How to Swim,

Southland Times, Issue 12772, 4 December 1893, Page 4

How to Swim,

The first point to fully realise before you try to learn to swim is that you cannot go to the bottom like a stone. The secopd and third are that you must do your best to avoid raising your arms out of the water, and that you must keep your chest as full of air as possible. In nine' cases out of ten the nou-awimnier who finds himself out, of his depth for the first time throws his arms about in every direction and screams. Now, even a woman will tell you that screaming never did any real good in the world, and it most certainly,is the best way to try to to drown; you get out of breath, swallow-, huge gulps of water—and salt! water in particular will soon choke you—-j and yet, deqpitq: o)l jthese attempts on. youti part to get underwater, your natural buoy-,' ancy brings you to the surface three times.j get their fore legs above the surface. Th® nonfSwfmmer will. persistently believe that> it ie the act -of swimming, which in reality, is only a mode of progression through the water, that keeps niin “up,” and not his own natural buoyancy. If' you have an opportunity, ask a swimmer to show you how the body floats even when perfectly upright without the slightest motion of hands nr feet. You will then notice that when his chest is charged with air his whole head and part of his shoulders are out of the water, and that when the breath is gone he sinks, so that his face alone is above the water. Here, then, we have clear proof that the management of the breath is a great matter in learning to swim. The average learner seals his lips, and never thinks of taking in as long a breath as he can before striking out. if possible, you should get a friend to put one finger under your chin, and you will find that without the least motion on your part you will be able to keep in the first position of swimming, the hands being brought together, the arms stretched out in front and under the water, the legs being in a similar position. By inflating the chest you will find that you can raise yourself a little out of the water, and entirely relieve your friend from the least pressure on his finger. It is impossible to describe in a few words the action of the arms and legs. This is best learnt by personal advice, or from watching a good swimmer. The main point in learning is to get confidence, not in yourself, but in the water to support you. Once master this, and swimming will be one of your accomplishments after two or three trials.—Hand and Heart.