would be only in
summer that any assistance would be necessary.

While on the subject of water, another matter may as well be dealt
with, and that is the establishment of bathing-places near villages.
This is, of course, impossible over considerable areas of country
where water is scarce, and especially scarce in the bathing season.
Even in many places, however, where water is comparatively deficient
in quantity, there are usually some great ponds, which for part of
the season could be made applicable for bathing purposes. There then
remain an immense number of villages situated on or near a stream,
and wherever there is a stream a bathing-place is practicable. At
the present moment it would be difficult to find one such place,
unless on the banks of a large river, and rivers are far between.
The boys and young men who feel a natural desire to bathe in the
warm weather resort to muddy ponds, with a filthy bottom of black
slush, or paddle about in shallow brooks no more than knee-deep, or
in the water-carriers in water meadows. This species of bathing is
practically useless; it does not answer any purposes of cleanliness,
and learning to swim is out of the question. The formation of a
proper bathing-place presents few difficulties. A spot must be
chosen near to the village, but far enough away for decency. The
bottom of the stream should be covered with a layer of sand and
small gravel, carefully avoiding large stones and sharp-edged
flints. Much of the pleasure of bathing depends upon a good bottom,
and nothing is more likely to deter a young beginner than the
feeling that he cannot place his feet on the ground without the
danger of lacerating them. For this reason, also, care should be
taken to exclude all boughs and branches, and particularly the
prickly bushes cut from hedges, which are most annoying to bathers.
The stream should be bayed up to a depth at the deepest part of
about five feet, which is quite deep enough for ordinary swimming,
and reduces the danger to a minimum. If possible, a strong smooth
rail should run across the pool, or partly across. This is for the
encouragement of boys and young bathers, who like something to catch
hold of, and it is also an adjunct in learning to swim, for the boy
can stand opposite to it, and after two or three strokes place his
hand on it, and so gradually increasing the distance, he can swim
without once losing confidence. Those who cannot swim can hold to
the rail and s