132 
and easy, the elbow up and the finger-tips 
just trailing the surface. As the hand takes 
purchase on the water to deliver the stroke, 
power is applied. The idea is to save power 
where it is not needed. I have not men- 
tioned the leg-action and the left arm 
stroke, since these are the same as in the 
side stroke. Of course, both the side and 
the overarm stroke may be swum alter- 
nately, with right and left hand acting as 
“‘oar’”’s I have confined myself to the right- 
hand position, which comes natural to 
most, so as not to confuse by overmuch 
direction. 
THE TRUDGEON STROKE 
This, the very swiftest of racing strokes, 
was originally imported from South 
America by Lieutenant Trudgeon, of the 
British Navy, and, of course, was named 
after him. He saw a certain tribe of Indians 
using a stroke which made them go as if 
urged by propellers through the water. 
Trudgeon studied the stroke and adapted it 
for home consumption. It is known popu- 
larly as the Indian stroke, and here it is 
usually swum with much splashing and 
quick strokes, though this is entirely con- 
trary to both Lieut. Trudgeon and the 
Indians, who insist on long, tugging strokes 
without splashing. This is true Trudgeon: 
Instead of floating on your back, bury your 
nose in the water and try to float face down- 
ward. The head must be well submerged. 
Reach forward in a straight line with your 
body with your right hand. Don’t change — 
the position of your body. Reach out over 
the water as far as you can, then dig in with 
your palm and sweep back as far as you can. 
As the elbow swings over your head, turn it 
deftly, so that the right side comes up, giv- 
ing you a chance to snatch a deep breath. 
Simultaneously with this right hand stroke 
a double stroke is delivered by the legs. 
The knees are drawn up under the abdomen 
and a kick is made backward and outward, 
followed by the ‘‘jack-knife” trick, already 
described. When this right hand stroke 
and double leg-kick is completed, the left 
arm should be reaching forward, ready for 
action. The left arm stroke should be per- 
formed exactly like the right, only it is not 
assisted by leg-action, and is of chief value 
merely to prevent the swimmer from roll- 
RECREATION 
ing over, and steering astraight course. The 
points to keep in mind areas follows: The 
head must be submerged all the time, ex- 
cept when breathing under the right elbow. 
Thus posed, the head will enable the rest of 
the body to skim over the surface, just well 
enough submerged for the feet to take pur- 
chase on the water in kicking. The arms 
are flung forward alternately from the 
shoulders, not stiff, but with a slight and 
easy bend. Each palm must dig in without 
a splash and must be whipped out of the 
water, after the stroke, with a sort of wallop. 
True Trudgeon sounds faintly like some- 
body pulling a foot out of sticky clay. 
It is the most rapid of all strokes but also 
the most fatiguing and it takes years of 
practice to master it. 
THE BREAST STROKE 
The head should be kept well above 
water. Hence, this stroke appeals to begin- 
ners, who somehow afterward experience 
difficulty in learning the more advantageous 
strokes. Gather the knees under the abdo- 
men. Gather the hands on the chest; the 
palms must touch the chest. You will sink 
unless somebody holds your chin up. Reach 
forward with both hands and kick back- 
ward with both legs at the same time. The 
palms must face the bottom. The kick 
must be with the heels and well outward and 
backward. Now, draw the knees up under 
the stomach for a new kick. As this is done 
the arms, which are extended palms down- 
ward, should be swept through the water 
with the palms turned vertical. Both arms 
must be kept perfectly straight and the 
sweep continues in a semicircle until the 
hands reach a position well back of the 
shoulder. Then use the elbow as a hinge 
on which to swing the right and left lower 
_arm to the chest, so that the palms touch as 
before. Summary: Arms reach forward as 
legs kick back and outward. Palms down, 
so far. Arm stroke with palms vertical, as 
legs draw up to renew kick. 
The breast stroke is the most convenient — 
for facing a very high sea and for continued ~ 
swimming against it. It is not very fast 
but it does not tax one’s strength heavily, — 
and you are at all times able to see where 
you are going. 






























