184 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
tthey have multiplied and spread over a large extent of 
•territory. He vvouid like to know more about them. 
Have any of our young readers recognized these welcome 
strangers 1 If so we should like to hear from them. 
ABOUT THE PICTURE—THE NEW FASHIONED BONNET. 
Sure enough, “What is it 1 Man, or Monkey, or both ?” 
What could have put it into the heads of those crea¬ 
tures in the picture to put such things on their heads, 
to assume such fantastic airs, and to appear so ridicu¬ 
lous generally. You may be 
ready to ask “ Do people ever 
make such fools of themselves as 
ithe picture represents?” Our ar- 
ttist took the sketch in a street in 
■this city. We are not sure but he 
■has stretched it just a little, for he 
nas a very comical turn of mind, 
and is apt to see things in a lu¬ 
dicrous light. Yet there is truth 
as well as humor in the drawing. 
Those persons are fair samples of 
the extra “fashionables.” They 
make dress and display, the 
business of life. Fashion is their 
god, and the dress-maker, the mil¬ 
liner and the tailor are the high 
priests whose instructions they 
follow. They would not dare 
think for themselves w hat style of 
iclothing w ould be appropriate and 
Decoming, and it would seem 
^sometimes, that the tailors, dress¬ 
makers, etc., take pleasure in in¬ 
venting the most absurd shapes for 
garments, on purpose to make 
ihese fashionables appear ridicu¬ 
lous. At one time the bonnet 
must be like a little butterfly 
stuck on the back of the head, 
good for nothing as a protection, 
ind only serviceable to the mil¬ 
liner who sells it, and to the 
physician who is called to cure the 
iolds taken by such exposure of 
die face and head. But the fashion changes, and now 
the shape of the fashionable lady’s hat resembles a coal 
scuttle in front, a scoop shovel behind, with flowers as 
jig as apples thrown in to fill up the vacant spaces. 
The male fashionables just now bestow their principal 
thought on the heard ; and we have that appendage tor- 
cnred and twisted into every conceivable shape, until a 
full blown dandy might safely pass for a baboon—no one 
would suspect him of being a man. 
You can readily see that these gentry are a useless 
class. The female in the picture can pet her poodle dog, 
but she would count it a disgrace to appear in the streets 
with a babe in her arms—well, she is better fitted to care 
for a puppy than for a child. The exquisites of the oth¬ 
er gender, can swing a cane, but not a flail, they can “ cut 
a swath ” in Broadway, hut not in the meadow. The 
ragged little street sweeper is doing more real good in the 
world, than the whole tribe of these “nobodies.” These 
useless, vain and silly creatures were once promising 
young people. But they were educated to nothing use¬ 
ful, and you see the result; they are a laughing stock-for 
you and for all sensible persons. 
TALK ABOUT SWIMMING. 
Can you swim ? Or rather, we should ask have you 
learned this art ? for all can swim ; it only requires prac¬ 
tice to prove their ability. It has often surprised you, per¬ 
haps, to see how easily animals swim. A dog or a cat 
thrown into the water for the first time, finds no difficul¬ 
ty in paddling straight to the shore ; why is it so hard for 
a boy to do the same? Partly because the motions re¬ 
quired, are different from those we make when walking. 
Animals you know, use their limbs almost in the same 
manner in the water as when on land. It requires also a 
little practice to overcome the difficulty of breathing 
which immersion causes, and moreover, the sensations 
are at first so jtrange, a person loses presence of mind, 
and is unable to control his motions. Among savage na¬ 
tions, especially such as live near the water, as on the 
Islands of the Pacific, children take to swimming as 
naturally as to walking. We have seen in this city, boys 
of eight years old, expert swimmers, who would dive fear¬ 
lessly into deep water, and frolic about with all the con¬ 
fidence of a frog. In addition to the health and pleasure 
of a hath during the wilting heats of Snmtnpr, the swim¬ 
mer is possessed of an invaluable resource in many times 
of peril. To save a single life would amply repay the 
trouble of learning to swim, if it were a trouble instead 
of a pleasure. 
Let us give a few cautions and suggestions that may be 
of service, s he'earner’s first, attemots; w e take it for 
granted all our your readers would like to possess this 
manly accomplishment. 
CAUTIONS. 
Never bathe immediately after eating. The stomach 
needs a regular supply of blood w hen digesting food ; but 
a plunge into water disturbs the circulation of the blood, 
and stops digestion. Severe illness has followed neglect 
of Ihis rule. Do not undress and then sit awhile to cool 
before entering the water ; rather plunge in at once than 
do this, hut it is safer to wait until perspiration is partial¬ 
ly checked, before removing the clothes. Choose the 
morning for bathing, and avoid the water, for swimming 
at least, when much fatigued—a wash in moderately 
warm water will do no harm. Select a perfectly safe 
place, where there are no sudden descents to deep water, 
for learning to swim ; and after learning the art, venture 
beyond your depth no further than where you feel perfect 
confidence—a sw iinmer is in danger the moment he fears. 
Never be tempted to foolish or venturesome exploits by a 
desire of exhibiting your courage or skill. It is braver 
to resist a taunt or sneer, than to allow' them to lead you 
into danger. If possible, accompany good sw immers in 
your first, lessons, they can show you more than any de¬ 
scription can teach, and also to aid you if in danger. 
HOW TO SWIM. 
We will suppose you standing on the bank of a stream 
ready for first essay. Enter the water boldly, and at once 
wet the whole body, head and all with a good souse. If 
you stand long shivering and dreading, your courage will 
rapidly c.ool off. Now wade out to where the water is 
breast high, and turn and face the shore. Lean forward 
enough to bring the breast upon the water, throw the head 
back so that the chin rests on the surface, place the hands 
palm to palm, the fingers and thumbs closed together. 
Then spring forward from the ground, at the same time 
thrusting the arms forward as far as possible; then de¬ 
liberately sweep each arm around backwards and a little 
downward until they are at right angles with the body, 
remembering to turn the palms of the hand outward to 
press against the water. Bring the hands together for 
another stroke, at the same time gather the legs up for a 
kick outw'ardand backward, and push ahead by repeating 
these motions. Keep yourself as near as possible in a 
horizontal position ; beginners usually allow the legs to 
sink too far down. Observe a frog when he swims, he is 
a model in this line. Try from the first to make these efforts 
deliberately, and not with a convulsive jerk, which would 
soon tire you ouf. Never mind a little ducking and 
strangling at first. Remember, the body is lighter than 
water, when the lungs are supplied with air, and it will 
float; and if you do not struggle and thereby thrust your 
nose under the surface, and shut out the air from the 
lungs, you will not sink. A few resolute trials in the 
manner described, will enable you to say “ I can swim.” 
After this, frequent practice will enable you to quicken 
your motions, and attain all the rapidity of an expert. 
FLOATING AND SWIMMKSO ON THE BACK. 
When the young sw immer has acquired some degree of 
confidence in his powers, ho should learn to place him¬ 
self so as to float at his ease upon the surface. This w ill 
enable him to rest at any time when fatigued, and also to 
sustain himself until help arrives, if attacked with cramp. 
Let him choose a still, unruffled place not far from shore, 
throw the head back so that the face looks upward and 
the nose is the highest point tut of the water, throw the 
feet forward, and stretch his arms out at full length be¬ 
yond the head on the surface. The toes, the face and the 
ends of the fingers will then be in a line above the water, 
and he may with very little care lie there as comfortably 
as upon a bed. In this position, the lungs filled with air, are 
near the center of gravity,the head 
and arms balance the legs, and 
the body floats as easily as a plank 
would do. If a person when in 
deep water will gently throw the 
head far back, so as to elevate the 
face, and bring the whole back 
part of the head under water, and 
keep the arms folded, or by the 
sides, he will hang suspended per¬ 
pendicularly with his nose safe in 
the air; it will require several 
trials to keep either of the positions 
just described, as any struggle 
will throw the head down. 
To swim on the back, head 
first, you may use either the 
hands, or feet, or both, for paddles. 
When floating on the back, bring 
the arms around toward the sides 
with a sweep slightly downward, 
and at the same time bend the 
knees and push vigorously with 
the feet, and it will give a motion 
backward and a little upward— 
enough to enable you to throw 
the arms back again over the 
head for another stroke, without 
submerging the face. Or you may 
extend the feet, bring the arms 
near the sides, draw the hands 
back by bending the elbows 
downward, letting the hands 
pass edgewise through the 
w ter, then turn the palms 
and push toward the feet. Some swimmers place 
the hands against the sides, and send themselves back 
ward by bending the knees, and thrusting the feet for¬ 
ward rapidly against the water. Swimming on the back, 
feel foremost, is easily done by carrying the hands palms 
outward, with a sweep from the sides, until they are at 
right angles with the shoulder, then returning them edge¬ 
wise through the water to the sides again, and repeating 
the strokes in the same manner. 
We have not space to describe and give directions for 
the many evolutions and feats that may be performed by 
an expert swimmer. These are better learned by imi¬ 
tating one already at home in the water—it will be 
enough for all practical purposes if you learn to make 
your way through the water well, and to rescue a 
drowning person if occasion require. 
THE WONDERFUL PLANT. 
We were much amused with the following anecdote, 
the substance of which was published in a New York 
paper recently. There are attached to the Capitol 
grounds at Washington, gardens, conservatories and 
hot-houses, under the care of a gardener appointed by the 
President. The man holding this situation was an en 
thusiastic and accomplished botanist, and prided him¬ 
self not a little on his science. One of his friends was 
one'day boasting of his acquirements, when Mike Walsh, 
a Member of Congress, determined to play off a joke which 
should prove that the gardener did not, at least, know 
every thing. He accordingly prepared a flower pot, in¬ 
serted in it what appeared to be a very singular plant, 
which was neatly tied up to a stick, and carrying it to 
the gardener, led him to believe it had just been brought 
from Japan by a Lieutenant in the Navy, and requested 
him to name it. The gardener inspected it closely, ex¬ 
amined his botanical works, pronounced it a species of 
Cactus, and gave it a high sounding Greek title; he a’so, 
after much entreaty, persuaded Mike to leave it with 
him, to be cultivated in the hot-house. It was cautious¬ 
ly sprinkled witti warm water, placed under a bell glass, 
and watched with great solicitude. In a few days, its 
appearance changed considerably, and the delighted gar¬ 
dener exhibited it to all visitors, declaring that it was 
about to send out buds and blossoms. But aftor waiting 
a little longer, a most unpleasant odor was perceived 
arising from it, and the gardener began to “smell a rat.” 
He took cff.the bell glass, removed the soil around the 
roots and found that the joker had planted a large rat in 
the pot, leaving t he tail sticking up for him to name and 
cultivate! He did not succeed in raising any vegetable 
rats, and his scientific pride was somewhat taken down 
A SCENE FROM FASHIONABLE LIFE. 
