Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • First One In

    From The Birmingham Age Herald, July 20, 1913.

    See the happy youngsters,
        Racing through the wood,
    For the old loved water
        Where the swimming’s good.

    Now they’re at the pool side,
        And with shout and jest
    Each strives in undressing
        To outdo the rest.

    Then white limbs a moment
        In the sunlight gleam,
    As a lithe young body
        Cleaves the glassy stream.

    Then a head emerges,
        And above the din
    Rings the cry of triumph,
        “I’m the first one in!”