LEARNING TO SWIM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 4 (Supplement)

LEARNING TO SWIM.

v That's a faot," said Mr. Hopkins, as he laid down- -his paper the other evening, "every man, woman and child in the country ought to know how to swim. No - one can tell what minute he will be upset, blown up, or'knooked overboard. Amanda, I'm ffoing-to learn you how to swim." ' " Learn queried the wife, as she paused in her sewing. , " Ten, yon. Your life is way precious to . me, and I don't want you to lose it because yon can't swim ashore when an accident takes place. I can swim like a -duck myself, and I feel guilty to think we've been married twenty-one years, and yet you'd go to the bottom like a' stone if you fell I overboard." • I " Why, I naver. W the leas.t fear/' -she replied. '"There is always some hero around to rescue a lady " i.No one wants to depend an heroes. 01 > course, I'd jump into the water to Baye;a lady; but there are lots of men who wouldn't. Stand up, Amanda, and let me give you the motions of swimming. Now ' then, put your hands so, push them forward so, take a sweep and bring them back' so. Bee how easy it's done? You mustn't forget to kick every time you move your < arms. She went through the motions several times, but so awkwardly that he called out: "That isn't the 1 way! The motions ought to be perfectly natural. , Now imagine that you are out on an excursion." "Yes." "You jgan over the rail to view spine floating object." "*ei» j. % , "You suddenly grow diz^ and tumble headlong iqto the r,iyer. Now what motions would you make as you rose to the surface,? What would you dp ?'* " Well, if a hero jumped in after me, I'd lean my head oh his shoulder like this, and let him put his right arm around my waist and support me until help arrived." " Hero be hanged ! A hero would look wee holding up 190 pounds, wouldn't he? (? v Ha'dleok. ae nice aa you would 1 1 don't believe you could keep your head above water to save your life." * ;< "I couldn't, eh? Then I won't learn you a single stroke about swimming !" ' *' Then you needn't !" " And if any man ever jumps overboard and rescues you I'll punch his head !" "And if you ever jump .in after anybody I know I'll have to pay their funeral 'expenses out of my share of this property.'" ' s ' " Very well/ said Mr. Hopkins, as he put on his coat, " I see I am not wanted ,in my own house. If I am not home tonight it won't' do you any good to tele- . phone me at the office, for I shall have the wire grounded I"— Detroit Free Press.