THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, JULY 31, 1910.
5
LIFE OF WOMAN IN WATER IS ONE OF JOY
Miss Millie ScMoth, Swimming Instructor at Y. W. C. A., Shows and Tells How to Be an Adept as an Aquatic Performer.
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flopped from the aprinKboard. she som- I v
the basement of the Y. W. C. A. ersaulted and double-somersaulted, she I . I
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BY LEONE CASS BAER.
' HROUGH many damp aisles in
the basement of the Y. W. C. A.
building I wandered In quest of
one. Miss MiUia Schloth. swimming direc
tor and general high mogul of all things
aquatic in that institution. Maidens
to left ol me, maidens to right of me,
clad for the most part in wet smiles
nd wetter klmonas, clattered bliss
fully to or from the swimming pool. I
hailed one very fair, very sopping and
hurrying damesl."
"Can you tell me." I queried, "where
I can find Miss Schlothr"
The fair one sucked the water off
ier upper lip, frantically wiped some
of her hair out of her eyes, and an
swered In a damp voice, "Why, she's
in the water; she's always in the wa
ter" (emphasis on the water), "and if
ha isn't in the water you'll find her
In the dressing room, getting ready to
To into the water."
She trailed soppingly away.
But it was as she had spoken. I
found Miss Schloth sitting on her end
of the spring board, teetering her ath
letic young body and calling directions
. to a bevy of heads that bobbed about
ilk so many balls on the surface of
the pool.
Miss Schloth had consented to be In
terviewed, but now that the actual mo
. ment had arrived we were both at sea.
figuratively, of course. Interviewing a
mermaid has its drawbacks. Now ac
tresses are different. They invite the
attack usually, and oftentimes have
the article signed, sealed and all ready
for your taking, even choosing the sub
jects they prefer consenting" to air
their views upon. But ao press agent
fairy was abroad in the vicinity of the
awlmmln' hole that day. There's a say
ing somewhere that fools rush in where
angels, etc. So I rushed. Mlas Schloth
urveyed me reflectively and wiggled one
ellm toe in the water. I reminded her
ae was to be interviewed.
"Well." was her amiable answer, "I'll
swim for you. dive for you and perform,
but chatter is not my long suit. Where
hall we begin?"
"At the beginning." sea I. "Question
one How do ywu do those high dives and
flip-flops ?'
There was a long black streak like
a moving picture of a slender body
hooting through space, and presently
a round-capped head bobbed out of the
water and Miss Schloth's big, musical
voice boomed, -'Well. I can't tell you
how I do them. I make some of 'em
up. I adapt others from my gymnastlo
training, and all I can say Is that It's
muoh easier to do 'em for you than to
take your time and my own explaining
In dry words."
All Sorta of Tricks Practiced.
Well, the demonstration at all events
Mras not dry. And neither was the flsh
lady. She dived In 10 yes, I counted
30 totally different ways. She flip
flopped from the springboard, she som
ersaulted and double-somersaulted, she
balanced all and ladies to the center,
cut pigeon wings and looped the loop.
Her repertoire includes everything that
anybody, flsh or perfect lady, ever ac
complished between a springboard and
a pool of water. Fascinated, I watched
her leap and paddle and frivol away in
the water.
No splashing and throwing of water
attended her dips and dives. When she
dove, headfirst or heels over head first,
into the pool, the waters separated
calmly where her clasped palms cleft
Its surface, and a minute later her sin
ewy, satiny body in long black tights
paddled easily and surely about in the
depths, below.
"Were you born in it?" I asked, pen
cil poised to jot down that she was,
and that her forebears and all their
ancestors were flsh or sea animals.
"Oh, dear no," she- laughed. "I have
only been swimming, for about ten
years." She pulled herself lightly up
the ladder and sat in lazy comfort on
her favorite perch, the springboard.
"Why, when -I was - a child I couldn't
swim at all. I tried to learn many,
many times, but was forced to give it
up . beoause I had sensitive ears and
the water bothered them. Once. I re
member, when I was a schoolgirl, I
went with some girls to take soma
swimming lessons at the swimming
pool In the old tabernacle, then on
Twelfth and Morrison. I was the first
one out of the dressing-room, and I
spied a row of traveling rings sus
pended over the tank. I was familiar
with this form of gymnastics and quite
forgetting that I was over the water,
I seized the ring nearest me and began
to travel from one to the other. As I
grasped the last ring I lost my grip
and let go."
Hera the mermaid maiden paused
long enough to allow the full signifi
cance of her words to sink Into my
brain, then continued:
"The very last thing I saw as the
water closed over my head was a huge
sign giving the depth of the water
where I was going down as nine feet.
No one came to my rescue, and when
I came up I frantically dog-paddled
out. When I had recovered from my
fright I caught sight of a trapeze sus
pended about 20 feet above the center
of the pool. I was filled with bravado
now. and made for that trapeze. 1 had
some difficulty In reaching it but fin
ally grasped the rope and proceeded
to enjoy myself. Just as I was begin
ning an exhillratlng swing, hanging
by my knees, I heard a chorus of
shouts and horrified ejaculations, and
looked down to see my swimming
teacher-to-be and my girl friends gaz
ing In terror at me and beseeching me
wildly not to move and they'd help get
me down. Since that time I've never
been afraid of the water."
Then, as if quietly, to prove It. she
stood on tiptoe on the teetering board.
her back to the water and her arms i
raised gracefully in a firm straight line,
a magnificent silhouette against the
white wall. Then, so rapidly that the
eye could not follow her, the slender
black-clad body turned a convolution
In the air and with scarcely a ripple
passed under the water. Presently she
sat again on the railing directing her
class of swimmers.
"Don't you personally teach each pu
pil?" I asked, noticing that she directed
verbally, moving along the railing and
watching each girl with eagle eyes.
"Yes, I teach them personallyi but I
don't go in the water with them. If that
Is what you mean." answered Miss
Schloth. "You see I have my own method.
I teach a pupil to swim in three les
sons, oftentimes two, and frequently one
lesson has sufficed where the learner is
apt. I have what I call e. 'table lesson'
for beginners. I place the pupil on a
table, face downward, and instruct her
In the first three movements learned in
swimming. First I teach the kick or
leg stroke. This is a natural movement
in ltslf. but It Is not natural to bring
the legs together later, an essential thing
too. Then I teach the arm stroke, al
though I make sure the kick stroke has
been thoroughly mastered before I Btart
to familiarize the pupil with the arm
movement. I mean that I do not let
them try both the arm and kick move
ment together, until each has been
learned separately. Later when they go
In the water they are familiar with the
movements required in swimming and
do not have to waste either my time or
their own undoing false movements'.
"By meAns of a rope stretched across
the pool the pupil learns to control a
balance and keep a horizontal position
hefore practicing the kick. The arm
movement Is taken up with the aid of
water-wings which I always advise for
short practice until the pupil has learned
the rythm or time of the stroke.
Young Girls Learn Quickly.
"Girls of 13 or 13 years learn quickest
to swim and develop the best strokes.
Children under 12, once they learn the
trick of keeping a balance, make the most
rapid progress toward perfect confidence.
The average beginner thinks too much
of learning the stroke perfectly before
trying to swim without assistance. Con
fidence Invariably comes quickly after a
few attempts at maintaining a balance
by relaxation and presence of mind."
It must not for one minute be supposed
that Miss Schloth gave all this In the
form of lectures made to order while
you wait, or even all In one piece. In
deed no. She doled out her ideas in
snatches, sandwiched In between calls
to Uzsle. or Roeie, or Nellie, to "keep
cool." "kick out," "stroke with your
&MX2E.&J? flosses
left," or "you've been in long enough
Jane, come out now." For a careful and
conscientious teacher is this aquatic one
Swimming Is Pure Joy. -
"I love swimming," 6he said in answer
to a query, "and I'm never so really
happy as when I'm at work In- its
depths. I don't want to go on record as
preaching any cult or "Ism," but 'I actu
ally know that for exercising and
strengthening every muscle of the body,
steadying the nerves and developing self.
confidence, few if any pastimes excel
swimming. As an amusement having a
practical side the knowledge of this art
stands pre-eminent.
"All else being equal, the heathier and
stronger one's body the more vigoroui
is the intellect. The mind of the aver.
age growing girl or boy is trained and
tasked for several - hours daily, while
their bodies are usually left to fend for
themselves. A meandering walk, aim
less in its meaning, . a dance of several
hours duration in a warm over-popu
lated room, an occasional game often
nis or golf when the season permits it.
is about the only form of exercise in
which many girls In their teens indulge,
Of course boys have the advantage in
that the most of them are lovers of
the open air, the athletic persuits, and
particularly the swimming pool. I really
think I owe most of my ability to dive
and do flip-flaps and all the other tricks
and fancy movements I've shown you, to
my early gymnastic work. I have simply
taken the various feats I learned on the
bars, and mats and rings and adapted
or modified them to an aquatic form.
Speaking of aquatic forms, you should
see Millie the Mermaid. She Is slenderly
built, with the meat so evenly distribut
ed over her body that not a superfluous
ounce shows anywhere. Her limbs are
long and lithe like a youths, her head
sets squarely on a straight spine, she
walks with-a free swing and steps firmly
on the balls of her toes, her eyes are
clear and gaze straight at -you, and she
radiates Joy and buoyancy. Her swim
ming suit in the tank when she is teach
ing consists of tights and a loosely fit
ting shirt-louse. Tha pupils wear simi
lar garments.
Speaking of this Miss Schloth said:
"The character of a bathing suit is
too often largely determined by fashion.
t or instance when I m at the beach
wear several yards of superfluous ma
terial, sagging and dragging at my waist
lino and interfering constantly with my
natural freedom, simply because some
old dame In the day of the Medes and
Persians laid down a law that all perfect
ladles wear skirts when in the surf,
'Vr - in i i i i 'hi , ' I t "'V 1
And the store has been crowded
during tlie past week, taking advan
tage f the lowest prices that stand
ard goods have ever been offered at
in Portland. The sale still con
- tinues, and, while we quote a few
sample prices" in this ad., the great
cut' applies to every article in the
house.' "We are determined to make
July the-busiest month in the year;
hence," this extraordinary sale.
STEWART RANGES
LIKE CUT, $18.50
Can you purchase anything equal to
it elsewhere for 50 per cent more
money? "We have always sold these
Ranges for $27.50, but, like every
thing else, we have cut the price to
the quick. This week we have re
ceived two carloads of these supe
rior Steel and Gas Ranges, and they
will be included in this sale. This
cut shows a high-grade, fully guar
anteed Steel Range, with .high
warming closet and ail of the latest
improvements. At" the price, $1S.50,
you can't afford ;to ;fuss around
with an inferior range. Remember,
these prices only hold good during
this sale... ' ;. ' N
Axminster Rugs $1 6.50, Worth $27.50
We unloaded another ear this week of these magnificent Rugs, which completes
delivery of the immense purchase made recently by our Mr. Jenning when in
the East. "Walk down to Second and Morrison streets and look at them in our
windows. They are startling values, as no other dealer in Portland can lay them
down in Portland at our selling price, not to mention profit. After this sale
you can't secure one for less than $27.50. Size 9x12.
SEE OUR WINDOWS
Henry Jenn in
h: yf?j .vy'' !,. rV .; -j:- v.: -:
One Year Ahead of Competitors
CORNER MORRISON AND SECOND
ons
The Home of Good Furniture
Thank goodness she didn't Insist on cor
sets and French heels. Every year I
go to Seaside I mentally vow to leave my
concessions to the Medes and Persians
at home, but I didn't. I haven't the nerve
I guess, after I arrive on the sand, and
see the hundreds of women all similarly
rig'ged out with ruffled and pleated skirts
Diiiowmg about them, with big sailor col
lars and wonderfully and fearfully made
caps on their heads, all just so much
excess baggage I think. So I don my own
surf togs and I think even Edward Bok
would approve of my dignified and de
corous appearance."
Vhat sort of dress do you recom
mend" ? was asked.
Short Sleeves Recommended.
Promptly she answered, "All swimmers
will find it much more convenient, as
well as safer In every way, to wear very
short sleeves, or In fact none at all.
In all Instances the arm opening should
be wide and roomy. The tights, which
are, of course, invariably worn, should
reach only to the knee. A man's swim
ming togs Is brevity Itself. Unfortun
ately a woman cannot emulate his ex
ample. A neat close fitting suit of
taffeta silk, or its substitute fine sateen.
made In princess fashion, is best for the
woman bather. The skirt positively must
not be too long or full, as It interfers
with movements of the legs.
"There is nothing more -hampering to
one who Is becoming a little tired than
a heavy wet dress clinging clumsily
about the body, and It might make tha
difference between safety and danger
in the case of the swimmer who had
over-estimated her powers, or who had
been carried out further than she in
tended.' It is therefore always a good
plan to learn to swim in clothing, simply
because the ability to do so may be in
valuable in an emergency.
"What about that dread of amateur
swimmers cramp?" Miss Schloth was
asked.
Cramps Come to All.
"Not only amateur swimmers, but
professionals and old-timers often,"
quickly responded Millie the Mermaid.
"The greatest danger In these cases lies
In the swimmer becoming frightened
A learner, if attacked by cramp, should
change the manner - of stroke, making
several quick motions with the mem
ber affected regardless of the pain, how
ever excruciating, but if the cramp con
tinues, he should at once float back to
shore. As a rule however the beginner
does not know when he has the cramp.
He stops, crys out, 'There's something
the matter with my foot or leg,' as the
case may be, and is presently tied up.
It i caused by the muscles In the arch
of the foot, or the calf of the leg the
most common places of attack, becoming
contracted from using too much force
on the kick movement. It proves too.
that more relaxation should be used
while practicing. With a good swimmer
the seizure by cramps is usually Internal
A leg or foot cramp would not seriously
interfere with the movements of a good
swimmer.
Bathing Always in Good Time.
"Just when should one go in the wa
terT" was asked. The fish lady dove
off backwards, a long streak of black
flashing through the air and paddled
back, dog-fashion, chatting: as she
came.
"Well. I think there Is no valid ob
jection to bathing at any time of the
day, except, of course, just after
meal. The principal reason for avoid
ing this is simply that the process of
digestion requires and Involves a ful
ness of the blood vessels or internal
organs, and along with It a certain
amount of nerve force. Therefore any
shock, as for instance, cold water ap
plied to the surface, -which is- apt to
send the blood toward the interior of
the body, may readily, and usually does,
bring on extreme congestion there. And
any way, like any other active exercise
taken at such a time, a plunge in the
swimming pool would hinder digestion,
or even put a stop to it altogether. The
result would In any case be a very
grseat degree of discomfort, reaction
takes place slowly, and there is usually
headaches, gastric oppression, and of
tentimes serious illness. I sound like
a doctor's treatise on something or
other, don't I. when I talk like that?
. One Swim a Day Enough.
'It is perfectly absurd to lay down
any positive rules as to 'the time the
swimmer should remain in the water,"
she went on. "No one seems to have
invented a stop-watch that, may be
taken into the water, and I guess until
sucn an article is made most of us can
not time onrselves- while swimming.
Any days experience at the various
swimming pools about Portland will
show a great many swimmers sporting
in tne water for half an hour or an
hour, yes even longer, with no percepti
ble IU effect. It is quite a common
practice among the youngsters to go In,
have a swim, come out and frisk about
for a while, and then go in again, per
haps a number of times. Especially is
this true of surf-bathers where the
warm sand is- an inducement to leave
the water. The powers of endurance
vary greatly, and it is generally known
that swimmers have sometimes re
mained in the water for many consecu
tive hours, without harm. But even
those "who are in good health may suf
fer, from a too long swim, from head
ache, nausea and other symptoms which
are generally associated-with bilious
ness. These are induced, as I said, bv
the unwonted exposure to the rays of
the sun, the refection from the water,
added to the chilling of the surface of
the body.
Robust folk may occasionally, in hot
weather especially, take a daily swim
witnout narm. But tor the majority
once is enough. And it may be put
down as a safe rule that if the fatigue
of one bath has not entirely passed
away, another one should not be taken.
Many men, and a very great number of
women, who enjoy the water because
of - the occupation and amusement it
affords in an otherwise tiresome work-a-day
existence, do not thoroughly re
act from the fatigue involved ior 24
hours perhaps. Therefore can't you see,
by repeating the strain upon their
powers too often and too soon, they are
led to believe that aquatic sports 'do
not agree' with them."
Teacher Not Always Needed.
"Suppose one were going to learn to
swim without the aid of a teacher, what
would you suggest in the way of first
hints to an amateur?" " I asked her.
"I should say." she responded,
"smooth, shallow water with a shelving
shore is best for the beginner. Wade
out to a depth of three of four feet,
wet your head, then turn your face
toward land. Return until the water
is no deeper than your arm is long:
and support your body by letting the
tips of your fingers touch bottom. Now
lie down, jetting the legs rise to the
surface, but being careful to throw' the
head back so that the chin is nearly
on a. level with the surface .of the wa
ter, thus leaving one arm and both legs
free to practice the stroke. Occasion
ally the supporting hand should be
raised until the learner has gained suf
ficient confidence in the . upholding
power of the water to trust himself to
Its buoyancy. Next he may wade out
several feet further and try to swim
in to shore, putting down the support
ing arm as at first if the attempt is too
premature.
"Many persons are apt to be much
annoyed by the water getting into
their ears, especially if they dive. I
have, in fact, beard of instances where
deafness has thus been induced, and
has required medical treatment for its
relief. By way of precaution against
the entrance of the water into the ears.
I would suggest small pieces of wool,
saturated with vaseline pressed lightly
into the cavity, not pushed in far, ror
tightly stuffed in, but of such a size
as to just keep its place easily. A
mighty excellent way of getting rid of
the water is that resorted to by boys
after swimming, and one that I have
always found as good as any, and that
Is to turn the head well 'over towards
the- affected side, putting a finger in
the opposite ear and then hop about on
one foot. A few moments of this ex
ercise will usually cause the water to -.
escape in a smaU stream, or a hot
water bag placed over the ear will
bring the desired result."
Miss Schloth's particular accomplish
ment, and the one in which she prides
nerseiz most. Is her high diving. "A
pupil should learn to dive as soon as
possible," she . said. "It gives them
confidence in deep water."
She has- conceived the idea of placing
a pneumatic auto tire in the water to
use for acutely plump ladies who are
learning to swim.
. "They tire easily," she said - naively,
'and the hoop prevents their rolling
from side to side, and helps promote
balance. Too, I use it in teaching the
dive. It aids a girl to keep her body
in a line as she goes through the tire
afloat on the water."
Each time Miss Schloth goes in the
water she "learns a new trick," she
says.
Well she already has a noddle full
of them. And she has had a dandy
vaudeville offer. ; But as one Kipling
has formed a habit of saying "That's
another story."
Just Shopping.
Philadelphia. Bulletin.
O'er the pages of the Peerage a maiden likes
to pore.
urh an amount
Will buy a Count:
A. Duke cost something mora
She flutters o'er the pases and here and
there ihe'll slop.
She can't afford
A noble Lord.
T?ut can't a damsel ghop ?
Patriotism
The stomach ia a larger factor in " life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness" than most people are aware. Patriotism
can withstand hunger but not dyspepsia. The confirmed dys
peptic "is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils." The man
who goes to the front for his country with a weak stomach
will be a weak soldier and a fault under.
A sound stomach makes for good citizenship as well as for
health and happiness.
Diseases of the stomach and other organs of digestion and
nutrition are promptly and permanently cured by the use of
Dr. PIERCE'S GOLDEN MEDIC 71 1. DISCOVERT.
It builds up the body with sound flesh and
solid muscle.
The dealer who offers a substitute for the "Discovery" is
only seeking to make the little more profit realized on the
ale of less meritorious preparations.
Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser is sent fret'
on receipt of stamps to pay expense of mailing nly. Send -21
one-cent stamps for the paper covered book, or 31 stamps
for the cloth bound. .Address World's Dispensary Medical
Association, R. V. Pierce, M. D., President, Buffalo, N. Y.