RUGBY To Dr. Clement Dukes, of Rugby School, is due the institution of the life-saving competitions for public schools, promoted by the Royal Humane Society. This gentleman in 1882 communicated to the R.H.S. his opinion that swimming from a life-saving point of view could be greatly fostered by the holding of contests at . public schools, and the Society took up the scheme warmly and established a series of medal competitions. Their area of operations is limited to the leading schools and the training-ships, and they do not insist upon a knowledge of the various resuscitation methods being com pulsory. Dr. Dukes was rewarded a few years later by his nephew saving the life of a schoolfellow who, while bathing, had been drawn into a sluice.
It was considered outside the province of the R.H.S. to organise a competition in resuscitation methods, but Dr. Dukes evidently considered such a competition desirable, for he aptly remarks in the work previously referred to, But while these rescues by swimming restore the victim to land, I should like to see him restored to life,' and in pursuance of this idea he presented to Rugby School a challenge cup for the best practice in the resuscitation of the apparently drowned.
At Rugby there is a covered tepid bath 70 feet by 25 feet, water measurement. It is 6 ft. 6. in. deep at the deepest end, and 3 ft. 6 in. at the shallow end. It was erected in 1876, as
a gift by the then head-master.
The boys are not compelled to learn swimming at this school, but if they desire to be taught they are placed under the care of the swimming instructor in charge of the bath. The bath is open each of the three school terms, the boys being allowed to bathe between 6.15 and 7 A.M., and once again during the day. Those learning to swim are only allowed in the bath at certain times, but there is a club,' the members of which, in addition to the Sixth Form, are allowed to monopo lise the bath from 6.3o to 7.3o P.M. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The boys get into the club after passing one of the following tests :--Swimming ten lengths in 6 mins., or one length (7o feet) under water. Besides the competitions for the Royal Humane Society's medal and the challenge cup for restoration of the apparently drawned, there are swimming races and diving competitions at the end of the summer term. Among these is a race for beginners, which always produces an interesting struggle. There is an open race of ten lengths ; and another of six for younger boys. The competitions con sist of pence-diving,' and swimming under water. In this last, in 1877, E. M. D. Whatman swam two lengths and a turn of about ten feet.