
this country. and began a course at tn
Rush Medical college. adopting simpl
The name OF Miss Mariah Iiljens." Mrs
Potter Palmer and others became fnter
= ested in her, and because OF her proves
as a swimmer she was given the place o
swimming instructor.
lO", Miss Liljen's friends arc sure she ca
make tho leap, as she Is absolutely fear
less about the water. In addition 20 hig
diving Miss Liljens claims that sh
knows more OF fancy swimming than an
OF the so-called champions.