Is now become a god."

Macaulay, in one of his "Lays of Ancient Rome," describes the scene
which followed after Horatius had been left alone to face the troops of
Lars Porsena, his codefenders having escaped across the bridge:

"Never, I ween, did swimmer,
In such an evil case,
Struggle through such a raging flood
Safe to the landing place,
But his limbs were borne up bravely,
By the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber
Bore bravely up his chin."

It was not until the nineteenth century that swimming really became a
science. In fact, it was only within the last half-century that a real
awakening to its importance occurred. At the present day swimming has
come to be regarded as an indispensable adjunct to the education of the
young. In many parts of Europe it forms part of the school curriculum.
Of such paramount importance is it there held to be that, on entering
the army, the first thing taught a young recruit is swimming. On this
side of the Atlantic its importance is becoming more evident daily.
That the benefits to be derived from it have manifested themselves to
municipalities is evidenced by the fact that, in addition to free
swimming baths on the water front of New York in summer, there have been
established several indoor bathing pavilions which are open and
accessible all the year round.

Swimming, aside from its importance as a possible means to
self-preservation in case of shipwreck, the upsetting of pleasure-boats,
or any of the numerous accidents that so frequently happen on the water,
and also, on occasion, as a means of saving life, is not only one of the
best physical exercises known, but when one swims for exercise he is
also conscious of receiving great pleasure. Most other forms of
exercise, after they have been participated in for some time, are apt to
become something like efforts, or even hardships. Swimming, on the other
hand, continues to be exhilarating.

Unfortunately, those who have been best able to teach the science of
swimming, because of having technical knowledge and proficiency, have
not made systematic attempts to disseminate knowledge through scientific
methods. In this respect the author claims to differ with most other
instructors. He has endeavored, in this work, to treat the subject
scientifically and to use simple and concise language. His success as a
teacher is attested by thousands of pupils who have acquired the
prin