g on the back. More especially is
this true of nervous or timid pupils.

In the first place, the body floats more naturally and much easier on
the back. In the breast stroke, which is the first one taught by most
instructors, the head has to be kept out of the water and must be
supported as dead weight by the rest of the body, as explained later on.
On the contrary, in the back stroke, or swimming on the back, the head
rests on the water and needs no support from any other member of the
body.

For the same reason the face, being up and away from the water, the
beginner encounters no difficulty in breathing, and there is no danger
of the water entering the mouth, which is often the cause of much
annoyance to new pupils.

Then, again, while on the back, as the face is turned upward, the
beginner, especially in the case of a nervous person, gains confidence
from the very fact that he is not constantly looking into the water. And
also, in contradistinction to all other strokes in swimming, the arms
and legs move together--both arms and legs performing practically the
same movements at the same time.

Thus the pupil, realizing the comparative easiness and the absence of
any difficulty in, having mastered this stroke, is imbued with such
confidence that it becomes simply a matter of time and practise to
acquire all other forms of swimming that he may wish to learn.

* * * * *

[Illustration: FIGURE 1]

The first thing I do with a beginner, after he or she has donned a
bathing suit (a suit in one piece is preferable, as it will not
interfere with breathing) is to get the pupil to lie on the back, at
full length on the marble, with the heels together, the toes out, the
hands at the side of the body. Placing myself back of the pupil's head,
the hands are drawn, with the fingers bent, up along the body till they
touch the shoulders (Fig. 1), the elbows being well turned out. Then the
arms are straightened out horizontally from the shoulder, the palms of
the hand down (Fig. 2). Then the arms, being rigid, are brought down
sharply to the side of the body (Fig. 3). These movements should be
repeated several times until the pupil gets accustomed to them.

[Illustration: FIGURE 2]

Next the leg movements are shown. The heels are drawn up toward the body
as far as possible with the knees well turned out (Fig. 4); the pupil
then kicks the legs apart as far as possible, the toes being pointed out