Stoimmmg. 



'WIMMINd is the art of keeping the body afloat and propel- 

 ling it by means of the body and hands. The swimming of 

 man is artificial, but as the specific gravity of the human 

 body is very little greater than that of water, it can 1 o 

 floated with very little difficulty. 



Every boy should be taught to swim, and if he reads the 

 following pages and abides by the instructions, he can easily 

 teach himself. 



The first care of the intending swimmer is, of course, to 

 find a proper piece of water in which to learn his first lessons. The very 



ter that can be found is that of the sea, on account of its salti 

 and bitterness, whereby two great advantages are obtained. 



The first advantage is, that, on account of the salt and other substances 

 which are dissolved in it, the sea- water is so much heavier than fresh that 

 it gives more support to the body, and enables the beginner to float much 

 Her than he can expect to do in fresh water. 



The other advantage is, that the taste of the sea-water is so nauseous 

 that the learner takes very good care to keep his lips tightly shut, an< ; 

 does not commit the common error of opening the mouth, which is fatal to 

 all swimming, and is sure to dishearken a beginner by letting wa 

 dwn his throat and half-choke him. 



to place, there is nothing better than a sloping sandy shore, whciv 



>t very strong. In sonic places the tide runs with Mich at' 

 that if the l.e^inner is taken oil' his l.-x he will lie carried away. or. at 



'. that he will have ;_;reat difficulty in n-^ainin^ his fret. 

 \\'e -troii'Jy recommend him to walk over the spot at low water, and 

 whether then- are any D , COCks, or hole> and if so, to 



remove all the niovaMe impediments and mark the position !' the ot i 



Take a special can- of the holes, for then- is nothing so treacherous. A 

 hole i [riches in depth and a yard in diameter, 



insignificant when tin- water is out that few p would take any n 



of it ; l.ut, when a novice is in the water, thes,- tew indies may ju-t leak- 

 ihe ditlei-en--. and death. 



