“I saw him beat the surges under him,
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
The surge most swol’n that met him; his bold head
’Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar’d
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
To the shore.”
I am so convinced of the merits of swimming, that if I had the power I would make a law compelling everybody, male and female, to learn the art when young. Once learnt—like riding on horseback—it is an exercise having a method that can never be forgotten, even although years may elapse between the times of practice. It may be said that everyone is not called upon to swim, but no one knows how soon he, or she, may be placed in a position requiring the use of it, and the fact of being able to do something for oneself inspires confidence—the great thing needed—to a person in the water, whether there voluntarily, or by accident.
Nowadays, everyone knows by reading, that the human body will not sink in water—and especially salt water—unless the lungs are filled with it instead of air. Yet each one, except a swimmer, when fallen into the water, either does not believe in the truth of this natural law, or else gets so frightened as to forget all about it! No one can become a swimmer till he possesses thorough confidence in the power of the water to support him, and he can easily get this confidence by a little practical lesson:—Go down to the beach at Port Melbourne, or any other where having a sloping sandy beach, strip off your clothes, take a small white stone in one hand, wade out from the shore till the water rises as high as your waist. Then turn face shoreward and throw the stone to the bottom, the water being clear you will see the stone plainly. Stoop down and try to pick it up. You will find the water, even against your inclination, prevents you from sinking to the stone, and if you want to get it, you must use active force by diving. To encourage you to dive, remember that you are in shallow water, and can put your feet to the ground at any moment you wish to stand upright. Having this practical knowledge, if a person unacquainted with swimming should happen, accidentally, to fall into the water, all he has to do when he comes to the surface—which he must do if he keeps his mouth shut and does not attempt to breathe while under—is to turn on his back, refrain from struggling and plunging, or raising his hands above his head. He can easily keep himself from turning over face downwards by putting his arms a little distance out from his sides, at the same time taking care that the hands are open and flatly in line with the surface of the water. In this position he can float in safety for hours, if the water be smooth, and call for assistance meanwhile. This method is very well in its way, but the better plan is to learn swimming, and then, under ordinary circumstances, a man can help himself confidently.
My story now draws to a close, but I feel that it would be the height of ingratitude for me to conclude without a few special words to my many benefactors.