Year: 1860

The teacher should fasten rope carefully
around the waist, or, better still, belt, which
can neither tighten nor slip down. The rope
may be fastened to short pole. Supported in
this manner, the pupil may take his proper po-
sition in the water, and practise the necessary
motions, and the support of the rope may be
gradually lessened until the pupil finds himself
entirely supported by the water.


Corks and bladders are often used as supports
for learners but it is much better to begin with
out them. As, however, they may be a protec-
ton in some cases against accidents, and enable
the learner to practise the proper motions for
rapid swimming more carefully, they are not to
be entirely condemned. Several large pieces of
C 'rk, uncut into stoppies, must be strung upon
each end of piece of rope, long enough to pass
under the chest and reach just above the shoul-
ders or well blown and properly secured blad-
ders may be fastened in the same way. Care
must be taken to confne these supports near the
shoulders, as by their slipping down they would
plunge the head under water, and produce the
very catastrophe they were especially designed
to prevent


A great variety of lfe-preservers have been
invented made Of India-rubber and cork-shav-
ings, in the form of jackets, belts, etc., which
may be Used like the corks and bladders; but
as their bulk is generally all around the chest,
they hinder the free use of the arms and impede
the velocity of motion. AS life-preservers, they
would do very well if people ever had them on
when they were needed, or had presence of mind
enough to fit and initiate them in sudden emer-
gencies. The best life -preservers are the self
reliance and well-drected skill of good swim
mer.


, Swimming with the plank has two advan-
tages. The young bather has always the means
of saving himself from the effects of sudden
cramp, and he can practise with facility the
necessary motions with the legs and feet, aided
by the momentum of the plank. A piece of
light wood, three four feet long, two feet wide,
well for this purpose. The chin may be rested
upon the end, and the arms used, but this must
be done carefully, or the support may go beyond
the young swimmers reach.


A better method, as many think, than any of
these is for the teacher to wade into the water
with his pupil, and then support him in horri-
zontal position by placing his hand under the
pupils chest, while he directs his motions. He
may withdraw his support almost imperceptibly.
But we do not see what advantage this method
has over that first noticed with the boat unless
it be that the teacher can better enforce his pre-
cepts by examples, and, in swimming himself,
give practical illustrations of his theories of pro-
pulsion.


The rope is another artificial support which
has its advantages. A rope may be attached
to pole fastened-and mind that it be we'll
fhs lh ID E6 sRea
the hands, the swimmer may practice with bis
legs, or by holding it in his teeth, he may use
all his limbs at once. The rope, however, is not
as good as the plank, as it allows of less free
dom of motion, and the latter might easily be So
fixed as to be laid hold of by the teeth, and held
securely.


Ihe CT0mp.-Those persons who plunge into
the water when they are heated by exercise,
and remain in it until they are benumbed with
cold, or exhaust themselves by very violent
exertion, are the most subject to attacks of
cramp. The moment the swimmer is seized
by cramp in the legs he must not suffer himself
to feel alarmed, but strike out the limb with all
his might, keeping the heel downward, and
drawing the toes as far upward as he can, al
though at the time these movements give him
great pain. He may also turn on his back, and
jerk the limb into the air, though not so high as
to throw himself out of his balance. Should
these attempts prove unsuccessful, he must try
to reach the shore with his hands, or, at all
events, keep himself afoat until assistance can
be procured. If he cannot float on his back, he
may swim upright, keeping his head above the
surface, by striking the water downward with
his hands near the hips and thus make steady
progress without using the legs. If one leg be
attacked, the swimmer may strike forward with
the other; and, to acquire confidence in cases of
cramp, it is advisable to practise swimming with
one hand and leg, with the hands only, or even
with one leg.


Entering the Water-Shizimg Out-We now
come to the most important directions. As the
pupil must gradually acquire confidence in this
new element, he should not be urged to plunge
in against his inclination. After wetting his
head he may wade in until the water is up to
his breast, then, turning towards the shore, in
hate his lungs, and incline forward until the
water covers his chin. The head should be
thrown backwards, and the back followed, and
the chest as much as possible expanded. In
swimming, the feet should be about two feet
below the surface. The hands should be placed
in front of the breast, pointing forward, the fin
ers kept close together, and the thumb to the
fingers, so as to3prm slightly hollow paddle.
Now strike the hands forward as far as possible,
but not bringing them to the surface then make
sweep backward to the hips, the hand being
turned downward and outward; then bring them
back under the body, and with as little resistance
as may be, to their former position, and continue
as before


The hands have three motions First, from
their position at the breast, they are pushed
straight forward second, they sweep round to
the hips, like an oar, the closed and followed
hands being the paddle portion, and their posi-
ton in the water and descent serving both to
propel and sustain the body and third, they
are brought back under the body to the first
position.


Having learned these motions by practising
them slowly, the pupil should proceed to learn
the still more Important motions of the legs
These are likewise three in number-one of pre-
paration and two of propulsion. First, the legs
are drawn up as far as possible, by bending the
knees and keeping the feet widely separated
second, they are pushed with force backward
and outward, so that they spread as far as pos
sible: and third, the legs are brought together,
thus acting powerfully upon the wedge of water
which they inclosed.


The motion in the water should be as straight
forward as possible, and the more the head is
immersed the easier the swimming. Rising at