The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-18
~ 7 HEN Duke Kahanamoku. the
VA peerless swimmer from
Wv Honolulu. first visited the
TTnitad Ctataa eayaral x,aara

United States several years
g he CHANGED to mention that the
children of the Hawaiian Islands
> earned to swim almost before they
gould walk. The remark caused a
1cal Of mirthful comment. for few
: americans then believed It was pos
sjble to acquire the rudiments Of
Fatermanship until the age of 7 OF s..
But ideas have been revolutionized
N the brief period since elapsed. and
americans not only realize at present
that the statement was undoubtedly
literally true but we in this country
have progressed 80 rapidly as TO turn
,ut water babies really proficient in
natation and develop boy and girl
swimmers who lead the world in
ability.
In the past two aso In fact
several chubby maids under 8 years
Of age have drawn attention by their
remarkable exhibitions Of aquatic
kill; girls OF 10 or IL have performed
astonishing feats Of speed and endur-
ance: boys OF ~ 20 Is have won
signal honors in the open field Of COM
petition.
I1ubbpl VI lOIl,
D. c.. was the first OF the water
babies to claim the llmelight. In
August. 1913. a three-quarter mile
race for women was held in the capt.
tails tidal basin and to the amaze
men OF the spectators Annabel. then
Z years s months old, proudly
marched 20 the starting line with
he other eleven contestants, took her
mark with the Of a veteran
and Owed In al the gun. She DID not
go the full distance OF course. but she
swan about $50 yards in good style.
completely eclipsing anything pre-
viously accomplished by a child OF her
age.
Katherine Brown OF New York, a
laughter OF Alfred Brown. the pro-
'essional champion Of America and
earliest conqueror OF the Battery TO
Sandy Hook and Panama Canal
swims. Is another little miss under .
Hho has been prominently before the
public. For more than a year her
exhibitions OF swimming ard diving
a been a striking feature Of metro
oolitan water carnlvals. She seems to
nave an amphibious nature splashing
ibout like a graceful duckling and
Glowing such a clean. correct stroke
hat many a mar and woman might
snvy her.
But the greatest OF all infant water
1rodigies is Beatrice Whitelawn OF
Philadelphia. an years Old. weighing
IS pounds and standing less than three
Get in height. She was taught TO
swim last October by Mrs. Edith
Clarke. and she has improved rapidly.
At a recen, meet OF n Philadelphia
swimming Gu Mrs. Clarke asked that
lsr diminutive charge have an official
rial in order to convince certain scep-
lies who doubted her assertions in
regard to the latter's achievements in
practice. The committee readily agreed
and 80 1t happened that Beatrice wa
Able TO conclusively prove her teachers
'!a!ms. She covered 320 yards over
he clubs regulation still water course
n 10 minutes 80 seconds, finishing
'rsst and smiling without showing a
sign OF fatigue or distress. She used
no side stroke all the way.
If n child under 3 ever swan 800
Yards before IL has not been chron-
lcled. and the time made by the little
philadelphia indicates that she could
beat the average full grown breast
stroke swimmer.
Freda Pickett OF Dover, Mass. Is
credited with swimming half a mile
In 10 minutes when s years old, and
this was pronounced a record perform
.ance at the time. but II was made
with a favorlng tide and does not
compare with Beatrice's more recent
Feat, even overlooking the difference
In age
Among the girls OF 10 and II quite
a number have exhibited wonderful
proficiency. Josephine Hose Of St
Louis was II years old when she at
tempted 10 enter a two mile race for
women. only TO be told that she had
yet to attain the qualifying age for
competition. Not daunted. however,
she decided to start anyhow and test
her speed against full grown rivals.
ven II a prize was denied her. Ac-