Year: 1878


what Reporter saw at n swim.


ming school for Ladies',


New York Herald


A twenty minutes ride over the
Metropolitan elevated railway yes
terday morning carried a Herald
reporter from Park Place to Cen
tral Park, and a walk OF minute
and a half brought him to the door
Of the Misses Benefits swimming
school for ladies, on the corner Of
Seventh avenue and Fiftv.ninth
street.


Entering the Office the reporter
was entertained for few moments
by Mr.. Remsen Appleby, proprie.
tor Of the Garden, and was then
ushered by Mr.. Appleby into the
bathing room. Some seventy.fve
ladies and children and three men
were in the room, all of whose eyes
we're directed upon the tank that
stretched along the north wall. The
reporter noticed that the room was
decorated in a Turco-R Russian style,
surrounded by smaller rooms, each
.of which was screened from the
main room by bright crimson cur.
tains. The tank in which the
Misses Bennett and their picked
pupils displayed their aquatic ac-
complishments is ninety feet long
by twenty wide and runs from three
to nine feet in depth. 1t is con-
stantly supplied with fresh water,
which is turned into it through
countless little jets. At the time
the Herald representative arrived
there were some twenty-five ladies
disporting in the tank, the chief
Of whom were the Misses Bennett,
the Misses Clark and Magonigle.
These were, in fact, all expert
swimmers, and they plunged and
floated and swan around like very
tadpoles, while they looked like the
nymphs of ancient story, save that
those nymphs did not wear Turkish
trousers and sailor shirts.


The Misses Bennett carried the
palm fjr daring and dexterity.
They jumped off Of high places and
dived down so far out of sight that
the reporter thought for a moment
that the Franklin search party
would be obliged to look them up,
but finally they came to the top
spluttering and spouting like baby
whales. Then they lay on their
backs and tloated, laughing and
talking and enjoying themselves
thoroughly. In fact, every one in
the tank laughed, the water seemed
to have such an exhilarating effect
Any one who uses his bathtub full
of water will recall the sensation
that makes him gurgle in his tub.
So impressed were the lookers-on
with the advantages of being able
to swim that class of eleven young
ladies was formed on the spot
"You see," said Miss Kate Bennett,
"that | am as much at home in
the water as upon the land; indeed,
more so, for here | hop, skip and
jump about, while | simply walk
quietly along on land," and with
that she slapped the water With her
right hand, then with her left, dis
appeared, and in a moment came
up at the other end of the tank be-
tween two blonde bathers, who
gave little shrieks of surprise and
darted out of her way.


One of the prettiest sights dur.
ing the Exhibition was the SWIM
ming Of a four-year old little girl
whom they called Birdie" but
whom they might, with greater
propriety, have called "Fishy.P
She could swim with the best Of
them. Come, Birdie, show the
ladies how you can dive" said Miss
Bennett, and, without any coaxing.
the little thing mounted the rail.
ing, clasped her tiny hands over
her curly head, and


In she plunged boldly,


NOmatter how eOldly


The leaden tank looked.


Down went the little head, up
went the little heels, then flip ilun
vent the little arms and away
swan the brave child us gracefully
and as coolly as a swan in the Gem
trail Park Lake. Miss Bennett
caught her in her wet arms and
squeezed a gallon or two of water
from her dripping clothes as she
pressed her to her heart in kindly
admiration. Again and again the
child repeated the feat, each time
laughing and shouting in the great