Milford chronicle., 1937-06-11
WHY LEARN TO swIM'
BY albert Farley
Written by Request Of American
Red Cross

Seventy-five human beings drown
ed Seyenty-five precious lives
snuffled outl The Death Ange
visits rs American homes over one
weekend by the water routet This
is the, tragic news brought to us by
our morning paper on June 1st. II
may be possible to estimate the eco
nomic loss, but the anguish OF the
heartbroken loved ones left behind
by those as drowned souls can never
be measured or even approximated
We, were Mortified a few days ago
when 39 lives we're lost in the Hin
denburg disaster. We were stunned
because these lives were lost in one
dramatic catastrophe, but we are un-
moved by the loss of rs lives when
the deaths occur one or two at a
time scattered all over the country
i'm a three-day period
Every cloud has its silver lining
and there is bright side to this hor-
rendous tragedy. While the Angel
OF Death is cutting down people of
all ages. because they cannot swim
the Angel of, Love-The American
Red Cross-is teaching boys and girls
how to swim.
Why learn how to swim? The
first and most important answer is
to save your life.
In its swimming campaign the
Red Cross teaches life saw
ing. II persons who have qualified
as life savers had been present when
these rs men, women and children
were struggling in the water many,
ii not all of them, would have been
saved. Can you imagine any greater
service than the saving of a human
life? You may be an expert swim
mer and yet know nothing about the
teehnic of life saving. There is much
TO learn ABOUT life saving in the
water.
The second answer TO our ques-
lion. why learn to swim? is to save
he life of someone else.
One of the cardinal objectives of
education is to teach people how to
Use their leisure time in whole
'ome manner. Swimming is whole |
IOme recreation, and il is unique. 1t |
'equires no equipment except a, bath |
ng suit and sometimes not even that.
t can be enjoyed without the CO.
'peration of anyone else. Baseball. /
ootball,. basketball, tennis, hockey, /
tc.. require teams and expensive
quipment, but swimming-well go
o the "old swimmin' hole'' and jump
n. l have asked scores of boys and
iris this question. When you go +
b Oak Orchard who has. more fun
he boys and girls who cannot swim
r those who can swim? The answer
) always the same.
Reason No. 3-Learn how to swim
o that you may have wholesome fun
Thich costs little or nothing.
Play. which is an intriguing name
Dr. exercise. is required by Mother
'ature of all her children both hu-
ian and animal. Is there any more
elightful or more exhilarating exer-
ise than swimming? Does any form
I playing bring more muscle into
Sc? Surely swimming ia the equal
| any form of play. LearR TO swim !
scause it is good exercise.
With all our discoveries we have |
ever found anything better than a I
lip" on hot sultry day. To cool I
lie body and give us pep" there is !
D substitute for a 3wim. This is
e fifth reason why c ci'yJody should
arm how to swim. T.,
The American Red Cross is rem
.ring an aitruistic service in its
winning campaign. 1t is making
possible for thousands of Delaware
hool children to learn how to swim :
ithout cost. This campaign will 0
rely save lives, and make boys
ID girls happier, healthier and safer.
Learn how to swim, adults as well v
children. to save your life, to save C
e live of someone else. to have fun. o
get good exercise, and to cool off
tn safety on sultry day. Long Il
'e the American Red Cross which S,
making this possible.