Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-24
SWIMMING EASY
FOR YOUNG BOYS
Red Cross Life-Saving Off,
ciaI Commends Campaign
by The Star.

1 Boys are not born with fear of the
Z water-they acquire it from others.
This fear can be overcome easily by
4 proper instruction in swimming in early
Z life. Later on the task is more difficult.
Swimming is almost as natural an
exercise as walking and running When
a boy is old enough to walk or run, he
Is old enough to learn how to swim.
These we're declarations today OF
I Commodore W. E. Longfellow, assistant
national director of lifesaving for the
American Red Cross, who has devoted
80 years to the prevention OF loss OF life
by drowning. He strongly Endorsed The
Learn to-Swim Campaign of The Star
and the Y. M. C. A., which viii be con-
Quoted all next week for boys OF Wash
tngton.
J Early Training Urged.
Every American boy should learn to
swim as early in his career as possible,
the veteran rialexpert said. Other
wise he will not be completely prepared
/ to meet the emergencies Of life. Boys
are not born with fear of the water,
but relatives and others can implant 1t
+ In their minds If they are non-swimmers
themselves and weter-shy. Fourth
fifth and sixth graders should learn
easiest, because thev are free from the
fnhibitions of the high school ard col
ieee groups. They will take chance,
without caring whether they are grace
full or effective in their first efforts to
learn.
"As many young people as possible
should learn before they are IN hlgh
school. Every year after that makes
the task more difficult. 1t takes many
DAYS longer and costs ebout 10 times as
much to teach fellow to swim atter
entering college as 1t would have IN
primary or lower grammar school years
When grown up, he never really g Us
to learn the crawl stroke es ycungster
knows it. and every one wants to swim
the crawl nowadays. The adults
shoulders seem to become set, and ne
is unable to relax as he should.
Helps Through Life.
Learn to swim early and have the
benefit of it all through life. SWIM
ming has the best carry-o7er value OF
any effort of accomplishment Men
swim and enjoy it until we'll past 70,
you know 1t helps to keep them
young though. OF course, the water
would necessarily have to b. warmer
for oder folks. If boy can walk and
run, 1t isn't too early for him to learn
to swim.
Practically every one who wants to
swim can learn to do SO, but it usually
takes longer for adults. I have seen
youngsters under a good exponent CT
mass instruction methods learn to
swim from 20 to 80 feet the first lesson.
Such one must have confidence in the
teacher and be willing absolutely to
do what he saws. Under class instruc-
ton. 80 can learn in the same time
that it used to take for three, and thcre |
Is mass enthusiasm and confidence
which the smaller group fails to de-
velop.
With the lack of school facilities for
swimming instruction in Washington, !
believe the Y. M c. A. and The Star |
are doing g fine thing to give free in
struction during the Easter vacation.
Enrolment Limited.
The six lessons the boys will get |
viii be splendid preparation for their |
Summer out of doors. 1t is good op-
portunity for parents to approve the
starting Of the interpreting of their
youngsters"
Boys between the ages of 10 and 10
years are eligible for the course, accord
ing to j. c. Ingram, director of the "Y"
boys department. Applications should
be made at once, because it will be
necessary to limit the enrolment to |
40 students. Those who apply first |
will receive first consideration. Appli- |
cation may be made on the form |
printed herewith or on special cards |
distributed in the schools.