The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-29

it. The water does 90 per cent of the work, if the swimmer only could be made to realize this. Floating is no accom- ,plshment, Anybody can float, because they make no resistance and are perfectly natural, and that's where the water does 100 per cent for them. I try to demon strate this to my pupils, and make them see that the water. I said before, is 90 per cent of swimming
 Does swimming reduce feshy people?" I asked.
 Absolutely, if done consistently" said Professor Davis. For nervousness it Is the finest thing in the world. I have seen some people who were almost nervous wrecks cured completely by swimming. The greatest trouble I have with ladies Is that the very first minute they begin to strike the center of gravity and swimming comes to them, they are so delighted that they begin to scream and yell and flop about in the water in order to tell every body what they've done and then they
 stopi They get too enthusiastic all at once"
 Do slender women make better prog ress than stout ones in learning how to swim?' I asked.
 Weight has absolutely nothing to do with it." said Professor Davis. One of the best swimmers I've ever turned out
  The smallest was woman who weighed s. and she was one of the most difficult pupils I ever had to teach"
 'Where did you learn to swim?' asked.
 1''I have been swimming ever since I was years old' was the reply. 'I lived in Indianapolis, which is an inland town. as you know, but the boys I ran with used to go up to Fall creek. Browns bala To WbifCo1nb Riley named it) and, by the way, the Hoosier poet was my neghbor-he lived just across the street from mel, and I learned to swim there. My parents were just as anxious about me as any other parents are about their boys when they heard was learning to swim, and the first time they ever knew it I remember big story came out in the paper of how had eaved boy from drowning. There had been 8 big Knights of Pvthias picnic at Fall creek, and the boys had been told not to 20 In the water. We played shooky,' however and went. and when saw the policemen coming after us we all started out and jumped into our clothes, but there was one little fellow who couldn't make it. and so he tried to swim to the other side and almost drowned. saw him and rushed back into the water and saved him.
 fNcSci'eiS ae 'ii' 'i Nii' ii'o'''" Pb 'NiS shows here" said Professor Davis, "a film was shown of Fall creek. where the annual sports are held in Indianapolis. took part a number of times in these sports. and Professor West of the Young Mems Christian association here also was a participant. did all sorts of high div | ing-'fips' and fancy swimming. I've never been sick from being in the water never had cramps. and have never had | an accident I'm very much impressed with Birmingham and think East Lake can be converted into one of the most I beautiful places in the south The water having the advantage of being in the open
 air and not an indoor pool. Is distnc- l tive feature. ] am very proud of the
 work I've done here and the interest that
 the people have manifested has been the
 greatest sort of encoura cement to me and I am very grateful for it,''