The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-02
az OLGA FLORENCE ooRFNER
American Champion Girl Swimmer

W. e0yNSt 80
elsm OF real friends has an In
estirnabls value In helping one
overcome fear Of failure.
A. ! snaiyxe my career ~
swimmer, I find much OF what
have done has been due TO
the kindly influences Of my
friends. They have urged me
20 try more difficult feass;
have criticised me In . we'll
meaning way when I hesltated
In attempting something new;
have praised me when ! won.
IL means a great deal for any
one to enjoy staunch friends. who
are always waiting to cheer ono
up q BIT when things look blue and
the straNis doesn't seem worth
the effort For that reason. girls.
I Advt~e you TO cultivate your
friends. When they advise or cri,i'
else you. don't spurn their interest.
for you can depend on Il that what
they say IL intended for your good.
Naturally. you will not refuse their
praise. for praise always Is sweet.
In Doubt Many Times
Many a time have been In doubt
as TO some course of action. per
haps In my swimming. and ] have
asked the advice OF some friend.
have always found something In
the reply to iift me away from the
tendency to doubt myself II 10 tho
fines, thing Ia the world to listen
TO the CHEEKY talk OF friend.
Not every one will be your
friend There are persons with
hateful. ugly dispositions. who will
be jealous OF you. II you have gone
very far in your career. N you have
done something worth while. II Ia
In combating the effect OF this an
tagonlsm that your real friends are
Of greatest value. Their confidence
in you will create n sort OF pro
tective atmosphere about you: will
help you forget the slurs and at.
tacks OF petty humans
remember one Instance. when
the confidence OF my friends help
al me immensely in winning n
race. ! had entered the quarter
mile contest at Lafayette. Penn.
on the Schuylkill river. At that
time. Of course. had developed
enough poise and assurance to car.
ry me thru public contests. ] was
no longer bothered by a haunting
fear OF vague bogies. but one In
never sure OF the outcome or q
race.
When came out OF the dressing
room and was waiting for the call.
several OF my girl friends came up
TO me.
I'VE believe you will win.
porfner," they said, smiling
eheeriiy.
can't tell you how inspiring
that was TO me. how good u
made me feel. for ! knew they
meant Just what they said and
would be pulling" for me while
the race was on.
made the start with glad
heart and swan with all the
power that was In me. Not only
that. but with additional pow
er--the knowledge that friends
were watching me with eonfl-
dence In my ability to win. !
did win. made II In 1887, a
mark. | have since lowered to
7:o5. ! was happy TO win, OF
course: I was stIIl happier for
the confidence Of those friends.
At San Francisco, on the last
Fourth OF July, I was one OF the
girls In the 100-yard national cham.
pionship dash. Eastern and West
ern swimmers were in the race.
Some new friends ] had made
said to me: III the East wins, we
hope you take back the prize"
That was kind and cheering OF
them. II so happened that ] won the
race. altho all OF the girls we're
close behind me at the finish. II
was a good contest.
After IT was all over, Agnes Hue
Der, a Philadelphia friend and also
one OF the swimmers. threw her
arms around me and said: oh
Olga. I'm 80 glad"
Her pleasure In my winning was
just as pleasing to me as the vic
tory. II was Just another example
OF the influence OF friendship.
You are fortunate. indeed, II you
have good friends to assist you In
your conquest OF fear.
/ II you have and are succeeding
( In eonquering your own doubts, don't
forget TO be n friend to somebody
else. who may be having weary
! struggle with all the battling wo