OUT-OF-DOOR RECREATIONS. 



grasping the water toward your breast, using the 

 left hand alternately with the right ; the thumb 

 downward, in the manner of an oar, to push back 

 the water towards the feet, striking out at the same 

 time with the legs in the common method : the 

 striking out of the legs always accompanying the 

 stroke with the left hand. 



If the swimmer, when out of his depth, allow 

 his head to fall gently back till his face looks up- 

 ward, and all the back part of his head is under 

 water, he may suspend himself perpendicularly 

 for any length of time in any attitude he likes best. 

 This is known as balancing. If, while in this 

 state, he spread his arms gradually in the water, 

 extending them right and left, he will assume a 

 slanting position. If now he bring his hands be- 

 hind his head, his toes will appear, and he will lie 

 at his ease on the surface for any time without the 

 slightest motion either of hands or feet, not only 

 in salt water, but in any water in which a man 

 may swim. It is often convenient for the swim- 

 mer, when fatigued with swimming in the ordinary 

 way, to swim on his back, which gives rest to the 

 muscles which have been fatigued. One may 

 swim or float on his back, either feet first or 

 head first. In the former mode, you allow the 

 head to fall back, as above stated, pressing the 

 hands downward and backward, with the palms a 

 little hollowed. The feet will immediately float 

 on the surface, and then the hands may be used 

 to press the water exactly as oars, propelling the 

 body forward on the surface by continued strokes, 

 the hands being raised edgewise, and passed 

 gently along the sides, till they descend for another 

 stroke. This mode of swimming on the back 

 requires very little exertion, and may be continued 

 for a great length of time. Moreover, the head 

 may be raised so as to see what is before you, and 

 the direction in which you are proceeding. There 

 are many modes of swimming on the back, head 

 first ; some in which the hands are the moving 

 power, others in which the force is derived from 

 the legs, and some in which the legs and arms are 

 both exerted. To practise one of these methods, 

 that commonly called floating, throw your head 

 gently back, as before, bringing your feet to the 

 surface ; let your arms lie in the water close to 

 your sides, using the hands in the same manner 

 as when sculling, with a swift pushing motion of 

 the palms towards the feet, returning edgewise, 

 thumbs first, by bending the arms ; and pushing 

 again towards the feet by straightening the arms 

 close to the sides. This produces a very rapid 

 progress through the water, and may be continued 

 for some time. There are many modes of fancy 

 or sportive swimming which are occasionally prac- 

 tised, but our space does not permit us to describe 

 them. Hand-over-hand swimming may be men- 

 tioned ; it is much used among savages, especially 

 when they desire to swim rapidly ; it requires, 

 however, great exertion, and cannot be commended 

 for ordinary use. 



Diving is the art of descending rapidly in the 

 water, and requires to be done with address. The 

 best method consists in drawing in the breath, 

 placing the two hands together as a cut-water in 

 front, and then to plunge head foremost, causing 

 the forehead to receive the force of the falL In 

 taking the water, the eyes, for safety, should be 

 shut ; but they may be opened when beneath the 

 surface, when the body assumes the swimming 



attitude. Swimming below the water is so exceed- 

 ingly easy, that it requires no directions. 



SKATING. 



This is a highly exhilarating and healthful pas- 

 time of the winter season, when rivers and ponds 

 are frozen, and offer a clear surface of ice. The 

 art of skating consists in poising the body on a 

 sharp ridge of iron beneath the sole of the foot, 



{ and advancing on the ice in that position, one foot 

 relieving another. As a very slender base will 

 support any mass of matter kept in motion, skat- 



I ing is by no means a difficult art For high pro- 

 ficiency in it, however, fine qualities are required. 

 Skating, when finely done, deserves quite as much 

 as fine dancing to be called the poetry of motion. 

 Skates with straps and buckles, though still in 

 much use, are now giving way to less cumbrous 

 kinds, such as the 'Achme,' and others, which 



Fig. ii. Skate attached to the Foot. 



are fastened to the feet by ingeniously simple 

 contrivances. The skates for both feet must 

 be alike. The iron should not be deeper than 

 three-quarters of an inch, and smooth or flat 

 along its under edge. The iron should be a 

 quarter of an inch thick. The edges should be 

 smooth, free from rust, and sharply ground. 



The following directions for beginners are taken 

 chiefly from the work of Mr Walker : 



' Either very rough or very smooth ice should be 

 avoided. The person who for the first time at- 

 tempts to skate must not trust to a stick. He may 

 make a friend's hand his support, if he require 

 one ; but that should be soon relinquished, in order 

 to balance himself. He should not let his feet 

 get far apart, and keep his heels still nearer to- 

 gether. He must keep the ankle of the foot on 

 the ice quite firm ; not attempting to gain the 

 edge of the skate by bending it, because the right 

 mode of getting to either edge is by the inclination 

 of the whole body in the direction required ; and 

 this inclination should be made fearlessly and 

 decisively. The leg which is on the ice should 

 be kept straight; for though the knee must be 

 somewhat bent at the time of striking, it must be 

 straightened as quickly as possible, without any 

 jerk. The leg which is off the ice should also be 

 kept straight, though not stiff, having an easy but 

 slight play, the toe pointing downward, and the 

 heel within from six to twelve inches of the other. 

 The learner must not look down at the ice, nor 

 at his feet, to see how they perform. He may at 

 first incline his body a little forward for safety, but 

 he should hold his head up, and see where he 

 goes ; his person erect, and his face rather elevated 

 than otherwise. Once off, he must bring both feet 



665 



