The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-29
LEARNING TO Be
GOOD SWIMMER
Try DRY Swimming Before
Working in the Water
VALUE OF SWIMMING
Dog-PaddIe and the Breast
Stroke and Their Compare
tive Advantages = Staying
Above Water Merely Ques-
ton of Balance.
August st. Nicholas.)

August st. Nicholas.)
| had occasion last winter to visit
one Of New York's public baths while
the swimming team of a local ele-
mentary school was at practice. About
twenty boys, not yet in their teens.
were grouped about the pool, listen
ing 10 one Of their number who was
mSructing a lad in the water. The |
SIGH, interested me, and I drew close.
Keep your feet unler surface
when you crawl" the youthful mentor !
was saying, land lift your elbows
higher at the catch!"
gasped in surprise. Here was a
%youngster, probably Of ten or twelve,
ably Importing knowledge Of the lat
est Of modern strokes. l approached
him during a lull.
Are you the team coach?" I asked.
"Oh, no." he exclaimed; I'VE have
q professional. but I'm captain, and !
take charge when he's not here"
And who taught your" I inquired.
"My big brother. He is 2 member
Of a club squad, and he's been at me
since l was eight. four year. ago."
I remained TO watch and was as
founded to note how superbly at home
In the water were there budding
plunge and swim every type Of a
stroke.
| mention this experience Of mine
90 point a moral. No boy is too young
Ia take up the art Of swimming, and
no boy should neglect to do it al
most as soon as he can walk.
Hardly a day passes in summer
without the report Of some drowning
accident appearing in the newspapers.
and this alone is sufficient reason to
induce every one to learn how to
swim. for swimming not only affords
the mean Of saving our own lives.
but of rendering a noble service to
humanity in rescuing u fellow be-
ings.
Furthermore, natation has other
great advantages. No form OF exer-
else is better suited to improve mind
and body. Swimming gives courage,
elf-reliance, control, and it develops
the muscular system in perfect uni
formity. AS a pastime it has nc
equal. Most boys love to battle, ano
the pleasures of a dip are i~nrceasec
tenfold when one is an expert water
man.: then. too, such prohcienc!
opens the path to the thrills Of aquatic
contests, and to the enjoyment Q
such splendid games as Rugby an.
Association water polo, aquatic basi>e
bah, pushball, water baseball. an'
other popular sports.
Ii is really not difficult to beconi
a good swimmer, if one goes about
in the right manner The Quickes
and straightest road to success is un
doubtedly TO find a lnstruc
tor. and let him do the leading; bu
1t Is quite possible to learn
have found it most useful to civ
the beginner a course of sO-calle
dry swimming which entails Ian
drill in the various parts OF tn
stroke. before passing to work IN tn
water. Once the arms and legs NAY
become accustomed to the NOV
fnents. they Will come naturally Whe
graduates to actuai
indeed. both the novice and the MOI
advanced waterman will find prelin
mary work beneficial, AS they pr
gress to the racing stroke.
There are W ways, generally I
eognized. of learning to swim: Fir:
through the d~og-paddie: secoi
through the breast stroke. The forr
er is the method of primitive ma
and has the double merit Of comil
insiinctively and Of being closely T
lated in it's main features to I
crawl, which is nowadays the aim
every young man; the latter Is mo
complicated, requires consideras
study. and has no exceptional van
In my opinion, the dog -paddfe "
tn most instances give better resul
but In view Of the fact that many
our experts adhere TO the brea
stroke, I will explain both.
No elaborate instruction is need
Tor the dog.pAddle. The arms 2
rotated IN the that every 3
has seen a dog use his front paws
the water. and the legs are j.
Tapped alternately back and for
much AZ n does in walking. Fl
some place where the water is abb
up to your chest, and go ahead.
not thrash away too fast. thou:
try to make every motion slow a
elective. You will soon disco
that the simple efforts will keep J
a0Oat for q few feet, and ~