Swimming.

Swimming may be defined as the art of propelling and sustaining the body in the water, using the legs (assisted by the exertion of the body) as the propeller, and the arms as a support to the head. The hands are placed flat on the water between the chin and the breast, fingers and thumbs closed, the latter touching, the body is inclined gently forward, the legs drawn up with the knee turned out and toe turned up towards the shins (in order to strike the water as wide as possible with the soles of the feet); as the feet are kicked to the rear the hands are sent forward to the full extent of the arms, keeping them there until the heels meet after the kick, when they should be extended nearly square with the shoulders; and then dropping the elbows to the side, bring the hands over the breast to the first position. The beginner should remember that by a careful regulation of the limbs so that all movements tending to retard the motion of the body be made gently, and propelling movement with energy, much unnecessary exertion may be saved with page 4 more favorable results. The kick is to be made from the knees, the feet describing a curve until the heels meet, when the legs should be perfectly straight. Breath should be taken when the head is highest, that is when the arms are square with the shoulders. The arms should not be bent when being brought square with the shoulders.