The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-17

the summer schools. Several years ago
the pupils of these schools were given
an opportunity to learn 10 navigate in
the water. Superintendent of Schools VIII
liam H. Maxwell does not take a
pessimistic view of the matter. He under
stands what 1t would cost TO equip and
maintain swimming pools in connection
with public schools. As he expressed it:
It's glorious idea. TO be sure. but /
cannot say that there is a possibility of Its
being done. At the many public baths
courses IN swimming are given. During
the period that this art was taught in
the, summer schools thousands and thous-
ands OF young people We're taught TO
swim. We devoted a great deal of time 10
the idea. | believe in il. But the cost
OF maintaining these pools. TO say nothing
OF the money that would be required To
equip them. would be enormous. But II
Is an excellent idea and l should personal
" feel g~ratiied TO see the work accomp-
lished."
LAFLIN'S FEATS IN THE WATER.
one of the most expert swimmers in
the waters OF New York is John NJ. LAT
lin. who in his day has saved. scores of
lives. He Is a BILE water dog. Sixty
years Of age. an athlete OF the old school.
boxer. oarsman. fencer and long-distance
swimmer. In the mellow days of his lie
he devotes his summer months along the
beaches OF Fire Island and in winter seeks
the warmer climate of Florida.
Wherever there IS water Professor LAT
lin may be found. He was the Model
Man Of Vienna. taking a prize in world
competition for physical conformation He
taught Mrs. Dreyel Biddle Of Philadelphia,
and other society women TO swim. Latin
mas scores of medals. a record o; his feats
IN twic ,ne VIVA water io,r As a SGYsr he spared
pointed the redoubtatle "Joe" Coburn in
a four-round setto at Madison Square
Garden. in 1915.
Professor Latin advances some pointed
Ideas concerning methods to be used in
saving people from drowning. One of his
most striking remarks related to obtain
Ing Il rlease from the clutches OF n drown
Ing person:
Sink with him and he will relax his
hold. said he In commenting upon strug-
giles he himself has had in the water.
Llfin once swan nearly half a mile
with an unconscious young woman In his
arms; She had got beyond her depth at
Fire Island. and when he reached her the
young woman had sunk for the third time
and was in the grasp OF n r~eceeding tide.
TEACH THE CHILDREN.
When l read OF those little children
being swept over the side OF the General
Slocum.' said he. Il was glad that during
my summer at Fire Island / nave given
gratuitously such instruction to the young
people in the art OF swimming as was
able. ! have taught hundreds to swim.
wish ! could bring the people OF New
taught TO swim.
No one knows what moment that child
may be called upon to employ his knoUl-
edge OF swimming to save his life. tell
you that there is not a moment on any of
our waters that one is absolutely safe.
Does not this awful catastrophe en-
things that swim-I have spent hours |
watching the fishes at the Aquarium glide |
through the waters in their wonderful
ease and b~uoyancy.
There Is something more than swim |
necessary to save n life occasionally. |
Did you ever watch a school OF fish? Did