ACCIDENTS. 321 



Do not give up too soon : you are working for life. 

 Any time within two hours you may be on the very 

 threshold of success without there being any sign of it. 



Learn to Swim. Of course, persons who cannot swim 

 well ought not to go out in a boat without taking along 

 some sort of a float that may serve as a life-preserver. 

 Some of the rubber cushions serve well for this. 



Every father neglects his duty if he does not teach his 

 children, girls as well as boys, to swim and to float. One 

 cool, trained person may save the lives of a whole boat 

 load. 



When a Boat Upsets. In case an ordinary rowboat is 

 overturned, one should not attempt to climb into it or upon 

 it. It takes very little to float a person in water, as the 

 body is only a little heavier than water ; in fact, if a person 

 fills the lungs and lies back in the water his face and nose 

 will keep above water, and a person (at any rate without 

 clothing) can float in this way for some time if he breathes 

 lightly. The trouble is that the person tries to lift the 

 whole head out of the water. The dog and such animals, 

 when swimming, have little out of the water but the tip of 

 the nose and a little of the top of the head. If we could 

 learn something from them it would be a good thing. The 

 easiest way to float is on the back. Few persons have 

 been taught these facts, and most of those who have 

 learned them lose their presence of mind, and waste their 

 breath and strength in wild and fruitless splashing. If a 

 boat be overturned, those who can swim should help those 

 who cannot to get hold of the edge of the boat, but not 

 permit them to climb upon it. A small plank will float a 

 person if he will not try to lift much of his body out of the 

 water. 



