New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-25
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD SWIM.
General SlOcum Horror Forcibly Emphasizes
This Fact-Good Hints.

One OF the lessons which the General slocum hor-
ror should bring home TO every and girl in
NeW-York City IS the desirability OF knowing how
TO swim.
Learn 10 swim" That should be the resolve OF
every intelligent woman who does not already
know how. upon reading the pitiful story OF how
after that fateful June Is was
drowned within few feet Of the shore. in a few
feet Of water. The ability to swim few strokes
to keep themselves ahoat for few minutes
would have saved their lives.
To be able 10 swim may mean life 70 ones self.
i may mean life TO those one holds dearest in the
world
New-York offers unusual facilities. for
seaboard city, the girl who means to learn how
10 look after herself and others in the water The
very shape of the island OF Manhattan is en- i'm
piled invitation come in and have a swim
All up and down its east and west sides il is dotted
with bathing establishments and public baths.
whose swimming tanks offer stin water and pro
lection 10 the beginner All along the Sound, too,
are beaches and coves which just the places TO
start in 10 learn. Then think OF the series OF
superb beaches upon which the surf OF the mighty
Atlantic beats-Sea Cate Coney Island, Brighton,
Rockaway, Far Rockaway. Arverne and ell the
others-what could the heart OF Manhattan or
Brooklyn nermaiden ask more?
And for nose who spend long summeSs out OF
town the same resolve should hold good-to learn
10 swim the first thing. one can scarcely hit upon
q place for = summer holiday which has not some
bathing equipment either in the form Of noun
lake or some little, lazy stream. gurgling over
brown sands and by lily pads on its way down 10
the sea In either case. any way, learn TO swim
Plenty Of people have learned swim IN
lesson. according 70 Harvey Sutherland who writes
about it with great gusto in The Womans Home
Companion for July. According TO this writer.
There is a standard way Of teaching that never
fails. but il has the drawback OF being applicable
only 10 little boys. whom il scares out Of a years
growth This STANDARD way consists in catch
ing hold Of he and throwing him into
the water where II is over his head. and laughing
at him while he gasps and claws his way to shore.
Manifestly this is not the method 10 employ with
women and girls. Then. there is the newspaper
magazine system Of learning TO swim.
Every summer the newspapers and magazines
print interesting illustrated articles, which
when YOU read them, and do not merely look at
the pictures. show you exactly what TO do when
swimming" says this writer In them the swim
ner has three OF four pairs OF arms fastened to-
gether al the finger tips by dotted curved lines
This is 10 show the way each arIE moves. believe
They even teach public school children in their
Fairgrounds and gynnasiums how 10 DO the
strokes, all making the motions at the same time"
The plan OF buckling strap around ones chest,
Mr. Sutherland considers positive hinderance 'for
!, fixes the idea your mind that unless you keep
otSsE you viii 20 10 the bottom. which Is wrong,
you nervous ana excited, and begin TO struggle
Where II is over your head somebody has to dive
N ana rescue you which is about the hardest JOB
y'-N tfN4 utGtflCOA hlO" % i4oAAA4Aib aA4D4
terrible than 10 have a badly scared person grab
"9.q o; one IN deep water
There is such need for so much fuss about
4eaFillg 10 swim the author concludes. IL is no
irlck al all once you have learned that the water
VIII bear you up, you cannot help swimming, Tor
every movement you make IN the water is swim
ming Every unWei.ated human being who browns
browns himself out OF pure fear.
how you acquire this confidence? Not by
soing through the motions on dry 4anQ, not by a
strap around the chest or cOrks or inflated riga
Ila5lgs. Being tossed in wher. the water Is over
HuuI head and hands have agreed TO bar. How
shall We 20 il gently and reasonably? III tell
shoulders covered There's use pudding
and paltering with any Jess. Squat q little. ana
se yourself wet all over. Now your pincE j.
over Get your breath. and let's talk awhile ,
Don't Imagine you are drowning when me
water gets into your ears. II Is not so terrible
&c 4 sounds.
Even if little Stops into your nose, it is silly
70 make fuss. = won't hurt you. II takes a
.ol u water 10 drown person, and you VII! soon
tearn 70 eject what gets into the nose without
having 70 stop swimming.
Wade out just a little further until il is up TO
your chin. If you find IT hard to keep your toes
one the bottom. IL is occasion for commence, n9t
alarm. u shows that you are just the least on
.gnicr than the water, or VIII be as soon as you
bet part OF your head submerged
Lift your chest and keep II expanded, pfeainiils
With the abdominal muscles as II you were singing
STetch your arms out 70 form the leiteI =
Mellow in your back and stiffen your spinal column
Ss II you were a person OF some importance
Lean your head back until only a little patCch
around your nose and shut mouth is out OF the
water. Lie back There! You floating
II now you gently paddle with your hands you
ere swimming. Keep your backbone stiff. Which
way do you want 10 90? Inshore, OF course,