New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-19
Swimming an Art;
Ancient as History

people gradually drifted away rom
swimming almost entirely ana ,hae ,oa
several centuries it became all pul
lost art?
The comparatively recent revival OF
popular' interest in sport generally
and the love for aquatic sports IN gen
eral. The season for the remarkaoie
lack Of interest in natation during tne
many years preceding its present poom
was the deeply incrusted. silly. prelu-
dice born of its alleged harmfulness'
1t can hardly be sufficiently empha-
sized that. or the contrary, swimming
is positively the healthiest Of all ply
sical exercises, and with proper pre-
cautions cannot possibly harm any one.
From the hygienic standpoint It
seems strange that in this age OF con-
slant search for physical perfection IN
the human form we should have almost
completely ignored swimming as
means to that end. In our hunt for
perfect proportions we appear to over
look swimming, the simplest, easiest,
and ut the same time the most eco
nomical of all methods OF acquiring a
perfect physique.
In this, as in many other respects,
II seems the tendency to adopt the
more complicated methods and over
look that which is simple and close
NJ hand. If our growing generation
could only be made to realize what
swimming will do for their moral,
mental and physical health and well.
beinp. we could soon become race or
ideal human beings.
AZ matter of fact. swimming
is to say, the regular systematic ma
tation. out-of-doors in summer pref
erablv in the sea- and in natstoriums
during the winter-combined with
rlain. wholesome food in moderation
and six TO eight hours sound sleep,
will make any one as nearly perfect
physically as possible.
The reason is plain. Swimming de-
velops the chest, shoulders and back
in short. every part of the body
most other forms Of physical exercise
develop only certain sets of muscles.
But there is still another reason why
swimming is the sport par excellence
and that is its marvellous effect on the
heart. lungs. nervous system and CIR
culation. Unless all of these are IN
perfect condition, good health is inn
possible.
it is the consensus of medical
opinion to-day that, barring persons
afflicted with heart disease or severe
nervous disorders, there is no better
exercise for health. physical yigor and
ripe old age than systematic swim
ming.
As to the relative merits of endur-
ance swimming as compared to speed
swimming, the former is by far the
more useful and healthful OF the two,
IN spite of which it has been sadly
neglected SO much so, in fact, that
our long distance swimmers OF note
do not exceed two score in number,
whereas in other countries they
abound with some remarkable perform
ances to their credit.
All great speed, in swimming, as IN
all other forms of athletic sport, in
wolves a more or less severe strain
upon the heart, and If continued Tor
any length of time will surely cause
some serious lesion of that organ, the
most important handspring of the
human anatomy. Sprinting should,
therefore. be discouraged on general
principles and system Of endurance
swimming and life saving, the noblest
and most important of aquatic arts,
should be substituted.
The art of sustaining oneself in the
water under all circumstances and in
all kinds of weather. without clothing,
is what we should practise--if for no
other reason than that of rescuing a
drowning fellow creature without dam
ger to ourselves.