The Simple Method
It is not our purpose in this book to go into any extended details or give dry statistics, but to show by simple and plain talks on the art and science of swimming and by language that is clear and readily understood, with the assistance of various pictures, the different positions in the water in swimming the breast stroke, the over-arm side stroke, the double-over-arm stroke (sometimes called the Trudgeon), and the now generally accepted and famous “crawl” stroke, as these four movements in the water practically complete one’s swimming education and make their possessor worthy of the title of an expert.
There has been considerable controversy among expert swimmers and teachers as to whether it is best to learn the crawl stroke first, or the breast stroke, and various competitive tests have been made in order to let the exponents of each principle prove, if possible, the superiority of one method over the other, but no permanent deductions have been arrived at; however, the author, aside from having decided opinions himself in this matter, considers that where one method has an advantage over the other, both have their good points.