THE ART OF SWIMMING THE BREAST-STROKE The movements which are necessary in order that a man may propel himself through the water are acquired. If they were natural, there would be no difficulty in learning, because they would be made instinctively, as with quadrupeds, who of course have to follow the ordinary laws of mechanics when they swim. The ease and velocity with which a dog cad move through the water appear disproportionate to the means employed. This capability of swimming is common to most quadrupeds.
If a dog be taken as one of the best examples of a swimming quadruped, and his actions be watched, it will be found that his legs move in the same plane as when walking or running, and that the body is poised in the water as under ordinary circum stances on land, with the head projecting. The trunk being situated just above the legs, and balanced on them, the centre of gravity naturally falls immediately above the propelling power. When an animal which has never been im mersed before is thrown into the water, it will immediately begin to swim—self-preservation, which is the first law of Nature, in the eternal fitness of things, compelling it to do the exact thing required under the circumstances.
Swimming must, however, be acquired by man, whose hands and feet are nevertheless so formed that they present a much greater surface to the water than those of most animals. Confidence may do much to ensure rapid mastery of the art but confidence combined with a correct knowledge of the movements which facilitate floating with the head above water is more than doubly valuable.
There have been cases of persons finding themselves able to swim upon first going into the water, but they are altogether exceptional. Huet, Bishop of Avranches, in his Memoirs, states that, being accustomed like other boys to bathe several times a day in hot weather, it happened that he ventured into a without first trying its depth, and immediately sank to the bottom ; but being roused to exertion by the urgency of danger, he struggled so hard with his hands and feet as to raise himself to the surface of the water, and then, finding that he possessed a faculty with which he was before unacquainted, he swam across a deep river on that very day.
This little anecdote is mentioned by many writers, and Bucke in his Book of Human Character,' after quoting it, says, How many thousands of men have been drowned in all parts of the world 1 Nine in ten of these might have been saved had they possessed the force of character here described.' Such reflections may be of service to the moralist, but they are valueless to a teacher of swimming, who has to deal with the undoubted fact that, except in accidental and rare instances, all human beings have to learn swimming. They may learn to swim unconsciously, it is true, but all the same they have had to acquire the movements. Their legs being weighty, they cannot swim by using the ordinary methods of progression on land, and although some of the movements may not be unnatural, they are in any case new.
It is, therefore, essential that each portion of a swimming= stroke should be clearly explained, and its value demonstrated, so that the learner may gain a general idea of the various motions required to make a perfect swimmer. In pursuance of this view, we have decided to illustrate the movements by means of carefully prepared diagrams, and with as few words as possible, so as not to encumber the mind of the learner with too much description.
As before remarked, it is a common practice with writers on swimming to deal with the arm motions first ; but, with due deference to their ideas, we intend to begin with the leg motions, because, without doubt, they are the most impor tant movements in swimming, as nearly all the propelling power is obtained by means of the properly directed leg-kick. It is for this reason that we strongly advise the adoption of this, at present, little practised method of teaching. The leg movements should be taught first, rather than those of the arms ; for, although swimming could not be carried out so effectually and easily without as with them, their propelling power is but slight compared with that of the legs. In fast swimming the arms should be used more for steering than for propelling ; but it is necessary so to practise the art that all the limbs work harmoniously together, none impeding the pro gressive action of the other, and to succeed in this constant practice is needed.