A WORD FOR THE BOYS.
Until the public swimming baths become more numerous, Should be permitted to bathe in our lakes and rivers withou4 molestation.
Half the papers you pick up nowadays have appeals to authorities of one sort and another to protect society from the small boy, who persists in in swimming without clothes on. Society, of course, ought to be protected, but, on the other hand, the boys ought to swim. It is their nature to do so. It is odd that it never occurs to society to " look the other way " when the boys are about to swim. That would perfectly protect society, the boys, the authorities and the newspapers. It seems like an easy thing to do ; but, in practice, society, or a part of it, finds it very hard to do, in fact, quite impossible. And society has been like that for one hundred years. It was a little longer ago than that that a solid Pennsylvania Dutchman came into the presence of the commander of the British troops, then occupying Philadelphia, and complained that the soldiers had a habit of going to swim within sight of his house, to the great annoyance of his daugh ters. The General promised to look into it. . The officer sent to examine reported that the swimming place was so far from the house that the men could not be seen. So they were allowed to continue. The Dutch father came again to complain, and when told of the officer's report, replied, " Ah, but those girls have got a spy-gla." Let the boys get health and fun in the water, and let society focus its spy-glass in some other direction.
Aelia tells a charming story of the boys, who in their bathing made the friendship of a " Dolphin," and used to ride shoreward on his broad back.
" I Can Swim, Sir." The following naval story is recorded for the benefit of the boys. During the celebrated naval engagement between the Dutch and English, the British Admiral, finding himself assailed by two of the enemy, thought it prudent to call for assistance, which was near, although communication by signal was impossible, owing to the density of the smoke from the heavy cannonading. In his extremity
he. called for volunteers to convey a despatch by swimming, and among the number who immediately responded was his own cabin boy. The Admiral, addressing the brave lad, asked him, "What can you do '1" The boy answered, touching his cap, " I can swim, sir." This answer induced the Admiral to trust the lad to carry out the dangerous duty, which he did successfully, notwithstanding the continuous showers of shot and shell. The object was attained by the Captain, to whom the boy delivered his orders, bearing down to his admiral's relief ; and so the Dutch were defeated. The Admiral, addressing the boy in the presence of the officers and crew, said with much earnestness, taking him by the hand, and thanking him for his bravery, "I shall live to see you an admiral some day." The prophecy was fulfilled. The boy became Admiral Cloudesley Shovel, and was knighted by the King.
I have very great pleasure in here adding a highly meritorious act of bravery performed by a Toronto lad pf my acquaintance, he being only ten years old. Leonard T. Jillard, on the 2nd July, 1888, at the eastern point of the Island, seeing one of his companions sink and in great danger, jumped in, and diving succeeded in catching the boy and landing him safely on shore. A number of bystanders who witnessed his bravery presented him with small sums. This boy had taken lessons from the author.