The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-06
DIVING EXPERT URGES WATER
 SPORTSFORHEALT I'll AND BEAUTY
Madeline Birlo Begins Series Of Lessons On
 Art Of Diving =
Ry MApeLlNE .aERLo

aversion to letting go from terra firma, through the air into the uncertainty of a body of water. That's putting it at its worst. What really happens is, you leave a narrow strip of board, fall through the air for fraction of a minute and land in something that is as certain to buoy you up and send you to the surface as sure as it is wet.
 Don't stand at the end of the board. becauss sitting will make it easier for I you. Sit right at the end and hold on with both hands. Start rocking from the waist, back and forth, back and forth. You, will find yourself. bend l ing so far forward that your head will almost touch the water. When you have become thoroughly accustomed to tbe distance between yourself and the water, just let go your hold and slip l in .only to find yourself up to the sur fface again in a remarkably brief space lof time. Once you learn falling in in Ithis fashion you are ready to try It Istanding up.
 I Correct Posture
 E. Before the dive tlie diver strives to approach or walk into the diving pos sition with head erect, shoulders back and curve of spiue, graceful and not strained, arms in easy position. Steps are taken with both decision and tgauge of distance, rythmical and not Istiff, The, pose before most dives IS started by the diver standing on toess and after the take off into the air the effect of bird-like lightness is carried out-limbs and arms being used to give this impression. The thought upper most at all times is to strike the water with the least disturbance and splash. 1 The toes are to be in a straight po- sition after leaving the board.
 The Rocking Dive
 This is based directly on the first trial dive l spoke of. Sit upon the edge of the board grasping both sides with your hands, Rock your body backward and forward and backward, all the way, until your back is flat on the board and your limbs, vertical with your body. Raise your limbs forward slowly until the toes touch the board back of yCdr head. Then rock forward and complete the rock until the body is pitched off the board, straightening out quickly into a vertical position 50 as to strike the water head first. .,
 Aside from the other benefits you VIII derive from this dive, such as making 1 the muscles of the limbs and back flexible, the little calistehnic you are put through iii bringing the toes back of your head. will nick an inch or two off your waistline in no time.
 The Falling Statue Dive
 This looks like and is just exactly what it's name implies. Stand erect at the edge of the board with your arms at your sides, not too rigid ana yer motionless enough to pitch into the water in a perfectly straight line. Hn- ter vertically with the arms remaining at the sides and your feet and limbs absolutely together.
 The falling statue dive will bring pose and cure any tendency to careless ness in the way one walks and stands.
 Tine Swan Or Angel Dive
 Every woman should learn this dive, for 1t is the epitome of grace. Stand erect on the ball of your feet with your arms thrown backward and down. Spring into the air, clear of the board, holding your position of arms and body andS archinG ~yo,lrl lhack.A S1n an almost bird-like manner you turn from your horizontal to a vertical position and easily enter the water head first.
 Seal Dive
 What one might term a>piquante dive is the seal dive, in which you emulate the slow languid movement of the seal and then move in sudden playfui swing. that sends you whirling into tbe water. Take a position flat upon your stomach far enough back on the hoard for your arms, extended, to reach to the end of it. Grasp the board and start pulling the body forward. As the position of the body shortens the hips are raised toyfOrm an arch ana the limbs, held straight, throw the weight of the body along the toes. When the toes are drawn up. to the hands, which still grasp the end Of the board, the diver literally draws nm, self off the board and pitches forward to strike the water, head first.
 This dive develops the instep, toes and strengthens the ankles. This com stant exercising of the latter brings slenderness and also straightens the toes out into the natural position they were intended to be in before the in- ouisition of the modern shoe was ln- vented.
 Lie straight on the board, head to- wards the water, and raise your limbs gradually until your weight IS resting on your neck and shoulders. your body arched as it holds its vertical position for a moment. Swing forward and enter the water feet first.
 Head Stand
 Follow the same procedure as TOT the neck stand, except that you raise your entire body in a vertical arched position until you are doing the old circus stunt of standing on your mead. Hold it and then swing round. strik. ing the water with your feet. A novel turn ito the head stand is accom- plished by swinging around feet first and turning in mid air so as to land in the water head first. This must be done at height sufficient to enable you to turn around in the air. :.
 Not only will these dives help in arching the back and developing the muscles of the back, arms, legs and shoulders, but the circulation will be improved by the exercise which means better complexion, digestion and gen. eraI outlook on life.
 In tomorrow's lesson l will deal with the more difficult dives and will try to explain just why and how they are beneficial.
 CHARGED WITH THEFT