THE SWIMMING BATH.
The eminent Dr. Abernethy says, "The Swim ming Bath ranks among the foremost of the neces sities and supports of life. It is of far higher con sequence and of more general utility than any other kind of manual exercise, gymnastic or sport. It affects the system more powerfully than these, even in the very points wherein their excellency consists, and is applicable in a thousand ways where they are not. It does not supersede, but ought to come before, these other practices. Time should be, therefore, found for the bath among the regular occupations of life; it ought to be a perma nent institution, ranking immediately after the prime necessities of our being. Either daily or several times a week should every one repair to it, in some shape or other, either at morning, mid-day, or evening, according to strength and leisure. There certainly does not exist a greater device in the art of living, or a greater instrument for securing a vigorous and buoyant existence." No one can relish a bath with the same keen sense of enjoyment as the swimmer—none but swimmers can have the full use and benefit of a plunge in the yielding element; and to give swim ming its full healthful effects, it is best to practise it in the open air, and not only in the summer time, but during the winter months as well.
The writer has the acquaintance of several who bathe in the open air every morning the whole year round, the appearance of whose faces speaks volumes in favour of the morning dip.
To swim in the sea is much easier, as far as buoy ancy is concerned, than to swim in fresh water, on account of the greater density of the salt water; and as sea or salt water evaporates with less rapid ity, the bather is not so apt to feel the body cold even after stay. Reaction takes place quicker, and with a much more healthy result, than is the case after fresh water bathing.
To the experienced swimmer nothing can excel the pleasures of a swim in the sea when the water is tolerably rough. The bather's feelings are elated, the swim acts like a stimulant, and the action of the sun's warm rays on the skin, on emerging from the water, adds to the keen sense of contentment. With one's feet on the warm rock or sand, the sun shining overhead and a comfortable breeze blow ing, the "air bath" is enjoyed with relish.
Nor is this comfortable feeling a transient enjoy ment, it lasts all day; the appetite is whetted, a hearty meal follows, and elasticity of body and mind continue till bedtime. If cheerful spirits help the body, and who will gainsay that they do? the swimmer who can practise at the sea coast must enjoy his share of health.
The exercise of Swimming develops the body; for in its practice the muscles of the legs, arms, chest, and shoulders, which are used on no other occasion, are actively employed. It expands the chest, strengthening the lungs, and is of the greatest service in warding off, and in some cases curing, pulmonary diseases.
From ancient history we learn that the inhabit ants of Sparta acquired much of their strength and vigour through frequently plunging into the waves of the Eurotas, which ran through Peloponnesus and the Lacedmmonian States, and washed the walls of Sparta; and no Spartan plunged into the waves of the river Eurotas who was unable to swim.
The Roman youths also practised swimming, as part of the exercises in the Campus Martius; the swimming-race generally took place immediately after the foot-running. The athletes finishing the foot-race on the banks of the river Tiber, plunged headlong into the water; after having the body anointed with oils, they had then to cross the river twice, before the contest was finished.
Of a truth, Swiniming should form part of the edu-: cation of every boy and girl, not only as a healthy and lively accomplishment, but also from motives of prudence and safety. Why should the women of this country not enjoy the privilege of indulging in such an exercise, and thus be in the possession of that which would enable them more practically to understand the first law of nature, self-preservation, and know how to save their own lives in cases of accidental immersion? Ladies have not the advantage of many physi cal exercises beyond those of dancing, riding, skating, and rowing, and in the two last mentioned they are nearly helpless, and entirely 'dependent on the exertions of others, in the event of an accident.
In view of these considerations, it can scarcely be flattering to the humane feelings, and proverbial dignity and heroism of the ladies of Britain, that greater opportunities are not afforded them for the learning and practice of this most useful of all accomplishments.
Now that some of the School Boards have taken the matter up, and all are becoming alive to the fact that intellectual and physical exercises should come together more than has hitherto been the case, let us hope the time is near indeed when the boys and girls of our country will deem it derogatory to their dignity to have to acknowledge that they are unable to swim and dive.