Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

NoNT you remember the sign, old boy
N Wouldn't you be able to respond
readily this minute II some friend
flashed it your Sure. you say; and
IR6&I you couldn't you have claim to
k~&&AE assert you a real boy.
When the masters back turned
IN school, IN the old days haven't you often often
had two fingers stuck up before your eyes, haven't
you nodded with warm significance, ut once without
the slightest hesitation: That is II you Of the
crowd whose mothers did treat piracy the de-
sire TO SO swimming
Who invented the swimming sign in universal use
among boyss He is forgotten, like the man who in
vented sleep first measured the hot dog for his
tightftting jacket lost hstorys record as the
man who drove the mysterious automobile that took
the train robbers to Lane Cut-of and hauled them
away with their booty.
From the urohins in the little school alongside the
"eriek' way down in old Kentucky to the lads In
the newest school out in the aEtbuit town in North
ern Canada; from Port Dalhousie to Lake Itasca
where the Mississippi takes its rise there never was
truly, sure-enough boy who couldn't interpret two
fingers raised and slightly separated.
rs the swimming sign-happy reckless adven-
turous boyhood's own sacred high sign" Of which
all others bearing the name limitations
Fond Memoirs Backward HIKE.
Happy the boy-mRn who can recall the particulars
attaching to the Old swimming hola BE can live
again eArefree youngstsr If be meet some other
boy-man who remnisce with him about its delec-
table characteristics Was it sandy botton!" Did
ii have q mud-oovered slide where you went down
head first on your stomach face raised and and
legs spread wide and gesteulsting like educated fin
gers? Was there a float" on which TO undress?
God save the mark, how little trouble clothes we're
in those days Just q hickory shirt, q gallus and
pair OF overslls OF this shuts out the poor
chap who never went barefoot, never had stone
bruise. and never jumped in clothes an all" on 3
dare. Was there & springboard your swimming
hole boy Or deep hole IN the water that only
yourself and one two others would dare to get
into, Or your swimming place one OF those
desperate spots where you got muddy going n and
forty times muddy coming out.
Say. did you dive from q messy bank or wade in
Were there trees handy. bushes, under cover Of
which satan-nspired friends % could approach and
perperate tricks which would make you ~ehaw beef"
with teeth and nails trying get the tghtest
tied out Of your pants legs and your shirt
sleeyes' And say did you have lay around in the
and let your hair dry. ma wouldn't suspect
you had been in swimming. Gee. that Knocked half
the pleasure Of the event. except the after glow
Of victorious strategy II she found out. until
next time
Swimming Hun1h Is Unborn
And say AgAin-when the urchin at your knee gets
bitten by the swimming bug al school or mixing
with other hopefus and asks You II he go swim
ming, do you frovn and tell him he'll surely get
drOwned' And if you CO. doesn't your worn old con-
science hurt you. mister OF does for away
back somewhere in the reoesses Of your mind where
savAgery stil Turks. know he comes naturally by
the hunch, and viii not be denied for long
Omaha boys OF the old and young generation. with
swimming pond stretching for miles before city
have been mighty lucky bathing spots. except
that regulation word OF which boys never dd IN
dsrstAnd the sense) has made their Eatery frolies
q trifle difficult Prom Florence 10 South Omaha
and goOdly distance beyond in either direction-
- Il
scenery. Besides. there the tame. Conventional
resorts. where yOu put other folks clothes after
taking off your Right here rises the question
can bathing" ever hold q candle 70 swimming"
No. SIR; than apples bought in the store can