ANN. Oh yes, I wish I could skate like that.

PAUL. Oh, you’ll learn to skate even better, by and by, Ann. Patience and a great deal of training.

PETER. I say, Paul, what’s wrong with my skates? They slip when I’m on the ice.

{Paul examines them.)

PAUL. Why, they are blunt. You must have them sharpened.

PETER. Can it be done here?

PAUL. Certainly. You’ll have to go into the hut for that. Well, Ann, are you ready for another lesson?

ANN. Oh yes. You are so kind, Paul.

4.      SWIMMING

Every person should endeavour to acquire the power of swimming. The exercise is a healthy accompaniment of bathing.

The art of swimming is, in reality, very easy. Do not attempt to learn to swim too hastily. Belts may be of service for supporting the body while one is learning what is called the stroke, or that manner of drawing in and striking out the hands and feet that is necessary to produce progressive motion.

But you will be no swimmer till you can place confidence in the power of water to support you.

Choose a place where the water deepens gradually, walk into it till it is up to your breast; then turn round your face to the shore, throw yourself forward and begin striking out with your hands and feet so as to prevent the lower part of the body, that is the legs, from sinking; keep your head as high as possible above the water.

During the great heat in summer there is great danger to throw oneself into cold water — one is apt to be seized with a cramp.

Do not forget to cool yourself before getting into the water.

XIII. Town

1.      A TOWN

A town is a large number of houses, schools, hospitals, theatres, factories, works and other buildings built near each other. All these buildings are divided into blocks by streets. Short narrow streets that join larger ones together are called lanes. On one side of the streets the buildings have even numbers, on the other — odd numbers. The main streets are usually paved with stone or asphalt. Along the streets run carts, cars, buses and trolleybuses. In large towns tramways are laid down the wider streets, along which tramcars rattle with great noise. On both sides of the streets are raised pavements on which people walk.

In very large towns, which are generally called cities, countless pedestrians walk along the foot-pavement forming two smoothly- flowing ceaseless currents. In England walkers keep to the right, while vehicles on the road keep to the left.

People usually cross the streets at special places, called crossings. When the traffic is very heavy, the policeman, who regulates the movement of the cars and buses, has to stop the never-ending stream by raising one hand, thus affording the pedestrians a chance of crossing the street. On the foot-paths, close to the gutter, stand dustbins, into which refuse is put.

In large towns the ground floor and the first storeys of the houses, that line the principal streets, consist of shops. These shops present most attractive features. The windows are very large and the plates of glass often reach almost to the pavement. It is interesting to look at the shop-windows where the articles on sale are displayed.

In the centre and in important parts of a large town, there are squares, gardens and market places.

A town is generally situated near or on a river across which bridges are built. In almost all towns there are places of interest, which a stranger would be invited to see — monuments, cathedrals, museums, etc.

A town is governed by a council, the head of which is styled the mayor.

2.      IN THE TRAM

G. Hello, Bill! I thought you weren’t going to turn up. You’re ten minutes late.

B. (I’m) sorry to have kept you waiting, old chap. Where is, Ann, I wonder? Oh, here she is stepping out of the bus. Let’s go and meet her.

BOTH. Good morning, Ann.

ANN. How do you do? Have I kept you waiting long? I don’t know how it is, but I never can get anywhere in time.

G. Well, shall we go to K. or has anyone any other suggestion?

ANN. K. is all right for me. You, Bill?

B. Yes. We can go anywhere from there, can’t we?

G. Good. Now, let me see. Route 5 goes there, doesn’t it?

B. Yes, and No. 9 goes there too — the stop is a few blocks down this street.

ANN. There comes our tram.

B. Oh, what a rush.

G. Say, Bill, you go ahead and keep a seat for Ann.

ANN. No, don’t please. Let’s stand outside on the platform. It’ll be ever so much nicer there than inside the crowded car.

B. But this is a new car with the entrance in the middle, so we won’t be able to avoid the crowd. Step in, please.

ANN. My! The tram is choked up with people.

CONDUCTOR. Move ahead, please.

G. Hadn’t we better make our way to the exit?

В. I don’t think we should. We go almost to the end.

ANN. There’s room in that comer over there. Let’s ... My! The way it jolts. (To a passenger.) Excuse me, please.

PASSENGER. That’s all right.

CONDUCTOR. Fares, please.

G. Three, please.

ANN. I wonder why they don’t have more trams running on Sundays? These tram rides are horrible.

B. They are indeed, especially on a day like this. But isn’t it time to move ahead?

G. Yes! I think it is. (To a passenger.) I say, young man, could you possibly move a little to the left. Come on, Ann.

ANN. Well, here we are, after all.

3.      A TAXI

P. Are you engaged, driver?

D. No, sir. Where do you wish me to take you?

P. To the station.

D. Victoria Station, sir?

P. Yes, but I have to pick up my luggage first.

D. Where is it, sir?

P. 21, N. Street.

D. All right, step in, please.

D. Well, here we are, sir.

P. Yes, I’ll be back in a moment. (Goes into the house; shortly after comes out with a suitcase.)

D. Allow me, please. (Takes the suitcase and puts it into the car.) Is that all, sir?

P. Yes, we may start.

D. Yes, sir. Bang the door, please.

P. Drive faster. I’m afraid I shall be late.

D. Yes, sir. What’s your train?

P. The 5.15.

D. It’s 4.30 now. We shall be there much before time.

P. I hope so.

D. Here is the station, sir.

P. Yes. How much is it?

D. ... shillings, sir. Here is your suitcase.

P. Yes, thank you. Here you are.

D. Thank you, sir. A pleasant journey.

XIV. Travelling

1. TRAVELLING BY TRAIN

There are various means of travel. We can travel by train, boat, aeroplane, car and finally we can travel on foot. You have, ail of you, done a certain amount of travelling, so let’s talk about the method of travel you like best.

Should you ask me what kind of transport I like best I’d speak in support of the train. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. Suppose you want to go from Moscow to Vladivostok. The taxi brings you to one of the biggest stations in Moscow — the “Severny Terminal.”

What place is more interesting than a big station? There is the movement, the excitement, the gaiety of the people going away and sorrow of those who are seeing others off. There are the shouts of the porters as they pull luggage along the platforms to the waiting trains, the crowd at the booking-office getting tickets, the children tightly holding on to the skirts of their mothers, and passengers hurrying to board the train.

At last you manage to make your way through the crowd, closely following the porter, who has taken care of your luggage, and get out on to the platform. There are many tracks and trains there. No need for you to look round and read the signs that tell which train you must take. You follow your porter, and here you are — Car number 2, Train —.

You show your ticket to the guard and in you go into a most wonderful carriage. All is bustle and confusion, with people filing in,