HOW TO SWIM.

Evening Star, Issue 11068, 21 October 1899, Page 4 (Supplement)

HOW TO SWIM.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE BEGINNER. Of the pleasure-seekers who are sallying forth in search of recreation and health, at least 5,000 will find watery graves before the summer is over (says a recent number of the ' New York Herald'). Such are the figures given in official reports from the various coast and inland States, the number of deaths from drowning in tins country being relatively larger than in Europe or Australia. The most harrowing part of it all is that in nine-tenths of the cases a knowledge of swimming would have saved the life of the victim. Though admittedly the ; most beneficial of pastimes, probably none is practised less, though of late years it has been made a part oi the exercise of nearly all of the larger athletic clubs, and a national swimming association has found considerable support. As an exercise, swimming is regarded by experts in the care of body and mind as superior to any other pastime that, has been devised for preservation of health and the uplifting of the nervous sysiem. Knowledge of it is likely to be necessary at almost any time in the selfpreservation or saving of life. The method .of swimming most easily learned, is what is known as the breast stroke. In this the swimmer lies flat in the water, with head and shoulders only above the surface. The forearms and hands are submerged about six inches, while the body and lower limbs are in a slanting position, somewhat further from the surface. Before making a stroke the limbs are extended to their full length. The first motion is the drawing of the arms backward in a semicircle a short distance under the top of the water. The palms should be kept open and downward, the entire arm moving backward, with a slow " sweep." This not only serves to keep the head above the water-line, but aids in propelling the body. For propulsion, however, the lower limbs are depended upon in the greatest degree. 1 As the a ins move apart the legs are drawn up under the body, with the knees pointing outward at angles from the trunk. Progression, is made by again extending the lower limbs until both.of them come together, the backward sweep of the anus and the forcing of the j feet against the water sending the body ahead in a degree corresponding to the energy of the arm and foot movement. _ , For beginners at the swimming game it is advisable to acquire the leg movement by holding fast with the hands to some stationary object before venturing to keep afloat. Care should be taken that the feet do not get above the surface when making the kick. This results in what is known as " the club-foot," and causes a waste of energy, as well as the making of an ungraceful swimmer. After acquiring proficiency in the breast stroke, the swimmer may devote attention to various other styles, all of which have virtues to commend them. The most popular in America among the better swimmers are the under-arm and over-arm side strokes, the hand-over-hand stroke, and the " trudgeon." The latter is a style affected by those who indulge in sprint racing in the water. It is fatiguing, but when thoroughly understood carries a person along at a brisk rate. In the side stroke, the body lies in the water sideways, usually with the right side uppermost. In this position the body offers less resistance to the water, while the propelling power is in no degree lessened. On the contrary, it is held to be increased, because of the fact that the limbs, instead of moving through the water together, follow each other, and do not allow the body to lose momentum. As the under-nrm is extended the over-arm is drawn backward, all the time with hands extended. As the lower limb kicks backward the other is being drawn forward very much like the motion of walking. In the under-hand side stroke the arm of the upper side is slid along and stretched forward just over the surface, with the palm held so as to offer thet least resistance. When the arm is fully extended the palm is turned and drawn backward ven' much as the blade of an oar is in rowing. In the over-hand side stroke the motion is much the same, except that the upper arm is raised to the level with the head, and carried forward out of the water. As this arm is carried back through the water there is a slight roll of the body towards assuming the position used in the breast stroke. Most of the swimmers who use'these styles do so improperly, and get little benefit from their exertions. The bather or swimmer should, above everything else, keep his wits about him. It takes very little ejfort to float the human body—in fact, it will float without effort, and. it is misdirected effort that makes it sink. Any person, by keeping perfectly still, can find sufficient support in a log of wood a foot long and half a foot in thickness to keep the head well out of the water. It is effort that submerges the head as a rule, and causes drowning. A gentle treading of the feet, much after the style of a slowly-moving paddle-wheel, will keep any person afloat who does not become flustered and excited.