Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1891 — THE ART OF THE SWIMMER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE ART OF THE SWIMMER.

Instructions for Atygulriftg Skill 'wnich Is Both Useful and Pleasurable. Nine out of ten persons who teach themselves to swim do not swim properly, says the New York Telegram. To swim correctly does not necessarily mean to keep afloat for a long time or even to cover , a long distance in rea-. son ably fast time. It means the art of making the different parts of the body perform their woik perfectly with the use of the least strength and at the same time contribute to the ease of the swimmer. The first thing a beginner must learn is to overcome his fear of the water. Unless he has perfect confidence in himself he will never learn a stroke. Usually bqys evince this weekness when they begin, but they soon get out of it. The first lesson in swimming is the movement of the feet. Usually tanks have a bar fastened to one of the sides and level with the surface of the water. Grasp this bar so as to hold the head above the water and go through the motions of a perfect kick, such as is used in the breast stroke. Do this until you have it perfect and then the first lesson is over. The second lesson is the stroke. Walk toward the center of the tauk until the water reaches the shoulders. I Then turn and face the steps and put the hands in proper form for a stroke. This is the proper form: The hands should be outstretched, palms downward, and the fingers close together and the two thumbs touching each other. Then go through the motions of a perfect stroke. When one feels confident that he can use his feet and his hands together, while standing in the above position be must take a long breath and attempt to swim toward the

steps. This is the most difficult feat to learn, and until it is fully mastered no other movement should be attempted. After reaching the steps go back and do it a gain and again until you feel confident enough to plunge into the deepest part of the tank. After this the novice can gradually go out deeper until the depth is greater than his height, and soon he will find himself able to navigate any part of the tank.

The most important stroke in swimming is the breast stroke. "When the swimmer places his hands in the position described above, he inflates his chest and springs forward, striking out at the same time. Both arms and legs should be used at the same time. While the arms are striking out the legs should be pushed down. As the arms come back to the recover, the legs are drawn back into place in the next stroke. All the speed gained from the kick does not come from pushing the water with the feet. The most of it is derived from bringing the legs quickly together very near the end of the kick at the point where they are .stretched farthest apart. The management, of the breath is another important thing. Always breathe wheu you are beginning to i ecover wiih your arms, so that the body can have the greatest buoyancy at the time it needs it most. To swim on the back is very easily learned. When in deep water roll over on your hack and stretch out the legs and drop them a little lower than the body. Keep the hands close to the side; then paddle-with them in a rotary fashion from the wrist. Keep the lungs filled with air and you will find swimming on the back more comfortable than when lying on the stomach. The fastest stroke in swimming on the back is called the overhand stroke.

The kneei are raised slightly, and in kicking down, first with the right and then with the left, you drive the water sway from you with"the sole of the foot as the leg goes down, and with the top of the foot as it comes up. While the feet are paddling in this manner, the arms are thrown alternately out of the water over the head, sweeping the water back on the recover, and under the water with great force. Now for floating. The best way to learn bow to float is to catch each foot 6y the toes with the hands, lie on the back, and swing the feet outward, throwing the head well back. Be careful always to fill the lungs with air before executing these movements Breathe quickly while floating, and do not exhaust the lungs, for when they are empty the body immediately sinks. After this has been tried,.* number of times, det the feet go, stretch them out straight, extending the arms above the bead so that the toes, face, and fingers

are above water, and then you will find the position very easy. In treading water * hold the hands above the surface and step up and down, first with one and then-with the other foot, taking care to point the toes downward when raising the foot, and by bending the ankle step down flatfooted. so that in raising the foot the body is not dragged down, and in stepping down the body is raised up. As soon as one has learned the breast

stroke he should learn the dive. The' best way to learn is by squatting on the edge of the water, with elbows resting on the knees and the hands drawn up, as they are in preparing for the breast stroke. Then plunge into the water, taking eare not to open the eyes untij the head and part of the body are under the water. There are many ways of diving, but the straightforward plunge is the simplest and the best. In diving in shallow water it is the safest to squat and make a plunge, strike the surface flatland glide out into deep wate& •Shimming under water is very easily Earned. When at a proper distance below the surface strike out, using thebreast stroke, taking care to bring the arms back straight. To come up make a downward stroke with the arms and that will bring the body to the surface.

BREAST STROKE.

SWIMMING ON THE BACK.

DIVING “SHALLOW.”