Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

- AILORS who cannot swim stroke are
no longer a phenomenon. 1t is the
landsman unable to make his way In
the water who now attracts attention
No longer is it necessary for Johnny
to sneak in the back door and dry MS
hair over the gas range after tasting the 1of-
hidden fruit of the old 'swimmin' hole" He
can walk boldly in the front door because the
Saturday Afternoon Porch Club probably viii
have repaired to the City Natatorium for a
cooling plunge. Even grandma's chair by the
fireside will be deserted its erstwhile occupant
having discovered that swimming in scanty
silk tank suit is quite different sport from
bathing" while enveloped in yard upon yard
of surf satin, wooden stockings high laced shoes
and volumnous sleeves.
Since swimming has so taken the national
fancy, it would seem bathing tragedies should
be on the decline as more and more persons
become proficient in keeping their heads above
water. But the inverse is true. Despite the
increase in feguard patrols and improved
methods, water mishaps have risen enormously
and focused the attention OF the public on
one glaring point-that at the average bathing
beach more deaths are caused by heart at
tacks than by drowning. Often the ratio IS
two three to one. Which brings up the
question "Is swimming q safe sport for every
one?" If not, who should indulge, and in
what manner. Who should refrain?
ucwrN1MING is the best sport as far as
~,
Is concerned that I know Of But 1t is at
tended with some Of the strangest psychological
side issues that ever hampered healthtul,
pleasant outdoor pastime. For instance, man
who wouldn't think Of walking up two or
three flights of stairs to his once or strolling
five or six blocks to his home after work win
act like kitten smelling catnip IS soon as he
nnds himself on the beach with no collar
around his neck and no shoes cramping his
feet Another queer angle is that the poorest
has Tod 0f
prowess and will proclaim it even while he's
being rescued from drowning"
This is DR. Charles L. Bossert speaking, and
before any one takes issue with his statement
let it be remembered that he has been chief
surgeon Of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol for
the last 20 years and has been connected with
the shore hfeguard unit since 1906 He has
seen the medical service division on the strand
grow from one lone physician "on CALI TO q
star Of 10, working sometimes from 1880 In
the morning to or at night. In his years
Of working in the midst Of bathing tragedies
he has studied not only the physical side of
swimming and the prevention and treatment
OF the miShapS coincident with bathing, but
also the mental attitude OF countless victims
He has found that, although swimming appears
to require no mental effort whatever, there is
q goodly portion Of gray matter involved in
the sport.
Swimming does not seem to be a pastime
which requires a great amount OF intelligence,
does It2 But the truth Is II more deVoteeS OF
the sport would use their heads or their COM
mon sense or whatever you wish to call it. the
death list at the end Of each bathing season
would all but disappear. In fact, would say
that the first requisite for one swimming for
pleasure is the ability to use his head.
IsA AMY, or rather, the majority Of bathing
M tragedies charged against beach are
not actually drowning cases but deaths caused
by oyertaxed hearts We have two or three
every year of this type It Is natural for some
one who has spent 10 or IL exerciseless months
IN the city to feel way above per when ne