Swimming Scientifically Taught | Page 3

me, 'Dar'st thou, Cassius, now, Leap in with me into this angry
flood And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I
plunged in, And bade him follow; so, indeed he did. The torrent roared;
and we did buffet it With lusty sinews; throwing it aside And stemming
it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point propos'd,
Cæsar cried, 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink.' I, as Æneas, our great
ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old
Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Cæsar: And
this man Is now become a god."
Macaulay, in one of his "Lays of Ancient Rome," describes the scene
which followed after Horatius had been left alone to face the troops of
Lars Porsena, his codefenders having escaped across the bridge:

"Never, I ween, did swimmer, In such an evil case, Struggle through
such a raging flood Safe to the landing place, But his limbs were borne
up bravely, By the brave heart within, And our good father Tiber Bore
bravely up his chin."
It was not until the nineteenth century that swimming really became a
science. In fact, it was only within the last half-century that a real
awakening to its importance occurred. At the present day swimming
has come to be regarded as an indispensable adjunct to the education of
the young. In many parts of Europe it forms part of the school
curriculum. Of such paramount importance is it there held to be that, on
entering the army, the first thing taught a young recruit is swimming.
On this side of the Atlantic its importance is becoming more evident
daily. That the benefits to be derived from it have manifested
themselves to municipalities is evidenced by the fact that, in addition to
free swimming baths on the water front of New York in summer, there
have been established several indoor bathing pavilions which are open
and accessible all the year round.
Swimming, aside from its importance as a possible means to
self-preservation in case of shipwreck, the upsetting of pleasure-boats,
or any of the numerous accidents that so frequently happen on the
water, and also, on occasion, as a means of saving life, is not only one
of the best physical exercises known, but when one swims for exercise
he is also conscious of receiving great pleasure. Most other forms of
exercise, after they have been participated in for some time, are apt to
become something like efforts, or even hardships. Swimming, on the
other hand, continues to be exhilarating.
Unfortunately, those who have been best able to teach the science of
swimming, because of having technical knowledge and proficiency,
have not made systematic attempts to disseminate knowledge through
scientific methods. In this respect the author claims to differ with most
other instructors. He has endeavored, in this work, to treat the subject
scientifically and to use simple and concise language. His success as a
teacher is attested by thousands of pupils who have acquired the
principles of a system long known as the Dalton system.

LEARNING BY THE BOOK
The question is often asked whether it is possible for a person to learn
to swim by studying a book or a series of articles. Much depends on the
person. In the case of a very nervous person, it is improbable that this
may be satisfactorily accomplished, for it is then absolutely necessary
that a pupil must have an instructor, in order, at the start, to obviate
dread of the water.
Where this dread of water or nervousness does not exist in any marked
degree, study of a work such as this may be of unlimited advantage. By
carefully following its instructions it will be possible to become a very
fair swimmer without the aid of an instructor or any second person.
Naturally, it is not claimed that a majority of such self-taught
swimmers will ever become experts at the art, altho even this is
possible in a great many cases; but there is a moral certainty that, with
the exception of the aforementioned nervous beginners, a fair
knowledge of the science of swimming may be attained in this manner.
Numbers of very good swimmers have had no other tuition than which
came from study of a book. Especially is this true when following the
directions outlined in this book in the matter, first, of practising
keeping the eyes and mouth open under water, which will eliminate all
nervousness; and, second, in practising the movements used in the
breast and back strokes, which are of inestimable aid when actually
taking to the water.
Of course, where the swimmer desires to attain true scientific
knowledge of the art, the beginner needs the aid of an instructor