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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Rowing
+
+Author: Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+Contributor: Guy Nickalls
+G. L. Davies
+C. M. Pitman
+W. E. Crum
+E. G. Blackmore.
+
+Editor: B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34950]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Simon Gardner, Chris Curnow and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+This Plain Text version uses unicode symbols.
+
+Italic typeface is represented by _underscores_. Small capital typeface
+is represented by UPPER CASE.
+
+Detailed notes on corrections to the text etc. are listed at the end of
+the book.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    THE ISTHMIAN LIBRARY: A Series of Volumes dealing popularly with the
+      whole range of Field Sports and Athletics.
+
+    Edited by B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, and Illustrated by numerous Sketches
+      and Instantaneous Photographs. Post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._ each.
+
+    Vol. I. Rugby Football. By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, with chapters by
+      FRANK MITCHELL, R. H. CATTELL, C. J. N. FLEMING, GREGOR MACGREGOR,
+      and H. B. TRISTRAM, and dedicated by permission to Mr. ROWLAND
+      HILL.
+
+    Vol. II. The Complete Cyclist. By A. C. PEMBERTON, Mrs. HARCOURT
+      WILLIAMSON, and C. J. SISLEY.
+
+    Vol. IV. Rowing. By R. C. LEHMANN, with chapters by GUY NICKALLS and
+      C. M. PITMAN.
+
+    Vol. V. Boxing. By R. ALLANSON WINN.
+
+
+    _Other volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced._
+
+
+
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+
+[Illustration: THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE, 1894.]
+
+                           The Isthmian Library
+                      Edited by B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+                                  No. 4
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+                                    BY
+                              R. C. LEHMANN
+
+                          WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY
+                 GUY NICKALLS, G. L. DAVIS, C. M. PITMAN,
+                 W. E. CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE
+
+                              _ILLUSTRATED_
+
+                                  LONDON
+                          A. D. INNES & COMPANY
+                                  LIMITED
+                                   1898
+
+         *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                     AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP
+
+                           I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
+
+                                    TO
+
+                       MR. HERBERT THOMAS STEWARD,
+
+               CHAIRMAN OF THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION;
+         CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, HENLEY REGATTA;
+                    AND PRESIDENT OF THE LEANDER CLUB.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+My thanks are due to the proprietors of the _Daily News_ and of the
+_English Illustrated Magazine_ for permission to include in this book
+the substance of articles originally contributed to their columns. I
+have not added to the Appendix any lists of winning crews, as these are
+to be found very fully and accurately set out in the Rowing Almanack,
+published every year at the office of the _Field_.
+
+For the rest, I have endeavoured to make the rowing instructions which
+will be found in this book as concise as was compatible with perfect
+clearness, assuming at all times that I was addressing myself first of
+all to the novice. No doubt other oarsmen will differ here and there
+from my conclusions. Absolute unanimity on every detail of rowing is not
+to be expected.
+
+All I can do is to assure my readers that nothing has been set down here
+the truth and accuracy of which I have not proved--at least, to my own
+satisfaction.
+
+_The illustrations are reproduced from photographs by Messrs. Stearn, of
+Cambridge; Messrs. Gillman, of Oxford; Messrs. Marsh, of
+Henley-on-Thames; Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton; Messrs. Pach
+Brothers, of Cambridge (Mass.); and Mr. J. G. Williams, of East
+Molesey._
+
+                                                            R. C. L.
+    _October, 1897._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                                    PAGE
+
+     I. INTRODUCTORY                                            1
+
+    II. FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS                           14
+
+   III. FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS                         38
+
+    IV. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS                         55
+
+     V. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           72
+
+    VI. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           89
+
+   VII. OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF
+          STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF COACHING               109
+
+  VIII. OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE
+          NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF LEISURE
+          TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS                             128
+
+    IX. FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS              144
+
+     X. SCULLING. _By_ GUY NICKALLS                           157
+
+    XI. STEERING. _By_ G. L. DAVIS                            176
+
+   XII. COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD. _By_ C. M. PITMAN           194
+
+  XIII. COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE                           211
+
+   XIV. ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE. _By_ W. E. CRUM               234
+
+    XV. AUSTRALIAN ROWING. _By_ E. G. BLACKMORE               255
+
+   XVI. ROWING IN AMERICA                                     270
+
+  XVII. A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES
+          HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+          TRAINING OF OARSMEN                                 288
+
+        APPENDIX--HENLEY REGATTA RULES; RULES OF
+          THE A.R.A.; RULES OF THE C.U.B.C. AND
+          O.U.B.C.                                            307
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF PLATES.
+
+
+  PAGE
+  THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE, 1894     _Frontispiece._
+  FIRST HENLEY REGATTA PROGRAMME                 _To face_   6
+  FIXED SEATS. NUMBER 1                                     20
+       "          "   2                                     22
+       "          "   3                                     24
+       "          "   4                                     26
+       "          "   5                                     30
+  SLIDING SEATS. NUMBER 1                                   38
+         "         "    2                                   40
+         "         "    3                                   41
+         "         "    4                                   42
+         "         "    5                                   44
+         "         "    6                                   45
+         "         "    7                                   47
+         "         "    8                                   48
+         "         "    9                                   50
+         "         "   10                                   52
+         "         "   11                                   54
+  SNAP-SHOTS--CREW IN MOTION. NUMBERS 1 AND 2               56
+      "         "       "        "    3 AND 4               58
+      "         "       "        "    5 AND 6               61
+      "         "       "        "    7 AND 8               64
+  MR. C. W. KENT                                            78
+  MR. H. G. GOLD                                            81
+  HENLEY REGATTA, 1897                                     130
+  HENLEY REGATTA: A HEAT FOR THE DIAMONDS                  157
+  A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS                                     194
+  A START IN THE EIGHTS                                    202
+  THE GOLDIE BOAT-HOUSE                                    211
+  A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON, AT POUGHKEEPSIE     272
+  COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON                             284
+  ROWING TYPES. NUMBER 1                                   289
+        "         "    2                                   298
+        "         "    3                                   301
+        "         "    4                                   303
+        "         "    5                                   305
+
+
+
+
+ROWING.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+INTRODUCTORY.
+
+
+My object in the following pages will be not merely to give such hints
+to the novice as may enable him, so far as book-learning can effect the
+purpose, to master the rudiments of oarsmanship, but also to commend to
+him the sport of rowing from the point of view of those enthusiasts who
+regard it as a noble open-air exercise, fruitful in lessons of strength,
+courage, discipline, and endurance, and as an art which requires on the
+part of its votaries a sense of rhythm, a perfect balance and symmetry
+of bodily effort, and the graceful control and repose which lend an
+appearance of ease to the application of the highest muscular energy.
+Much has to be suffered and many difficulties have to be overcome
+before the raw tiro, whose fantastic contortions in a tub-pair excite
+the derision of the spectators, can approach to the power, effectiveness
+and grace of a Crum or a Gold; but, given a healthy frame and sound
+organs inured to fatigue by the sports of English boyhood, given also an
+alert intelligence, there is no reason in the nature of things why
+oarsmanship should not eventually become both an exercise and a
+pleasure. And when I speak of oarsmanship, I mean the combined form of
+it in pairs, in fours, and in eight-oared racing boats.
+
+Of sculling I do not presume to speak, but those who are curious on this
+point may be referred to the remarks of Mr. Guy Nickalls in a later
+chapter. But of rowing I can speak, if not with authority, at any rate
+with experience, for during twenty-three years of my life I have not
+only rowed in a constant succession of boat-races, amounting now to
+about two hundred, but I have watched rowing wherever it was to be seen,
+and have, year after year, been privileged to utter words of instruction
+to innumerable crews on the Cam, the Isis, and the Thames. If, then, the
+novice will commit himself for a time to my guidance, I will endeavour
+to initiate him into the art and mystery of rowing. If he decides
+afterwards to join the fraternity of its votaries, I can promise him
+that his reward will not be small. He may not win fame, and he will
+certainly not increase his store of wealth, but when his time of action
+is past and he joins the great army of "have-beens," he will find, as he
+looks back upon his career, that his hours of leisure have been spent in
+an exercise which has enlarged his frame and strengthened his limbs,
+that he has drunk delight of battle with his peers in many a hard-fought
+race, that he has learnt what it means to be in perfect health and
+condition, with every sinew strung, and all his manly energies braced
+for contests of strength and endurance, and that he has bound to himself
+by the strongest possible ties a body of staunch and loyal friends whose
+worth has been proved under all sorts of conditions, through many days
+of united effort.
+
+It has often been objected to rowing, either by those who have never
+rowed, or by those who having rowed have allowed themselves to sink
+prematurely into sloth and decay, that the sport in the case of most men
+can last only for a very few years, and that having warred, not without
+glory, up to the age of about twenty-five, they must then hang their
+oars upon the wall and pass the remainder of their lives in an envious
+contemplation of the exploits of old but unwearied cricketers. Judging
+merely by my own personal experience, I am entitled to pronounce these
+lamentations baseless and misleading, for I have been able to row with
+pleasure even in racing boats during the whole period of nineteen years
+that has elapsed since I took my degree at Cambridge. But I can refer to
+higher examples, for I have seen the Grand Challenge Cup and the
+Stewards' Cup at Henley Regatta either rowed for with credit, or won by
+men whose age cannot have been far, if at all, short of forty years, and
+of men who won big races when they were thirty years old the examples
+are innumerable. But putting actual racing aside, there is in skilled
+rowing a peculiar pleasure (even though the craft rowed in be merely a
+fixed seat gig) which, as it seems to me, puts it on a higher plane than
+most other exercises. The watermanship which enables a party of veterans
+to steer their boat deftly in and out of a lock, to swing her easily
+along the reaches, while unskilled youths are toiling and panting
+astern, is, after all, no mean accomplishment. And in recent years
+rowing has taken a leaf out of the book of cricket. Scattered up and
+down the banks of the Thames are many pleasant houses in which, during
+the summer, men who can row are favoured guests, either with a view to
+their forming crews to take part in local regattas, or merely for the
+purpose of pleasure-rowing in scenes remote from the dust and turmoil of
+the city. Let no one, therefore, be repelled from oarsmanship because he
+thinks that the sport will last him through only a few years of his
+life. If he marries and settles down and becomes a busy man, he will
+enjoy his holiday on the Thames fully as much as his cricketing brothers
+enjoy theirs on some country cricket field.
+
+Of the early history of boats and boat-racing it is not necessary to say
+very much. It is enough to know that the written Cambridge records date
+back to 1827, though it is certain that racing must have begun some
+years previously; that Oxford can point to 1822 as one of the earliest
+years of their College races; that the two Universities raced against
+one another for the first time in 1829; and that Henley Regatta was
+established in 1839, when the Grand Challenge Cup was won by First
+Trinity, Cambridge. Opposite is a facsimile copy of the programme of
+this memorable regatta.
+
+Those who desire to go still further back, have the authority of Virgil
+for stating that the Trojans under Æneas could organize and carry
+through what Professor Conington, in his version of the "Æneid," calls
+"a rivalry of naval speed." The account of this famous regatta is given
+with a spirit and a richness of detail that put to shame even the most
+modern historians of aquatic prowess. After reading how Gyas, the
+captain and coach of the _Chimæra_--
+
+    "Huge bulk, a city scarce so large,
+    With Dardan rowers in triple bank,
+    The tiers ascending rank o'er rank"
+
+--how Gyas, as I say, justly indignant at the ineptitude and cowardice
+of his coxswain, hurled him from the vessel, and himself assumed the
+helm at a critical point of the race, it is a mere paltering with the
+emotions to be told, for instance, that "Mr. Pechell, who owes much to
+the teaching of Goosey Driver, steered a very good course," or that he
+"began to make the shoot for Barnes Bridge a trifle too soon." How,
+too, can the statement that "both crews started simultaneously,
+Cambridge, if anything, striking the water first," compare with the
+passage which tells us (I quote again from Professor Conington) how
+
+            "at the trumpet's piercing sound,
+    All from their barriers onward bound,
+    Upsoars to heaven the oarsman's shout,
+    The upturned billows froth and spout;
+    In level lines they plough the deep--
+    All ocean yawns as on they sweep."
+
+It may be noted in passing that no one else seems to have felt in the
+least inclined to yawn, for
+
+    "With plaudits loud and clamorous zeal
+      Echoes the woodland round;
+    The pent shores roll the thunder peal--
+      The stricken rocks rebound;"
+
+which seems, if the criticism may be permitted, a curious proceeding
+even for a stricken rock during the progress of a boat-race. Finally, a
+touch of religious romance is added when we learn that the final result
+was due, not to the unaided efforts of the straining crew, but to the
+intervention of Portunus, the Harbour God, who, moved by the prayer of
+Cloanthus, captain of the _Scylla_, pushed that barque along and carried
+her triumphantly first into the haven--invidious conduct which does not
+appear to have caused the least complaint amongst the defeated crews, or
+to have prevented Cloanthus from being proclaimed the victor of the day.
+Only on one occasion (in 1859) has Father Thames similarly exerted
+himself to the advantage of one of the University crews, for during the
+boat-race of that year he swamped the Cambridge ship beneath his mighty
+waves, and sped Oxford safely to Mortlake. Lord Justice A. L. Smith,
+amongst others, still lives, though he was unable to swim, to tell the
+exciting tale.
+
+Before I take leave of this Virgilian race, I may perhaps, even at this
+late date, be permitted as a brother coach to commiserate the impulsive
+but unfortunate Gyas on the difficulties he must have encountered in
+coaching the crew of a trireme. Not less do I pity his oarsmen, of whom
+the two lower ranks must have suffered seriously as to their backs from
+the feet of those placed above them, while the length and weight of the
+oars used by the top rank must have made good form and accurate time
+almost impossible. A Cambridge poet, Mr. R. H. Forster, has sung the
+woes of the Athenian triremists and their instructor--
+
+    "Just imagine a crew of a hundred or two
+      Shoved three deep in a kind of a barge,
+    Like a cargo of kegs, with no room for their legs,
+      And oars inconveniently large.
+    Quoth he, 'παντες προσω' and they try to do so.
+      At the sight the poor coach's brains addle;
+    So muttering 'οιμοι,' he shouts out 'ἑτοιμοι,'
+      And whatever the Greek is for 'paddle.'
+    Now do look alive, number ninety and five,
+      You're 'sugaring,' work seems to bore you;
+    You are late, you are late, number twenty and eight,
+      Keep your eyes on the man that's before you."
+
+So much for the trireme. But neither the Greeks nor any other race
+thought of adapting their boats merely to purposes of racing until the
+English, with their inveterate passion for open-air exercise, took the
+matter in hand. African war-canoes have been known to race, but their
+primary object is still the destruction of rival canoes together with
+their dusky freight. In Venice the gondoliers are matched annually
+against one another, but both the gondola and the sandolo remain what
+they always have been--mere vessels for the conveyance of passengers and
+goods. The man who would make war in a racing ship would justly be
+relegated to Hanwell, and to carry passengers, or even one "passenger,"
+in such a boat is generally looked upon as a certain presage of defeat.
+Consider for a moment. The modern racing ship (eight, four, pair, or
+single) is a frail, elongated, graceful piece of cabinet work, held
+together by thin stays, small bolts, and copper nails, and separating
+you from the water in which it floats by an eighth of an inch of Mexican
+cedar. The whole weight of the sculling-boat, built by Jack Clasper, in
+which Harding won the Searle Memorial Cup, was only nineteen pounds,
+_i.e._ about 112 pounds lighter than the man it carried. Considering the
+amount of labour and trained skill that go towards the construction of
+these beautiful machines, the price cannot be said to be heavy. Most
+builders will turn you out a sculling-boat for from £12 to £15, a pair
+for about £20, a four for £33, and an eight for £55. But the development
+of the racing type to its present perfection has taken many years.
+Little did the undergraduates who, in 1829, drove their ponderous
+man-of-war's galleys from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, while the
+stricken hills of the Thames Valley rebounded to the shouts of the
+spectators--little did they imagine that their successors, rowing on
+movable seats and with rowlocks projecting far beyond the side would
+speed in delicate barques, of arrowy shape and almost arrowy swiftness,
+from Putney to Mortlake--in barques so light and "crank" that, built as
+they are without a keel, they would overturn in a moment if the balance
+of the oars were removed. The improvements were very gradual. In 1846
+the University race was rowed for the first time in boats with
+outriggers. That innovation had, however, been creeping in for some
+years before that. Mr. Hugh Hammersley, who rowed in the Oriel boat
+which started head of the river at Oxford in 1843, has told me that in
+that year the University College boat, stroked by the famous Fletcher
+Menzies, was fitted with outriggers at stroke and bow; and the bump by
+which University displaced Oriel was generally ascribed to the new
+invention.
+
+In 1857 the University race was rowed in boats without a keel, and oars
+with a round loom were used for the first time by both crews. At the
+Henley Regatta of the preceding year the Royal Chester Rowing Club had
+entered a crew rowing in this novel style of keelless boat for the Grand
+Challenge and the Ladies' Cups. Her length was only fifty-four feet, and
+her builder was Mat Taylor, a name celebrated in the annals of
+boat-building, for it is to him, in the first instance, that our present
+type of racing-boat owes its existence. "The Chester men," Mr. W. B.
+Woodgate tells us in his Badminton book on boating, "could not sit their
+boat in the least; they flopped their blades along the water on the
+recovery in a manner which few junior crews at minor regattas would now
+be guilty of; but they rowed well away from their opponents, who were
+only College crews." They won, as a matter of fact, both the events for
+which they entered.
+
+One might have thought that with this invention improvements would have
+ceased. But in course of time the practical experience of rowing men
+suggested to them that if they slid on their seats, both the length and
+power of their stroke through the water would be increased. At first
+they greased their fixed seats, and slid on those. But it was found that
+the strain caused by this method exhausted a crew. In 1871 a crew of
+professionals used a seat that slid on the thwarts, and beat a crew that
+was generally held to be superior, and from that moment slides, as we
+now know them, came into general use. In 1873 the University crews
+rowed on sliding seats for the first time. Since then the length of the
+slide has been increased from about nine inches to fifteen inches, or
+even more, a change which has made the task of the boat-builder in
+providing floating capacity more difficult; but in all essentials the
+type of boat remains the same. It ought to be added that the Americans,
+to a large extent, use boats moulded out of _papier maché_, but this
+variation has never obtained favour in England, though boats built in
+this manner by the well-known Waters of Troy (U.S.A.) have been seen on
+English rivers. The Columbia College crew won the Visitors' Cup at
+Henley in 1878 in a paper boat, and she was afterwards bought by First
+Trinity, Cambridge, but she never won a race again.
+
+[Illustration: THE FIRST HENLEY REGATTA.]
+
+  HENLEY REGATTA
+  _June 14th_, 1839.
+
+  [Illustration]
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    OXFORD.--BRASEN NOSE COLLEGE,--Blue Cap, with Gold Tassel; Rosette,
+      yellow, purple, and crimson.
+
+    CAMBRIDGE.--TRINITY BOAT CLUB,--Blue stripe Jersey and Trowsers;
+      Rosette, French blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--ETONIAN CLUB,--White Jersey, with pale blue facings;
+      Rosette, sky blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--WADHAM COLLEGE,--White Jersey, with narrow blue stripes,
+      dark blue cap, with light blue velvet band, and light blue scarf.
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+
+  TOWN CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+  WAVE.--White Jersey, pale blue facings.
+
+  DREADNOUGHT.--Blue Striped Shirt, blue Cap
+
+  ALBION.--Blue Striped Jersey, crimson scarf.
+
+  TURN OVER.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  ORDER OF THE RACES.
+
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    The first trial heat will commence at FOUR o'clock precisely.
+
+    The second trial heat will follow immediately.
+
+    The final heat will take place at SEVEN o'clock precisely.
+
+  The Race for the
+
+  TOWN CUP,
+
+  Will take place at SIX o'clock precisely.
+
+    Previous to each Race, a Signal Gun will be fired at the Bridge to
+    clear the course, another when the course is clear, a third at the
+    Island when the Boats start, and a fourth at the Bridge to announce
+    that the race is ended.
+
+  Lithographic Drawings of the Cups,
+
+  _Two Shillings per pair_,
+
+  And the Henley Guide, Two Shillings,
+
+  May be had of HICKMAN & KINCH, Post-Office.
+
+  Hickman & Kinch, Typ. Henley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS.
+
+
+If the tiro who aspires to be an oarsman has ever seen a really good
+eight-oared crew in motion on the water, he will probably have been
+impressed not so much by the power and the pace of it as by the
+remarkable ease with which the whole complicated series of movements
+that go to make up a stroke is performed. The eight blades grip the
+water at the same moment with a perfect precision, making a deep white
+swirl as they sweep through; the bodies swing back with a free and
+springy motion; the slides move steadily; and almost before one has
+realized that a stroke has been begun, the hands have come squarely home
+to the chest and have been shot out again to the full extent of the
+arms, the blades leaving the water without a splash. Then with a
+balanced swing the bodies move forward again, the oar-blades all in a
+level line on either side, and, _presto!_ another stroke has been
+started. Nothing in these movements is violent or jerky; there are no
+contortions--at least the tiro can see none, though the coach may be
+shouting instructions as to backs and shoulders and elbows--and the boat
+glides on her way without a pause or check.
+
+What sort of spectacle, on the other hand, is afforded by a thoroughly
+bad eight? The men composing it have chests and backs together with the
+usual complement of limbs that make up a human being; they are provided
+with oars; their ship is built of cedar and fitted with slides and
+outriggers--in short, as they sit at ease in their boat, they resemble
+in all outward details the crew we have just been considering. But watch
+them when they begin to row. Where now are the balance, the rhythm, the
+level flash of blades on the feather, the crisp beginning, the dashing
+and almost contemptuous freedom of bodies and hands in motion, the even
+and unsplashing progress of the ship herself? All these have vanished,
+and in their place we see a boat rolling like an Atlantic liner, oars
+dribbling feebly along the water or soaring wildly above it, each
+striking for the beginning at the sweet will of the man who wields it,
+without regard to anybody else; eight bodies, cramped and contorted
+almost out of the semblance of humanity, shuffling, tumbling, and
+screwing, while on eight faces a look of agony bears witness to such
+tortures as few except Englishmen can continue to suffer without mutiny
+or complaint. It is not a noble or an inspiring sight; but it may be
+seen at Oxford or at Cambridge, on tidal waters, and even at Henley
+Regatta.
+
+What, then, is the main cause of the difference between these two crews?
+It lies in good "style"--style which is present in the one crew and
+absent from the other. And this style in the rowing sense merely sums up
+the result, whether to individuals or to a crew, of long and patient
+teaching founded upon principles the correctness of which has been
+established ever since rowing became not merely an exercise, but a
+science in keelless racing ships. And here one comment may be added. It
+is the habit of every generation of rowing men to imagine that they have
+invented rowing all over again, and have at last, by their own
+intelligence and energy, established its principles on a firm
+foundation. Within my own experience, five at least of these
+generations believed that for the first time the virtues of leg-work had
+been revealed to them, four thought they had made out a patent in the
+matter of body-swing, and six were convinced that they had discovered
+length of stroke and firmness of beginning. In the eyes of these young
+gentlemen, the veterans whom they occasionally condescended to invite to
+their practice were harmless and well-meaning enthusiasts, who might
+have made a figure in their day, but who were, of course, utterly unable
+to appreciate the niceties of rowing as developed by their brilliant and
+skilful successors.[1] Amiable presumption of youth and innocence! The
+fact is, of course, that the main principles of good rowing are the same
+now as they have always been, on long slides or on short slides, or even
+on fixed seats. And, personally, I have always found that the hints I
+gathered from such men as Dr. Warre, Mr. W. B. Woodgate, Mr. J. C.
+Tinne, or Sir John Edwards-Moss, whose active rowing days were over
+before sliding seats came into use, were invaluable to me in the
+coaching of crews.
+
+  [1] I shall never forget the tone of kindly patronage in which the
+  stroke of my college crew once observed to his coach, a man about
+  fifteen years older than himself: "Ah, I suppose, now, they all used to
+  row in top-hats in your day!"
+
+How is a novice to be taught so that he may some day take his seat with
+credit in a good crew? I answer that there is no royal road; he must
+pass through a long period of practice, often so dull that all his
+patience will be required to carry him through it. His progress will be
+so slow, that he will sometimes feel he is making no headway at all; but
+it will be sure none the less, and some day, if he has in him the
+makings of an oar, he will realize, to his delight, that his joints move
+freely, that his muscles are supple, that his limbs obey his brain
+immediately--that, in short, the various movements he has been striving
+so hard to acquire have become easy and natural to him, and that he can
+go through them without the painful exercise of deliberate thought at
+every moment of their recurrence.
+
+Every oarsman must begin on fixed seats. This statement is to an English
+public school or University oar a mere platitude; but in America, and
+even in some of our English clubs outside the Universities, its force
+and necessity have been lost sight of. Here and there may be found a
+born oar, whose limbs and body do not require an arduous discipline; but
+in the case of ordinary average men like the immense majority of us, it
+is impossible, I believe, to acquire correct body movement without a
+stage, more or less prolonged, of practice in fixed-seat rowing. For it
+is on fixed seats alone that a man can learn that free and solid swing
+which is essential to good oarsmanship on slides.
+
+I will, therefore, ask my novice reader to imagine that he is seated on
+one of the thwarts of a fixed-seat tub-pair, while I deceive myself into
+the belief that I am coaching him from its stern. My first duty will be
+to see that all his implements are sound and true and correct, since it
+is probable that faults are often due as much to the use of weak or
+defective materials as to any other cause. I must satisfy myself that
+his oar is stiff and of a proper length; that when pressed against the
+thole in a natural position it can grip the water firmly and come
+through it squarely;[2] that the stretcher is properly set, and that the
+straps pass tightly over the root of the toes. I must also see that he
+is properly dressed, and not constricted about the waist by impeding
+buttons. A belt is never permissible. Now for instruction.
+
+  [2] The breadth of beam of an ordinary in-rigged fixed-seat gig for the
+  use of novices may be stated at 3 ft. 10 in. A line drawn horizontally
+  across the boat, at right angles from the rowing thole, would be from
+  11½ in. to 12 in. distant from the aft, or sitting edge of the
+  thwart. Oars should measure 12 ft. over all, with an in-board length of
+  3 ft. 5 in. to 3 ft. 5½ in. Breadth of blades 5½ in. to 5¾, not
+  more.
+
+(1) Sit erect on the aft edge of your seat, exactly opposite the point
+at which your heels touch the stretcher. The feet must be placed firm
+and flat upon the stretcher, the heels touching one another, and forming
+an angle of about forty-five degrees. The knees must be bent to about
+one-third of their scope, and set a shoulder's breadth apart. Shoulders
+must be well set back, the chest open, and the stomach well set out.
+
+(2) Now swing your body slowly forward as far as you are able _from the
+hips_, without bending the back, being careful to let your head swing
+with your body. Repeat this movement several times without holding the
+oar.
+
+(_Note._--The ideal swing is that which takes the whole unbending body
+full forward till it is down between the knees. This, to a novice, is
+impossible, and the coach must therefore be content to see the first
+efforts at swing very short. It is better that this should be so than
+that a man should prematurely attain length by bending his back,
+doubling in his stomach, and over-reaching with his shoulders, faults
+that, once acquired, it is extremely difficult to eradicate.)
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_This is a stationary photograph. In the movement of the swing the body
+will come still further down._)]
+
+The swing must be slow and balanced, for "the time occupied in coming
+forward should be the body's rest, when the easy, measured swing, erect
+head, braced shoulders, and open chest, enable heart and lungs to work
+freely and easily, in preparation for a defined beginning of the next
+stroke."[3]
+
+  [3] From an article by Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith.
+
+(3) Take hold of your oar, the fingers passing round it, thumbs
+underneath, and the hands one hand's-breadth apart. The grip on the oar
+should be a finger-grip, not the vice-like hold that cramps all the
+muscles of the arm. It is important, too, to remember that, while the
+arms are presumably of the same length, the outside hand (_i.e._ the
+hand at the end of the oar) has, during stroke and swing forward, to
+pass through a larger arc than the inside hand. The inside wrist should,
+therefore, be slightly arched even at the beginning of the stroke, thus
+shortening the inside arm, but without impairing its use during the
+stroke. This arch, too, will give the inside hand a greater leverage and
+ease for performing the work of feathering, which devolves mainly upon
+it.
+
+(4) Draw your oar-handle slowly in till the roots of the thumbs touch
+the chest, the elbows passing close to the sides, and the body
+maintaining the erect position described above in instruction (1), but
+slightly inclined beyond the perpendicular. I assume that the blade of
+the oar is covered in the water in the position it would have at the
+finish of a stroke.
+
+(5) Drop your hands; in fact, not merely the hands, but the forearms and
+hands together. This movement will take the oar clean and square out of
+the water.
+
+(6) Turn your wrists, more particularly the inside wrist, with a quick
+sharp turn. This movement will feather the oar.
+
+(7) Without attempting to move your body, shoot your hands sharply out
+to the full extent of your arms, taking care to keep the blade of the
+oar well clear of the water. Repeat these last three movements several
+times, at first separately, then in combination.
+
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER CATCHING, BEGINNING.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(_Note._--These three movements are sometimes spoken of incorrectly as
+the finish of the stroke. Properly speaking, however, the finish, as
+distinguished from the beginning, is that part of the stroke which is
+rowed through the water from the moment the arms begin to bend until the
+hands come in to the chest. The movements I have described are in
+reality part of the recovery, _i.e._ they are the movements necessary to
+enable the oarsman's body to recover itself after the strain of one
+stroke, and to prepare for the next. Smartly performed, as they ought to
+be, they have all the appearance of one quick motion. As to the dropping
+of the hands, the novice must practise this so as to get his oar square
+and clean out of the water. It is, however, necessary to guard against
+exaggerating it into the pump-handle or coffee-grinding style, which
+merely wastes energy and time. Later on, when an oarsman is rowing in a
+light racing ship, a very slight pressure will enable him to release his
+oar, the movement and elasticity of the boat helping him.)
+
+(8) You have now taken the blade out of the water, feathered it, and
+have shot your hands away, the blade still on the feather, to a point
+beyond the knees. In so doing you will have released your body, which
+you must now swing forward slowly and at a perfectly even pace, in a
+solid column from the hips, as described in instruction 2.
+
+(9) Obviously, if you keep your arms stiff in the shoulder-sockets, you
+will eventually, as your body swings down, force your hands against the
+stretcher, or into the bottom of the boat, with the blade of the oar
+soaring to the level of your head. To avoid this windmill performance
+let your hands, especially the inside hand, rest lightly on the
+oar-handle, and as the body swings down let the hands gradually rise,
+_i.e._ let the angle that the arms make with the body increase. You will
+thus, by the time you have finished your swing, have brought the blade
+close to the water, in readiness to grip the beginning without the loss
+of a fraction of a second.
+
+(10) During the foregoing manœuvre keep your arms absolutely straight
+from shoulder to wrist. Many oarsmen, knowing that they have to get hold
+of the beginning, cramp their arm-muscles and bend their elbows as they
+swing forward, the strain giving them a fictitious feeling of strength.
+But this is a pure delusion, and can only result in waste, both of
+energy and of time.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--POSITION HALF-WAY THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+(11) As you swing, use the inside arm and hand to shove against the oar.
+You will thus keep the button of the oar pressed up against the rowlock,
+a position it ought never even for a moment to lose; you will help to
+steady your swing, and you will go far towards keeping both shoulders
+square. Most novices and many veterans over-reach badly with the outside
+shoulder.
+
+(12) While you are carrying out the last four instructions, your feet,
+save for a slight pressure against the straps during the very first part
+of the recovery (see instruction 23), must remain firmly planted, heel
+and toe, against your stretcher. During your swing you should have a
+distinct sense of balancing with the ball of your foot against the
+stretcher. This resistance of the feet on the stretcher helps to prevent
+you from tumbling forward in a helpless, huddled mass as you reach the
+limit of your forward swing.
+
+(13) As to taking the oar off the feather. Good oars vary considerably
+on this point. Some carry the blade back feathered the whole way, and
+only turn it square just in time to get the beginning of the stroke.
+Others turn it off the feather about half-way through, just before the
+hands come over the stretcher. For a novice, I certainly recommend the
+latter method. Turn your wrists up and square your blade very soon after
+the hands have cleared the knees. It will thus be easier for you to keep
+your button pressed against the rowlock; your hands can balance the oar
+better, and you will not run the risk, to which the former method
+renders you liable, of skying or cocking your blade just when it ought
+to be nearest the water, so as to catch the beginning. A good and
+experienced waterman, however, ought certainly to be able to keep his
+oar on the feather against a high wind until the last available moment.
+The movement of returning the blade to the square position ought to be
+firm and clean.
+
+(14) As the body swings, your hands ought to be at the same time
+stretching and reaching out as if constantly striving to touch something
+which is as constantly evading them.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--POSITION AS ARMS ARE BENDING FOR FINISH.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(15) When you are full forward, the blade of your oar should not be
+quite at a right angle to the water, but the top of it ought to be very
+slightly inclined over, _i.e._ towards the stern of the boat. A blade
+thus held will grip the water cleaner, firmer, and with far less
+back-splash than a blade held absolutely at right angles. Besides,
+you will obviate the danger of "slicing" into the water and rowing too
+deep. At the same time, I am bound to admit that I know only a few oars
+who adopt this plan. One of them, however, is the present President of
+the Oxford University Boat Club, Mr. C. K. Philips, as good a waterman
+as ever sat in a boat. I am quite firmly convinced that the plan is a
+sound one, and I believe if it were more generally followed, we should
+see far less of that uncomfortable and unsightly habit of
+back-splashing, which is too often seen even in good crews.
+
+(16) I have now brought you forward to the full extent of your swing and
+reach. Your back is (or ought to be) straight, your shoulders are firm
+and braced, your chest and stomach still open, though your body is down
+somewhere between your open knees. Your hands have been gradually
+rising, and your oar-blade is, therefore, close to the water. Now raise
+your hands a little more, not so as to splash the blade helplessly to
+the bottom of the river, but with a quick movement as though they were
+passing round a cylinder. When they get to the top of the cylinder the
+blade will be covered in the water. At the same moment, and without the
+loss of a fraction of a second, swing the body and shoulders back as
+though they were released from a spring, the arms remaining perfectly
+straight, and the feet helping by a sharp and vigorous pressure (from
+the ball of the foot, and the toes especially) against the stretcher.
+The result of these rapid combined movements will be that the blade, as
+it immerses itself in the water, will strike it with an irresistible
+force (a sort of crunch, as when you grind your heel into gravel),
+created by the whole weight-power of the body applied through the
+straight lines of the arms, and aided by all the strength of which the
+legs are capable. This, technically speaking, is the beginning of the
+stroke. The outside hand should have a good grip of the oar.
+
+(17) Swing back, as I said, with arms straight. The novice must,
+especially if he has muscular arms, root in his head the idea that the
+arms are during a great part of the stroke connecting rods, and that it
+is futile to endeavour to use them independently of the body-weight,
+which is the real driving power.
+
+(18) Just before the body attains the limit of its back-swing, which
+should be at a point a little beyond the perpendicular, begin to bend
+your arms for the finish of the stroke, and bring the hands square home
+until the roots of the thumbs touch the chest about three inches below
+the separation of the ribs. Here you must be careful not to raise or
+depress the hands. They should sweep in to the chest in an even plane,
+the outside hand drawing the handle firmly home without lugging or
+jerking. As the hands come in, the body finishes its swing, the elbows
+pass close to the sides, pointing downwards, and the shoulders are rowed
+back and kept down. The chest must be open, but not unduly inflated at
+the expense of the stomach, the head erect, and the whole body carrying
+itself easily, gracefully, and without unnecessary stiffness.
+
+(19) Do not meet your oar, _i.e._ keep your body back until the hands
+have come in. If you pull yourself forward to meet your oar, you will
+certainly shorten the stroke, tire yourself prematurely, and will
+probably fail to get the oar clean out of the water or to clear your
+knees on the recovery.
+
+(20) Do not try to force down your legs and flatten the knees as if you
+were rowing on a sliding seat. The mere movement of the body on the
+back swing and the kick off the stretcher will cause a certain
+alteration in the bend of the knees, but this tendency should not be
+consciously increased. Remember that fixed-seat rowing is not now an end
+in itself. It is a stage towards skilled rowing on sliding seats, and
+its chief object is to give the novice practice in certain essential
+elements of the stroke, and particularly in body-swing, which could not
+be so easily taught, if at all, if he were to begin at once on sliding
+seats. Swing is still, as it always has been, all important in good
+rowing, and if a novice attempts to slide (for that is what it comes to)
+on fixed seats he will begin to shuffle and lose swing entirely.
+
+(21) Do not let your body settle down or fall away from your oar at the
+finish. Sit erect on your bones, and do not sink back on to your tail.
+The bones are the pivot on which you should swing.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--THE FINISH.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph. In movement the body would go a little further
+back._)]
+
+(22) The blade of the oar, having been fully covered at the very
+beginning of the stroke, must remain fully covered up to the moment that
+the hands are dropped. If the oarsman, when he bends his arms during the
+stroke, begins to depress his hands, he will row light, _i.e._ the blade
+will be partially uncovered, and will naturally lose power. On the
+other hand, if he raises his hands unduly, he will cover more than the
+blade, and will find great difficulty in extracting it from the water
+properly. The outside hand should control the balance of the oar, and
+keep it at its proper level.
+
+(23) As to the use of the stretcher-straps. Many coaches imagine that
+when they have said, "Do not pull yourself forward by your toes against
+the straps," they have exhausted all that is to be said on the matter. I
+venture, with all deference, to differ from them. I agree that in the
+earlier stages of instruction it is very useful to make men occasionally
+row in tub-pairs without any straps, so as to force them to develop and
+strengthen the muscles of stomach and legs, which ought to do the main
+work of the recovery. But later on, when a man is rowing in an eight,
+and is striving, according to the instructions of his coach, to swing
+his body well and freely back, he can no more recover properly without a
+slight toe-pressure against the straps--the heels, however, remaining
+firm--than he could make bricks without straw. The straps, in fact, are
+a most valuable aid to the recovery. Take them away from a crew and you
+will see one of two things: either the men will never swing nearly even
+to the upright position, and will recover with toil and trouble, or, if
+they swing back properly, they will all fall over backwards with their
+feet in the air. This slight strap-pressure just helps them over the
+difficult part of the recovery; as the body swings forward the feet
+immediately resume their balance against the stretcher. Indeed, if these
+movements are properly performed, you get a very pretty play of the toes
+and the ball of the foot against the stretcher, you counteract the
+tendency of the body to tumble forward, and you materially help the
+beginning from that part of the foot in which the spring resides.
+Totally to forbid men to use their straps seems to me a piece of
+pedantry. On this point I may fortify myself with the opinion of Mr. W.
+B. Woodgate, as given in his "Badminton Book on Boating." I am glad,
+too, to find that Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith, of the London Rowing Club, a
+most finished and beautiful oarsman, whose record of victories at Henley
+is a sufficient testimony to his knowledge and skill, agrees with me. In
+an article published during a recent rowing controversy, he remarks, "I
+think Mr. ---- will find that all men, consciously or unconsciously,
+use the foot-strap more or less, to aid them in the first inch or two of
+recovery. If he doubts this, let him remove the strap and watch results,
+be the oarsman who he may." I need only add that this pressure should
+never be greater than will just suffice to help the body-recovery. If
+exaggerated, its result on slides will be to spoil swing by pulling the
+slide forward in advance of the body.
+
+I have now, I think, taken you through all the complicated movements of
+the stroke, and there for the present I must leave you to carry out as
+best you can instructions which I have endeavoured to make as clear on
+paper as the difficulties of the subject permit. But I may be allowed to
+add a warning. Book-reading may be a help; but rowing, like any other
+exercise, can only be properly learnt by constant and patient practice
+in boats under the eyes of competent instructors. Do not be discouraged
+because your improvement is slow, and because you are continually being
+rated for the same faults. With a slight amount of intelligence and a
+large amount of perseverance and good temper, these faults will
+gradually disappear, and as your limbs and muscles accustom themselves
+to the work, you will be moulded into the form of a skilled oarsman.
+Even the dread being who may be coaching you--winner of the Grand
+Challenge Cup or stroke-oar of his University though he be--had his
+crude and shapeless beginnings. He has passed through the mill, and now
+is great and glorious. But if you imagine that even he is faultless,
+just watch him as he rows, and listen to the remarks that a fearless and
+uncompromising coach permits himself to address to him. And to show you
+that others have suffered and misunderstood and have been misunderstood
+like yourself, I will wind up this chapter with "The Wail of the
+Tubbed," the lyrical complaint of some Cambridge rowing Freshmen.
+
+    "Sir,--We feel we are intruding, but we deprecate your blame,
+    We may plead our youth and innocence as giving us a claim;
+    We should blindly grope unaided in our efforts to do right,
+    So we look to you with confidence to make our darkness light.
+
+    "We are Freshmen--rowing Freshmen; we have joined our college club,
+    And are getting quite accustomed to our daily dose of tub;
+    We have all of us bought uniforms, white, brown, or blue, or red,
+    We talk rowing shop the livelong day, and dream of it in bed.
+
+    "We sit upon our lexicons as 'Happy as a King'
+    (We refer you to the picture), and we practise how to swing;
+    We go every day to chapel, we are never, never late,
+    And we exercise our backs when there, and always keep them straight.
+
+    "We shoot our hands away--on land--as quick as any ball:
+    Balls always shoot, they tell us, when rebounding from a wall.
+    We decline the noun 'a bucket,' and should deem it--well, a bore,
+    If we 'met,' when mainly occupied in oarsmanship, our oar.
+
+    "But still there are a few things that our verdant little band,
+    Though we use our best endeavours, cannot fully understand.
+    So forgive us if we ask you, sir--we're dull, perhaps, but keen--
+    To explain these solemn mysteries and tell us what they mean.
+
+    "For instance, we have heard a coach say, "Five, you're very rank;
+    Mind those eyes of yours, they're straying, always straying,
+                                                           on the bank.'
+    We are not prone to wonder, but we looked with some surprise
+    At the owner of those strangely circumambulating eyes.
+
+    "There's a stroke who 'slices awfully,' and learns without remorse
+    That his crew are all to pieces at the finish of the course;
+    There's A., who 'chucks his head about,' and B.,
+                                                who 'twists and screws,'
+    Like an animated gimlet in a pair of shorts and shoes.
+
+    "And C. is 'all beginning,' so remark his candid friends;
+    It must wear him out in time, we think, this stroke that never ends.
+    And though D. has no beginning, yet his finish is A1;
+    How can that possess a finish which has never been begun?
+
+    "And E. apparently would be an oar beyond compare,
+    If the air were only water and the water only air.
+    And F., whose style is lofty, doubtless has his reasons why
+    He should wish to scrape the judgment seat, when rowing, from the sky.
+
+    "Then G. is far too neat for work, and H. is far too rough;
+    There's J., who lugs, they say, too much, and K. not half enough;
+    There's L., who's never fairly done, and M., who's done too brown,
+    And N., who can't stand training, and poor O., who can't sit down.
+
+    "And P. is much too limp to last; there's Q. too stiffly starched;
+    And R., poor fool, whose inside wrist is never 'nicely arched.'
+    And, oh, sir, if you pity us, pray tell us, if you please,
+    What is meant by 'keep your button up,' and 'flatten down your knees.'
+
+    "If an oar may be described as 'he,' there's no death half so grim
+    As the death like which we hang on with our outside hands to 'him;'
+    But in spite of all our efforts, we have never grasped, have you?
+    How _not_ to use 'those arms' of ours, and yet to pull it through.
+
+    "S. 'never pulled his shoestrings.' If a man must pull at all,
+    Why uselessly pull shoestrings? Such a task would surely pall.
+    But T.'s offence is worse than that, he'll never get his Blue,
+    He thinks rowing is a pastime--well, we own we thought so too.
+
+    "Then V.'s 'a shocking sugarer,' how bitter to be that!
+    X. flourishes his oar about as if it were a bat;
+    And Y. should be provided, we imagine, with a spade,
+    Since he always 'digs,' instead of 'merely covering his blade.'
+
+    "Lastly, Z.'s a 'real old corker,' who will never learn to work,
+    For he puts his oar in gently and extracts it with a jerk.
+    Oh! never has there been, we trow, since wickedness began,
+    Such a mass of imperfections as the perfect rowing man.
+
+P.S. BY TWO CYNICS.
+
+    "So they coach us and reproach us (like a flock of silly jays
+    Taught by parrots how to feather) through these dull October days.
+    We shall never understand them, so we shouldn't care a dam[4]
+    If they all were sunk in silence at the bottom of the Cam."
+
+  [4] Dam--an Oriental coin of small value.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS.
+
+
+Let me assume (I am still addressing my imaginary novice) that you have
+passed through the first few stages of your novitiate. If you are an
+Oxford or a Cambridge freshman you will have been carefully drilled in a
+tub-pair, promoted later to a freshmen's four or eight, and during the
+next term may have been included in the Torpid or Lent-Boat of your
+College. At any rate, I am assuming that you have by now rowed in a race
+or a series of races for eight-oared crews on fixed seats. But I prefer
+to leave the general subject of combined rowing, whether in eights or
+fours, to a later chapter, while I attempt to explain the mysteries and
+difficulties of the sliding seat.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+The slide may be described as a contrivance for increasing the length of
+the stroke (_i.e._ of the period during which, the oar-blade remaining
+covered in the water, power is applied to the propulsion of the
+boat), and for giving greater effect to the driving force of the
+oarsman's legs. Long before the actual sliding seat had been invented
+professional oarsmen and scullers had discovered that if they slid on
+their fixed thwarts they increased the pace of their boats, and even
+amongst amateurs this practice was not unknown. Mr. R. H. Labat has told
+me that so far back as 1870 he and his colleagues fitted their rowing
+trousers with leather, greased their thwarts, and so slid on them. In
+1872 slides were used at Henley Regatta, and in 1873 the Oxford and
+Cambridge crews for the first time rowed their race on slides, Cambridge
+winning in 19 mins. 35 secs., which remained as record time until 1892.
+This performance, though it was undoubtedly helped by good conditions of
+tide and wind, served to establish slides firmly in popular favour, and
+from that time onwards fixed seats were practically retained only for
+the coaching of novices and, in eights, for the Torpids and Lent Races
+at Oxford and Cambridge. Now, proceeding on the principle that rowing is
+meant to be an exercise of grace, symmetry, and skill, as well as of
+strength and endurance, I think I may lay it down as an essential rule
+that it is necessary on slides to observe those instructions which made
+fixed-seat rowing in the old days a pleasure to the eye. In the very
+early days of slides, while men were still groping for correct
+principles, this important axiom was too often neglected. It was
+imagined that swing was no longer necessary, and accordingly the rivers
+were filled with contorted oarsmen shuffling and tumbling and screwing
+on their slides. Veteran oars and coaches, to whom "form" was as the
+apple of their eye, were horror-struck, and gave vent to loud
+lamentations, utterly condemning this horrible innovation, which, as
+they thought, had reduced oarsmanship to the level of a rough and tumble
+fight. "If both Universities," wrote the Rev. A. T. W. Shadwell in his
+"Notes on Boat-building," published in the "Record of the University
+Boat Race" in 1881, "would condescend to ask Dr. Warre to construct for
+them, and if their crews would also either learn to use the sliding
+apparatus effectively, or to discard it as pernicious and as an enemy to
+real oarsmanship when not thoroughly mastered, then we should be treated
+again to the welcome spectacle of boats travelling instead of
+dragging, riding over the water instead of the water washing over the
+canvas, combined with that still more-to-be-desired spectacle of
+faultless form and faultless time--eight men ground into one perfect
+machine. Nothing short of that result will satisfy those who know what
+eight-oared rowing ought to be, and lament its decadence." Yet Cambridge
+had produced the 1876 crew, Oxford the 1878 crew, both of them models of
+style, unison and strength, and Leander both in 1875 and in 1880 had won
+the Grand Challenge Cup with admirable crews composed exclusively of
+University men. It would seem, therefore, as if Mr. Shadwell's
+strictures were undeserved, at least by the better class of University
+oars. The fact is that by that time, and for some years before that
+time, the true principles of sliding had been acquired, and the more
+serious defects of form had once more become the cherished possession of
+inferior college crews. But then, even in the glorious old fixed-seat
+days, College crews were not always remarkable for the beauty and
+correctness of their form. I am not going to deny that the difficulty of
+teaching good style has been increased by the addition of the sliding
+seat; but there have been innumerable examples during the last quarter
+of a century to prove that this difficulty can be faced and entirely
+overcome. Four crews I have already mentioned. I may add to them, not as
+exhausting the list of good crews, but as being splendid examples of
+combined style and power, the London Rowing Club crew of 1881, which won
+the final of the Grand from the outside station against Leander and
+Twickenham; the Oxford crews of 1892, 1896 and 1897; the crews of
+Trinity Hall, the Oxford Etonians, and the Thames Rowing Club in 1886
+and 1887; the Cambridge crew and the Thames Rowing Club crew of 1888;
+the London Rowing Club crew of 1890; the Leander crews of 1891, 1893,
+1894 and 1896; and the New College and Leander crews of the present
+year. It is fortunate that this should be so, for, the proof of the
+pudding being in the eating, it is hardly likely that crews will abandon
+a device which, while it has actually increased pace over the Henley
+course by close on half a minute, has rendered skill and watermanship of
+higher value, and has given an additional effect to physical strength.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_As the recovery movements begin, the hands have been dropped and the
+wrists have begun to turn over for feather. Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--THE RECOVERY.
+
+(_Arms have been sharply straightened out and the body has been released
+for the swing._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--FORWARD POSITION ON 16 INCH SLIDE LEVEL WITH "WORK."
+
+(_In movement the body would swing a little further forward, the chest
+pressing against left knee._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+During my undergraduate days at Cambridge, and for some years afterwards
+(say, up to about 1884), the slide-tracks in racing boats were
+sixteen inches long.[5] This, allowing seven inches as the breadth of
+the seat itself, would give the slide a "play," or movement, of nine
+inches. The front-stop, which forms the limit of the forward movement of
+the slide, was fixed so as to bring the front edge of the slide to a
+point five inches from the "work," _i.e._ from a line drawn straight
+across the boat from the back, or rowing, thole. At the finish of the
+stroke, therefore, when the slide had been driven full back, its front
+edge was fourteen inches away from the work. To put it in technical
+language, we slid up to five inches from our work and finished fourteen
+inches away from it. Since that time slides have become longer, and
+there are but few racing boats in which the slide-tracks are less than
+twenty-two or even twenty-three inches long, giving the slide a play of
+fifteen or sixteen inches. The front edge of the slide now moves forward
+(when I say "forward" I speak in relation to the movement of the body
+and not in relation to the ends of the boat) to a point which is level
+with the work. In other words, we now slide up to our work and finish
+fifteen or sixteen inches from it. On these long slides, when the body
+has attained the full reach, the flanks are closed in upon the thighs,
+the knees are bent until the thighs come fairly close to the calves,
+and, _ex necessario_, the ankle-joints are very much bent. It is plain
+that great flexibility of hip-joints, knees, and ankles must be attained
+in order that the slide may be used fully up to the last fraction of an
+inch in coming forward. This flexibility very few novices, and not all
+old stagers, possess. The muscles and joints at first absolutely refuse
+to accommodate themselves to this new strain, and you will see a man as
+he slides forward, taking his heels well off the stretcher in order to
+ease the strain upon his ankles, and moving his shoulders back long
+before his oar has gripped the water in order to relieve his hip-joints.
+This results in his missing the whole of his beginning, striking the
+water at right-angles to his rigger instead of well behind it, and
+having absolutely no firmness of drive when it becomes necessary for him
+to use his legs. In order, therefore, that matters may be made easier
+for novices, and that they may be brought on gradually, I strongly
+advise coaches to start them on slides much shorter than those now
+in vogue. A slide with a play of eight inches, coming to a point six
+inches from the work, is ample. A few days will make a wonderful
+difference, and later on, when the first stiffness has worn off and the
+movements have become easier, the slide can be gradually increased. At
+Oxford and Cambridge the proper seasons for such preliminary practice
+would be the Lent Term, when Torpids and Lent Races are over, and the
+beginning of the October term, when many College clubs--at any rate at
+Cambridge--organize Sliding-seat Trial Eights in clinker-built boats.
+
+  [5] The Metropolitan rowing clubs had, I believe, lengthened their
+  sliding some time before this.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph. N.B.--Head inserted by engraver._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 6.--POSITION OF BODY ABOUT HALF THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+Two further points remain to be noticed. On fixed seats the ankles
+hardly bend up as the body swings forward, and it is possible,
+therefore, to use a stretcher fixed almost erect in the boat, the seat
+being placed eleven or twelve inches from the work. But with slides, as
+I have explained, the seat moves to a point which in racing boats is now
+level with the work, and few ankles are capable of submitting to the
+strain which would be involved if the stretchers were set up as erect
+("proud" is the technical term) as they are with fixed seats. It is
+necessary, therefore, to set the stretchers more off on an incline
+(technically, to "rake" them). It will be found, I think, that,
+assuming a stretcher to be one foot in height, a set-off of nine inches
+will be amply sufficient for most novices, even on full slides.[6] I
+have myself never found any difficulty in maintaining my feet firm on a
+stretcher of this rake or even of less, and I have known some very
+supple-jointed men, _e.g._ Mr. H. Willis, of the Leander Crews of 1896
+and 1897, who preferred to row with a stretcher set up a good deal
+prouder. But the average oar is not very supple-jointed, though his
+facility in this respect can be greatly improved by practice. To make
+things easier--and after all our object should be to smooth away all the
+oarsman's external difficulties--I consider it advisable to fix
+heel-traps to the stretcher. This simple device, by the pressure which
+it exercises against the back of the heels, counteracts their tendency
+to come away from the stretcher; but even with heel-traps, I have seen
+stiff-jointed oarsmen make the most superbly successful efforts to bring
+their heels away.
+
+  [6] The angle made by the back of the stretcher and the kelson may vary
+  from 43° to 53°. Personally, I prefer 50°. The prouder (up to a certain
+  point) you set the stretcher the firmer will your leg-power be at the
+  finish of the stroke.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 7.--POSITION JUST BEFORE FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_The hands have still to come in to chest and a few inches of slide
+remain for final leg-pressure._)]
+
+The second point is this: With sliding seats you require an oar of
+longer leverage (_i.e._ inboard measurement from rowing-face of
+button to end of handle) than with fixed seats. For a fixed seat an oar
+with a leverage of 3 ft. 5½ ins. should suffice. With long slides the
+leverage of an oar should not be less than 3 ft. 8 ins., nor more than 3
+ft. 8½ ins. For this I assume that the distance of the centre of the
+seat from the sill of the row-lock is 2 ft. 7 ins. With regard to
+leverage, there is a practical unanimity of opinion amongst modern
+oarsmen. With regard to the outboard measurement of oars and the proper
+width of blade, they differ somewhat, but I can reserve this matter for
+the next chapter, merely premising that in any case it is not advisable
+to start your novices in gigs with oar-blades broader than 5¾ ins.
+
+Let me imagine, then, that my pupil is seated in the gig, his stretcher
+having been fixed at a point that will enable him, when his slide is
+full back, and he is sitting on it easily without pressing, to have his
+knees _slightly_ bent.
+
+And now to the business of instruction.
+
+1. Remember and endeavour to apply all the lessons you have learnt on
+fixed seats. Slides add another element to the stroke. They do not alter
+the elements you have previously been taught.
+
+2. BEGINNING.--Get hold of this just as you would on a fixed seat, with
+a sharp spring of the whole body, which thus begins its swing-back
+without the loss of a fraction of time.
+
+    (_a_) The natural tendency of a tiro will be to drive his slide away
+      before his shoulders have begun to move. This must at all costs be
+      avoided. In order to secure the effectual combination of
+      body-swing and leg-work, it is essential that the swing should
+      start first.
+
+    (_b_) It is equally reprehensible to swing the body full back before
+      starting the slide; you thus cut the stroke into two distinct
+      parts, one composed of mere body-swing, the other of mere
+      leg-work. Therefore:
+
+(2) When the body-swing backwards has started, but only the smallest
+fractional part of a second afterwards--so quickly, indeed, as to appear
+to the eye of a spectator almost a simultaneous movement--let the slide
+begin to travel back, the swing meanwhile continuing.
+
+    (_a_) Remember what was said in fixed-seat instructions as to the
+      use of the toes and the ball of the foot at the beginning of the
+      stroke. On slides this is even more important.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 8.--BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, head left behind._)]
+
+(3) Body and slide are now moving back in unison, the feet pressing with
+firm and steady pressure against the stretcher, _and the arms perfectly
+straight_. As the slide moves, the leg-power applied must on no account
+diminish. If anything it ought to increase, for the body is beginning to
+lose its impetus, and the main part of the resistance is transferred to
+the legs, the blade all the time moving at an even pace through the
+water.
+
+(4) The body must swing a little further back than on a fixed seat.
+
+(5) Body-swing and slide-back should end at the same moment.
+
+(6) As they end, the knees should be pressed firmly down so as to enable
+you to secure the last ounce of leg-power from the stretcher.
+Simultaneously with this depression of the legs, the hands (and
+particularly the outside hand, which has been doing the main share of
+the work of the stroke all through) must bring the oar-handle firmly
+home to the chest, sweeping it in and thus obtaining what is called a
+firm hard finish. As the knees come finally down, the elbows pass the
+sides, and the shoulders move back and downwards.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 9.--THOROUGHLY BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, back doubled over, arms bent, hands heavy on
+handle. A position entailing great labour and resulting in a short weak
+stroke._)]
+
+    (_a_) Mr. W. B. Woodgate, in the Badminton book on "Boating," says:
+      "Many good oarsmen slide until the knees are quite straight. In
+      the writer's opinion this is waste of power: the knees should
+      never quite straighten; the recovery is, for anatomical reasons,
+      much stronger if the joint is slightly bent when the reversal of
+      the machinery commences. The extra half-inch of kick gained by
+      quite straightening the knees hardly compensates for the extra
+      strain of recovery; also leg-work to the last fraction of a second
+      of swing is better preserved by this retention of a slight bend,
+      and an open chest and clean finish are thereby better attained."
+
+    If Mr. Woodgate means that the legs are _not_ to be pressed down as
+      the stroke finishes, but are to remain loosely bent, I differ from
+      him, though, considering his high authority, with hesitation and
+      regret. As a matter of fact, the front edge of the thwart catches
+      the calves of the legs at the finish, when the legs are pressed
+      down, and prevents the knees from being _absolutely_
+      straightened. But I am certain that unless an oarsman assures his
+      legs in the firm position that I have explained, he will lose most
+      valuable power at the end of the stroke, and will materially
+      increase his difficulty in taking his oar clean out of the water
+      and generally in getting a smart recovery. This final leg-pressure
+      not only supports the body in a somewhat trying position, but
+      enables the hands to come home to the chest without faltering. As
+      on fixed seats, it is essential that the body should not be pulled
+      forward to meet the oar. And it is equally essential that it
+      should not sink down or fall away from the hands, thus rendering
+      an elastic recovery impossible.
+
+    (_b_) The blade, as on fixed seats, must be kept fully covered to
+      the finish, and there must be power on it to the last fraction of
+      an inch. If a man takes his oar out of the water before he has
+      fairly ended his stroke, and rows his finish in the air, or if he
+      partially uncovers his blade and rows "light," he commits in
+      either case a serious fault. In the former case his whole
+      body-weight, which ought to be propelling the boat, not only
+      ceases to have any good effect, but becomes so much dead lumber,
+      and actually impedes her progress. In the latter he can only exert
+      half, or, it may be, one quarter of his proper power during an
+      appreciable part of the stroke.
+
+(7) The drop of the hands, the turn of the wrists, the shoot-out of the
+hands, and the straightening of the arms must be performed precisely as
+on a fixed seat, but the legs, meanwhile, are to remain braced, so that
+knees may not hamper hands. As soon as ever the hands have been shot
+out, and _immediately_ after the start of the forward swing, the slide
+comes into play, and the knees consequently begin to bend outwards and
+upwards. It is very important not to pause or "hang" on the recovery.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 10.--A THOROUGHLY BAD AND VERY COMMON POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body lying much too far back, elbows sticking out. From such a
+position a smart and elastic recovery is impossible._)]
+
+(8) The recovery movements ought to release the body smartly, but care
+must be taken not to hustle the body forward with a rush before the arms
+are straightened. The body _begins_ to swing _from the hips_ as soon
+as the hands release it, but the swing is to be a slow one.
+
+    (_a_) Do not begin to slide forward before you swing. Let your swing
+      just have the precedence, and let it then carry your slide with
+      it.
+
+(9) The pace of the swing forward must be slow and unvarying, and the
+slide, therefore, must also move slowly. The time occupied by the swing
+should be the body's rest.
+
+(10) Remember the fixed-seat instructions as to balance against the
+stretcher with the feet during the swing forward, and especially during
+the latter part of it. The fault of tumbling forward over the stretcher
+is far too common, and can only be avoided or corrected by maintaining
+the pressure on the stretcher. In fact, never let your body get out of
+control. You ought to feel and to look as if at any moment during the
+swing forward you could stop dead at the word of command. Swing and
+slide should practically end together, the body "snaking out," as I have
+heard it expressed, in the final part of the swing, but without
+"pecking" over the front-stop. There must be no over-reach with the
+shoulders.
+
+(11) When the body is full forward the knees should be opened to about
+the breadth of the arm-pits, the flanks closed in against the thighs.
+The knees should bend steadily and gradually into this position, and at
+the moment of beginning they must maintain themselves there and not fall
+loosely apart. Such a movement entails a great loss of power at the
+beginning of the next stroke. Nor, on the other hand, ought the knees to
+be clipped together as the stroke begins.
+
+(12) Remember, finally, that grace, erectness, straightness of back and
+arms, and a clean precision, balance and elasticity of all movements are
+as important now as they were on fixed seats. A man who on slides rounds
+his back, humps up his shoulders, and hollows his chest _may_ do good
+work, but it will be in spite of and not because of these serious
+disfigurements. Only by carefully observing fixed rules and by prolonged
+practice will you be able to attain to the harmonious ease and elegance
+by which a comparatively weak man can so economize his strength as to
+outrow and outlast some brawny giant who wastes his power in useless
+contortions.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 11.--ANOTHER BAD POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body doubled up over handle of oar, elbows sticking out. With the body
+in this position heart and lungs get no chance of working properly._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS.
+
+
+The novice, having passed successfully through his period of
+apprenticeship, is by this time ready, let us suppose, to be included in
+an eight-oared, sliding-seat crew, either for his college or for the
+rowing club to which he may happen to belong. He will marvel at first at
+the fragile and delicate fabric of the craft in which he is asked to
+take his place. One-eighth of an inch of cedar divides him from the
+waters that are to be the scene of his prowess. In stepping into the
+boat he must exercise the greatest care. The waterman and the coxswain
+are firmly holding the riggers, while the oarsman, placing a hand on
+each gunwale to support himself, steps cautiously with one foot on to
+the kelson, or backbone of the ship. Then he seats himself upon his
+slide, fits his feet into the stretcher-straps, and inserts his oar in
+the rowlock, finally getting the button into its proper place by
+raising the handle, and so working at it until the button comes in under
+the string that passes from thole to thole, and keeps the oar from
+flying out of the rowlock. His seven companions having performed the
+same feats, the boat is now shoved out from the bank, and the work of
+the day begins.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 1.--JUST BEFORE FULL REACH.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 2.--FULL REACH.
+
+("_Reach out and row!_")]
+
+The oarsman who thus takes his first voyage in a racing-ship, built, as
+all racing-ships are, without a keel, must remember that her stability,
+when she contains her crew, is obtained merely by the balance of the
+oars. Remove the oars, and the boat would immediately roll over to one
+side or the other, and immerse her crew in the water. With eight bodies
+and oars in a constant state of movement, the problem of keeping the
+boat upon an even keel is not an easy one. It can only be solved
+satisfactorily in one way: There must be absolute harmony in every
+movement. The hands must come in and out at the same moment and at the
+same level, and the oar-blades must necessarily be maintained, on the
+feather and throughout the swing, at the uniform level prescribed for
+them by the harmonious movement of eight pairs of hands. The bodies must
+begin, continue, and end the swing together; the blades must strike
+the water at precisely the same moment; all the bodies must swing back
+as if released from one spring; the slides must move together; the arms
+bend as by one simultaneous impulse; and the eight oar-blades, having
+swept through the water in a uniform plane, must leave it as though they
+were part of a single machine, and not moved by eight independent wills.
+When this unison of movements has been attained by long and persevering
+practice, marred by frequent periods of disappointment, by knuckles
+barked as the boat rolls and the hands scrape along the gunwale, and by
+douches of cold water as the oars splash, then, and not till then, may
+it be said that a crew has got together.
+
+The above details concern the harmony and unison of the crew. It is
+obvious, however, that the eight men who compose it may be harmonized
+into almost any kind of style, and it is important, therefore, to settle
+what is the best style--the style, that is, which will secure the
+greatest possible pace at the smallest cost of effort. In the first
+place, then, you must remember and endeavour to apply all the
+instructions I have laid down in the two previous chapters. These were
+framed upon the supposition that you were trying to qualify yourself to
+row eventually in a light racing-ship. Summing these up generally, and
+without insisting again upon details, I may say that you are required to
+have a long, steady, and far-reaching body-swing; you must grip the
+beginning of the stroke well behind the rigger at the full reach forward
+without the loss of a fraction of a second, with a vigorous spring back
+of the whole body, so as to apply the body-weight immediately to the
+blade of the oar. As your body swings back, your feet are to press
+against the stretcher and drive the slide back, in order that, by the
+combination of body-swing and leg-drive, you may retain the power which
+you have applied at the beginning evenly throughout the whole of the
+stroke. It is essential that the body should not fall away at the
+finish, but maintain an easy, graceful position, so that, with a final
+pressure of the legs, the swing of the elbows past the sides, and a
+rowing back of the shoulders which opens the chest, the hands may be
+swept fair and square home, the oar-blade being meanwhile covered, but
+not more than covered, from the moment it enters the water until it is
+taken clean out. The hands must then leave the chest as a
+billiard-ball rebounds from the cushion, in order that you may have a
+smart and elastic recovery. This swift motion of the hands straightens
+the arms, and releases the body for its forward swing. The body-swing
+forward, as I cannot too often repeat, must be slow, especially during
+its latter part; in fact, during that swing, a perfect balance must be
+maintained, the feet being well planted against the stretcher. When a
+man rows in this style with seven other men, in absolute time and
+harmony with them, he will find a rhythmical pleasure and a delightful
+ease in movements which at the outset were cramped and difficult. Then,
+as he swings his body, grips the water and drives his swirling oar-blade
+through, he will feel that every ounce of strength he puts forth has its
+direct and appreciable influence upon the pace of the boat. Not for him
+then will it be to envy the bird in its flight, as, with all his muscles
+braced, his lungs clear, and his heart beating soundly, he helps to make
+his craft move like a thing of life over the water.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 3.--JUST AFTER BEGINNING OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 4.--SLIDES BEGINNING TO MOVE.]
+
+That is the ideal. Let us come down to the actual. I will imagine myself
+to be coaching an average crew in a racing-ship.
+
+I must first of all assure myself that the boat is properly rigged, and
+that the men have a fair chance of rowing with comfort. The thole-pins
+should stand absolutely straight from the sill of the rowlock. If the
+rowing-pin is bent outwards towards the water in the slightest degree,
+the oar will have a tendency to "slice," and a feather under water will
+be the result. The actual wood of the rowing-pin, however, should be
+slightly filed away at the bottom, so as to incline a very, very little
+towards the stern of the boat. Care must be taken also to have a
+sufficient width between the thole-pins to prevent the oar from locking
+on the full reach. The rowlock-strings must be taut. They must have a
+sufficient pressure on the oar to prevent the button being forced out of
+the rowlock. For these and other details, the table of measurements
+given at the end of this chapter should be consulted.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 5.--ARMS ABOUT TO BEND FOR FINISH OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 6.--ARMS BENT FOR FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+("_Sit Up No. 3!_")]
+
+In this crew I will suppose that five of the members have already had
+experience in lightship rowing. The three others--bow, No. 3, and No.
+4--are quite new to the game. I point out to these three, to begin with,
+the importance of balancing the boat by having their arms rigidly
+straight as they swing forward, so as to be able, by the slightest
+amount of give and take from the shoulders, to counteract any tendency
+to roll, by sitting firmly on their seats, and not shifting about to
+right or to left, and by keeping their feet well on the stretchers. That
+done, the words of command will come from the cox. "Get ready all!" (At
+this command, the oarsmen divest themselves of all unnecessary
+clothing.) "Forward all!" (The oarsmen swing and slide forward to within
+about two-thirds of the full-reach position, the backs of the blades
+lying flat upon the water.) "Are you ready?" (This is merely a call to
+attention.) "Paddle!" (At this the blades are turned over square, and
+immediately grip the water, and the boat starts.) During the progress of
+this imaginary crew, I propose to invest them individually and
+collectively with certain faults, and to offer suggestions for their
+improvement, just as if I were coaching them from the bank or from a
+steam-launch.
+
+(1) "Stroke, you're tumbling forward over your stretcher. Keep the last
+part of your swing very slow by balancing against the stretcher with
+your feet as you swing forward. That's better. You got a beginning twice
+as hard that time."
+
+(2) "Seven, you're feathering under water. Keep pressure on to the very
+finish of the stroke, and drop your hands a little more, so as to get
+the oar out square and clean. Use the legs well at the finish."
+
+(3) "Six, you're very slow with your hands. Consequently, your body
+rushes forward to make up for lost time. Shoot the hands away quickly,
+with a sharp turn of the inside wrist. Then let the body follow slowly."
+
+(4) "Five, you slide too soon and fall away from your oar at the finish.
+Get your shoulders and the whole of your body-weight well on to the
+beginning, so as to start swinging back before you drive your slide
+away. At the finish keep your shoulders down and sit up well upon your
+bones."
+
+(5) "Four and three, your blades are coming out of the water long before
+any of the others. This is because you are afraid of reaching properly
+forward. You therefore get your oars in scarcely if at all behind the
+rigger, and consequently there is not enough resistance to your oar in
+the water to enable you to hold out the stroke fully to the finish.
+Swing, and reach well forward, and let your oars strike the beginning at
+the point to which your reach has brought it. You may splash at first,
+but with a little confidence you will soon get over that. Three, you're
+late. As you come forward you press heavily on the handle of your oar,
+the blade soars up, and is coming down through the air when the rest
+have struck the water. Keep your hands, especially the inside one, light
+on the handle of the oar, and let them come up as the body swings
+forward."
+
+(6) "Two, your arms are bending too soon. Try to swing back with
+perfectly straight arms. Don't imagine that you can row your stroke
+merely by the power of your arms. Also try and keep your shoulders down
+at the finish and on the recovery."
+
+(7) "Bow, swing back straight. Your body is falling out of the boat at
+the finish. Use the outside leg and hand more firmly through the stroke,
+and row the hands a little higher in to the chest; also arch the inside
+of the wrist a little more to help you in turning the oar on the
+feather."
+
+So much for individuals. Now for the crew.
+
+(1) "The finish and recovery are not a bit together. I can almost hear
+eight distinct sounds as the oars turn in the rowlocks. Try and lock it
+up absolutely together. There ought to be a sound like the turning of a
+key in a well-oiled lock--sharp, single, and definite."
+
+(_Note._--This is a very important point. On the unison with which the
+wrists turn and the hands shoot away depends the unison of the next
+stroke. When once, in coaching, you have locked your crew together on
+this point, you will greatly decrease the difficulty of the rest of your
+task.)
+
+(2) "Don't let the boat roll down on the bow oars. Stroke side, catch
+the beginning a little sharper. Bow side, when the roll of the boat
+begins, do not give in to it by still further lowering your hands. Keep
+your hands up." (The same instruction applies, _mutatis mutandis_, when
+the boat rolls on the stroke oars. Apart from individual eccentricities,
+a boat is often brought down on the one bank of oars by the fact that
+the opposite side, or one or two of them, grip the water a little too
+late.)
+
+(3) "You are all of you slow with your hands. Rattle them out sharply,
+and make your recovery much more lively. Steady now! don't rush forward.
+Keep the swing slow and long. You are all much too short on the swing,
+and consequently get no length in the water."
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 7.--A BAD LURCH ON TO STROKE-SIDE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 8.--A LURCH ON TO BOW-SIDE.]
+
+[(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move, and mould
+yourself on their movement."
+
+(5) "You have fallen to pieces again. Use your ears as well as your
+eyes, and listen for the rattle of the oars in the rowlocks. Whenever
+you fall to pieces, try to rally on that point. Also plant your feet
+firmly on the stretchers, and use your legs more when the boat rolls."
+
+These, I think, are a fair sample of the faults that may be found in
+almost any crew, and to their eradication coach and oarsmen have
+patiently to devote themselves.
+
+
+MEASUREMENTS OF AN EIGHT-OARED RACING-BOAT.
+
+For purposes of convenience, I have taken the following measurements
+from a boat built by Rough for Leander, in 1891. In that year she
+carried a very heavy crew, who won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in
+record time. She repeated her Grand Challenge victory in 1892 and 1893,
+with crews very differently constituted from the first one:--
+
+                                                      ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                  60   3
+
+  (2) Beam amidships, under gunwale                     1  11
+
+  (3) Depth    "        "      "                        1   1
+
+  (4) Height of thwarts above skin of boat              0   7⅛
+
+  (5)   "       seats     "         "                   0   9⅛[7]
+
+  (6)   "       rowlock sills above seat                0   6⅞
+
+  (7)   "       heels above skin of boat                0   1¼
+
+  (8) Position of front edge of slide in relation to
+        rowing-pin when well forward                    level
+
+  (9) Length of movement of slide                       1   4
+
+  (10) Distance from rowing-pin, measured horizontally
+         and at right angles to boat, to centre of seat 2   7
+
+  (11) Distance from wood of one thole-pin to wood
+         of the other                                   0   4⅞
+
+This boat, like nearly all English Eights, was "side-seated," _i.e._ the
+centre of the seat, instead of being over the kelson, was set away from
+it, and from the outrigger. Bow's and stroke's seats were 2½ ins.
+from centre, No. 5's 3½ ins. Nearly all Fours and Pairs in England
+are now centre-seated, as are Eights in America. Of course, with
+centre-seating, assuming that you want the same leverage, you require a
+longer outrigger. Otherwise, the only difference between the two systems
+would seem to be that with centre-seating you naturally align the bodies
+better.
+
+  [7] A few very short-bodied men have to be "built-up," _i.e._ their
+  seats have to be raised even higher than this to enable them to clear
+  their knees and to swing. This, however, should not be done unless
+  absolutely necessary, as it tends to make the boat unsteady.
+
+Since 1891 boat-builders have somewhat increased the length of the boats
+they build, and it is not uncommon now to find boats with a measurement
+of 63 feet and a few inches over all. The boat whose measurements I have
+given had, if I remember rightly, a slightly wider beam at No. 3
+stretcher than she had amidships. I have noticed, and my experience in
+this respect confirms that of Mr. W. B. Woodgate, though it is entirely
+opposed to the Rev. A. T. Shadwell's theories, that a boat with a full
+beam somewhere between No. 4 and No. 3 is always a fast one. A boat
+should never dip her head, but should always maintain it free.
+
+
+MEASUREMENT OF OARS.
+
+On this matter there is now a great divergence of opinion amongst rowing
+men. From 1891 inclusive up to the present year, the Leander crews have,
+with trifling divergences, rowed with oars built on the following
+measurements:--
+
+                                                             ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                         12   0
+
+  (2) Length in-board, _i.e._ measured from rowing face
+        of bottom to end of handle                             3   8
+
+  [_Note._--In some cases an extra half-inch was
+      added, which would make the length over all             12   0½]
+
+  (3) Length of button from top to bottom, measured
+        in a straight line                                     0   3¼
+
+  (4) Length of blade measured over the arc of the
+        scoop                                                  2   7
+
+  (5) Breadth of blade                                         0   6
+
+[_Note._--These are what are called square blades, _i.e._ the widest
+part came at the end. Barrel blades are those in which the widest part
+comes about the middle. In 1893 an extra half-inch was added out-board.
+In 1896 the length of the Leander oars over all was only 11 ft. 11⅛
+ins., the in-board measurement being 3 ft. 8 ins. With these oars the
+Leander crew defeated Yale, and in the next heat, after a very severe
+struggle, rowed down and defeated New College, who were rowing with oars
+three inches longer out-board. Here are the measurements of the oars
+with which the Eton crew won the Ladies' Plate in 1885--
+
+                                            ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                                  12    6
+
+  In-board                                   3    7½
+
+  Length of blade                            2    5
+
+  Breadth of blade near shank                0    6⅜
+
+     "         "   at end                    0    5
+
+(These blades were "coffin"-shaped on a pattern invented by Dr. Warre.)]
+
+_Measurement of Oars of Oxford Crew, 1890._
+
+                                ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                      12    3⅛
+
+  In-board                       3    8½
+
+  Length of blade                2    7
+
+  Greatest breadth               0    6½
+
+  (These were barrel blades.)
+
+In 1896 the Oxford crew rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 2 ins. over
+all, with a leverage of 3 ft. 8¼ ins., and blade 6 ins. broad. With
+these, it will be remembered, they rowed down and defeated Cambridge,
+after a magnificent struggle, by two-fifths of a length, Cambridge using
+oars measuring some 3 ins. longer out-board. It will thus be seen that
+short oars have a very good record to support them--especially over the
+Henley course. This year, however, a reaction took place at Oxford in
+favour of longer oars with narrower blades. The Oxford Eight of this
+year rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 6 ins. over all, the extra length
+being, of course, out-board, and their blades were cut down to a breadth
+of 5½ ins. They were, by common consent, a very fine crew, but were
+unable to command a fast rate of stroke, and in the race against an
+inferior crew they hardly did themselves or their reputation justice.
+This pattern of oar was used by New College at Henley, the blades,
+however, being further cut down to 5¼ ins. In the final heat of the
+Grand Challenge Cup, they met Leander, who were rowing with 12-ft. oars.
+Leander, rowing a considerably faster stroke, at once jumped ahead, and
+led by a length in three minutes. New College, however, came up to
+them, still rowing a slower stroke, then picked their stroke up, and,
+after rowing level with Leander for about 250 yards, finally defeated
+them by 2 ft. The result of this race cannot be said to have settled the
+question as between long oars and short. In the Stewards' Fours, on the
+other hand, Leander, rowing with oars measuring 12 ft. ½ in. over all,
+and blades 5¾ ins. in breadth, defeated New College, rowing with 12
+ft. 6 ins. oars, and blades of 5½ ins., the leverage in both cases
+being 3 ft. 8½ ins. The advocates of the long oar maintain that they
+secure a longer stride, and are thus able to economize strength by using
+a slower rate of stroke. Those who favour the shorter ones believe that
+the extra lightness of their implement enables them to row a faster
+stroke without unduly tiring themselves. Personally, I found, after
+trying the experiment several times, that Leander crews I have coached
+invariably rowed better and commanded more speed in practice with 12 ft.
+to 12 ft. 1 in. oars than with oars 3 ins. or 4 ins. longer.[8]
+
+  [8] Mr. S. Le B. Smith informs me that, to the best of his recollection,
+  the oars used by the London Rowing Club, up to 1878, measured--for
+  Eights, 12 ft. 2 ins. all over, and for Fours, 12 ft., the inboard
+  measurement being 3 ft. 6½ ins. My impression is that they used
+  riggers shorter by 2 ins. than those now in use. Their blades were not
+  quite 6 ins. broad.
+
+It must be remembered, finally, that men, as well as measurements, have
+something to do with the pace of a crew, and that style and uniformity
+count for a good deal. The advocates of long or short oars will always
+be able to explain a defeat sustained by one of their crews by alleging
+causes that are totally unconnected with the measurement of the oars. On
+the other hand, such is their enthusiasm, they will attribute the
+victory of their crew entirely to their favourite pattern of oar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+Now that the novice has been safely launched in his racing-ship, we may
+hark back for a space and consider some important points connected with
+the organization and management of an eight-oared crew. And first as to
+its selection and arrangement.
+
+As a general rule, it may be laid down that two middle-weights (men
+ranging from 11 st. 5 lbs. to 11 st. 10 lbs. or even to 12 st.) will be
+best at stroke and No. 7; three heavy-weights (12 st. 4 lbs. and
+upwards) will suit for No. 6, No. 5, and No. 4; then with two more
+middle-weights at No. 3 and No. 2, and a light-weight (10 st. to 11 st.
+3 lbs. or so) at bow, your crew will be complete. This sounds easy
+enough, but in practice the matter is complicated by a hundred
+difficulties, such as (_a_) a superfluity or (_b_) a total absence of
+good heavy-weights; (_c_) the absence of any good middle-weights
+possessing the peculiar qualities necessary for stroke and No. 7; and
+(_d_) the inability of good oars to row on one side or the other of the
+boat, for you may find that of six valuable oars whom you may want to
+include in a crew, every one will tell you that he can only row on the
+stroke side or the bow side, as the case may be. In theory, of course,
+every man ought to be able to row equally well on both sides. In
+practice it will be found that most men, apart from any conscious
+preference on their own part, do better work on one side than on the
+other, while some are absolutely useless if shifted from the side they
+prefer. This last class is, however, not nearly so numerous as it used
+to be; and if, for instance, you consult the list of victorious Oxford
+crews from 1890 up to the present year, and compare it further with
+lists of Leander crews and Oxford College crews, you will see that a
+very large number of men have rowed and won races on both sides of the
+boat. I may mention specially Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. C. W. Kent, Mr. W.
+A. L. Fletcher, Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, Mr. H. B.
+Cotton, Mr. M. C. Pilkington, Mr. C. D. Burnell, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch,
+Mr. C. K. Philips, Mr. C. M. Pitman, and Mr. H. G. Gold. On the other
+hand, I cannot remember--to take only two instances of excellent
+heavies--that Mr. E. G. Tew or Mr. W. Burton Stewart ever rowed except
+on the bow side.
+
+All such difficulties the captain and coach of a crew must overcome as
+best they can. In any case they will find it advisable to put their
+lighter men in the stern and the bows, dumping down their heavies in the
+waist of the boat, where they will have more room, and where it will be
+easier to correct the clumsiness which is often associated with great
+weight.
+
+
+STROKE.
+
+For stroke I like a man of not more than twelve stone. A few good
+strokes, _e.g._ the late Mr. J. H. D. Goldie, have topped this weight by
+a few pounds. But a real heavy-weight is almost invariably slow and
+lacking in initiative when placed at stroke, although, in the middle of
+the boat, with another man acting as fugleman for him, he may be able to
+row perfectly well at any rate of stroke that may be set to him. A
+long-backed, supple-jointed man is of course best, for the
+short-backed, long-legged man invariably has trouble in clearing his
+knees, and consequently develops faults of style which it is hard to
+eradicate or even to reduce when he has no model in front of him. These
+faults will therefore exercise a very deleterious influence on the rest
+of the crew. As to temperament, I should select a good fighter, a man,
+that is, who would rather die than abandon the struggle, and whose fiery
+determined nature does not exclude perfect coolness and mastery over
+himself when a crisis calls for resource. Let me cite some examples.
+
+I may begin my list with Mr. H. P. Marriott and Mr. C. D. Shafto, the
+Oxford and Cambridge strokes of 1877, the dead-heat year. It is rare
+indeed to find two such splendid performers matched against one another.
+Mr. L. R. West, the Oxford stroke of 1880, 1881, and 1883, was as good a
+stroke as ever came to the University from Eton. He only weighed eleven
+stone, but his style was simply perfect. The finest demonstration of his
+racing judgment was given when he took his crew off at the start in
+1883, and left Cambridge, on whom odds of three to one had been laid,
+struggling hopelessly in the rear. More familiarly known to me was the
+rowing of Mr. F. I. Pitman. In the University Boat Race of 1886 both
+crews started at a very fast rate, and rowed little under thirty-eight
+to the minute all the way to Hammersmith Bridge, which was passed by
+Cambridge with a trifling lead. Immediately afterwards a strong
+head-wind and a rough sea were encountered; the rate of stroke in both
+boats dropped to about thirty-two, and Oxford began to forge steadily
+ahead, until at Barnes Bridge they led by nearly two lengths. Here the
+water was again smooth, and Mr. F. I. Pitman, the Cambridge stroke,
+nerved himself for a supreme effort. With a wonderful spurt he picked it
+up, and in the first half-minute after Barnes, actually rowed twenty-one
+strokes, and in the full minute forty. The result of the race in favour
+of Cambridge is a matter of history; but, even had Cambridge lost, the
+merits of that wonderful spurt would have remained as striking.
+
+[Illustration: MR. C. W. KENT.]
+
+Mr. C. W. Kent, of Oxford and Leander fame, is another remarkable
+instance of a born stroke. He rarely rowed as much as eleven stone, and
+his general appearance outside a boat hardly gave promise of his
+marvellous vigour and endurance in a race. He is a loose-limbed,
+long-armed man, with no superfluous flesh, and with very little muscle.
+In any purely gymnastic competition he would stand no chance whatever.
+Yet it is not too much to say that as stroke of an Eight or a Four no
+man has ever been of greater value, none has a more brilliant record of
+victories secured by his own courage and resource after desperate
+struggles. He was not a very easy man to follow in the early stages of
+practice, but when once he had got his crew together behind him, he had
+the most absolute control over them, and could always get the last
+possible ounce of work out of them, and yet leave himself with
+sufficient vigour to wind them up to a final extra spurt if the
+necessity arose. His crew behind him became a single living entity, on
+which he could play as a musician plays on an instrument over which he
+has perfect command. He seemed to have a sort of intuitive knowledge,
+not merely of the capacity of his own crew, but also of the capacity of
+his opponents, at any given moment in a race. And he had, moreover, the
+gift--inestimably valuable in a stroke--of taking his men along at their
+best pace while economizing his own strength, thus always leaving
+himself with a margin to put in extra work and pace when a close finish
+required them. For there is no crew, however hard the men may have
+worked, and however greatly they may be exhausted, that cannot screw
+itself up to follow if only their stroke will give them a lead. Mr.
+Kent's record of brilliant achievements begins in 1889, when, as stroke
+of the Brasenose crew, with Mr. W. F. C. Holland at No. 7, he maintained
+his boat at the head of the river against the repeated attacks of a
+considerably stronger and faster New College crew. In 1890 he was stroke
+of a Brasenose four at Henley. In one of the preliminary heats of the
+Stewards' Cup, this crew defeated a strong Leander Four by two feet. In
+the final heat they had to meet the Thames Rowing Club. At Fawley Court,
+the halfway point, Thames had secured a lead of two lengths, and were
+apparently rowing well within themselves. From here, however, Mr. Kent
+began an extraordinary series of spurts. With a relentless persistence,
+his crew rowing as one man behind him, he drove his boat inch by inch up
+to the Thames boat, drew level with them about 300 yards from the
+finish, and then, reinvigorated by the sight of his rivals, sailed
+past them and won the race by something more than a length. In 1891, as
+stroke of the Leander Eight he still further distinguished himself.
+Rowing from the unsheltered station against a strong "Bushes" wind, he
+just managed by a final effort to avert defeat at the hands of the
+Thames Rowing Club, and made a dead heat of it. On the following day,
+there being no wind, Leander beat Thames by two lengths, and in the
+final heat beat the London Rowing Club by a length. Again, in the final
+heat of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1894, he won another terrible race
+from the worse station by half a length against the Thames Rowing Club.
+No one who saw that extraordinary race can forget the wonderful
+succession of efforts put forth both by Mr. Kent and by the Thames
+stroke, Mr. J. C. Gardner, a very fine and powerful oar, who had stroked
+Cambridge to victory in '88 and '89. Time after time did Mr. Gardner
+force his boat almost level with Leander, and time after time Mr. Kent
+just stalled him off and reasserted his crew's lead, until at the last
+he went in with horse, foot, and artillery, and won the furious contest.
+I cannot forbear citing another instance which shows merit as great,
+though of a different order, in this remarkable stroke. In 1891 he
+stroked the Oxford Eight, a crew of very heavy metal, but not well
+arranged, and containing one welter-weight, who, in consequence of a
+severe attack of influenza during the earlier stages of training, could
+not be depended upon to last at top pressure over the whole of a course
+of four miles and a quarter. In fact, Oxford, considering their
+material, were unaccountably slow, and Cambridge, admirably stroked by
+Mr. G. E. Elin, were as unaccountably fast. The race, it will be
+remembered, was a very close one, and was won by Oxford by only half a
+length. During its progress there were many temptations to Mr. Kent, a
+man whose favourite rate of stroke was as a rule not less than forty, to
+increase the pace. He saw the Cambridge crew hanging doggedly on to him,
+and there were not wanting voices from his own crew to urge him to pick
+it up. But Mr. Kent knew the capacity of his crew, and knew that, though
+a fast spurt might give him a temporary advantage, it would leave him in
+all probability with a completely exhausted heavy-weight on his hands to
+struggle hopelessly against Cambridge's next effort. So he resolutely
+kept the stroke slow until he got to Chiswick, where he made his only
+effort, a slight one, it is true, but just sufficient to give him a
+margin on which he could win the race.
+
+[Illustration: MR. H. G. GOLD.]
+
+I have dwelt at some length on Mr. Kent's performances, because I think
+that he showed in the highest degree all the qualities that make a man a
+good stroke in spite of the absence of mere brute strength. Mr. C. M.
+Pitman, who as a freshman stroked Oxford in 1892, was a worthy successor
+to Mr. Kent. The three Oxford crews stroked by him won with comparative
+ease, a result of which the credit in a very large share must go to Mr.
+Pitman, who proved his judgment and coolness, not only in the races, but
+during practice against scratch Eights. Mr. H. G. Gold's remarkable
+victories are too recent to require any comment beyond the statement
+that they stamp him as one of the company of really great strokes.
+
+Of non-University strokes, the best I have seen have been Mr. J. Hastie,
+of the Thames R.C.; Mr. F. L. Playford, of the London R.C.; Mr. J. A.
+Drake-Smith, of the Thames R.C.; and Mr. G. B. James, of the London R.C.
+The three last of these possessed, in addition to considerable natural
+strength and endurance, a rhythmical ease and finished elegance which
+made their rowing a pleasure to the eye, and rendered it easy for a crew
+to shake together behind them. Mr. Hastie had enormous power and perfect
+judgment, and no man ever knew better exactly how and when to crack up
+an opposing crew.
+
+
+NO. 7.
+
+This position is every whit as important as that of stroke. Indeed, I
+have known many crews that were made by a good No. 7, in spite of an
+inferior or an inexperienced stroke. Of the converse I cannot at this
+moment remember any instances. No. 7 is the keystone of the crew. If he
+fits perfectly into his place, the whole fabric remains firm; if he fits
+badly, it will crumble to pieces at the first shock.
+
+It is the duty of No. 7 to weld the two sides of the crew into harmony,
+to transmit to the rest of the crew the initiative of the stroke-oar, to
+be ever on the watch to make stroke's task an easy one by following him
+implicitly and immediately. But, more than this, a good No. 7 can
+control and manage an inexperienced stroke, can check him when he
+attempts to hurry unduly, can inspirit him and renew his energies when
+he shows signs of flagging. The style and elegance of a crew depend even
+more upon No. 7 than they do upon stroke. Therefore select for this
+position a man whose movements are graceful, rhythmical and easy, who
+can show style in his own rowing, and thus instil it into the rest of
+the crew. It is important for No. 7 that he too should be able to
+economize his power in a race. I do not mean that he is to be a
+"sugarer" (a word we use to indicate a man who may show style, but who
+never works honestly), but he must row with judgment. I have seen many
+very big men row well at No. 7, but I should always prefer a man of the
+stamp of the late Mr. H. E. Rhodes, the late Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, Mr.
+R. P. P. Rowe, and Mr. W. E. Crum. These were all born No. 7's, though
+the reputation of the first was chiefly gained at stroke. Still, I
+consider that his best rowing was shown in 1876, when he rowed No. 7 of
+the Cambridge crew behind Mr. C. D. Shafto. Those who can recall the
+marvellous flexibility and adaptable ease of Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, and
+who have seen similar qualities exhibited by Mr. Rowe and Mr. Crum,
+will realize what I mean when I insist upon the importance of grace,
+rhythm, and elegance, in a word, of style in a No. 7. You can rarely, of
+course, count upon such a paragon for your No. 7, but at any rate get a
+man who approaches more nearly than the rest to this ideal.
+
+
+NO. 6.
+
+This, again, is a very important place; for your No. 6 must back up
+stroke, and must, by genuine hard work, take as much as possible of the
+burden off stroke's shoulders. Choose for the position a man who
+combines great weight and power and endurance with a large share of
+experience, a man who can row every stroke hard, and by his swing can
+help to keep it long. Mr. S. D. Muttlebury, in the Cambridge crews of
+1886 and 1887, was such a No. 6. Such, too, was Mr. W. A. L. Fletcher,
+in the Oxford and Leander crews of a later date, and such is the veteran
+Mr. Guy Nickalls at the present time. It must be an inspiration to the
+rest of the crew to have the broad back of this iron oarsman swinging up
+and down with an untiring vehemence, and slogging at every stroke as if
+he had no thought whatever of the strokes that had to come after. But
+then Mr. Nickalls is equally at home at No. 5 in an Eight; and as
+stroke-oar of a Four or pair--a position from which he invariably steers
+the boat--he is to my mind unapproachable. He would not himself assert
+that he was a model of elegance, but for power and endurance, and for
+the knack of infusing these qualities into the rest of the crew, no man
+has ever, in my experience, surpassed, and very few indeed have
+equalled, him.
+
+
+NO. 5 AND NO. 4.
+
+These two are places which require weight and power. The details of
+elegance and polish are not here so important, though it is, of course,
+well to secure them if you can. A No. 5 who swings long and steadily is
+of the utmost value, and the same may be said of No. 4. For instance, no
+small part of the merit of the Oxford and Leander crews in which he
+rowed was due to Mr. W. B, Stewart, their No. 5. A very tall,
+well-built, and extremely powerful man, he rowed, I think, with the
+longest swing I have ever seen. It was for this quality that we picked
+him out of his college crew, when he was a comparative novice, and gave
+him No. 5's seat in the Leander crew of 1893, and his rowing in that
+crew and in others subsequently proved the correctness of our judgment.
+The late Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, too, was a remarkable No. 5, a position
+in which, however, he only rowed once, viz. in the Leander crew of 1896.
+He was then certainly, for style and power combined, the best
+heavy-weight oar at Henley Regatta. Mr. Broughton, of the Thames Rowing
+Club, was another fine example of what a No. 5 ought to be--a really
+slashing oar of wonderful power. I might use the same words to describe
+Mr. R. S. Kindersley, of the Oxford crews of 1880, 1881, and 1882.
+Amongst good No. 4's, I should specially select Mr. S. Swann, in the
+Cambridge crew of 1884; Mr. C. B. P. Bell, of the Cambridge crews of
+1888 and 1889; and Mr. F. E. Robeson, of the splendid Oxford crew of
+1892.
+
+
+NO. 3 AND NO. 2.
+
+Of these positions little need be said. Weight here ceases to be of
+great importance compared with briskness and liveliness of movement. Yet
+instances are not wanting of genuine heavy-weights who rowed at No. 3 in
+fast crews. Mr. E. F. Henley, in the Oxford crew of 1866, rowed at 12
+st. 13 lbs.; Mr. P. W. Taylor, in the Oxford crew of 1885, and Mr. W. B.
+Stewart, in the Oxford crew of 1894, were placed at No. 3 in spite of
+their weighing well over 13 st.; and Mr. Vivian Nickalls, in the Leander
+crew of 1891, was little short of this weight. But where these cases
+have occurred, they were generally due to the fact that the authorities
+had at their disposal a great number of really good heavy-weights, and,
+rather than lose one of them, they placed him at No. 3.
+
+
+BOW.
+
+Bow should be light, alert, compact, springy and cat-like, and a good
+waterman. Such discomforts as may exist in a boat seem to concentrate
+themselves at bow's seat. He has less room than any other man in the
+boat, and any unsteadiness affects him more. I can recall a long list of
+good bows, but none better than Mr. W. A. Ellison of Oxford, Mr. R. G.
+Gridley of Cambridge, Mr. C. W. Hughes of the Thames R.C., Mr. W. F. C.
+Holland and the late Mr. H. B. Cotton of Oxford, and Mr. C. W. N.
+Graham of Leander fame. The last two rarely rowed as much as ten stone,
+but their work was remarkable. In their respective college crews, they
+proved that they could row at stroke just as well as at the other end of
+the boat.
+
+Finally, a captain of a crew must remember, if with these great examples
+before his eyes he feels inclined, as he runs over his list of available
+oars, to despair of getting together a good crew, that wonderful results
+have been achieved by college captains who had to draw their men from a
+comparatively narrow field, and were often forced by the exigencies of
+the case to fill places in their boats with men who were far removed
+from ideal perfection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+From the hints given in the preceding chapter it will have been gathered
+that good oarsmen are of all sizes and weights. But it must not be
+forgotten that no small part of the motive-power of a crew comes from
+heavy men. By weight I do not, of course, mean that which results from
+mere adipose deposit; but weight, as it is usually found amongst young
+men, that depends on the size of the frame and the limbs, and on their
+due covering of muscle and sinew. I cannot, therefore, too strongly
+advise a captain or a coach to spare no labour and no patience in
+endeavouring to teach big men how to row. There will be disappointments.
+Every one who has experience of rowing must remember at least one
+massive and magnificent giant who failed to learn, in spite of infinite
+pains on his own part and on the part of those who had to teach him.
+Out of a boat he may have looked the very model of what a heavy-weight
+oarsman should be--erect, strong, well-proportioned, supple, and active.
+But put him in a boat, and at once he suffered a river change. His
+muscles turned into pulp, his chest became hollow, his arms and legs
+were mere nerveless attachments, and his whole body assumed the
+shapelessness of a sack of potatoes. In the end, after many days, the
+hopeless effort had to be sadly abandoned, and the would-be oarsman
+returned to the rough untutored struggles of the football field, or the
+intoxicating delights of lawn-tennis and golf. But, on the other hand,
+there are innumerable instances to prove that a big man who has never
+touched an oar before he came to Oxford or Cambridge, or joined one of
+the Metropolitan clubs, may, by care and perseverance, be turned into
+the pride and mainstay of his crew. Therefore, I say, persist with big
+and heavy men, in spite of occasional discouragements; for there is more
+advantage to a crew in one rough thirteen-stoner who really works and
+swings than in two light-weights polished _ad unguem_.
+
+In the shapes of oarsmen, again, every kind of variety may be found, not
+merely in minor details, but in the whole physical characteristics of
+their bodies. Bob Coombes, the professional champion of 1846, 1847, and
+1851, has recorded his opinion that the best physical type of oarsman is
+the man who is, amongst other things, deep-chested and straight and full
+in the flanks; who, in other words, has no waist to speak of. To this
+type Mr. S. D. Muttlebury and Mr. Guy Nickalls conform, and there can be
+no doubt that it is the best. But I have known oarsmen who varied from
+it in every detail, and yet did magnificent work in a crew. I have
+already mentioned Mr. C. W. Kent, and I may add another example in Mr.
+H. Willis, of the Leander Club, a very finished and valuable oar, who
+has given his proofs not only in an Eight, but also as No. 3 of the
+winning Stewards' Four at Henley Regatta this year. Mr. Willis is tall
+and loose-jointed. He is not furnished with any great quantity of
+muscle, and his modesty will not resent my adding that, though he has a
+well-framed chest, he also possesses a very distinct waist. I might
+multiply such instances; but they may all be summed up in the statement
+that a really good oarsman is never of a bad shape--for rowing. The
+ultimate test is to be found not in the examination of his muscle or the
+measurement of his frame, but in the careful and patient observation of
+his work while he is actually engaged in rowing. A mere weed, of course,
+cannot row to advantage; but I have seen more than one instance of
+so-called weeds who eventually developed under the influence of the
+exercise into solid and capable oars. And, as a rule, there is more
+promise in the comparative weakling than in the gymnast whose tight
+binding of muscles impedes the freedom and alertness of his limbs.
+
+We may now consider how the practice of an ordinary eight-oared crew
+should be conducted. There is a certain amount of difference of opinion
+as to how long a crew should remain in their tub--that is, in their
+clinker-built boat--before taking to the racing-ship. Most college
+captains, I think, keep their men in the heavy boat too long. Four or
+five days are, I think, an amply sufficient period. Experienced oars are
+none the better for rowing in a heavy boat, and novices who have much to
+learn in watermanship, and want a long period for the learning, can be
+taught the requisite lessons only in a light ship. The difficulties of
+sitting such a ship are, as a rule, much exaggerated; and the young oar
+who watches the scratch crews rowing against a University crew, or sees
+a Leander Eight setting out for the first time, is apt to be surprised
+when he notes how eight men, who have never rowed together before, can
+move along with uniformity and steadiness. There are, no doubt,
+difficulties of balance and quickness in light ship rowing; but the
+sooner these are faced the better for all concerned. I am assuming, of
+course, that the novice has been already drilled in the manner described
+in previous chapters.
+
+As to the total length of the period of practice from the start to the
+day of the race, that must, and does, vary according to circumstances. A
+University crew practising for a long race will be at work generally
+from about the middle of January until towards the end of March, some
+ten weeks in all. Cambridge college crews have six weeks, Oxford college
+crews only about four, for the college races. A London, Thames, or
+Kingston crew can command at least seven weeks for the practice of its
+Henley crew. On the other hand, no winning Leander crew that I have
+known has ever practised for more than three weeks as a combination;
+though individual members of it, who had not been at work since the
+previous year, may have been taking rowing exercise on their own account
+for some little time before the eight got to work. As a typical example,
+I may take the remarkable Leander crew of 1896. Five members of this
+crew--Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. J. A. Ford, Mr. C. W. N. Graham, Mr. T. H.
+E. Stretch, and Mr. H. Willis--had had no rowing exercise for a year;
+one, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, had not worked, except for a casual regatta
+in Portugal, since the final of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1893; the
+other two, Mr. H. Gold and Mr. R. Carr, had been in regular practice at
+Oxford or at Putney since the previous October. Two weeks before
+practice in the Eight began, Messrs. Holland, Ford, Stretch, and Graham
+began work in a Four, with Mr. Graham, the eventual bow of the Eight, at
+stroke. Mr. Willis had half this period of preliminary practice in a
+pair. Mr. Nickalls had for some weeks been working at Putney in a Four
+and a pair. Just three clear weeks before the first day of Henley
+Regatta the Eight was launched; but it was not until three days after
+this that Mr. Nickalls was able to come into the boat, and the crew for
+the first time rowed in its final order, the advent of Mr. Nickalls
+resulting in four changes in its arrangement. And yet this crew defeated
+Yale University, who had been practising for months, and other crews,
+composed of good material, that had been together for six or seven
+weeks. I have in my mind, too, another crew, a combination of three
+Oxonians, two Cantabs, two Etonians, and one Radleian, who, on one
+week's practice, managed to beat over a one-mile course the Eights of
+the London and Thames clubs, in spite of their ten or eleven weeks of
+practice.
+
+I do not wish to have it inferred from the foregoing facts that in my
+opinion those crews are likely to turn out best which practise together
+for a very short time. Still, the qualities of skill, keenness of
+enthusiasm, strength, condition, and racing ability, are factors in
+success even more important than length of practice. It ought, of
+course, to be true that if you could get two crews equally matched as
+regards these qualities that which had had the longer period of practice
+should win because of its greater uniformity. Moreover, in most cases
+extra length of practice _up to a certain point_ ought to imply
+superiority of condition. Beyond that point a crew, though it maintains
+its outward uniformity and style, will fall off in pace, because
+overwork will have dulled the edge of its energies, and robbed it of the
+brisk animation that marks the rowing of men trained to the very
+needle-point of perfect condition. And on the whole, taking condition
+and the risks of staleness into account, I should prefer to take my
+chances for an ordinary race with a crew that had practised from four to
+five weeks, rather than with one that had been at it for ten or eleven.
+I leave out of account the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, both because
+of the length of the course over which it is rowed, and on account of
+the frequent changes to which the authorities generally find themselves
+compelled to resort. And even for this race, if a president could at the
+outset be absolutely certain as to the general composition of the crew,
+he would find, I think, that a period of seven weeks at the outside
+would be fully sufficient for him and his men. The whole matter amounts
+to this, that a captain or a coach must consider carefully all the
+circumstances of his case--the skill, the condition, the experience and
+the strength of his men, and the distance over which they have to race,
+and must decide on the period of practice accordingly. I cannot on paper
+lay down any fixed general rule for his guidance, but can only bring
+before him a few detached considerations which may be useful to him as
+food for reflection. For my own part, I may add that I have never found
+the least difficulty, even after a year's rest from rowing, in getting
+into very good racing condition on three or four weeks of work.
+
+
+HOW TO ARRANGE THE DAILY WORK OF AN EIGHT.
+
+Let the real hard work be done in the earlier stages of practice. You
+thus accustom your men to one another, and you grind them into a
+uniformity which makes all their subsequent work easier. This plan has
+been very successfully followed by Oxford crews. Before they get to
+Putney they will have rowed over the long course of four miles some ten
+times. As a result, the men are hard and row well together; and during
+their stay at Putney it is found possible to ease them in their work,
+so as to bring them fresh and vigorous to the post on the day of the
+race. Supposing you have five weeks for practice, you ought, I think,
+during the first fortnight to row your crew over the racing course at
+least four times. During the next ten days one full course will be
+sufficient. The work of the last ten days must vary according to the
+condition of the men, but two half courses and one full course at a
+racing stroke will probably be found sufficient. Save for the rare case
+of an exceptionally long row, a practice of about an hour and a half
+every day is enough. At Henley all crews practise twice a day, but I do
+not think they spend more than two hours, if so much, on the water every
+day.
+
+
+RATE OF STROKE.
+
+The practice rate for paddling ought not in the early stages to be less
+than twenty-eight to the minute, which you may raise two points when
+rowing hard. Later on, when your men are doing their rowing work at
+thirty-six or more, and when they are, or ought to be, well together,
+you may drop the rate of paddling to twenty-six or twenty-five, in order
+to give them periods of rest, and to instil into them that steadiness
+of swing which they are apt to neglect when engaged in the effort of
+working up the stroke to racing pace. For a course of a mile to a mile
+and a half, a crew should be able to start at forty, continue at
+thirty-eight, and, if necessary, finish at forty in the race. Even for
+the Putney to Mortlake course a crew ought to be able to command forty
+at a pinch. As a rule, however, over a four-mile course a crew will go
+quite fast enough if it starts for not more than a minute at
+thirty-seven to thirty-eight, and continues, in the absence of a
+head-wind at an average of thirty-five.[9] At Henley most crews will
+start off at forty-one to forty-two for the first minute, and continue
+at thirty-nine. Anything higher than this is dangerous, though on a
+course of two-thirds of a mile I have known a Four to row forty-six in
+the first minute with advantage.
+
+  [9] Against a head-wind the rate of stroke must be slower. A coach's
+  instructions would be, "Swing down and reach out well, and swing hard
+  back against the wind." A following wind makes a crew very unsteady,
+  unless they remember that, since the pace of the boat is increased by
+  the wind, they must catch the beginning sharper, to prevent the boat
+  running away from them, and take their oars out even quicker and cleaner
+  than before, in order to prevent the boat catching them up, as it were.
+  Above all, they must keep the swing slow when they have a following
+  wind.
+
+These instructions are intended to apply to light racing ships. For the
+clinker-built fixed-seat boats that are used at Oxford and Cambridge for
+the Torpids and Lent races, a racing rate of thirty-seven ought to be
+high enough, seeing that the crews are mainly composed of young oars.
+The second division crews of the Cambridge "May" races row with slides,
+but in heavy, clinker-built boats. The advantages of this arrangement
+are not obvious. Still, these crews ought to be able to race at
+thirty-six to thirty-seven. As a rule, however, when I have seen them
+practising a minute's spurt, nearly all of them seem to have imagined
+that thirty-two strokes were amply sufficient for racing purposes.
+
+
+PADDLING.
+
+Paddling should be to rowing what an easy trot is to racing speed on the
+cinder-path. A crew when paddling is not intended to exert itself
+unduly, but to move at a comfortable pace which excludes any sense of
+fatigue, and enables the men to give their best attention to perfecting
+themselves in style, and to harmonizing their individual movements with
+those of the rest. In paddling men do not slash at the beginning so
+hard, nor do they grind the rest of the stroke through with the same
+power as when rowing. Less violent energy is put into the work, and the
+stroke consequently does not come through so fast. The rate of paddling
+must therefore be slower than that of rowing, since each stroke takes a
+longer time for its completion. As a rule, too, the blade is in paddling
+not quite so deeply covered, and cannot make the same rushing swirl
+under water. During the earlier stages of practice paddling is merely
+easier rowing; it is not so sharply distinguished from hard rowing as it
+becomes later on. At the outset it is necessary to make your crew both
+paddle and row with a full swing, in order to get length ineradicably
+fixed in their style. But later on a coach may tell his men, when he
+asks them to paddle, not only to use the easier movements prescribed
+above, but also to rest themselves additionally by using a somewhat
+shortened swing. Then, when they are to row, he must call on them to
+swing forward and reach out longer; to swing back harder and longer,
+with a more vigorous beginning; and to put more force into their
+leg-drive. A very useful plan, especially for the purpose of getting a
+crew finally together, is to make them do long stretches of paddling
+varied here and there by about a dozen or twenty strokes of rowing, care
+being taken, however, not to allow the paddling to get dead and dull,
+and a special point being made of getting the rowing not only hard, but
+very long.
+
+Paddling is a difficult art to learn, and only the very best crews
+paddle really well with balance, rhythm, and ease. Many a time I have
+seen a good crew and an inferior one paddling along the course together,
+and almost invariably the good crew, which had mastered the trick of
+paddling at a slow stroke and with perfect ease, was distanced. Yet a
+moment afterwards, when they ranged up alongside, and started together
+for a two minutes' burst of rowing, the good crew would leave its
+opponents as though they were standing still.
+
+
+HOW TO WORK THE STROKE UP TO RACING PACE.
+
+There comes a time in the history of every crew when, having been
+plodding along comfortably at thirty-four, they suddenly realize that
+the race is barely a week off, that if they are to have any chance of
+success they must raise the stroke, and that they don't know how on
+earth it is to be done, seeing that they have usually felt pretty well
+cleaned out after rowing even a half course at their present rate.
+However, they generally do manage _tant bien que mal_ to get it done,
+and find in the end that thirty-eight is not really much more difficult
+for men in good training than thirty-four.
+
+The best plan, I think, is to devote the greater part of an afternoon's
+practice to short rows of half a minute and a minute at, say,
+thirty-seven, and to wind up with three minutes of this. On that day
+there will probably be at first a terrible amount of rushing and
+splashing. On the following day you will find that things have settled
+down, and you will be able to row for five minutes at the faster rate.
+On the third day practise short pieces again at thirty-eight,
+thirty-nine, forty; and on the fourth day row your full course at as
+fast a rate as you can command. A coach should impress upon his crew
+that a fast stroke is to be secured not by rushing forward with the
+bodies, but by rattling away the hands quicker and by increasing the
+force employed in forcing the oar through the water. The pace of the
+bodies on the forward swing, though, of course, it does increase, should
+feel as if it were slower. _Relatively to the rate of stroke used_, it
+is, in fact, slower at a fast than at a slow stroke. The best
+stroke-oars have been men who fully realized this, and who, either in
+breaking from a paddle into a row, or in spurting during a hard piece of
+rowing, gave their crew a delightful sense of steadiness and balance,
+which enabled them to put their utmost energies into every stroke.
+
+
+PRACTICE IN STARTING.
+
+During the week preceding the race a coach should devote a great part of
+his attention to the task of getting his crew quick off the mark. If a
+crew starts in a brisk and lively manner, and gets pace on its boat
+immediately, it is far more likely to continue well, so long as its
+strength and condition last, than a crew that ponderously drags its boat
+off, with the notion that it can put pace on later. At the end of half a
+minute the lively crew would be well ahead--no small moral advantage
+where two crews are evenly matched. The best position for the first
+stroke is a little more than half forward with the body and three parts
+forward with the slide. The mind, as well as the muscles, must be intent
+on the effort. At the word "Go" at once cover the blade deeply, spring
+the body on to the work, use the arms vigorously on this occasion only,
+and, above all, drive, drive, drive with the legs, wrenching the stroke
+fully home with outside hand.[10] Then make a special point of rattling
+hands out like lightning, and get hold of the second stroke when the
+hands are over the stretcher. Again a lightning rattle, followed by a
+longer swing. The fourth stroke should be a full one. During the first
+two strokes the crew should watch stroke's blade, and take their time
+from that.
+
+  [10] The simplest and easiest plan is to have the back of the blades
+  flat on the water while you are waiting for the word. In rowing _with_ a
+  strong tide it may sometimes be advisable to have the top of the blades
+  turned over towards the stern and to square blades at the "Are you
+  ready?" But this requires a lot of practice, and even then generally
+  causes unsteadiness.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF BEING EXHAUSTED.
+
+I hold it to be absolutely necessary that during practice men should
+learn thoroughly to row themselves out. If they do not, they need never
+expect to become properly fit for the hard strain involved in a race. If
+men will only consent to put their best and hardest work into a practice
+course, so that they may feel at the end of it that they have neither
+wind nor strength left, I will guarantee that all the subsequent work
+will become infinitely easier for them, and the race itself will be a
+pleasure instead of a pain. I hate to see a crew finish a practice row,
+no matter how short it may be, in perfectly fresh trim. That is a sign
+that they must have shirked their work. Yet I have often read in
+newspaper reports of the practice of crews some statement like the
+following:--"The boat travelled well all through, and the time
+accomplished was fast; but when it was over most of the men were much
+distressed"--as if this were a reproach instead of a compliment. Such
+"distress" is one of the necessary stages through which crews must pass
+on their way to good physical condition and perfect racing power. If a
+crew never tires itself in practice, it will never row fast in a race.
+
+
+HOW TO JUDGE A MAN'S WORK IN A BOAT.
+
+This can only be done properly by watching both the movements of the
+body and the action of the blade in the water. It may be assumed that if
+the blade strikes the water fairly at the full reach, is covered at
+once, produces a deep boiling swirl _under_ the water, and remains
+covered to the end of the stroke, the oarsman who wields it must be
+working, in spite of many possible faults of form. Again, if the body
+moves well, and with a vigorous briskness through the stroke, it may be
+found that the swirl of the blade through the water does not show
+properly, because the blade is put in too deep. This, of course, is a
+fault, for the oarsman is giving himself too much work, and the effect
+on the propulsion of the boat is smaller; but, at any rate, there is
+honesty of intention. On the other hand, a man may make a great show of
+form with his body, and a great splash in the water, by merely covering
+half his blade through the stroke, or by missing his beginning and
+rowing light at the finish; or he may seem to be swinging his body on to
+his work, and yet by some subtly contrived disconnection between body
+and arms and legs, produce no effect on the water. For all this a coach
+must be on the look out. If he has once done hard rowing himself, and
+watched it in others, he will never mistake the sham article (the
+"sugarer") for the genuine, though possibly clumsy, worker.
+
+
+THE VALUE OF TUB-PAIR PRACTICE.
+
+Practice in the tub-pair is one of the greatest possible aids towards
+the consolidation of an eight-oared crew. A coach or captain should
+never omit during the early stages of work to take out his men two by
+two in a tub. Sitting at ease in the stern, he can lecture them to his
+heart's content, and can devote himself with far better effect than when
+his crew are in the Eight to eradicating individual faults and drilling
+the men into one uniform style. During the latter part of training,
+however, the tub-pair is, with rare exceptions, an unnecessary burden.
+The crew then require all their energies for the work of the Eight, in
+which they ought to be learning the last important lessons of
+watermanship and uniformity every day. To drag them into tub-pairs at
+such a time can only weary them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF
+COACHING.
+
+
+AILMENTS.
+
+I may preface what I have to say about ailments by stating, as
+emphatically as it can be stated, that every man who proposes to take
+part in a race ought, before he begins practice, to be thoroughly
+overhauled by a medical man. I do not believe that any man whose heart
+and lungs and general constitution are sound can be injured by rowing.
+On the contrary, I have seen scores and scores of instances in which
+sound but imperfectly developed youngsters were formed and solidified
+and made into robust men by the exercise. But if a doctor reports of an
+apparently powerful man that his heart is weak and his circulation
+defective, or that the state of his lungs is unsatisfactory, no power on
+earth would induce me to include him in my crew. Race-rowing is one of
+the severest strains to which a man can submit himself, and only a
+perfectly sound man can go through it without taking harm.
+
+Coaches are sometimes ridiculed for the excessive care they take of
+their men; and there are not wanting those who draw the inference that
+rowing men are peculiarly liable to illness, and suffer, when attacked
+by it, more than others. Nothing can be further from the truth. If we
+are anxious, it is because we know that for the special strain involved
+in racing a man must be in specially good condition, and we desire,
+above all things, to avoid anything that may keep him back in his
+training and his work. Moreover, even a slight illness may entail
+temporary retirement from the crew, and thus necessitate changes in its
+order which will prevent the men from getting together.
+
+In rowing hard a man should keep a good colour. If you see him turning
+green and yellow, you may be sure that something is wrong with him, and
+you must pack him off to the doctor at once. It may turn out that his
+digestion is in fault, and that a careful attention to diet is all that
+is necessary to cure him. I have seen only two men actually faint
+during a race. One of them was a distinguished Oxford Blue, who
+collapsed during a heat of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley; the other
+was a college oar rowing in the Cambridge Fours. With regard to him, we
+discovered afterwards that he had overtaxed his strength by working in
+the Cambridge engineering workshop for about six hours every day. Both
+these cases took place a good many years ago, and in neither has any
+permanent injury resulted. I have, of course, seen hundreds of men
+absolutely rowed out at the end of a race; but, with hardly an
+exception, they were perfectly fit a few minutes afterwards and,
+possibly, in the course of a few hours they might be seen rowing in
+another severe race with unimpaired strength and vitality.
+
+With regard to ailments generally, I cannot do better than quote Mr.
+Woodgate in the Badminton book: "A crew should be under strict orders to
+report _all_ ailments, if only a blister, _instantly_ to the coach. It
+is better to leave _no_ discretion in this matter to the oarsman, even
+at the risk of troubling the mentor with trifles. If a man is once
+allowed to decide for himself whether he will report some petty and
+incipient ailment, he is likely to hush it up, lest it should militate
+against his coach's selection of him. The effect of this is that
+mischief which might otherwise have been checked in the bud, is allowed
+to assume dangerous proportions for want of a stitch in time. An oarsman
+should be impressed that nothing is more likely to militate against his
+dream of being selected than disobedience to this or any other standing
+order. The smallest pimple should be shown forthwith to the
+coach"--verily the coach is not only διος, but πολυτλας--"the slightest
+hoarseness or tendency to snuffle reported, any tenderness of joint or
+sinew instantly made known."
+
+To these golden words I would merely add that in all more serious cases,
+such as boils, colds, coughs, severe diarrhœa, or strains, it is best
+for the coach not to attempt any amateur doctoring, but to send his
+oarsman at once to a qualified doctor. In nearly every large rowing
+club, and at the Universities, there are to be found doctors who have
+either rowed themselves, or have had long experience of treating the
+ailments of rowing men; and it is far better to take their advice,
+which, as a rule, does not incline to molly-coddling, than to run the
+risk of losing a valuable oar out of the crew through one's own
+quackery.
+
+
+_Blisters._
+
+Blisters are a common accompaniment of the early days of practice. They
+are ordinarily innocuous enough if well treated; but a neglected blister
+may result in a raw hand, and lead to blood-poisoning. The best plan is
+to prick a blister at its side with a clean needle before going to bed,
+and on the following day or two to row with a glove and a pad of
+cotton-wool over the blister. The skin very soon hardens into a
+callosity.
+
+
+_Boils._
+
+These are a sure sign that the blood is in a bad condition, due probably
+to over-eating. They afflict novices much more often than old oars, who
+have learnt by experience to diet themselves. A mild dose of Eno's Fruit
+Salt before breakfast may be recommended. The quantity of beef and
+mutton eaten must be largely reduced. Fish and the dark meat of poultry
+should be the staple articles of diet, and not too much of those. Nor
+must the mistake be made of making up for the decrease of meat by
+over-loading the stomach with immense masses of vegetables, though in
+moderation vegetables are excellent. Having thus done his best for the
+patient's inside, the coach must send him to a doctor to have the boil
+treated externally.
+
+
+_Diarrhœa._
+
+Cut off fruits of all kinds; reduce meat; give an extra glass of port,
+and if the complaint continues, send the afflicted to a doctor.
+
+
+_Strains._
+
+Ordinary muscular strains generally yield to a good rubbing with an
+embrocation. For wrist-strains a leather band may be recommended.
+Abdominal strains must be seen to by a doctor.
+
+
+_Colds._
+
+The best remedy for a severe cold is to give your man at least one day's
+complete rest, and make him keep his room. Indeed, with most ailments a
+day's rest will work wonders; and it is far better for a coach to make
+up his reluctant mind to grant it, than to run the risk of losing a
+valuable man altogether by keeping him chained to his oar when he is
+unfit to work. However, no man who takes proper care of himself, and
+always makes a point of wrapping up when his crew easies, ought to catch
+a cold.
+
+
+TRAINING AND DIET.
+
+The rules of training and diet should be the rules of common sense,
+applied to cases in which the body has to prepare itself, by severe work
+and perfectly simple, healthy living, for an exceptional effort or
+series of efforts. Rules there must be, if only on account of the
+advantage that comes of being able to make exceptions to them. But the
+chief points must be regularity and simplicity--a regularity, that is,
+which shall not entail an unvarying and wearisome monotony, and
+simplicity which shall not exclude occasional little luxuries that act
+as a stimulus to a man's jaded energies.
+
+I shall give here two tables showing the hours and the dietary of an
+Oxford crew training during a little more than five weeks for the race
+against Cambridge, and of a Leander crew training for nearly three
+weeks for the Grand Challenge race at Henley Regatta.
+
+    I. _Oxford Crew._
+
+       7    A.M. Out of bed, and without bathing or washing dress
+                 immediately in flannels. A cup of milk and a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       7.15  "   Out of the house. A brisk walk with one sharp
+                 run of 150 yards.
+
+       7.50  "   Back to the house. Bath, etc.
+
+       8.30  "   Breakfast.--Fish, plainly cooked, without sauce.
+                 Soles, whiting, and smelts are best. Salmon
+                 is not allowed. Cutlets or beefsteaks, or grilled
+                 chicken. Eggs, boiled, or poached, or fried,
+                 sometimes scrambled. Mustard and cress, or
+                 water-cress. Toast. Limited amount of butter.
+                 Marmalade is allowed only during the last
+                 fortnight of training. Not more than a cup
+                 and a half of tea.
+
+      11     "   At Putney, when the state of the tide permits it,
+                 exercise in the boat. It should be noted that
+                 the tide sometimes makes it necessary for the
+                 crew to do its rowing in the morning, sometimes
+                 in the afternoon. Occasionally work can be
+                 done both in the morning and afternoon.
+
+       1    P.M. Lunch.--Cold meat. Tomatoes plainly made into
+                 a salad with oil and vinegar. Toast. Small
+                 quantity of butter. Oatmeal biscuits. One
+                 glass of draught beer, or claret and water.
+
+      3 or 4 "   (according to tide). Work in the boat.
+
+       6.30  "   Dinner.--Fish, as at breakfast. An _entrée_ of
+                 pigeons, or sweetbread, or spinach and poached
+                 eggs. Roast joint (not pork or veal), or else
+                 chicken, with potatoes, mashed or boiled, and
+                 boiled vegetables. Stewed fruit with rice puddings.
+                 Sometimes jelly. Two glasses of draught
+                 beer, or claret and water. For dessert, figs,
+                 prunes, oranges, dry biscuits, and one glass of
+                 port wine.
+
+       9.50 P.M. A glass of lemon and water, or a cup of water-gruel.
+
+      10     "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--Once or twice during training there is a "champagne
+    night," when champagne is substituted for beer or claret and water;
+    but this only occurs when the crew have been doing very hard work,
+    or when they show evident signs of being over-fatigued, and require
+    a fillip.)
+
+    II. _Leander Training at Henley._
+
+       7 to 8.30 A.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+       8.30 A.M. Breakfast.--Same as in previous table, save for
+                 the frequent absence of meat. Marmalade
+                 allowed. Strawberries or peaches without
+                 sugar; no cream.
+
+      10.30 or 11, or 12 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       1.30 P.M. Lunch.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       4.45 " Cup of tea with a slice of bread and butter, or a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       5.30 or 6 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       7.30 or 8  "  Dinner.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       9.50 P.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+      10.15  "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--With most Leander crews, which are composed of experienced
+    oarsmen, it has been found possible to abolish restrictions on the
+    amount of liquor, and to allow the men to take what they want to
+    satisfy their thirst, which at Henley time is naturally more severe
+    than it is in the early spring at Putney. With a college crew of
+    younger and less experienced oars such liberty of action is not to
+    be recommended; but a trainer ought, during hot weather, to tell his
+    men that if they really want an extra half-glass or so, they are not
+    to hesitate to ask for it. Men in training will, however, generally
+    find that if they exercise a little self-control during the first
+    few days of training, when the restriction on their drink seems
+    specially painful, their desire for drink will gradually diminish,
+    until at last they are quite content with their limited allowance.
+    If, on the contrary, they perpetually indulge themselves, they will
+    always be wanting more. On this point I may cite the authority of
+    the following remarks extracted from a recent article in the
+    _British Medical Journal_:--
+
+    "Among the various discomforts entailed upon us by the hot weather
+    is thirst, which leads to many accidents. First and most especially
+    is the danger arising from the ingestion of ices and cold drinks,
+    which so many people fly to directly they feel hot. Difficult as it
+    may be to explain in precise physiological terms the evil
+    consequences which so often follow the sudden application of cold to
+    the mucous membrane of the stomach when the body is over-heated,
+    there is no doubt about the fact, and people would do well to
+    remember the risk they run when they follow their instinct, and
+    endeavour to assuage their thirst by huge draughts of cold fluids.
+    There can be but little doubt that the profuse perspiration which is
+    the cause of so many dangers is greatly aggravated by drinking, and
+    especially by drinking alcoholic fluids. No one can watch a tennis
+    match without noticing how the men perspire, while the girls hardly
+    turn a hair. Some, perhaps, will say that the girls play the feebler
+    game; but, game or no game, they exert themselves. The same also may
+    be seen at any dance. The secret is that the men follow their
+    instinct and slake their thirst, while the girls simply bear it. It
+    should be remembered that thirst is the result of want of fluid in
+    the blood, not want of fluid in the stomach, and that a pint or more
+    may be drunk before a single ounce is absorbed. Any attempt, then,
+    to assuage thirst by rapid drinking must of necessity lead to far
+    more being taken than is wanted, the moral of which is that if we
+    must drink, at least let us drink slowly."
+
+    Besides asking his men to drink slowly, a coach will do well to see
+    that they take no drink at all before they have eaten a certain
+    amount of food. Between meals, except as set out in the tables given
+    above, no drink of any kind should be allowed.
+
+    Over-eating, too, is a very common danger, especially in the case of
+    youngsters, and a coach must warn his crew severely against it.)
+
+A captain ought to be specially strict in insisting on getting his men
+out of their beds at a fixed time, and in seeing that they do not stay
+up too late at night. Absolute punctuality all round ought to be rigidly
+enforced. If, however, anybody should resent the severities entailed by
+this dietary, and pine for freedom, he may be recommended to try what I
+may call the Ouida system. It is fully set out in "Under Two Flags,"
+from which, in a spirit of humble admiration, I venture to give an
+extract:--
+
+"'Beauty don't believe in training. No more do I. Never would train for
+anything,' said the Seraph, now pulling the long blonde moustaches that
+were not altogether in character with his seraphic cognomen. 'If a man
+can ride, let him. If he's born to the pig-skin he'll be in at the
+distance safe enough, whether he smoke or don't smoke, drink or don't
+drink. As for training on raw chops, giving up wine, living like the
+very deuce, and all as if you were in a monastery, and changing yourself
+into a mere bag of bones--it's utter bosh. You might as well be in
+purgatory; besides, it's no more credit to win then than if you were a
+professional.'
+
+"'But you must have trained at Christ Church, Rock, for the Eight?'
+asked another Guardsman, Sir Vere Bellingham--'Severe,' as he was
+christened, chiefly because he was the easiest-going giant in existence.
+
+"'Did I! Men came to me; wanted me to join the Eight. Coxswain came,
+awful strict little fellow, docked his men of all their fun--took plenty
+himself, though! Coxswain said I must begin to train, do as all his crew
+did. I threw up my sleeve and showed him my arm;' and the Seraph
+stretched out an arm magnificent enough for a statue of Milo. 'I said,
+There, sir, I'll help you thrash Cambridge, if you like, but train I
+_won't_ for you or for all the University. I've been captain of the Eton
+Eight; but I didn't keep my crew on tea and toast. I fattened 'em
+regularly three times a week on venison and champagne at Christopher's.
+Very happy to feed yours, too, if you like--game comes down to me every
+Friday from the Duke's moors; they look uncommonly as if they wanted it!
+You should have seen his face! Fatten the Eight! He didn't let me do
+that, of course; but he was very glad of my oar in his rowlocks, and I
+helped him beat Cambridge without training an hour myself, except so far
+as rowing hard went.'
+
+"And the Marquis of Rockingham, made thirsty by the recollection, dipped
+his fair moustaches into a foaming seltzer.
+
+"'Quite right, Seraph!' said Cecil. 'When a man comes up to the weights,
+looking like a homonunculus after he's been getting every atom of flesh
+off him like a jockey, he ought to be struck out for the stakes, to my
+mind.'"
+
+The obvious inference from this is that if we want to avoid looking like
+"homonunculi" we must acquire dukes as fathers, and get fattened on
+venison and champagne.
+
+
+SMOKING.
+
+There are no smokes in training.
+
+
+STALENESS.
+
+In the practice of almost every crew there comes a period, generally
+about half way through training, when they begin to show the effects of
+hard work by a certain lassitude and loss of vigour. This, in fact, is
+not genuine staleness, but is the half-way house to perfect condition.
+An experienced coach can always detect the signs of it amongst his men.
+Their tempers will be short, they will begin to mope about the room, and
+their general manner will betray languor and listlessness, instead of
+that brisk cheerfulness that one has a right to expect. Their appetite
+will decrease, and at meals they will dally with their food instead of
+consuming it with a hearty zest. If a coach is blind to these signs, and
+pursues, in spite of them, the scheme of work and diet which he may have
+laid down at the first, he will probably bring to the post a crew as
+stale and lifeless as London shrimps. If, however, he grants certain
+indulgences to those who are most affected; if he lets them lie in bed
+of a morning, adds a basin of soup to their lunch or dinner, gives them
+extra liquor, or champagne in place of their ordinary liquor, and eases
+the work of the crew all round, he will probably find that within three
+days they will be perfectly brisk and fit again. I remember the case of
+an Oxford crew which showed the worst symptoms of staleness on a Friday.
+Saturday to Monday they spent in Brighton, and returned so
+reinvigorated, that on the following Wednesday they were able in the
+race to row Cambridge down at Chiswick and win by a length. For extreme
+cases of what I call genuine staleness, I do not think there is any
+remedy except complete rest for a period more or less prolonged. I have
+seen instances of this at Henley amongst University oarsmen, who had had
+practically no rest since the previous October.
+
+
+DISCIPLINE.
+
+Not the least important point in the management of a crew lies in the
+preservation of strict discipline. While they are in the boat and
+engaged in rowing, no man, except the captain or the cox, should speak a
+word, unless he is appealed to by the coach. A wise captain, too, when
+he has a coach in whom he trusts, will content himself with saying very
+little indeed. To be constantly cursing his crew, or to be shouting
+directions to them from the boat, not only irritates the other men, but
+increases all the difficulties of a coach. To "answer back" a coach is a
+capital offence, which ought to lead to immediate removal from the crew.
+I can only remember one instance of it in all my experience, and that
+was promptly followed by a humble apology. Silence, prompt obedience,
+absolute subordination of the individual self to the collective good of
+the crew, a quick and hearty willingness in endeavouring to carry out
+orders or instructions, a cheerful temper when things are going awry,
+and a constant keenness whether in rowing or paddling--these are model
+qualities which will go far to make a man a valuable oar. Nothing has so
+bad an effect upon a crew as the display of moroseness or sullenness on
+the part of one of its members. If that member should chance to be the
+captain, the baneful effects are increased tenfold. There are times of
+inattention and slackness when a coach does well to be angry, and to
+bring his men sharply back to a knowledge of their duty.
+
+
+THE COACH.
+
+I cannot deal with this subject at any length, for good coaching is a
+matter of temperament, sympathy, tact, and intelligence--qualities that
+cannot be taught. The man who has these necessary qualities, and adds to
+them a wide experience of rowing, can never go very far wrong in
+coaching a crew. If a man can once establish between himself and his
+crew that subtle bond which comes of their conviction that their welfare
+and success are his chiefest desire, and that everything he says is
+absolutely right, the rest will be comparatively easy. A few simple
+hints may, however, be given.
+
+(1) Never nag at your crew, or at an individual. Point out his fault;
+explain to him as clearly as you can how he ought to correct it, and
+then leave him alone for a bit. Never weary your men with an incessant
+stream of talk. Periods of complete silence on your part are very
+valuable, to you and to the crew.
+
+(2) If you see signs of improvement in a man whom you have been
+correcting, never fail to tell him so. A little encouragement of this
+kind has more effect than heavy loads of objurgation.
+
+(3) Rebuke any carelessness very sharply, but always keep strong
+measures, such as taking a crew back to the start, for really serious
+emergencies.
+
+(4) Show no partiality, and make as little difference as you can between
+man and man. It is useful to begin by coaching old hands with some
+severity. New hands are encouraged by feeling that even a Blue or a
+Grand Challenge winner is liable to error, and that a coach is not
+afraid to tackle these eminent men.
+
+(5) Make a gallant effort never to lose your temper with an individual,
+though loss of temper with a crew as a whole need not always be avoided.
+When things go wrong in a crew, impress upon each and every man that he
+is individually responsible for the defects. Every man is probably doing
+something wrong, and in any case a determined and united attempt to row
+better can do no harm.
+
+(6) Never tell your men that they are rowing "well," or " better," when
+these statements are contrary to the truth. The men in the boat can
+generally feel what is happening as well as you can see it from the bank
+or the launch, and they are apt to lose confidence in a man who talks
+smooth things when everything is rough.
+
+(7) Never confuse a man by telling him more than one thing at a time
+while he is rowing. When the crew has easied you can lecture him and
+them more at length.
+
+(8) Remember Dr. Warre's rule, that general exhortations, such as
+"Time," "Beginning," "Smite," "Keep it long," and the like, are to be
+given at the right moment, not used as mere parrot cries.
+
+(9) Vary the tone of your voice as much as possible.
+
+(10) Vary, if possible, the expressions you use in pointing out and
+correcting faults.
+
+(11) Always insist on your crew putting on their wraps when they easy
+after rowing hard.
+
+(12) Never allow men during summer training to stand, sit, or lie about
+in the full blaze of the sun.
+
+(13) Teach by example as well as by precept. The coach should be able to
+take his seat in a gig pair, and to show his men practically the style
+he wishes them to row in, and how their faults may be corrected.
+
+(14) Always remember, while paying attention to the form of individuals,
+that your main object is to secure uniformity in the crew. Never fail,
+therefore, to correct faults of time instantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF
+LEISURE TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+
+THE DAY OF THE RACE.
+
+On this tremendous day, towards which all their efforts for weeks past
+have been directed, the coach will find that all his crew are suffering
+from that peculiar nervousness to which rowing men have given the name
+of "the needle." It is a complaint against which no length of experience
+can harden a man, and the veteran of a hundred races will feel it as
+acutely as the boy who is engaged in his first struggle. A sort of
+forced cheerfulness pervades the air. Men make irrelevant remarks about
+their oars, their stretchers, or the notorious incapacity of their
+rivals, while they are reading the newspapers or discussing the politics
+of the day. Even a coach is seized with the universal affection,
+however gallantly he may strive against it, and endeavour to entertain
+the crew with all his best stories of triumphant victories, of defeats
+averted by brilliant spurts, or of the last sayings of some well-known
+aquatic humourist. Old oars drop in, and for a few moments divert the
+conversation, only to flow back with it into the one absorbing topic
+that occupies all men's minds. The feeling goes on increasing until at
+last, oh joy! the time comes for getting into the boat. With his
+faithful oar in his hand, and his feet fixed to the stretcher, a man
+regains his confidence, and when the word is given he will find that the
+only effect that the needle has had upon him has been to brace his
+energies to their highest pitch. The duty of a coach on such an occasion
+is clear. He must try to keep his men cheerful, and prevent them from
+brooding over the race that is to come. Visits from old oars should be
+encouraged, for it is often a relief and an amusement to a youngster to
+find that some solid oar of the past is even more agitated than he is
+himself. One thing must not be omitted, and that is the preliminary
+spin, which should take place about two hours before the race, and
+should consist of two sharp starts of ten strokes each and one hard row
+of a minute. This has an invaluable effect in clearing the wind. I have
+always felt, when I have rowed more than one race in a day, and I think
+my experience will be confirmed by most other oarsmen, that I have been
+able to row better, harder, and with less distress, in the second race
+than in the first. An hour and a half before the race a man will be all
+the better for a biscuit and a hot cup of strong meat soup, with perhaps
+a dash of brandy to flavour it, but this must depend upon the hour at
+which the race is rowed, for if you have lunched at one and have to race
+at half-past three you will want nothing between times to stay your
+stomach. The early morning sprint should be taken as usual.
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA, 1897.
+
+(_New College_ v. _Leander_. _Won by New College by 2ft._)]
+
+
+THE RACE.
+
+"I shall say, 'Are you ready?' once; if I receive no answer, I shall
+say, 'Go!'" It is the voice of the umpire addressing us from the
+steam-launch in which he will follow the race. He must be a man dead to
+all feeling, incapable of sympathy, for he actually turns to one of his
+fellow-passengers and makes a jesting remark, while our hearts are
+palpitating and our minds are strung up to face the stern actualities of
+the race. The other crew look very big and strong, and fit and
+determined. We shall have to row our hardest, and we all know it. "Get
+the top of your shorts properly tucked in," says our captain, "so as not
+to catch your thumbs; and mind, all of you, eyes in the boat, and when
+cox shouts for ten strokes let her have it. Come forward all."
+
+"Touch her gently, bow" (it is the cox who speaks, and his voice sounds
+thin and far away and dream-like). "One more. That'll do. Easy, bow. Now
+we're straight."
+
+"Are you ready?" from the umpire. Great heaven! will he never
+say----"Go!" he shouts. There is a swish, a leap, a strain, a rattle of
+oars, a sense of something moving very swiftly alongside, a turmoil of
+water, a confused roar from the bank: we are off!
+
+We started splendidly. For half a minute I am a mere machine; thoughts,
+feelings, energies--all are concentrated into one desire to work my
+hardest and to keep in time. Then my mind clears, and I become conscious
+once more of myself and my surroundings. Have we gained? I _must_ steal
+a look. By Jupiter, they're leaving us! "Eyes in the boat, four,"
+screams the cox; "you're late!" Be hanged to cox! he's got eyes like a
+lynx. Yes; there's no doubt of it--I can see, without looking out of the
+boat, out of the corner of my eye. They're gaining still. Now their
+stroke is level with me; now he has disappeared, and for a few strokes I
+am conscious of a little demon cox bobbing and screeching alongside of
+me. Then he, too, draws away, and their rudder is all I can see. At last
+that also vanishes, and a sense of desolation descends on us. Nearly two
+minutes must have gone; I know that by the landmarks we have passed.
+Surely we ought to spurt. What can stroke be up to? Is he going to let
+us be beaten without an effort. Ugh! what a shower-bath that was. It's
+six splashing, as usual. Well, if we're beaten, we must just grin and
+bear it. We shall have to congratulate the other ruffians. Hateful!
+Somebody must get beaten. But we're not beaten yet, hang it all! Three
+minutes. What's this? Cox is shouting. "Now, ten hard strokes together;
+swing out, and use your legs!" He counts them out for us at the top of
+his voice. Grand! We're simply flying. That's something like it. And
+I'm not a bit done yet. We're none of us done. The boat's going like
+smoke. "Nine!" yells the cox. "Ten! Now, don't slack off, but keep her
+going. You're gaining, you're gaining! On to it, all of you." He is
+purple in the face, and foaming at the mouth. Glorious! Their rudder
+comes back to me; I see their cox. We _are_ catching them. Now for it! A
+few strokes more and the boats are running dead level, and so they
+continue for half a minute. Stroke has now, however, taken the measure
+of his foes. We are steadying down and swinging longer, and I am
+conscious that the other crew are rowing a faster stroke. It is now our
+turn to leave them. Foot by foot we creep past them; their bows come
+level with me, and then slowly recede. I can see the back of their
+bowman. His zephyr has come out from his shorts; the back of his neck is
+very pale. There can't be more than two minutes left now, and I'm still
+fit, and my wind is all right. We are winning; I'm sure of it. No;
+they're spurting again, and, by Jove! they're gaining! Spurt, stroke,
+spurt! We mustn't get beaten on the post. But stroke, that wary old
+warrior, knows what he is about. Unmistakable signs prove to him that
+this effort is the last desperate rally of his enemies. He sees their
+boat lurch; their time is becoming erratic; two of them are rolling
+about in evident distress. His own crew he has well in hand; we are
+rowing as one man, and he feels that he has only to give a sign, and our
+restrained eagerness will blaze forth and carry us gloriously past the
+post. Let us wait, he seems to say, a very few seconds more, until the
+opposing spurt fades out to its inevitable end; so he rows on
+imperturbably. But isn't he running it too fine? Not he. He gives a
+quick word to cox, rattles his hands away, and swings as if he meant to
+strike his face against the kelson of the boat. "Pick her up all!"
+screams the cox. "Now then!" comes in a muffled gasp from the captain.
+We feel that our moment has come, and, with a unanimous impulse, we take
+up the spurt and spin the ship along. In a flash we leap ahead; we leave
+the other crew as if it was standing still. We are a length ahead; now
+we are clear; half a length of open water divides us from them. To all
+intents and purposes the race is over. The crowd grows thicker; the
+shouts from the bank become a deafening din. Enthusiasts scream futile
+encouragements to pursuer and pursued, and in another moment the flag is
+down, the cox cries, "Easy all!" and with triumph in our hearts we
+realize that we have won. The captain turns round to us--he is rowing
+No. 7--his face glowing with pleasure. "Well rowed indeed, you men!" he
+pants. "You all did thundering well! And as for you, stroke----" but
+words fail him, and all he can do is to clap his delighted stroke on the
+back. Then, having duly exchanged the customary "Well rowed!" and its
+accompanying rattle of oars in rowlocks with our gallant enemy, we
+paddle home to the raft, where our exultant coach and our perspiring
+partisans receive us with hand-shakings and embraces and fervently
+epitomized stories of the struggle. "I knew you had got 'em all the
+way!" says the coach. "Did you hear me shout when you got to the
+half-way point?" "Hear you shout?" we reply in a chorus of joyful
+assent. "Of course we did. That's why we spurted." Of course, we had
+heard nothing; but at this moment we almost think we did hear him
+plainly, and in any case we are not going to be so churlish as to
+detract from anybody's joy over our victory.
+
+And so the struggle is ended, and we have won. Pleasant though it is to
+know that training is over, there is not one of us who does not feel a
+sense of sorrow as he realizes that these days of toil and hardship and
+self-restraint, of glorious health and vigorous effort are past. All the
+little worries under which we chafed, the discipline that at times was
+irksome, the thirst, the fatigue, the exhaustion, the recurrent
+disappointments--all these become part of a delightful memory. Never
+again, it may be, shall these eight men strike the sounding furrows
+together. The victory that has crowned us with honour has at the same
+time broken up our companionship of labour and endurance; but its
+splendid memory, and the friendships it knit together--these remain with
+us, and are a part of our lives henceforth wherever we may be.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT.
+
+Let me turn now to lighter matters, for there are lighter matters
+connected with rowing. And first let me insist on the necessity of
+having a butt in a crew. It appears strange at first sight that the
+system of training--that is to say, of diet, of early hours, of healthy
+exercise, and of perfect regularity in all things, which has so
+admirable an effect upon the condition of the body, should sometimes
+impair the powers of the mind, and absolutely shatter the temper. I have
+seen eight healthy, happy, even-tempered young men go into training
+together for three weeks. They were all the best of friends. Tom had
+known Dick at school, and both had been inseparable from Harry ever
+since they had gone up to the University. With these three the other
+five were closely linked by a common pursuit and by common interests.
+Each one of them was a man of whom his friends could say, he was the
+easiest man to get on with you could possibly meet. Yet mark what
+happened. At the end of three weeks every man in that crew was the proud
+possessor of seven detested foes. They ate their food in morose silence;
+they took no delight in the labour of the oar, and each one confided to
+his outside friends his lamentable opinions about the seven other
+members of the crew. Even now, though years have passed away, no one who
+rowed in that crew can look back without horror on those three terrible
+weeks. Why was this so? The simple answer is this, that the crew in
+question did not number among its members a butt. I doubt if the
+importance of a butt in modern boat-racing has been properly recognized.
+Speaking from an experience of many years, I should affirm
+unhesitatingly, if I did not remember what I have written in previous
+chapters, that in an ordinary crew, composed, as ordinary crews are, of
+men and not of angels, the position of butt is a far more important and
+responsible one than that of stroke or No. 7. If you can find a good,
+stout, willing butt--a butt who lends himself to nicknames, and has a
+temper as even as a billiard-table and as long as a tailor's
+bill--secure him at once and make him the nucleus of your crew. There
+may be difficulties, of course, if he should happen to be a heavy weight
+without a notion of oarsmanship, but these defects can easily be
+mitigated by good coaching, and in any case they cannot be allowed to
+count against the supreme merit of keeping the rest of the crew in good
+temper. Salient characteristics are apt to be a rock of offence to a
+training crew. To be a silent thinker does not give rise to happiness in
+the seven who watch you think. It is an even deadlier thing to be an
+eloquent gabbler or a dreary drawler. There is nothing an ordinary
+rowing man detests so much as windy eloquence, unless it be perhaps the
+miserable indolence which is known as slackness. The butt must therefore
+be neither silent, nor slack, nor a drawler. Nature will probably have
+saved him from being a thinker or an orator. He must be simply
+good-natured without affectation, and ready to allow tempers made stormy
+by rowing and training to break upon his broad back without flinching.
+Your true butt is always spoken of as "old" So-and-so, and, as a rule,
+he is a man of much sharper wits, with a far keener insight into
+character, than most of those who buffet or tease him. Among eminent
+butts may be named Mr.----, but on second thoughts I refrain.
+
+
+LEISURE TIME.
+
+It seems a mere platitude to say that a man who can occupy his spare
+moments in writing or reading is likely to be happier and more
+even-tempered than one who is never seen with a book or a pen in his
+hand. Yet it is a platitude of which not many oarsmen realize the force;
+and, indeed, it is not an uncommon sight to see most of the members of
+a crew sitting about listlessly in armchairs or talking the stale
+futilities of rowing shop when they might with more solid advantage be
+engaged, let us say, in following Mr. Stanley Weyman's or Dr. Conan
+Doyle's latest hero through the mazes of his exciting adventures. At
+Oxford or Cambridge, of course, a man has his lectures to attend, his
+fixed tale of work to get through. But at Putney or at Henley this is
+not so. There a man is thrown back on his own resources, a companionship
+which he does not always seem to find particularly cheerful or
+attractive. A billiard table, of course, is a valuable adjunct to
+training quarters, but this is scarcely ever found at Henley, and not
+always at Putney. Besides, most of us, after a short time, cease to take
+any pleasure whatever in a game in which we are not qualified to shine.
+The joy of reading the sporting reporter's account of your doings, and
+of proving conclusively that he knows nothing about rowing, lasts but a
+short time every morning. I may, therefore, offer the oarsman a piece of
+advice which is, sound, in spite of its copybook flavour, and that is,
+that he shall cultivate a habit of reading, and, if possible, of reading
+good literature. Many moralists might recommend this habit on the
+common ground that good literature tends to improve the tone of a man's
+mind; and even a coach who is not a moralist will find it useful in
+distracting the thoughts of his men. Besides, it is quite pleasant in
+after life to recognize a well-worn quotation in a newspaper article,
+and to remember, probably with complete inaccuracy, where it originated.
+A little attention to writing and spelling might also prove valuable.
+Oarsmen who had devoted themselves, say for ten minutes a day, to these
+simple tasks, would have been saved from perpetrating the following
+correspondence, which I quote _verbatim et literatim_ from letters in my
+possession:--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"It has been reported to me that you broke training last night you were
+seen smoking not only a few wiffs but a whole pipe I have therefore
+decided to turn you out of the boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+Answer to the above--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"I am in reciet of your letter it is true that I smoked two whifs (not
+"wiffs" as you say) out of another man's pipe but that's all however I
+don't want to row in your beastly boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+
+AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+I may add here some axioms which have been printed before,[11] but which
+I may venture to repeat in a treatise on rowing. The years that have
+passed since they were first set down have not weakened my conviction
+that they are accurate. I still believe myself justified in stating--
+
+(1) That if two crews row a course within ten minutes of one another,
+the wind is always more violent and the stream more powerful against the
+crew in which you yourself happen to be rowing.
+
+(2) That it is always right to take off at least five seconds from the
+time shown on your stop-watch in timing your own crew, and to add them,
+by way of compensation, to the time shown on the same watch when timing
+a rival crew.
+
+(3) That your own crew is absolutely the only one which ever rows the
+full course right out or starts at the proper place.
+
+(4) That if your crew is impeded while rowing a course you must allow
+ten seconds; but if any other crew is impeded you must allow only two
+seconds.
+
+(5) That if you row a slow course, No. 5's stretcher gave way, or his
+slide came off.
+
+(6) That you could always knock a quarter of a minute off when you row a
+faster stroke, but that--
+
+(7) You never do, as a matter of fact, row a faster stroke.
+
+(8) That your crew always rowed a slower stroke than the rest.
+
+(9) That you are sure to do a faster time to-morrow.
+
+(10) That your private opinion is, that if everybody in the crew did as
+much work as you do yourself your crew would be many lengths faster,
+and--
+
+(11) (and last) That you always lose by the steering of your coxswain
+three lengths, which all other crews gain by the steering of theirs.
+
+  [11] In "In Cambridge Courts."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+
+A good coxswainless four-oared crew represents skill and watermanship,
+as distinguished from mere brute strength, in their highest development.
+I may lay it down as an axiom that any man who can row well in a
+coxswainless Four will row equally well in an eight-oared crew. The
+converse of this is, however, by no means true. A man may do good work
+in an Eight, and yet be incapable of doing himself justice in a Four,
+or, indeed, of helping the pace of the boat in any way. Rowing of a more
+refined order is requisite for a Four. Greater power of balance is
+needed, and a more perfect sense of that rhythm which goes far to secure
+uniformity in rowing. You may have in your Eight a clumsy heavy-weight,
+who at No. 5 can use his strength to wonderful advantage, in spite of
+various aberrations from correct form. But if you put this man at No. 3
+in a Four, the results are sure to be disastrous. An easier style of
+movement is required for a Four. A strenuous application of all the
+body-weight at the beginning of the stroke is still, no doubt,
+necessary. The beginning must, of course, be gripped, and that firmly;
+but the best four-oared rowing I have seen always gave me the impression
+that a sort of "oiling" method of progression, in which steady
+leg-pressure plays a prominent part, was best suited to a Four which is
+not encumbered with the weight of a coxswain. Over and over again have
+Eights been defeated at Henley for the Grand Challenge Cup, and yet
+Fours, selected from their members, have been able to beat all comers in
+the Stewards'. From 1868 to 1878 the London Rowing Club won the Grand
+five times. In the same period of eleven years their Four was only once
+defeated for the Stewards', proving, if any proof were needed, that an
+inferior Eight (I use the term merely relatively) may contain a
+first-class victorious Four. On the other hand, from 1891 to 1897, a
+period during which Leander won the Grand five times, they were able to
+win the Stewards' only once, and that was this year, when their Eight
+was defeated. Instances of this kind might be multiplied.
+
+But besides skill in oarsmanship, another element, which adds greatly
+both to the difficulties and pleasures of a Four, has to be considered.
+This is the necessity that one of the oarsmen should not only row, but
+also guide the course of the boat by steering with his foot. It is
+evident that watermanship of a very high order is needed for this feat.
+The steerer must know the course and all its points perfectly. The
+ordinary oar often finds it difficult to keep time when his eyes are
+glued on the back of the men in front of him, but the steerer in a Four
+has to keep time and regularity, even though he may be forced to look
+round in order to ascertain the true direction of his boat. An oarsman
+in an Eight has both his feet firmly fixed; a steerer of a Four must
+keep one foot constantly ready for movement. And all this he has to do
+without making the boat roll, or upsetting the harmony of his crew.
+These difficulties, no doubt, are great; but when once they have been
+overcome, and the crew has shaken absolutely together, there can be few
+pleasures in the world of exercise comparable to that of rowing in a
+Four.
+
+During a long period the London Rowing Club had almost a monopoly of
+good Fours. Their crews showed a degree of watermanship which in those
+days University oarsmen despaired of attaining to. Gulston, Stout, A. de
+L. Long, Trower, and S. Le B. Smith were not only names to conjure with,
+but showed in their rowing that perfection of apparently simple ease
+which lies at the root of success in four-oared rowing. Who that ever
+witnessed it can forget the sight, once well-known at Henley, of Mr. F.
+S. Gulston as he rowed and steered his Four to victory? As a recent
+Cambridge versifier said of him--
+
+    "They can't recall, but ah, I can,
+       How hard and strong you looked, sir;
+     Twelve stone, and every ounce a man,
+       Unbeatable, uncooked, sir.
+     Our French friends, had they seen your rude
+       Vast strength had cried, '_Ah quel beau
+     Rameur, celui qui arque le coude_'--
+       That is, protrudes his elbow.
+
+    "Your ship could run like Charley's Aunt,
+       And you, demure as Penley,
+     Knew all the wiles that might enchant
+       The river nymphs at Henley.
+     No piles had yet marked out the way
+       Forbidding men to try on
+     The tricks that found round every bay
+       The short cuts to the 'Lion.'
+
+    "Each inch of bay you knew by heart,
+       You knew the slackest water;
+     All foes who faced you at the start,
+       You beat, and beat with slaughter.
+     To 'form' a stranger, yet your style
+       The kind that much endures was.
+     I never saw--forgive the smile--
+       A rounder back than yours was.
+
+    "But round or straight, when all dismayed
+       Your rivals lagged in trouble,
+     Still with a firm, unfaltering blade
+       You drove the swirling bubble.
+     With you to speed the hours along
+       No day was ere spent dully,
+     Our stalwart, cheerful, matchless, strong,
+       Our undefeated Gully."
+
+As a matter of record it may be stated that Mr. Gulston won five Grand
+Challenge Cup medals and ten Stewards' Cup medals, Mr. A. de L. Long
+five Grand Challenge Cup medals and eight Stewards' Cup medals, and Mr.
+S. Le B. Smith four Grand Challenge Cup medals, and seven Stewards' Cup
+medals. No oarsman of the present day can boast of anything like such a
+record in these two events.
+
+The art of four-oared rowing, then, was brought to perfection by the
+crews of the London Rowing Club many years ago; but there is no danger
+that it will be forgotten by oarsmen of the present day. Indeed, the
+rowing of the Leander Four that won the Stewards' Cup this year was
+about as good as four-oared rowing can be. They were absolutely
+together, they rowed with most perfect ease, and in the race they beat
+record time by seven seconds, and might have beaten it by still more,
+had they not easied a length or two from the finish. Their weights were
+as follows:--
+
+  Bow. C. W. N. Graham                   10 st. 2 lbs.
+    2. J. A. Ford                        12 st. 1 lb.
+    3. H. Willis                         11 st. 12 lbs.
+       Guy Nickalls (stroke, and steers) 12 st. 7 lbs.
+
+From the above remarks it will be gathered that the great points to be
+insisted upon in four-oared rowing are uniformity, and again uniformity,
+and always uniformity. A coach should insist, if possible even more
+strenuously than he insists in an Eight, on bodies and slides moving
+with a faultless precision and perfectly together. Let him devote his
+energies to getting the finish and recovery locked up all through the
+crew, and let him see to it that the movements of their bodies shall be
+slow and balanced on the forward swing, and strong and not jerky on the
+back swing. More it would be difficult to add.
+
+When a Four is practising for a four-oared race alone--that is to say,
+when its members are not rowing in an eight-oared crew as well, their
+course of work should be similar to that laid down for an Eight. But
+when, as often happens at Henley, a Four is made up out of the members
+of an eight-oared crew, it will always be found better to allow its
+members to do the bulk of their work in the Eight, and to confine
+themselves in the Four principally to long and easy paddling, varied by
+short, sharp bursts of rowing. It may be necessary for such a Four to go
+over the full course once at top speed, but that ought to be enough.
+Their work in the Eight should get them into condition; all that they
+really need in the Four is to be able to row perfectly together. The
+Brasenose Four that won the Stewards' in 1890 had never rowed over the
+full course before the day of the race. Their longest piece of rowing,
+as distinguished from paddling, had been a burst of three minutes. Their
+men acquired fitness by working in the Eight, and proved their
+condition by the two desperate races they rowed.
+
+As to steering, it used to be said that anybody might steer in a Four
+except stroke, but Mr. Guy Nickalls has proved that a stroke can steer
+as well as row. He has won four Stewards' Cup medals, has stroked and
+steered in every race, and his boat has always been kept on a faultless
+course.
+
+In the case of the ordinary oar, however, the old saying, I think, holds
+good. Bow naturally is the best place to steer from, not only because in
+turning his head he can obtain a clear view of the course, but also
+because he has a considerable advantage in leverage, and ought to be
+able to control the direction of his boat merely by relaxing or
+increasing the power applied to his oar. The best part of the stroke for
+looking round is, I consider, towards the finish. A turn of the head,
+accompanied by an outward movement of the outside elbow to suit the
+slightly altered position of the body, while keeping pressure on the
+oar, is all that is necessary. Yet I have seen Mr. Guy Nickalls look
+round in the middle of his forward swing without apparently disturbing
+the equilibrium of the boat. In any case, the best thing a steerer can
+do is to learn his course by heart, so that he may be able to steer for
+the most part without looking round at all, judging the direction she is
+taking by her stern and by well-known objects on the bank as he passes
+them. Personally I prefer, and I think most men prefer, to steer with
+the outside foot. The captain of a Four should always look carefully to
+his steering-gear to see that the wires and strings are taut, and that
+they move properly and without jamming over the wheels. I have seen more
+than one race lost by accidents to the steering-gear that might have
+been avoided by a little preliminary attention.
+
+
+PAIR OARS.
+
+This, too, is a very pleasant form of rowing, both with a view to racing
+and merely for casual amusement. The main elements for success are
+similar to those laid down in the case of Fours. In pair-oared rowing,
+however, there is one important point which distinguishes it from all
+other forms of rowing. It is absolutely essential that the two men
+composing a Pair should not row "jealous," _i.e._ neither of them must
+attempt to row the other round in order to prove his own superior
+strength and ability. Such a course of action not only makes progress
+circuitous and slow, but also ends by entirely destroying the tempers of
+both oarsmen. In a Pair, even more than in a Four, the bow oar has a
+considerable advantage in leverage, whence it comes that a lighter and
+less powerful man can often row bow in a Pair with a strong and heavy
+stroke. The most surprising instance of this occurred in the Oxford
+University Pairs of 1891, which were won by the late Mr. H. B. Cotton,
+rowing bow at 9 st. 12 lbs., to the stroke of Mr. Vivian Nickalls, who
+weighed close on 13 st. An instance to the contrary was afforded by the
+winners of the Goblets at Henley in 1878. These were Mr. T. C.
+Edwards-Moss, bow, 12 st. 3 lbs., and Mr. W. A. Ellison, stroke, 10 st.
+13 lbs. The Goblets at Henley have been won six times by Mr. Guy
+Nickalls, and five times by his brother Vivian.
+
+
+SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+There has been, during the past year, a movement in favour of using
+swivel rowlocks, not only in sculling-boats, but also in Pairs, Fours,
+and Eights, though the majority of English oarsmen, even when inclined
+to use them in Pairs and Fours, set their faces against them for
+Eights. The advocates of swivels contend that by their use the hands are
+eased on the recovery, and the jar that takes place when the oar turns
+on a fixed rowlock is absolutely abolished. These advantages seem to me
+to be exaggerated, for, though I have carefully watched for it, I have
+never seen an Eight or a Four retarded in her place for even a fraction
+of a second by the supposed jar due to the turning of the oar on the
+feather in fixed rowlocks. On the other hand, I am convinced that for an
+ordinary eight-oared crew the fixed rowlock is best, and for the
+following reasons:--
+
+The combined rattle of the oars as they turn constitutes a most valuable
+rallying-point. The ears are brought into action as well as the eyes.
+This advantage is lost with swivels. In modern sculling-boats a man must
+use swivels, for the reach of the sculler extends to a point which he
+could not reach with fixed rowlocks, as his sculls would lock before he
+got there. As he moves forward he is constantly opening up, his arms
+extending on either side of his body; but in rowing, one arm swings
+across the body, and unless you are going to screw the body round
+towards the rigger, and thus sacrifice all strength of beginning, you
+cannot fairly reach beyond a certain point, which is just as easily and
+comfortably attained with fixed rowlocks as with swivels. Moreover--and
+here is the great advantage--you have in the thole-pin of a fixed
+rowlock an absolutely immovable surface, and the point of application of
+your power is always the same throughout the stroke. With a swivel this
+is not so, for the back of the swivel, against which your oar rests, is
+constantly moving. To put it in other words, it is far easier with a
+fixed rowlock to get a square, firm, clean grip of the beginning, and
+for the same reason it is easier to bring your oar square and clean out
+at the end of the stroke. A really good waterman can, of course, adapt
+himself to swivels, as he can to almost anything else in a boat, but his
+task will not be rendered any easier by them. For average oars, and even
+for most good oars, the difficulties of rowing properly will be largely
+increased, without any compensating advantage, so far as I am able to
+judge. In the case of novices, I am convinced that it would be quite
+disastrous to attempt to make them row with swivel rowlocks.
+
+
+_Measurements of Racing Four built by J. H. Clasper._
+
+(In this boat Leander won the Stewards' Cup, 1897.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                42  3
+  Greatest breadth of beam, exactly amidship      1  8⅜
+  From centre of seat to sill of rowlock          2  8½
+  Length of play of slides                        1  3⅞
+  Height of sliding-seat above skin of boat          8⅞
+  Height of heel-traps above skin of boat            1⅝
+    (This would make the heels about one inch
+        above skin of boat.)
+  Height of sill of rowlock above seat               6¾
+  Depth forward                                      6⅛
+  Depth aft                                          5
+
+
+_Measurements of Oars used._
+
+  Length over all                                12  0½
+  Length in-board                                 3  8½
+  Length of blade                                 2  8
+  Breadth of blade                                   5¾
+
+This boat is some three feet shorter than the average of Fours nowadays.
+
+The oars used by the New College Four measured over all 12 ft. 6 ins.;
+in-board, 3 ft. 8½ ins.; breadth of blades, 5½ ins.
+
+
+_Measurement of a Pair Oar built by Sims, of Putney._
+
+(In this Pair Mr. H. G. Gold, and Mr. R. Carr won the University Pairs
+at Oxford, their weights being 11 st. 10 lbs. and 12 st. 8 lbs.
+respectively.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                37  1
+  Greatest breadth                                1  3¾
+  Length of slide play                            1  4
+  Distance from sill of rowlock to centre of seat 2  8½
+  Height of seat above skin of boat                  8⅛
+  Height of heels above skin of boat                 1¼
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA.
+
+(_A Heat for the Diamonds._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+SCULLING.
+
+_By Guy Nickalls._
+
+
+In writing an article on sculling, a sculler must of necessity be
+egotistical. He can only speak of what he himself feels to be the
+correct way of doing things, and cannot judge of how a different man
+feels under the same circumstances. I therefore put in a preliminary
+plea for forgiveness if in the course of these remarks the letter "I"
+should occur with excessive frequency. Sculling is so entirely an art by
+itself, that a man might just as well ask a painter how he produces an
+impression on a canvas as ask a sculler why he can scull, or how it
+comes that so many good oarsmen cannot scull. Ask an ordinary
+portrait-painter why he cannot sketch a landscape, and ask an ordinary
+oarsman to explain why he cannot scull, and to the uninitiated the
+answer of both will have the same sort of vagueness. Sculling differs
+so vastly from rowing that no man who has not tried his hand at both can
+appreciate how really wide apart they stand; and the fact that sculling
+depends to such a great extent on one's innate sense of touch and
+balance, makes it extremely hard for a man who has tried his hand with
+some success at both sculling and rowing to explain to the novice, or
+even to the veteran oarsman, wherein the difference lies. There is as
+much difference between sculling and rowing as there is between a single
+cyclist racing without pacemakers, steering and balancing himself and
+making his own pace, and a man in the middle of a quintette merely
+pedalling away like a machine at another man's pace, and not having the
+balance or anything else solely under his control. The difference in
+"feel" is so great that one might liken it to the difference between
+riding a light, springy, and eager thoroughbred which answers quickly to
+every touch, and pounding uncomfortably along on a heavy, coarse-bred
+horse, responding slowly to an extra stimulus, and deficient in life and
+action.
+
+To scull successfully one must possess pluck, stamina, and a cool head,
+and must, above all, be a waterman. A man may _row_ well and
+successfully, and yet possess none of these qualities. Nothing depresses
+a man more when he is sculling than his sense of utter isolation. If a
+spurt is required, he alone has to initiate it and carry it through;
+there is no cheering prospect of another strong back aiding one, no
+strenuous efforts of others to which one can rally, no cox to urge one
+to further effort. You feel this even more in practice than in actual
+racing, especially when going against the clock. You are your own
+stroke, captain, crew, and cox, and success or failure depends entirely
+and absolutely upon yourself. No one else (worse luck) is to blame if
+things go wrong.
+
+The pace of a sculling-boat is strictly proportionate to the quality of
+its occupant. A good man will go fast and win his race; a bad man
+cannot. A good man in an Eight cannot make his crew win; and a bad man
+in an Eight may mar a crew, but he can also very often win a race
+against a crew containing better men than himself.
+
+People have often asked me why a first-class oar should not of necessity
+be a good sculler. This, although a hard matter to explain, is partly
+accounted for by what I have said above, in that sculling is so greatly
+a matter of delicate touch and handling. Even good oars are as often as
+not clumsy and wanting in a quick light touch. Very few really big men
+have ever been fine scullers. This is partly accounted for by the fact
+that so few boats are built large enough to carry big weights, and
+consequently they are under-boated when practising. Many big weights,
+_e.g._ S. D. Muttlebury and F. E. Churchill, have been good and fast
+scullers at Eton, but two or three years afterwards are slow, and get
+slower and slower the longer they continue. This, I think, is a good
+deal owing to the muscle which a big man generally accumulates,
+especially on the shoulders and arms, and he therefore lacks the
+essential qualities of elasticity, lissomeness, and quickness with the
+hands.
+
+Big, strong men also generally grip with great ferocity the handles of
+their sculls, and these being small, the forearm becomes cramped, and
+gives out. Many good oarsmen have never tried to scull, and those who
+have generally give it up after a first failure, which is more often
+than not due to want of attention to detail. What passes for good
+watermanship in an Eight is mere clumsiness in a sculling-boat, and, as
+a matter of fact, there are far fewer really good watermen than the
+casual observer imagines.
+
+I asked three of our best modern heavy-weight oarsmen to tell me the
+reason why they could not scull. The Thames R.C. man said the only
+reason why he had never won the Diamonds was because he had never gone
+in for them. This was straightforward, but unconvincing to any one who
+had watched this gentleman gambolling in a sculling-boat. The Cambridge
+heavy-weight affirmed solemnly that he could scull, and was at one time
+very fast. He subsequently admitted that he could never get a boat big
+enough, and, secondly, his arms always gave. The Oxford heavy-weight
+replied much to the same purpose, without the preliminary affirmation.
+
+Many men can scull well and slowly, but few can really go fast, and
+this, I think, is due to the fact that they do not practise enough with
+faster men than themselves, and so do not learn by experience what
+action of theirs will best propel a boat at its fastest pace. Nothing is
+more deceptive than pace; when a man thinks he is going fastest he is
+generally going slowest. He gets the idea that he is going fast because
+his boat is jumping under him, and creating a large amount of side-wash;
+but an observer from the bank will notice that although the sculls are
+applying great power, that power is not being applied properly, and his
+boat will be seen to be up by the head and dragging at the stern, and
+bouncing up and down instead of travelling.
+
+The first and foremost thing, then, to be attended to for pace is
+balance, _i.e._ an even keel, and to obtain this your feet should be
+very firm in your clogs. As those supplied by the trade are of a very
+rough and rudimentary character, they will nearly always require padding
+in different places. You should be able to feel your back-stop just so
+much that when leaning back well past the perpendicular you can push
+hard against it with a straight leg. You are then quite firm, and can
+control your body in the event of your boat rolling. Although when a man
+has become a waterman he will find the back-stop unnecessary, it is
+safest for the novice to have it, so as to be able to press against it;
+otherwise, having nothing to press against at the finish of his stroke,
+he may acquire the bad habit of relying entirely on his toes to pull him
+forward. In such a position he is unstable, and if his boat rolls he has
+no control over his body.
+
+Having got your balance, the next thing to be thought of is the stroke.
+Reach forward until the knees touch either armpit; put the sculls in
+quite square, and take the water firmly (be most careful not to rush or
+jerk the beginning); at the same time drive with the legs, sending the
+slide, body and all, back; the loins must be absolutely firm, so that
+the seat does not get driven away from underneath the body. If you allow
+the loins to be loose and weak you will acquire that caterpillar action
+which was to be seen in several aspirants to Diamond Sculls honours last
+year, and which ruined whatever poor chance they ever possessed. This
+diabolical habit of driving the slide away, although common to many
+professionals, cannot be too severely condemned, as it relieves the
+sculler from doing any work at all except with the arms, which, if thus
+used, without swing and leg-work to help them, cannot, unless a man is
+enormously muscular in them, hold out for any great length of time. The
+firm drive will start the swing of the body, which may be continued a
+fraction of time after the slide has finished. You will find that when
+you have driven your slide back your body will have swung well past the
+perpendicular (and in sculling you may swing further back than you are
+allowed to in rowing). When in that position a sculler is allowed to do
+that which an oarsman must not, viz. he may help to start his recovery
+by moving his body slightly up to meet his sculls as they finish the
+stroke. Thus by keeping his weight on the blades in the water as long as
+possible, instead of in his boat, he strengthens the finish and prevents
+his boat burying itself by the bows. The stroke from the beginning
+should go on increasing in strength to the finish, which should be firm
+and strong, but, like the beginning, not jerked or snapped. Strength
+applied to the finish keeps a boat travelling in between the strokes.
+
+The finish is by far the hardest part of the stroke, and is most
+difficult to get clean and smart. The position is naturally a far weaker
+one than that of the oarsman, as the hands are eight inches or so
+further back, and at the same time six inches or so clear of the ribs.
+In this position nine out of ten scullers fail to get a really quick
+recovery with the sculls clean out and clear of the water, the hands
+away like lightning and clear of the knees, and the body at the same
+time swinging forward. As soon as the hands have cleared the knees they
+should begin to turn the blade off the feather, so that by the time you
+are full forward the blades are square and ready to take the water.
+Professionals recommend staying on the feather until just before the
+water is taken, but this is apt to make the novice grip his handles
+tightly, and press on them almost unconsciously when he should be very
+light. He will thus make his blade fly up and miss the beginning. In
+order to ensure both hands working perfectly level and taking and
+leaving the water exactly together, a man should watch his stern, and by
+the turn given either way he can easily detect which hand is not doing
+its right amount of work. Which hand you scull over or which under makes
+little or no difference. Personally, I scull with the right hand under.
+In holding a scull the thumb should "cap" the handle; this prevents you
+from pulling your button away from the thowl even the slightest bit, and
+makes your grip firmer and steadier. If in steering you must look right
+round, do so shortly before you are full forward, as soon as the hands
+have cleared the knees, but generally steer by the stern, if you can,
+without looking round, and almost unconsciously by what you notice out
+of the corner of either eye as you pass.
+
+Modern professionals, with very few exceptions, scull in disgracefully
+bad form. W. Haines, Wag Harding, and W. East, at his best, are perhaps
+the only exceptions I know to this rule. English professionals, owing to
+the manual labour with which most of them start life, become abnormally
+strong in the arms, and trust almost entirely to those muscles. Their
+want of swing, their rounded backs, and "hoicked" finish they carry with
+them into a rowing-boat. Nothing shows up their bad form in rowing so
+much as sandwiching a few pros. in a goodish amateur crew--"by their
+style ye shall know them." They have acquired a style which does not
+answer, and which they cannot get rid of, and they consider an Eight can
+be propelled in the same manner as a sculling-boat. Nothing is more
+erroneous. They cannot assimilate their style to the correct one. Two
+pros. sometimes make a fair pair, because they may happen to "hoick"
+along in the same style. Professional Fours are a little worse than
+Pairs, and their Eights disgraceful. I am of opinion (and I fancy most
+men who know anything about rowing will agree with me) that England's
+eight best amateurs in a rowing-boat would simply lose England's eight
+best pros. over any course from a mile upwards. This inability to
+assimilate one's style to that of another man, or body of men, may be
+the reason why some excellent amateur scullers proved inferior oars, or
+it may be that they can go at their own pace and not at another man's. I
+myself have often felt on getting out of a sculling-boat into an Eight
+great difficulty and much weariness at being compelled to go on at
+another man's pace, and only to easy at another's order. If you are
+practising for sculling as well as rowing there is nothing like being
+_captain_ of an Eight or stroke of a Pair or Four.
+
+The novice, if he has toiled so far as this, is no doubt by now saying
+to himself that I am only repeating what he knows already, and that what
+he especially requires are hints as to rigging his boat, size and shape
+of sculls, and various measurements, the pace of stroke he ought to go,
+etc., Of course, the smaller the blade the quicker the stroke, and _vice
+versâ_. It should be remembered that even 1/16 of an inch extra in the
+breadth of a blade makes a lot of difference. Blades, I think, should
+vary according to the liveliness of water rowed on, and according to the
+strength of the individual. For myself, I am rather in favour of smaller
+blades than are generally used. My experience leads me to believe that
+racing sculls should be from 9 ft. 8½ ins. to 9 ft. 9½ ins. in
+length all over; in-board measurement from 2 ft. 8¼ ins. to 2 ft. 9
+ins., but, of course, this entirely depends on how much you like your
+sculls to overlap. When they are at right angles to the boat, my sculls
+overlap so much that there is a hand's-breadth of space in between my
+crossed hands. The length of blade should be about 2 ft.; breadth of
+blade, from 5¾ ins. to 6¼ ins. Even on the tideway sculls should
+be as light as a good scull-maker can turn them out, so long as they
+retain their stiffness. Do not, however, sacrifice stiffness to
+lightness. It is rather interesting to compare these measurements with
+those of a pair of sculls hanging over my head as I write; these were
+used in a championship race eighty years ago, and have a heavy square
+loom to counteract their length and consequent weight out-board. The
+measurements are--8 ft. 8 ins. in length over all, 1 ft. 9 ins.
+in-board; length of blade, 2 ft. 5 ins.; breadth of blade, 3⅛ ins. I
+give below roughly what should be the measurements of a boat according
+to the weight of the sculler. For a man of--
+
+                 9 stone.   12 stone.      13 stone.
+  Length        30 ft.       31 ft.       31 ft. 3 ins.
+  Width         9 ins.       10½ ins.     11½ ins.
+  Depth         5¼ ins.       5½ ins.      5¾ ins.
+    "  forward  3¼ ins.       3½ ins.      3⅝ ins.
+    "  aft      2½ ins.       2½ ins.      2⅝ ins.
+  Weight        24 lbs.       28 lbs.      34 lbs.
+
+As to slide, I hold that a man should slide to a point level with his
+rowing-pin--never past it, lest the boat should be pinched instead of
+being driven at the beginning of the stroke. The clogs should be fixed
+at an angle of 55° to the keel (_i.e._ an angle measured along the back
+of the clogs). If the angle is much smaller, the feet and legs lose
+power when the sculler is full back, and the drive at the finish is
+weakened. If the angle is greater, the difficulty of bending the
+ankle-joints sufficiently as the slide moves forward becomes very
+serious. The distance of fifteen inches from the heel of the clogs to
+the edge of slide when full forward may be slightly reduced, but only
+slightly. For instance, if reduced, as is sometimes done, to ten inches,
+the body comes too close to the heels in the forward position to enable
+the sculler to get a strong, direct, and immediate drive, and the boat
+is pinched.
+
+A very old sculling-boat of mine--and perhaps the best that Clasper ever
+built--was built for Mr. F. I. Pitman in 1886. She owed her pace to the
+fact that she was very long aft, and consequently never got up by the
+head; her cut-water was always in the water, even when her occupant was
+full forward; and the most marvellous thing was that, low as she was,
+she did not bury her nose, considering that she had to endure a weight
+of 170 lbs. or so, shifting its position fore and aft to the extent of
+sixteen inches. She is a marvel of the boat-builder's art, and was built
+of exceptionally close-framed cedar, which takes a long time to get
+water-soaked, and indeed should never do so if properly looked after.
+Her dimensions were: Length, 31 ft. 2 ins.; length from edge of sliding
+seat when forward to stern-post, 14 ft. 6½ ins.; width, 11¼ ins.;
+depth forward, 3¼ ins.; depth aft, 2⅝ ins.; depth amidships, 5½
+ins.; from heels to back edge of slide when back, 3 ft. 5¼ ins.;
+leverage, _i.e._ measurement from thowl to thowl across, 4 ft. 9 ins.;
+from heels to edge of seat when forward, 15¼ inches. She won the
+Diamond Sculls in 1886, 1888, 1889, 1890; the amateur championship in
+1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890; besides the Metropolitan Sculls and
+several minor races.
+
+It is a great mistake to try and get a boat too light. The eagerness a
+man will display in cutting down everything to lessen the weight of his
+craft, until he is sitting on the water on a weak bit of nothing, is
+really astounding. Three or four extra pounds often make all the
+difference, whether a boat is stiff and keeps on travelling, or whether
+she jumps, cocks her head, and waggles about generally.
+
+As to the pace of stroke, from twenty-two to twenty-six strokes a minute
+is a fair practice paddle, twenty-four to twenty-eight for sculling
+hard, and in racing, even for a minute, never attempt anything over
+thirty-eight. I once sculled seventy-eight strokes in two minutes, and
+felt more dead than alive at the end of it. It is harder work to scull
+thirty-eight strokes in a minute than it is to row forty-four in the
+same time. If you do start at thirty-eight, drop down as soon as
+possible to thirty-four, thirty-two, or even thirty, according to
+circumstances of wind and weather, etc. My best advice to the novice is
+to go just fast enough to clean out his opponent before the same thing
+happens to himself, or, even better still, to get his opponent beaten,
+and leave himself fresh. But always remember if you are at all evenly
+matched, that however bad you feel yourself, your opponent is probably
+in just as bad a plight. Talking of pace reminds me of how soon even the
+best scullers tire. In sculling a course against time at Henley, a good
+man may get to Fawley, the halfway point, in about the same time as a
+Pair, and yet will be half a minute slower from that point to the
+finish; and for the last quarter-mile the veriest tiro can out-scull a
+champion, provided the latter has gone at his best pace throughout. In
+scull-racing the advantage of the lead is greater than in rowing, as a
+sculler can help his own steering by watching the direction of the
+other's craft. Yet you should never sacrifice your wind to obtain the
+advantage, for recollect that in sculling you can never take a blow or
+an easy for even a stroke. If you are behind, never turn round to look
+at your opponent, as by doing so you lose balance and pace, and many a
+good man has lost a race by so doing. Keep just so close up to your man
+as to prevent him giving you the disadvantage of his back wash.
+
+Training for sculling requires more time and practice than training for
+rowing. If it takes an Eight 6 weeks to get together and fit to race, it
+takes a Four 9 weeks, a Pair 12 weeks, and a Sculler 15 weeks. If a man
+is training for both rowing and sculling at the same time, and racing in
+both on the same day, it takes lengths and lengths off his pace, for
+rowing upsets all that precision so necessary in sculling. If a man
+sculls and rows at Henley, and does both on the same day, and practises
+for the same daily for a month beforehand, I should think it would make
+him from six to eight lengths slower on the Henley course. Otherwise,
+train as you would for rowing, the only difference being that a little
+more time should be spent in the actual sculling than is spent in the
+actual rowing.
+
+Having attended Henley Regatta since 1883, and having raced there for
+twelve years in succession, I have met with various scullers. Mr. J. C.
+Gardner, taking him all round, was the finest I have ever seen of
+amateurs. He was quite the best stripped man I have ever seen, his
+muscles standing out like bars of steel all over his body; he was a very
+neat, finished sculler, the only fault I could find with him being a
+tendency to a weak finish. W. S. Unwin, a light weight, was extremely
+neat, but his style was rather spoilt by a roundish back. F. I. Pitman,
+his great rival, was perhaps a better stayer, and had a more elegant
+style. Vivian Nickalls, for a long man, was a fine sculler, handicapped
+by an awkward finish and handicapped also by the fact that he never
+entirely gave his time up to sculling only--his chief characteristic
+being a fine, healthy, long body swing. M. Bidault, a Frenchman, who
+rowed in the Metropolitan Regatta some years ago, was 7 ft. 4½ ins.
+high; he weighed 17 stone; his boat weighed 50 lbs., was 35 feet long,
+had a 5 ft. leverage; his sculls were 11 ft. 10 ins. long. Compare with
+him Wag Harding, with a boat 19½ lbs. in weight, weighing 9 stone
+himself, and you will see in what different forms and shapes men can
+scull. And M. Bidault was a fast man for a quarter of a mile. The
+fastest sculler for half a mile I have ever seen was Herr Doering, who
+sculled for the Diamonds in 1887. The slowest man I have ever seen
+was---- Well, I won't mention names, as he might go in for the Diamond
+Sculls again. Rupert Guinness, although not what I should call a born
+sculler, obtained his great proficiency in sculling by dint of a very
+long and careful preparation, by months and months of continual
+practice, and by not hampering his sculling by entering and practising
+for rowing events at the same time--in fact, by making a speciality of
+sculling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+STEERING.
+
+(SOME HINTS TO NOVICE COXSWAINS.)
+
+_By G. L. Davis_,
+
+Cox of the Cambridge Eight, 1875-79; Cox of Leander, 1880-85.
+
+
+Many people think that any one, provided he be of the proper weight, is
+fitted to fill the post of coxswain.
+
+Nobody, however, knows better than the actual rowing man what an amount
+of useless labour and irritation a crew can be saved by possessing a
+good man in the stern, not to mention the assistance he can afford both
+directly and indirectly in getting a crew together. Certainly a mere
+tiro, having acquired the elementary knowledge that if he pulls the
+right rudder-line he will turn his boat to starboard, _i.e._ to the
+right, and that if he pulls his left line he will turn her to port,
+_i.e._ to the left, may be able to guide a boat sufficiently well for
+ordinary purposes; but even in the period of training a crew, and still
+more so in the race, there is undoubtedly plenty of scope for a clever
+coxswain to distinguish himself. There is no royal road to good
+steering. Pains and perseverance are necessary, as in every other branch
+of athletics. The attainment of perfection in steering is not all that
+is requisite; there are many other qualities added to this skill which
+combine to make a coxswain worthy to be reckoned in the front rank--a
+position which all coxswains should aim for.
+
+In the days of Tom Egan the steerer had to act as coach to his crew, but
+nowadays he is no longer called upon to do so. He is, in the first
+place, chosen on account of his light weight; but eligible though he may
+be in this respect, he is too often quite incapable in other ways of
+performing his duties. Should this be the case, a crew would be well
+advised in carrying a few more pounds, or even a stone or two extra, if
+by so doing they manage to gain an able and experienced coxswain. There
+are certain qualities which are absolutely essential in the right sort.
+He should have light hands, judgment, a cool head, and plenty of nerve
+to enable him to keep his presence of mind in the face of a sudden
+predicament or unforeseen danger. There are numberless occasions both in
+practice and during races when risks are run. A boat laden with
+pleasure-seekers may suddenly pop out from the bank into the course. The
+coolness of the coxswain may avert very much more serious consequences
+than the loss of a stroke or two, such as a broken rigger or an injury
+to an oarsman, by a touch of the rudder and a ready appeal to his crew
+to mind their oars.
+
+During a University Boat Race, in which I was steering the Cambridge
+Boat, a waterman's wherry, with two or three occupants, was suddenly
+pulled out from the Surrey shore at a short distance above Hammersmith
+Bridge. The course at this point lies somewhat near to the bank, and the
+Oxford Boat was nearly level with mine. The wherry was directly in my
+way, and, as far as I could make out, those who were in it seemed to be
+in doubt as to whether they should row still further out or make for the
+shore. If I went to the right, a foul was imminent with the Oxford Boat;
+if to the left, I should have got into slack water and lost ground by
+the _détour_. There was no time for those in the wherry to waste in
+making up their minds, so I promptly made straight for them with the
+object of driving them out of my course. The desired effect followed.
+They got sufficient way on in the direction of the shore to enable me to
+steer straight on and clear them. My action involved the ticklish
+question of judgment of distance and of pace, namely, should I reach the
+spot before the wherry was clear; and this anecdote illustrates my
+point--that quickness in making up the mind, and, when it is made up, in
+acting, is _essential_ to a coxswain.
+
+The duties of a coxswain consist of many and varied details. To make a
+smart crew, attention should be paid to discipline both in and out of
+the boat, and he can and ought to further this object to the utmost of
+his power, thereby saving the coach or captain a great deal of trouble.
+If the coxswain of a light eight-oared racing ship has been ordered to
+get her into the water, he ought to be there to superintend the order
+being carried out. He should bid his crew "stand by" their riggers, and
+see that each man is in readiness to lift and carry her to the water's
+edge. There is generally a waterman at hand, but whether there is or
+not, the coxswain should be ready, if necessary, to remove any stool
+upon which the ship may have been resting, so as to prevent any
+stumbling on the part of his men. His place is near the rudder (unless
+she is launched stern foremost, when, of course, it would be
+impossible), to prevent any injury happening to it, until the boat is
+safely in the water. He will then get the oarsmen into her in an orderly
+manner. There is necessity for this, for otherwise the boat's back may
+be strained. This might occur by allowing stroke and bow to get in
+first, owing to a boat of such length and lightness of build being
+supported in the centre and at the same time weighted at each end. The
+best order for the men to take their places is, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7, bow,
+and then stroke. The coxswain should call out their numbers one by one,
+holding the boat firmly whilst they take their seats, and on no account
+allow more than one man to get in at the same time. In disembarking, it
+is part of his duty to see that the crew leave the ship in the reverse
+order. The coxswain seats himself in the aftermost thwart perfectly
+upright, with his legs crossed tailor-fashion, and takes up the
+rudder-lines one in each hand; and, before he gives any command, should
+see that his steering gear is in proper order. It is a common and useful
+custom for the purpose of preventing the hand from slipping, to have
+attached to each line a piece of wood of about three to four inches in
+length, and one and a half in circumference, called a tug. These the
+coxswain clasps tightly, one in each hand. Some coxswains hold their
+rudder-lines in front of the body, others behind; but in my opinion the
+best place to hold them is by the side, with the hands resting one on
+each gunwale. The coxswain, by thus supporting himself, can better
+preserve a firm and steady seat. He should never slip about on his seat,
+but always keep his body as nearly as possible erect, and balanced from
+his hips. He must on no account roll with the boat, and should endeavour
+to prevent himself being moved to and fro by the action of the rowers.
+Often a narrow strip of wood is nailed to the seat the better to enable
+him to sit firm. The lines must be kept taut, and tied together in front
+of him, lest by any accident he should lose one or both overboard. After
+having shoved off and paddled into position, he should see that the
+bows of his boat point straight for the course he wishes to steer. He
+will then start his crew by calling upon them to "get ready," when they
+will divest themselves of any superfluous clothing and make any other
+necessary preparations. He will then say "Forward!" or "Forward all!"
+for them to come forward in readiness for the first stroke. He should
+now take care that his boat is level, and should tell the oarsmen on the
+side to which she may list to raise their hands, or call upon the crew
+to get her level. After that he asks, "Are you ready?" as a final
+warning, and lastly cries, "Row!" or "Paddle!" as may be required. Some
+other forms are employed, but this is as good as any, and better than
+most, and the same words should always be used when once adopted. In the
+event of a crew making a bad start, they should be at once stopped and
+restarted. If the coxswain be desirous for his crew to stop rowing or
+paddling, "Easy all!" is the term to use, and this order should be given
+almost immediately after the commencement of a stroke, to prevent the
+rowers coming forward for the next one. In case it may be necessary to
+bring his boat up sharp, he will say, "Hold her up all!"[12] and if (at
+any time) there is any danger of the oars touching anything, he should
+cry, "Mind your oars, bow side," or "stroke side," as the case may be.
+The boat is ordinarily turned on the port (left) side by calling upon
+bow and No. 3 to paddle, and stroke and No. 6 to back water, or back,
+for brevity; and on the starboard (right) side by calling upon Nos. 2
+and 4 to paddle, and Nos. 5 and 7 to back. In each case the coxswain
+naturally assists with the rudder. When turning a racing ship, for fear
+of weakening her, the paddling and rowing should not take place
+simultaneously.
+
+  [12] This is the term used at Cambridge, where "Hold her" is also used
+  with the same meaning. At Oxford, "Hold her up" means "Paddle on
+  gently;" and "Hold her all," or "Stop her all," would be the order if a
+  sudden stoppage were required. To carry out such an order the rowers
+  turn the blades flat on the water, and raise their hands quickly, thus
+  burying blades in the water.
+
+Whatever the coxswain addresses to his crew should be spoken clearly and
+distinctly, so that all may hear without difficulty. The preceding
+instructions comprise most of the everyday terms that a coxswain should
+know.
+
+Now let me turn to his functions of a semi-coaching character, of
+keeping his crew in time. Whether the crew are rowing or paddling, he
+must carefully watch the time of the oars, both as they catch the water
+and leave it. If the oarsman catches the water too soon, he should be
+told not to hurry; if too late, he should be told, "You're late." If he
+leaves it too soon, or, as it is called, clips his stroke at the finish,
+he should be told to finish it out, etc. (but if an oarsman finishes it
+after the stroke, I cannot advise the coxswain to take notice of it).
+All these semi-coaching remarks, if I may so call them, should be
+prefaced with the number of the crew to whom they are addressed, for the
+purpose of calling his attention, and must be used with judgment and
+tact, for nothing can be more aggravating, not to say maddening, to an
+oarsman at any time, more especially when fagged in a race, to hear
+incessantly the possibly high-pitched and monotonous tones of a
+coxswain. There is only one fault that will excuse him shouting himself
+hoarse, if he be so disposed, and it is the fault, or rather vice, of
+one of the crew looking out of the boat; and he should at once cry,
+"Eyes in the boat!" and continue to do so until he is obeyed. There are
+certain acts of watermanship which an efficient coxswain will not
+neglect to carry out, namely, when turning to come down-stream, to swing
+his boat round by pulling her head outwards into the current; and, on
+the other hand, when turning to proceed up-stream, to thrust her nose
+into the slack water inshore, and allow her stern to come round in the
+same manner; and always to bring his boat in to the raft or
+landing-stage with her head pointing up-stream.
+
+There is no need for me to set out the rules of the road for a coxswain
+to follow, as they can be read at any time in the Rowing Almanack, which
+comes out annually, and is published at the _Field_ office.
+
+To steer a straight course, a coxswain should fix upon a high and
+conspicuous object some distance ahead, and endeavour to keep the nose
+of his boat dead on it; and when learning his course, he should remember
+to choose objects of a permanent nature, or in the race he will be in
+difficulties. Now, the keeping of a straight course is not so simple as
+it appears; in fact, it is a most difficult thing to do properly, and
+there is no case in which the advantage of a coxswain with light hands
+is better displayed. It will be noticed that such a one leaves scarcely
+a ripple in his wake, whilst another will leave a considerable wash. The
+reason of it is this: that whilst the former uses practically no rudder,
+the latter, by first pulling one line and then the other, causes the
+stern of his boat to swing from side to side, until, as the sailors say,
+she becomes wild--that is to say, so unsteady that the further she
+travels the more rudder she will require to prevent her bows from yawing
+and to keep her course. He should never steer for a curve in the bank or
+for other projections--as, for instance, the buttress of a bridge--in
+such a manner as to be compelled to sheer out to clear them. He should
+approach a sharp corner as wide as possible, in order to reduce the
+acuteness of the angle at which he will have to take it, and should have
+the boat's head round by the time that the axis or pivot, if I may use
+the term, on which the boat swings, and which in the eight-oared boats I
+steered was usually trimmed to be somewhere between the seats of Nos. 4
+and 5, is off the most prominent point.
+
+The difficulty of taking this sort of corner is increased when the
+course lies up-stream, according to the strength of the current; for not
+only does the current acting on the bows tend to prevent the boat
+coming round, but also to drive her head towards the opposite bank. When
+the Cam at Cambridge is in flood, "Grassy" and Ditton are corners of
+this character, but usually that river runs sluggishly. But even then
+these corners present many difficulties. "Grassy" is on the right bank
+of the river, and therefore on the coxswain's left; Ditton is on his
+right. The former is the harder to manipulate properly, by reason of the
+river becoming a narrow neck shortly before the corner is reached.
+
+In taking "Grassy," the coxswain should keep close to the tow-path bank
+until he commences to make the turn. It is impossible to explain on
+paper the exact spot when he should do so. The common fault is to begin
+too soon. Practice and experience only can teach him when to time his
+action correctly; but having acquired this knowledge, he will get his
+boat round with but a moderate amount of rudder, especially if he call
+upon bow and No. 3 for a little extra assistance.
+
+Some years ago, during the Lent Term Bumping Races at Cambridge, the
+coxswain of one of the boats, with the intention of cutting off the
+preceding one as it was being steered round in the correct way, took
+this very corner close to the inside bend at its very commencement, and
+in so doing acted contrary to the principle of giving a sharp corner a
+wide berth at the first part. The consequence was that, having failed to
+calculate the pace at which the other was travelling, and having missed
+his bump, he found it impossible to bring his boat round, ran high and
+dry on to the opposite bank, and was, of course, himself bumped.
+
+Ditton should be approached as wide as the coxswain can manage, by
+hugging the opposite bank until he begins to bring the boat's head
+round, which, as in the case of Grassy, should not be done until as late
+as possible. Here, too, Nos. 2 and 4 may be called upon to help her
+round. The rudder should be put on between the strokes as a rule,
+gradually, and not with a jerk, which has a tendency to cause the boat
+to roll. It should be used as lightly as possible, and never under
+ordinary circumstances put hard on. The effect of a cross wind is to
+drive the stern of a boat to leeward, and to bring her bows up into the
+wind. This should be counteracted by the coxswain steering to windward
+of his usual course, and by lee rudder to meet her: how much can only
+be learnt by experience, and must be regulated by the strength of the
+wind. The fin, which is a thin plate of metal fixed slightly abaft the
+coxswain's seat on her keelson, is of great assistance in keeping the
+boat straight under such circumstances.
+
+The coxswain should pick up information relating to his course by
+observation, inquiries, and in every way he can, and, previous to a
+race, he should take careful stock of the direction and force of the
+wind, and shape his course accordingly. It is a good plan to be taken
+over the course either in a row-boat or launch, by some one acquainted
+with it, for the purposes of instruction. He can gain a general idea of
+the Putney to Mortlake course by watching the barges which float up and
+down the river with the tide, and are kept in mid-stream by long sweeps.
+But every coxswain should learn to scull; he can then not only get his
+weight down by exercise, if required, but familiarize himself with the
+set of the stream, flats, and other peculiarities of a course by actual
+experience. Training for the purpose of reducing the weight of the
+coxswain is a questionable expedient; but if practised with moderation,
+and if natural means are employed, the object, if worth it--which I very
+much doubt--may be attained, and little harm done; but weakness, the
+result of excessive wasting, is not unfrequently accompanied with an
+impaired judgment and loss of nerve, the absence of which may lead to
+serious consequences. Moreover, a coxswain not only requires a certain
+amount of physical strength to manage a boat of the length of an
+eight-oar, but, to do himself justice, should come to the post feeling
+full of energy and determination. In level races the coxswain of the
+leading boat should never take his opponents' water, unless reasonably
+certain that he cannot be overtaken, for a sudden sheer out involving
+loss of pace and ground at a critical time has before now lost a race;
+and when alongside, and in close proximity, he should avoid watching the
+other boat, otherwise he will in all probability steer into it, such is
+the apparent force of attraction exercised over a coxswain by the
+opposing crew. One coxswain should not "bore" the other. Boring is the
+act of one coxswain steering closer and closer to another until he
+gradually succeeds in pushing him out of his own water. This cannot
+take place when both coxswains engaged are equally skilful, and equally
+well acquainted with the course, for neither will give way. At the best
+it is not sportsmanlike, and there is no desire on the part of the
+majority of rowing men to win a race by the trickery of the coxswains.
+At the annual University Boat Race Dinner, when the old Blues and other
+friends assemble to do honour to the two crews, it is the time-honoured
+custom to drink the health of the coxswains. On one of these occasions,
+a well-known Oxford coxswain, who, in the fog that prevailed at the
+start of the race, had been pressed out of his course by the opposing
+crew, in returning thanks made a witty allusion to the subject in these
+words: "I have been," he said, "very much interested in this race, but I
+have also been very much bored." It was a speech meant for the occasion,
+and was received with the applause it deserved; but it was not meant
+seriously, nor was it taken so by his equally well-known Cambridge
+rival.
+
+I may at this point give a word of advice to a coxswain in a Bumping
+Race. He should, throughout the race, keep his true course, and not
+follow any vagaries of the boat in front of him, except with the
+immediate object of making his bump; he must never shoot for his bump
+when going round a corner, and ought always to make sure of his position
+before making a shot, so as not to waste the energy of his men by
+missing time after time, and zigzagging across the river. When he has
+been bumped, or has made a bump, he should at once clear out of the way
+to make room for the boats following. In all races he should encourage
+his crew at intervals with such expressions as, "Now, you fellows! Well
+rowed! On to it!" etc. But an incessant flow of language not only sounds
+ridiculous, but must be a nuisance to the crew themselves. In a
+ding-dong race, however, when neither crew can get away from the other,
+he will naturally urge them more strenuously to further exertions. He
+should watch the time as carefully as in practice, and call upon his
+crew to "Reach out," or "Keep it long," if he notices that they are
+getting short and scratchy; and he may quietly keep the stroke posted up
+in the doings of the opponents, telling him how they are rowing, how far
+ahead they are, and so on. In training quarters, especially if the crew
+are despondent, the more depressed they are, the more he should
+endeavour to cheer them up and inspire confidence in them.
+
+Finally, let me advise coxswains when steering to wear warm and
+waterproof clothing in cold and wet weather, and thus possibly save
+themselves much suffering from rheumatism and other complaints in
+after-life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD.
+
+_By C. M. Pitman,_
+
+New College; President O.U.B.C. 1895.
+
+
+If we try to examine the causes of success or failure, of a run of good
+crews or bad crews from one University or the other, it is impossible to
+overestimate the importance of good organization, good management, and
+friendly rivalry in the college boat clubs. In the long run, the success
+or failure of the University Crew depends in no small measure upon the
+amount of trouble taken and the amount of keenness shown by the various
+colleges in practising for their different races during the year. It is
+only by very careful coaching and assiduous practice in his college
+Torpid and Eight, that a man who has not rowed before going up to the
+University can ever hope to attain to a place in the University Crew;
+and it is only by trying to apply his learning to advantage in
+college races during the year that one who has just gained his blue can
+hope to be of greater value to the University in the following spring.
+
+[Illustration: A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+Only a small number of the men who take up rowing at the University
+attain to a seat in the Trial Eights, and fewer still, of course, get
+their blue. It is by rowing for their college, then, in Eight or Torpid,
+that the majority of University men gain their experience, and so it is
+but natural that even more interest is usually manifested in the
+practice of the Eights than in that of the University Crew itself.
+
+Most of the colleges at Oxford have now what is known as an "amalgamated
+club," which supplies the finances of all the various branches of
+athletics. That is to say, every undergraduate member of the college
+pays a fixed subscription to the amalgamated club fund, and the money
+thus collected is allotted proportionately to the different college
+clubs. The money thus allotted, with the addition in some cases of small
+sums received as entrance fees for college races, forms the income of
+the college boat club; and out of this income is paid a capitation fee
+to the University Boat Club, which varies according to the number of
+undergraduates on the college books, the rest of the money being devoted
+to providing boats, oars, etc.--the ordinary expenses, in fact, for
+carrying on the college boat club.
+
+A freshman, when he first comes up to Oxford, has, as a rule, made up
+his mind to which particular branch of athletics he intends to devote
+himself. If he intends to play football, and does not happen to have
+come up with a great reputation from his public school, he finds it
+somewhat hard at first, however good he may be, to make himself known;
+but if he makes up his mind to row, he finds everything cut and dried
+for him.
+
+At the beginning of the October Term, a notice is put up for the benefit
+of freshmen and others, that those desirous of being coached must be at
+the barge on and after a certain day, at 2.30. The coaching is
+undertaken by any of the college Eight of the preceding term who are in
+residence, and any others whom the captain of the boat club may consider
+qualified. The men are taken out at first in tub-pairs or heavy fours;
+and grotesque, to say the least of it, are the movements of the average
+freshmen during the first few days of his rowing career. The majority of
+men who get into a boat for the first time in their lives seem to
+imagine that it is necessary to twist their bodies into the most
+uncomfortable and unnatural it positions, and is hard at first to
+persuade them that the movements of a really good oar are easy, natural,
+and even graceful. It is not long, however, as a rule, before a
+considerable improvement becomes manifest, and, at the end of the first
+fortnight or so of the term, most of the novices have begun to get a
+grasp of the first principles of the art.
+
+About the end of the second week of the term the freshmen are picked up
+into Fours. These crews, which row in heavy tub-boats, practise for
+about three weeks for a race, which is rowed during the fifth or sixth
+week of the term. After a day or two of rest, the best men from these
+Fours are taken out in eights. No one who has not rowed in an eight with
+a crew composed almost entirely of beginners can imagine the discomfort,
+I might almost say the agony, of these first two or three rows. One of
+the chief causes of this is that the boats used on such occasions are
+usually, from motives of economy, very old ones, the riggers being often
+twisted and bent by the crabs of former generations, and the boats
+themselves heavy and inclined to be waterlogged.
+
+During the last day or two of the term, the captain, with a view to
+making up his Torpids for the next term, generally tries to arrange one
+or two crews selected from the best of the freshmen and such of the old
+hands as are available; and justly proud is a freshman if, having got
+into a boat for the first time at the beginning of the term, he finds
+himself among the select few for the first Torpid at the end of it.
+
+At the beginning of the Lent Term the energies of the college boat clubs
+are entirely devoted to the selection and preparation of the crews for
+the Torpids. The smaller colleges have one crew and the larger ones two,
+and in some cases three, crews each. No one who has rowed in his college
+Eight in the races of the previous summer is permitted to row in the
+Torpid, so the crews are generally composed partly of men who rowed in
+the Torpid of the preceding year, but who were not quite good enough to
+get into the Eight, and partly of freshmen; the boats used must be
+clinker built of five streaks, with a minimum beam measurement of 2 ft.
+2 in. measured inside, and with fixed seats.
+
+Although I do not propose here to say anything about the general subject
+of training, I cannot refrain from making one remark. It is in
+practising for the Torpids that freshmen generally get their first
+experience of strict training, and for this reason there is no crew more
+difficult to train than a Torpid. Most of the men after their first
+experience of regular work have fine healthy appetites, and, as a rule,
+eat about twice as much as is good for them, with the result that, even
+if they escape violent indigestion, they are painfully short-winded, and
+find the greatest difficulty in rowing a fast stroke. The Torpids train
+for about three weeks before the races, which take place at the end of
+the fourth and the fifth weeks in term. They last for six nights, and
+are bumping races, the boats starting 160 ft. apart. A hundred and sixty
+feet is a very considerable distance to make up in about three quarters
+of a mile, and at the head of a division a crew must be about fifteen
+seconds faster over the course to make certain of a bump.
+
+Of performances in the Torpids that of Brasenose stands by itself. They
+finished at the head of the river in 1885, and remained there for eleven
+years, until they were displaced by New College in 1896.
+
+The only other race in the Lent Term is the Clinker Fours. This race is
+rowed in sliding-seat clinker-built boats, and the crews consist of men
+who have not rowed in the Trial Eights or in the _first_ division of the
+Eights in the previous Summer Term. For some occult reason there is
+never a large entry for the Clinker Fours, although the race affords an
+excellent opportunity of seeing how the best of the Torpid men row on
+slides, and should thus be a great help to the captain of a college boat
+club in making up his Eight for the next term. With so small an entry
+for the Clinker Fours, most of the college captains devote their time
+after the Torpids, for the rest of the term, to coaching their men in
+sliding-seat tubs, the time at the beginning of the Summer Term being so
+short that it is absolutely necessary to get the men who have been
+rowing on fixed seats in the Torpids thoroughly accustomed to slides by
+the end of the Lent Term, and also to have the composition of the
+next term's Eight as nearly as possible settled.
+
+[Illustration: LENT RACES IN THE PLOUGH REACH.]
+
+At the beginning of the Summer Term, time, as I have said, is rather
+short, and consequently it is the custom at most colleges to make the
+Eight come into residence about a week before the end of the vacation.
+The _esprit de corps_ and energy which are shown during the practice
+are, perhaps, the most noticeable features of college rowing at
+Oxford--a circumstance to which may be attributed the fact that the
+crews turned out by the colleges at the top of the river are often
+wonderfully good, considering the material out of which they are formed.
+The Eights are rowed at the end of the fourth week and at the beginning
+of the fifth week in term, six nights in all. They start 130 ft.
+apart--that is to say, 30 ft. less than the Torpids. About the same
+number of boats row in a division in the former as in the latter, the
+bottom boat starting at the same place in each case; consequently the
+head boat in the Eights has a slightly longer course to row than the
+head Torpid.
+
+The start of a boat race is always rather nervous work for the crews,
+but the start of a bumping race is worse in this respect than any. A
+spectator who cares to walk down the bank and look at the crews waiting
+at their posts for the start cannot fail to notice that even the most
+experienced men look extremely uncomfortable.
+
+[Illustration: A START IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+The start is managed thus: at the starting-point of each boat a short
+wooden post is driven firmly into the ground. These posts are exactly
+130 ft. apart, and to each is attached a thin rope 60 ft. long with a
+bung at the end, while by each post a punt is moored. About twenty
+minutes or a quarter of an hour before the appointed time, the crews
+start from their barges and paddle gently down to their respective
+starting-places, where they take up their positions alongside of the
+punts. Five minutes before the starting-time the first gun is fired as a
+sort of warning. These guns are fired punctually to the second, and by
+the first gun the men who are going to start the different crews set
+their stop-watches. The duty of these "starters" is to keep the crews
+informed of the exact time, by calling out, "One minute gone," "Two
+minutes gone," etc. The second gun goes one minute before the start, and
+as soon as it is fired, the waterman slowly pushes the boat out from
+the side of the punt by means of a long pole pressed against stroke's
+rigger, the coxswain holding the bung at arm's-length in his left hand,
+with the cord taut so as to counteract the pressure of the pole, and
+"bow" and "two" paddling very gently so as to keep the boat at the very
+furthest extension of the rope. "Thirty seconds more," calls the
+starter; "fifteen," "ten," "five," "four," "three," "two," "look
+out"--Bang! and, except for those who are doomed to be bumped, the worst
+is over till the next night. Directly a bump is made both the boat which
+has made the bump and the boat which is bumped draw to one side, and on
+the next night the boat which has made the bump starts in front of its
+victim of the preceding evening. The Eights are the last event of the
+season in which the colleges compete against one another on the river,
+and the interest and excitement of the college in the doings of its crew
+generally find their final outlet, in the case of a college which has
+made five or six bumps or finished head of the river, in a bump
+supper--an entertainment of a nature peculiar to Oxford and Cambridge,
+which is, perhaps, better left to the imagination than described in
+detail.
+
+It is a curious fact that, although the ideal aimed at by each college
+is the same, different colleges seem to adhere, to a very considerable
+extent, year after year to the same merits and the same faults. One
+college gets the reputation of not being able to row a fast-enough
+stroke; another, of being ready to race a week before the races and of
+getting worse as the races proceed, and, try as hard as they like, they
+do not seem to be able to shake off the effect of the reputation of
+their predecessors. So, again, one college gets the reputation of rowing
+better in the races than could possibly be expected from their form in
+practice, or of always improving during the races. The most notable case
+of late years, perhaps, was the traditional pluck of Brasenose. For
+eleven years in the Torpids and for three years in the Eights their
+certain downfall was predicted, but year after year, sometimes by the
+skin of their teeth and sometimes with ease, they managed to get home.
+The best performances in the Eights, as a matter of mere paper record,
+are those of Trinity and Magdalen, who have each rowed head of the river
+for four years in succession, the former in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864,
+and the latter in 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. Magdalen can also boast
+of not having finished lower than third in the Eights for some fifteen
+years. Brasenose have finished head of the river fourteen times since
+the races were started in 1836; University nine times, and Magdalen
+seven times. The best performance in any one year is that of New College
+in the season 1895-96, when they completely swept the board, being head
+of the river in Eights and Torpids, and winning the University Fours,
+Pairs, and Sculls. The only other college race besides those I have
+described is the Fours. This race is rowed in coxswainless racing-ships
+during the fourth week of the October Term. It is a "time" race, the
+crews, which row two in a heat, starting eighty yards apart, the
+finishing-posts being, of course, divided by the same distance. A time
+race is a very unsatisfactory affair compared with an ordinary "breast"
+race, but it is rendered necessary by the narrow winding river, for
+there is not room between Iffley and Oxford for two boats to row
+abreast. Oxford College crews, undoubtedly excellent though they often
+are, have been singularly unsuccessful at Henley. The Grand Challenge
+Cup has only been won by a college crew from Oxford twice within the
+memory of the present generation (_i.e._ by Exeter, in 1882, and by New
+College in the present year). Wadham, it is true, won it in almost
+prehistoric times (1849), and the tradition is handed down that they
+took the light blue in their colours from those of the crew which they
+defeated--a tradition which I need hardly say the members of the sister
+University always meet with a most emphatic denial.
+
+It may, perhaps, seem that so far I have described college rowing as if
+its organization were so perfect that there is little or no difficulty
+in managing a college boat club successfully. This is by no means the
+case. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, even though it be merely
+that of the captaincy of a college boat club.
+
+In the first place, it is not always as easy as might be imagined to get
+men to row. Men who cannot be induced to row when they come up to the
+University may be divided into two classes--those who refuse because
+they do not wish to take up any branch of athletics, and those who will
+not row because they wish to do something else. The former class (_i.e._
+those of them who, after a moderate amount of persuasion, will not come
+down to the river) are not, as a rule, worth bothering about. They are
+generally weak, soft creatures, whose highest ambition is to walk
+overdressed about the "High," and, if possible, to be considered
+"horsey" without riding--the class, in fact, generally known as
+"bloods." Or else they belong to that worthy class of beings who come up
+to the University to read and only to read, and imagine that it is
+therefore impossible for them to row. The "blood" is, or should be,
+beneath the contempt of the rowing authorities, and the "bookworm" is
+generally impervious to argument, in spite of the fact that he would be
+able to read much harder if he took regular exercise.
+
+With regard, however, to those men who refuse to row because they want
+to go in for something else, a little diplomacy and a little personal
+trouble on the part of the college captain, such as coaching men at odd
+hours, once or twice a week, when it suits their convenience, will often
+work wonders. Instances of this may be seen in the fact that many
+colleges have of late years been materially assisted by a sturdy
+football player in the Torpid or Eight, and in the fact that Rugby
+football blues have rowed in the University Eight during the last three
+years. Another great difficulty which the captains of the smaller
+college boat clubs have to face is that of procuring good boats with
+very limited finances. The usual practice is to save up money for
+several years to buy a new eight, and to continue to row in her long
+after she has become practically useless, and, indeed, positively
+incompatible with good rowing. This is a difficulty which can to a great
+extent be got over by getting second-hand boats. These can be bought for
+about half price when they have only been used one or two seasons by the
+University, or by one of the larger (and therefore richer) college boat
+clubs, which can afford to get a new boat as often as they want one. By
+this means a college boat club, however poor, can always have a boat
+which, if not quite new, is at least comparatively modern, instead of
+being a water-logged hulk some eight or ten years old, such as one often
+sees wriggling along at the tail end of the Eights.
+
+Yet another obstacle is there which it is not easy to overcome. It is
+often almost impossible to find a trustworthy coach. There is nearly
+always some one in residence who is considered capable of looking after
+the college Eight, but the ignorance of college coaches is often only
+too manifest from the arrant nonsense they may be heard shouting on the
+bank. There is only one remedy I can suggest. Let the college captain
+secure some member of the University Crew, or any one else who knows
+what he is talking about, to take the crew for a couple of days, and
+_make the College coach accompany him_. He will thus learn something of
+the rowing of the crew, and you will hear him the next day pointing out
+the _real_ faults to which his attention has thus been called.
+
+In conclusion, I must add that, keen though the rivalry between the
+various colleges always is, it is a rivalry which, by the encouragement
+it gives to rowing, confers good and good only upon the interests of the
+O.U.B.C., and never degenerates into a jealousy which might be
+prejudicial to the success of the University as a whole. The college
+captains elect as president of the O.U.B.C. the man whom they consider
+to be best fitted for the post, to whatever college he may belong, for
+they know that the president will select his crew absolutely
+impartially, will never think of unjustly preferring men who belong to
+his own college, but will always do his best to serve the interests of
+the University.[13]
+
+  [13] For further details of college rowing at Oxford and Cambridge, the
+  reader is referred to the extracts from the rules and regulations of the
+  two University Boat Clubs printed in the appendix to this book.
+
+[Illustration: THE GOLDIE BOATHOUSE.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE.
+
+
+The casual visitor would scarcely imagine that Cambridge resembled
+either Macedon or Monmouth in the possession of a river. He sees in The
+Backs what looks rather like a huge moat, designed to keep marauders
+from the sacred college courts, and filled with discoloured water,
+destitute seemingly of all stream. This he knows cannot be the racing
+river. The innumerable bridges forbid the notion, although Ouida has, in
+one of her novels, sprinkled it with a mixture of racing Eights and
+water-lilies. He wanders on from college to college, and nowhere does he
+come across the slightest sign of the river of which he has heard so
+much. Indeed, a man may stroll on Midsummer Common within about a
+hundred yards of the boat-houses without suspecting the existence of the
+Cam. I can well remember convoying to the river an enthusiastic
+freshman who had just joined his college boat club. At every step I was
+asked whether we were yet approaching the noble stream. I answered
+evasively, and with an air of mystery which befits a third-year man in
+the presence of freshmen. At length we turned on to the common, which is
+bounded by the Cam; on the further bank stand the boat-houses. There
+were crowds of men busy in the yards, there were coaches riding on the
+nearer bank, but of the river itself there was no indication. We were
+still about two hundred yards away when a Lady Margaret Eight passed,
+the heads of the crew in their scarlet caps being just visible above the
+river-bank as they swung backwards and forwards in their boat. I felt my
+freshman's grip tightening on my arm. Suddenly he stood stock still and
+rubbed his eyes. "Good heavens!" he said in an awestruck voice, "what on
+earth are those little red animals I see running up and down there?
+Funniest thing I ever saw." I reassured him, and in a few moments more
+we arrived at the Cam, crossed it in a "grind," and solved the puzzle.
+Distance, therefore, can scarcely be said to lend enchantment to the
+view, since at anything over one hundred yards it withdraws the Cam
+altogether from our sight. It is not easy, indeed, to see where the
+attractions of the Cam come in. It has been called with perfect justice
+a ditch, a canal, and a sewer, but not even the wildest enthusiasm would
+have supposed it to be a running stream, or ventured at first sight to
+call it a river. Yet this slow and muddy thread of water has been for
+more than seventy years the scene of excitements and triumphs and
+glories without end. Upon its shallow stream future judges and bishops
+and Parliament-men--not to speak of the great host of minor celebrities
+and the vaster army of future obscurities--have sought exercise and
+relaxation; to its unsightly banks their memory still fondly turns
+wherever their lot may chance to be cast, and still some thousand of the
+flower of our youth find health and strength in driving the labouring
+Eights and Fours along its narrow reaches and round its winding corners.
+It may well excite the wonder of the uninitiated that, with so many
+natural disadvantages to contend against, the oarsmen of Cambridge
+should have been able during all these years to maintain so high a
+standard of oarsmanship. Time after time since the year when First
+Trinity secured the first race for the Grand Challenge have her college
+crews carried off the chief prizes at Henley against all competitors,
+until, in 1887, Trinity Hall swept the board by actually winning five
+out of the eight Henley races, other Cambridge men accounting for the
+remaining three. The record of Cambridge rowing is thus a very proud
+one; but those who know the Cambridge oarsman and his river will find no
+difficulty in accounting for it. The very disadvantages of the Cam all
+tend to imbue the man who rows upon it with a stern sense of duty, with
+the feeling that it is business and not pleasure, hard work and not a
+picnic, that summon him every day of the term to the boat-houses and
+urge him on his way to Baitsbite. We are forced to do without the
+natural charms that make the Isis beautiful. We console ourselves by a
+strict devotion to the labour of the oar.
+
+The man who first rowed upon the Cam was in all probability a lineal
+descendant of the daring spirit who first tasted an oyster. His name and
+fame have not been preserved, but I am entitled to assume that he
+flourished some time before 1826. In that year the records of Cambridge
+boat clubs begin. There is in the possession of the First Trinity Boat
+Club an old book, at one end of which are to be found the "Laws of the
+Monarch Boat Club," with a list of members from 1826 to 1828, whilst at
+the other end are inscribed lists of members of the Trinity Boat Club,
+minutes of its meetings, and brief descriptions of the races in which it
+was engaged from the year 1829 to 1834. The Monarch Boat Club was by its
+laws limited to members of Trinity, and, I take it, that in 1828 the
+club had become sufficiently important to change its name definitely to
+that of Trinity Boat Club. At any rate, it must always have been
+considered the Trinity Club; for in the earliest chart of the Cambridge
+boat races--that, namely, of 1827--in the captains' room of the First
+Trinity Boat-house, "Trinity" stands head of the river, and no mention
+is made of a Monarch Club. These ancient laws form a somewhat Draconian
+code. They are twenty-five in number, and eight of them deal with fines
+or penalties to be inflicted upon a member who may "absent himself from
+his appointed crew and not provide a substitute for his oar," or who may
+"not arrive at the boat-house within a quarter of an hour of the
+appointed time." There were fines ("by no means to be remitted, except
+in the case of any member having an _ægrotat_, _exeat_, or _absit_, or
+having been prevented from attending by some laws of the college or
+University") for not appearing in the proper uniform, for "giving orders
+or speaking on a racing day, or on any other day, after silence has been
+called" (exception being made in favour of the captain and steerer), and
+for neglecting to give notice of an intended absence. To the twelfth law
+a clause was subsequently added enacting "that the treasurer be
+chastised twice a week for not keeping his books in proper order."
+
+From the minutes of the Trinity Boat Club I extract the following
+letter, dated Stangate, December, 1828, which shows that even at that
+early date the first and third persons carried on a civil war in the
+boat-builder's vocabulary:--
+
+"Rawlinson & Lyon's compliments to Mr. Greene wish to know if there is
+to be any alteration in the length of the set of oars they have to send
+down have been expecting to hear from the Club, therefore have not given
+orders for the oars to be finished should feel obliged by a line from
+you with the necessary instructions and be kind enough to inform us of
+the success which we trust you have met with in the New Boat.
+
+                    we remain Sir
+                        Your ob^t Servts
+                            RAWLINSON & LYON."
+
+In 1833 it is curious to read, "towards the end of this Easter term six
+of the racing crew were ill of influenza, etc., when the boat was bumped
+by the Queens', which we bumped next race, but were bumped again by
+them, and next race owing to a bad start the Christ's boat bumped us
+immediately being nearly abreast of us at the bumping-post." Was this
+the _grippe_, I wonder? In the Lent Term, 1834, it is stated, "The
+second race we touched the Christ's after the pistol was fired the first
+stroke we pulled, and lost our place to the Second Trinity for making a
+foul bump." By the way, in the oldest minute-book belonging to the
+University Boating Club, extending from 1828 to 1837, I find the Second
+Trinity boat occasionally entered on the list as "Reading Trinity." It
+continued to enjoy this bookish reputation up to 1876, when a debt
+which continued to increase while its list of members as constantly
+diminished, brought about its dissolution. Its members and its
+challenge-cups were then taken over by First Trinity.
+
+In an old book belonging to First Trinity is preserved a map of the
+racing river, which explains much that would be otherwise inexplicable
+in the various entries. In those days the races began in the short reach
+of water in which they now finish. A little below where Charon now plies
+his ferry were the Chesterton Locks, and in the reach above this
+starting-posts seem to have been fixed for the various boats. When the
+starting-pistol was fired the crews started rowing, but apparently no
+bump was allowed before the bumping-post, fixed some little way above
+the first bend where the big horse-grind now works. Any bump before this
+was foul, and the boat so fouling appears to have been disqualified.
+This post once passed, the racing proper began and continued past
+Barnwell up to the Jesus Locks. It must be remembered that the Jesus
+Locks were not where they are now, but were built just where the Caius
+boathouse now stands, there being a lock cut in the present bed of the
+river, and the main stream running quite a hundred yards south of its
+present course, and forming an island, on which stood Fort St. George.
+This was altered in 1837, when the Cam was diverted to its present
+course, and the old course from above Jesus Green Sluice to Fort St.
+George was filled up.
+
+A few more extracts relating to the first beginnings of college
+boat-races may be of interest. In 1827 there were six boats on the
+river--a ten-oar and an eight-oar from Trinity, an eight-oar from St.
+John's, and six-oars from Jesus, Caius, and Trinity, Westminster. In
+1829 this number had dwindled to four at the beginning of the races on
+February 28; but in the seventh race, which took place on March 21,
+seven crews competed, St John's finishing head of the river, a place
+they maintained in the following May. Usually from seven to nine races
+appear to have been rowed during one month of the term, certain days in
+each week having been previously fixed. Crews were often known by the
+name of their ship rather than by that of their college. I find, for
+instance, a _Privateer_, which was made up, I think, of men from
+private schools, a _Corsair_ from St. John's, a _Dolphin_ from Third
+Trinity (which was then, and is still, the Club of the Eton and
+Westminster men), _Black Prince_ from First Trinity, and _Queen Bess_
+from the Second or "Reading" Trinity. The following regulations, passed
+by the University Boat Club on April 18, 1831, will help to make the old
+system of boat-racing quite clear:--
+
+"1. That the distance between each post being twenty yards will allow
+eleven boats to start on the Chesterton side, the length of the ropes by
+which they are attached to the posts being ten yards.
+
+"2. That the remainder of the boats do start on the Barnwell side at
+similar distances, but with ropes fifteen yards in length.
+
+"3. That there also be a rope three yards long fixed to the head of the
+lock, which will be the station of the last boat, provided the number
+exceed twelve."
+
+These arrangements allowed thirteen boats to start at once, and special
+provision was made for any number beyond that. Obedience to the properly
+constituted authorities seems from an early period to have
+characterized the rowing man. I find that in 1831 a race was arranged
+between the captains of racing crews and the rest of the University, to
+take place on Tuesday, November 29. On Monday, the 28th, however, there
+arrived "a request from the Vice-Chancellor, backed by the tutors of the
+several colleges, that we should refrain from racing on account of the
+cholera then prevailing in Sunderland. We accordingly gave up the match
+forthwith, and with it another which was to have been rowed the same day
+between the quondam Etonians and the private school men." The secretary,
+however, adds this caustic comment, "It is presumed that Dr. Haviland,
+at whose instigation the Vice-Chancellor put a stop to the race,
+confounded the terms (and pronunciations?) 'rowing' and 'rowing,' and
+while he was anxious to stop any debauchery in the latter class of men,
+by a _slight_ mistake was the means of preventing the healthy exercise
+of the former."
+
+The umpire for the college races seems never to have been properly
+appreciated. Indeed, in 1834, the U.B.C. solemnly resolved "that the
+umpire was no use, ... and accordingly that Bowtell should be
+cashiered. In consequence of this resolution, it was proposed and
+carried that the same person who had the management of the posts, lines,
+and starting the boats should also place the flags on the bumping-post,
+and receive for his pay 4_s._ a week, with an addition of 2_s._ 6_d._ at
+the end of the quarter in case the starting be well managed, but that
+each time the pistol misses fire 1s. should be deducted from his weekly
+pay."
+
+In 1835, in consequence of the removal of the Chesterton Lock, the
+U.B.C. transferred the starting-posts to the reach between Baitsbite and
+First Post Corner, and there they have remained ever since.
+
+Side by side with the college boat clubs, formed by the combination of
+their members for strictly imperial matters, regulating and controlling
+the inter-collegiate races, but never interfering with the internal
+arrangements and the individual liberty of the college clubs, the
+University Boat Club grew up. With two short but historical extracts
+from its early proceedings, I will conclude this cursory investigation
+into the records of the musty past. On February 20, 1829, at a meeting
+of the U.B.C. Committee, held in Mr. Gisborne's rooms, it was resolved
+_inter alia_ "That Mr. Snow, St. John's, be requested to write
+immediately to Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, proposing to make
+up a University match;" and on March 12, on the receipt of a letter from
+Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, a meeting of the U.B.C. was
+called at Mr. Harman's rooms, Caius College, when the following
+resolution was passed:--"That Mr. Stephen Davies (the Oxford
+boat-builder) be requested to post the following challenge in some
+conspicuous part of his barge: 'That the University of Cambridge hereby
+challenge the University of Oxford to row a match at or near London,
+each in an eight-oared boat, during the ensuing Easter vacation.'"
+
+Thus was brought about the first race between the two Universities. Mr.
+Snow was appointed captain, and it was further decided that the
+University Boat Club should defray all expenses, and that the match be
+not made up for money. It is unnecessary for me to relate once again how
+the race was eventually rowed from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, and
+how the Light Blues (who, by the way, were then the Pinks) suffered
+defeat by many lengths. The story has been too well and too often told
+before. Each crew contained a future bishop--the late Bishop of St.
+Andrew's rowing No. 4 in the Oxford boat, whilst the late Bishop Selwyn,
+afterwards Bishop of New Zealand, and subsequently of Lichfield,
+occupied the important position of No. 7 for Cambridge. Of the remainder
+more than half were afterwards ordained.
+
+So much, then, for the origins of College and University racing.
+Thenceforward the friendly rivalry flourished with only slight
+intermissions; gradually the race became an event. The great public
+became interested in it, cabmen and 'bus-drivers decorated their whips
+in honour of the crews, sightseers flocked to the river-banks to catch a
+glimpse of them as they flashed past, and their prowess was celebrated
+by the press. It is not, however, too much to say that without the keen
+spirit of emulation which is fostered by the college races both at
+Oxford and Cambridge, the University boat-race would cease to exist.
+Truly a light blue cap is to the oarsman a glorious prize, but there are
+many hundreds of ardent enthusiasts who have to content themselves with
+a place in the college boats in the Lent or the May Term. Want of form,
+or of weight, or of the necessary strength and stamina may hinder them
+from attaining to a place in the University Eight, but they should
+console themselves by reflecting that without their patient and earnest
+labours for the welfare of their several colleges it would be impossible
+to maintain a high standard of oarsmanship, or to form a representative
+University Eight. Let me, therefore, be for a page or two the apologist,
+nay, rather the panegyrist, of the college oarsman, with whom many of my
+happiest hours have been spent.
+
+Before entering upon the serious business of life as a freshman at
+Cambridge, the youth who is subsequently to become an oar will in all
+probability have fired his imagination by reading of the historical
+prowess of past generations of University oars in races at Henley or at
+Putney. Goldie who turned the tide of defeat, the Closes, Rhodes,
+Gurdon, Hockin, Pitman the pluckiest of strokes, and Muttlebury the
+mighty heavy-weight, are the heroes whom he worships, and to whose
+imitation he proposes to devote himself. A vision of a light blue coat
+and cap flits before his mind; he sees himself in fancy wresting a
+fiercely contested victory from the clutches of Oxford, and cheered and
+fêted by a countless throng of his admirers. With these ideas he becomes
+as a freshman a member of his college boat club, and adds his name to
+the "tubbing list." He purchases his rowing uniform, clothes himself in
+it in his rooms, and one fine afternoon in October finds himself one of
+a crowd of nervous novices in the yard of his college boathouse. One of
+the captains pounces on him, selects a co-victim for him, and orders him
+into a gig-pair, or, to speak more correctly, "a tub." With the first
+stroke the beautiful azure vision vanishes, leaving only a sense of
+misery behind. He imagined he could row as he walked, by the light of
+nature. He finds that all kinds of mysterious technicalities are
+required of him. He has to "get hold of the beginning" to "finish it
+out," to take his oar "out of the water clean" (an impossibility one
+would think on the dirty drain-fed Cam), to "plant his feet against the
+stretcher," to row his shoulders back, to keep his elbows close to his
+sides, to shoot away his hands, to swing from his hips, under no
+circumstances to bend his back or to leave go with his outside hand,
+and, above all, to keep his swing forward as steady as a rock--an
+instruction to which he conforms by not swinging at all. These are but a
+few points out of the many which are dinned into his ears by his
+energetic coach. A quarter of an hour concludes his lesson, and he
+leaves the river a much sadder, but not necessarily a wiser man.
+However, since he is young he is not daunted by all these unforeseen
+difficulties. He perseveres, and towards the end of his first term reaps
+a doubtful reward by being put into an Eight with seven other novices,
+to splash and roll and knock his knuckles about for an hour or so to his
+heart's content. Next term (the Lent Term) may find him a member of one
+of his college Lent boats. Then he begins to feel that pluck and
+ambition are not in vain, and soon afterwards for the first time he
+tastes the joys of training, which he will be surprised to find does not
+consist entirely of raw steaks and underdone chops. Common sense, in
+fact, has during the past fifteen years or so broken in upon the foolish
+regulations of the ancient system. Men who train are still compelled to
+keep early hours, to eat simple food at fixed times, to abjure tobacco,
+and to limit the quantity of liquid they absorb. But there is an
+immense variety in the dishes put before them; they are warned against
+gorging (at breakfast, indeed, men frequently touch no meat), and though
+they assemble together in the Backs before breakfast, and are ordered to
+clear their pipes by a short sharp burst of one hundred and fifty yards,
+they are not allowed to overtire themselves by the long runs which were
+at one time in fashion. Far away back in the dawn of University rowing
+training seems to have been far laxer, though discipline may have been
+more strict, than it is now. Mr. J. M. Logan (the well-known Cambridge
+boat-builder) wrote to me on this subject: "I have heard my father say
+that the crews used to train on egg-flip which an old lady who then kept
+the Plough Inn by Ditton was very famous for making, and that crew which
+managed to drink most egg-flip was held to be most likely to make many
+bumps. I believe the ingredients were gin, beer, and beaten eggs, with
+nutmegs and spices added. I have heard my father say that the discipline
+of the crews was of an extraordinary character. For instance, the
+captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club used to have a bugle, and after
+he had sounded it the crew would have to appear on the yard in high hats
+and dress suits with a black tie. The penalty for appearing in a tie of
+any other colour was one shilling. The trousers worn on these occasions
+were of white jean, and had to be washed every day under a penalty of
+one shilling. The wearing of perfectly clean things every day was an
+essential part of the preparation."
+
+All this, however, is a digression from the freshman whom we have seen
+safely through his tubbing troubles, and have selected for a Lent Boat.
+I return to him to follow him in a career of glory which will lead him
+from Lent Boat to May Boat, from that to his college Four, and so
+perhaps through the University Trial Eights to the final goal of all
+rowing ambition--the Cambridge Eight. He will have suffered many things
+for the sake of his beloved pursuit; he will have rowed many weary
+miles, have learnt the misery of aching limbs and blistered hands,
+perhaps he may have endured the last indignity of being bumped; he will
+have laboured under broiling suns, or with snowstorms and bitter winds
+beating against him; he will have voluntarily cut himself off from many
+pleasant indulgences. But, on the other hand, his triumphs will have
+been sweet; he will have trained himself to submit to discipline, to
+accept discomfort cheerfully, to keep a brave face in adverse
+circumstance; he will have developed to the full his strength and his
+powers of endurance, and will have learnt the necessity of unselfishness
+and patriotism. These are, after all, no mean results in a generation
+which is often accused of effeminate and debasing luxury.
+
+A few words as to our scheme of boat-races at Cambridge. Of the Lent
+races I have spoken. They are rowed at the end of February in heavy
+ships, _i.e._ fixed-seat ships built with five streaks from a keel.
+Thirty-one boats take part in them. Every college must be represented by
+at least one boat, though beyond that there is no restriction as to the
+number of boats from any particular college club. No man who has taken
+part in the previous May races is permitted to row. In fact, they are a
+preparatory school for the development of eight-oared rowing. Next term
+is given up to the May races, which are rowed in light ships, _i.e._
+keel-less ships with sliding seats. No club can have more than three or
+less than one crew in these races. In this term the pair-oared races
+are also rowed, generally before the Eights. The Fours, both in light
+ships and, for the less ambitious colleges whose Eights may be in the
+second division, in clinker-built boats, take place at the end of
+October, and are followed by the Colquhoun, or University Sculls, and
+next by the University Trial Eights, two picked crews selected by the
+President of the University Boat Club from the likely men of every
+college club. The trial race always takes place near Ely, over the three
+miles of what is called the Adelaide course. Besides all these races,
+each college has its own races, confined to members of the college. But
+of course the glory of college racing culminates in the May term. Who
+shall calculate all the forethought, energy, self-denial, and patriotic
+labour, all the carefully organized skill and patient training which are
+devoted to the May races; for so they are still called, though they
+never take place now before June? Every man who rows in his college crew
+feels that to him personally the traditions and the honour of his
+college are committed. The meadow at Ditton is alive with a brilliant
+throng of visitors, the banks swarm with panting enthusiasts armed with
+every kind of noisy instrument, and all intent to spur the energies of
+their several Eights. One by one the crews, clothed in their blazers,
+with their straw hats on their heads, paddle down to the start, pausing
+at Ditton to exchange greetings with the visitors. In the Post Reach
+they turn, disembark for a few moments, and wander nervously up and down
+the bank. At last the first gun is fired, the oarsmen strip for the
+race. Their clothes are collected and borne along in front by perspiring
+boatmen, so as to be ready for them at the end of the race. The men step
+gingerly into their frail craft and await the next gun. Bang! Another
+minute. The boat is pushed out, the coxwain holding his chain; the crew
+come forward, every nerve strained for the start; the cry of the careful
+timekeepers is heard along the reach, the gun fires, and a universal
+roar proclaims the start of the sixteen crews. For four "nights" the
+conflict rages, bringing triumph and victory to some, and pain and
+defeat to others; and at the end comes the glorious bump-supper, with
+its toasts, its songs, and its harmless, noisy rejoicings, on which the
+dons look with an indulgent eye, and in which they even sometimes take
+part for the honour of the college.
+
+Happy are those who still dwell in Cambridge courts and follow the
+delightful labour of the oar! For the rest of us there can only be
+memories of the time when we toiled round the never-ending Grassy
+corner, spurted in the Plough, heard dimly the deafening cheers of the
+crowd at Ditton, and finally made our bump amid the confused roar of
+hundreds of voices, the booming of fog-horns the screech of rattles, and
+the ringing of bells. What joy in after-life can equal the intoxication
+of the moment when we stepped out upon the bank to receive the
+congratulations of our friends, whilst the unfurled flag proclaimed our
+victory to the world?
+
+To such scenes the mind travels back through the vista of years with
+fond regret. For most of us our racing days are over, but we can still
+glory in the triumphs of our college or our University, and swear by the
+noblest of open-air sports.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE.
+
+_By W. E. Crum_,
+
+Captain of the Boats, 1893; President O.U.B.C. 1896, 1897.
+
+
+In most books that have been published on rowing matters, a chapter has
+been devoted to rowing at Eton. But these accounts have been mainly of a
+historical nature, and have not, I think, dealt sufficiently with the
+career of an Eton boy, from the time when he passes through the ordeal
+of the swimming examination up to the proud moment when he wears the
+light blue at Henley, representing his school in the Ladies' Plate.
+
+Before any boy is allowed to go on the river at all, he is obliged to
+satisfy the authorities of his ability to reach the banks of the river
+safely if he should upset while boating. This swimming examination is
+held about once a week after bathing has commenced in the summer half
+at the two bathing-places, Cuckoo Weir and Athens, which are reserved
+for the use of the boys alone.
+
+On the Acropolis, a mound raised some ten feet above the water for
+diving purposes, sit the two or three masters whose duty it is to
+conduct the "passing." On one side a punt is moored, from which the boys
+enter the water head first as best they can. They have to swim a
+distance of about twenty yards, round a pole, and return, showing that
+they can swim in good style, and can keep themselves afloat by "treading
+water."
+
+When a boy has successfully passed this examination, he is at liberty to
+go on the river. As it is probably well on in the summer half before he
+has passed, and it is more than likely that he has never before handled
+an oar, we will suppose that he does not enter for the Lower Boy races
+that year, but has to learn by himself, with no coaches to help him, the
+rudiments of rowing and sculling on fixed seats. Always on the river,
+whenever he has an hour to spare from his school duties, the Lower Boy
+soon acquires that knowledge of "watermanship" for which Etonian oarsmen
+are famous.
+
+By the end of the summer half, he can sit his sculling-boat in
+comparative safety, and has learnt, perhaps, at the cost of several
+fines, the rules of the river, which are considered sacred by all Eton
+boys.
+
+The ensuing winter terms are devoted to football and fives, rowing not
+being allowed; and we may pass on to the next summer, when our Lower Boy
+will probably enter for both Lower Boy sculling and pulling (_i.e._
+pairs). These two races are rowed in boats almost peculiar to Eton. That
+used for the Lower Boy pulling is called a "perfection," of which the
+design is due to the Rev. S. A. Donaldson; it is an open, clinker-built,
+outrigged boat, which recalls the lines of the old Thames wherry. That
+used for the Lower Boy sculling is known as a "whiff," an open clinker
+boat with outriggers. On an average about a dozen competitors enter for
+these events, five or six boats being started together, the first and
+second in each heat rowing in the final. The course, which is about two
+miles long, begins opposite the Brocas, extending for a mile upstream,
+where the competitors turn round a ryepeck, and then down-stream to the
+finish, just above Windsor Bridge.
+
+If fairly successful in his school examinations, the boy whose career we
+are considering will, after his second summer, have reached the fifth
+form, a position which entitles him to be tried for the boats. He
+probably does not succeed in obtaining the coveted colour at the first
+attempt; and it is, say, in his third summer, that he first comes under
+the eye of a coach.
+
+For the last month of the summer half, as many as ten or a dozen eights
+are taken out by members of the Upper Boats every evening, and four
+crews are selected from these, put into training, and carefully coached,
+and after about a fortnight's practice race against each other from
+Sandbank down to the bridge, a distance of about three-quarters of a
+mile; the race is called "Novice Eights," and each crew is stroked by a
+member of the Lower Boats. Every boy who rows in this race may be sure
+that he will get into the boats on the following 1st of March; and
+having reached this important point in an Eton wetbob's career, I must
+endeavour to explain the meaning of the term "The Boats," which I have
+already frequently used.
+
+The Boats are composed of one ten-oared, and nine eight-oared crews,
+presumably made up of the eighty-two best oarsmen in the school; the
+boats are subdivided into two classes, Upper and Lower Boats.
+
+The Upper Boats comprise the ten-oared _Monarch_, and the two eights,
+_Victory_ and _Prince of Wales_; the Lower Boats are more numerous,
+consisting of seven eights, which have characteristic names, such as
+_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, _Hibernia_, and _Defiance_. Each of the
+Upper Boats has a distinctive colour just like any other school team,
+whereas all members of the Lower Boats wear the same cap.
+
+At the head of the Eton wetbob world there reigns supreme the Captain of
+the Boats, who is always regarded in the eyes of a small Eton boy as
+next in importance only to the Prince of Wales and the Archbishop of
+Canterbury. He is captain of the _Monarch_, and after him, in order of
+merit, come the captains of the other boats, who act as his lieutenants;
+these captains are practically appointed by the first captain of the
+previous year, and were probably all members of the Upper Boats in that
+year.
+
+At the beginning of each summer term the Captain of the Boats calls a
+meeting of his other boat captains; he has by him a list of all those
+who were already members of the boats the year before, and he knows
+pretty correctly the form of every one of them; thus, with his
+lieutenants' help he can assign to each oarsman the boat in which he
+considers him worthy to row.
+
+The first boat to be made up is the _Monarch_. Though nominally the
+first of the boats, the _Monarch_ is actually composed of those who,
+from their place in the school, or from their prowess at other games,
+deserve some recognition; in fact, I may best designate the members of
+the "ten," as good worthy people, who have tried to row well and have
+not succeeded.
+
+The next boat is the _Victory_, and here we find the pick of the
+previous year's Lower Boats. Though junior, and in order of precedence
+below all the captains of the various boats, these eight have just as
+much chance of rowing in the eight at Henley as any of the captains; for
+the younger oar, whose faults can easily be cured, is often preferred to
+his stronger senior, whose faults are fixed and difficult to eradicate.
+
+Similar to the _Victory_, though of rather a lower standard, is the
+_Prince of Wales_, or "Third Upper;" and this is composed of the
+remnants of the previous year's Lower Boats who are not quite good
+enough for the _Victory_. The great distinction in the present day
+between Upper and Lower Boats is that all those in the former may row in
+any boat on sliding seats, while to those in the latter only fixed seats
+are allowed.
+
+Having completed his Upper Boats, the captain has now to fill the seats
+in the seven Lower Boats. A few of the refuse, one may almost call them,
+of the year before are still left; refuse, because it is rarely the case
+that a boy who is more than one year in Lower Boats develops into a
+really good oar. To these are generally assigned the best places in the
+Lower Boats, and after them come, in order of merit, as far as possible,
+all those who rowed in the previous summer in the "Novice Eight" race.
+
+Thus, just as the _Victory_ is always better than the _Monarch_, so the
+_Dreadnought_, the second Lower Boat, is often better than the
+_Britannia_, which may be composed of old "crocks."
+
+On the 1st of March and the 4th of June in each year the boats row in
+procession, in their order, each boat stroked by its captain, up to
+Surley Hall, where, on the 4th of June, a supper is held. But I will
+leave a description of the 4th of June till later, and will return to
+where I left our successful Etonian, who has just received his
+Lower-Boat colours.
+
+During his first summer half in the boats he is practically never out of
+training. As soon as he has rowed one race he must begin practice for
+the next. The first race of the season is "Lower Eights." Four crews are
+chosen from among members of the Lower Boats, are coached for three
+weeks by members of the Upper Boats, and then race for a mile and a
+half. After this follow "Lower Fours," in which, again, four crews take
+part, chosen from the best of those who have raced in Lower Eights.
+These two races are rowed in order that those in authority may see how
+their juniors can race, and also that the said juniors may profit by
+efficient coaching. No prizes are awarded; they simply row for the
+honour of winning. After these come Junior Sculling and Junior Pulling,
+two races again confined to the Lower Boats. They are rowed in light,
+keelless, outrigged boats, with fixed seats, no coxswain being carried
+by the pairs. And here, again, much watermanship is learned, for the
+Eton course is a difficult one to steer, and only those who steer well
+can have any chance of a win. As many as fifty entries are sometimes
+received for Junior Sculling, for though an Eton boy may have no chance
+of winning a race, he will start, just for the sport of racing and
+improving his rowing, a proceeding which might well be imitated at
+Oxford or Cambridge. Each boy who starts in one of these races has to
+wear a jersey trimmed with a distinctive colour, and carry a flag in his
+bows; and it is extraordinary what ugly combinations some of them choose
+and think beautiful.
+
+These four races have taken our young friend well on into the summer
+half; but after Henley is over, he will probably have to represent his
+House in the House Four race. Perhaps at his tutor's there may be one or
+two who have rowed at Henley in the Eight, and with these, and possibly
+another boy in Lower Boats, he has to train for another three weeks to
+row in what has been called, in a song familiar to Etonians of late
+years, "_the_ race of the year." It is an inspiriting sight for any one
+who wishes to get an idea of an Eton race to see the crowds of men and
+boys, masters and pupils, wetbobs and drybobs, running along the bank
+with the race, some so far ahead that they can see nothing, some with
+the boats, some tired out and lagging behind, but all shouting for a
+particular crew or individual as if their lives depended on it.
+
+In the last few years another race has been established for the Lower
+Boats; but it has not met with the approval of many Old Etonians. It is
+a bumping race, similar to those at Oxford and Cambridge, rowed by the
+different Lower Boats--_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, etc. It is claimed
+that by practising for this race many of those who would not otherwise
+get much teaching are coached by competent people, and thus the standard
+of rowing is raised; but the opponents of the measure object, and as I
+think rightly, on the grounds that the average oar in the Lower Boats
+has quite enough rowing and racing as it is, and that even if more
+racing were needed, a bumping race is the very worst that can be rowed.
+It is necessary at the Universities, on account of the narrowness of the
+rivers, to hold these races, for two boats cannot race abreast; but they
+must tend to make crews rush and hurry for two or three minutes, and
+then try to get home as best they can.
+
+So much for the Lower Boat races. And there is only one more point to
+add concerning the Lower Boats: at the end of each summer half a list is
+published called "Lower Boat Choices," comprising about twenty of the
+Lower Boat oarsmen; to these also is given a special colour; and it is
+in the order of these choices that places in the Upper Boats are
+assigned in the following spring.
+
+Having, therefore, in the next year, risen to the dignity of the Upper
+Boats, our Etonian has before him almost as many races as when he was in
+Lower Boats. His first is "Trial Eights." This takes place at the end of
+the Lent term, between two eight-oared crews, rowing on sliding seats,
+and chosen by the Captain of the Boats. It is from these two crews,
+picked from the Upper Boats and the boat captains, that the Henley Eight
+has to be chosen; and it is, therefore, the object of the first and
+second captains of the boats to equalize them as far as possible, so
+that they may have a close race, and that the rowing and stamina of
+individuals at high pressure may be watched. In the summer half come the
+School Pulling and Sculling, similar to junior races, but rowed on
+sliding seats, and confined to the Upper Boats. The winner of a school
+race, besides getting his prize, is entitled to wear a "School
+Shield"--a small gold shield, on which are engraved the Eton arms, and
+the name and year of the race won. To secure a "School Shield" is one of
+the greatest ambitions of every ambitious Etonian.
+
+These two races being over, practice for the Eight which is to row at
+Henley begins. Every day the Captain of the Boats, aided by one or two
+masters, who have probably represented their Universities at Putney in
+their day, has out two crews, composed of the best of those who are in
+Upper Boats. These crews are gradually weeded out till, perhaps, only an
+eight and a four are left; and then, at last, the Eight is finally
+chosen.
+
+It is difficult to say who should be pitied most while this process of
+choosing the crew is going on--the captain or those who are striving for
+their seats; the captain always worried and anxious that he should get
+the best crew to represent his school, the crew always in agony lest
+they should be turned out, and should never be able to wear the light
+blue. Of course, the captain has the advice of those much more
+experienced than himself; but if there is a close point to settle, it
+is on him alone that the responsibility of the choice falls.
+
+Once safely settled in the boat, there follows a period of five or six
+weeks of mixed pleasure and pain, for every crew, however good, must
+pass through periods of demoralization when for a few days they cease to
+improve, and periods of joy when they realize that, after all, they have
+some chance of turning out well.
+
+For the last three weeks of this Henley practice the Eight is in strict
+training; but training for Eton boys is no great hardship. The days of
+"hard steak and a harder hen" are over. The Eton boy is always fit, and
+the chief point he has to observe is regularity.
+
+His meals are much the same as usual--breakfast at eight, lunch at two,
+a light tea at five, supper together at eight in the evening, and bed at
+ten. There is no need to pull him out of bed in the morning, as at the
+Universities, for he has to go to school every morning at seven o'clock;
+he does not usually smoke--or, at any rate, is not supposed to by the
+rules of the school, and it is rarely that this rule is broken--and he
+does not indulge in large unwholesome dinners, after the manner of many
+undergraduates.
+
+Every evening at six o'clock he goes down to the river, and is probably
+tubbed in a gig-pair before rowing down the Datchet reach in the Eight.
+About twice a week the crew rows a full racing course, and is taken in
+for the last three minutes by a scratch crew, which goes by the name of
+"duffers," composed of five or six Old Etonians and masters, and one or
+two Eton boys, who are kept in training as spare men. The crew is
+coached from a horse by one of the masters--of late years Mr. de
+Havilland, who is certainly as keen for his crew to win as any boy in
+the school.
+
+For the last five years the crew has taken a house at Henley for the
+days of the regatta, and gone to Henley by train the afternoon before
+the races. Though much wiser, this departure from Eton is not as
+impressive as in older days, when the crew used to drive to Henley for
+each day's racing; when, filled with pride and shyness, the young
+oarsman used to issue from his tutor's, wearing for the first time his
+light-blue coat and white cap, and walk to Mr. Donaldson's or Dr.
+Warre's house, where waited the brake which was to convey the crew,
+with the cheers of the crowd, along the hot, dusty road to Henley. In
+1891, the last year that this drive was taken, the crew, before the
+final of the Ladies' Plate, had to drive no less than seventy-five miles
+in three days. They were only beaten by a few feet, and there is little
+doubt that but for this most tiring drive they would have won. Once at
+Henley, all is pleasure. No crew is more popular, none more cheered, as
+it paddles down the course to the starting-point and as it arrives first
+at the winning-post. The scene of enthusiasm, not only among Etonians,
+but among the whole rowing world, when an Eton crew wins the Ladies'
+Plate after a lapse of several years, is past description.
+
+After Henley come House Fours; and then the list of Upper Boat choices
+is made up by the Captain of the Boats. The captain, by this means,
+appoints his successor for the following year, for he arranges these
+choices in order of merit, just as Lower Boat choices are arranged, and
+the highest choice remaining at Eton till the next year becomes captain.
+Thus the power of the captain is absolute; he can appoint whomever he
+likes to be his successor, and it is seldom that the choice falls on
+the wrong boy. Besides being the sole authority in these matters, the
+captain has to arrange all the money matters of the E.C.B.C.; over five
+hundred pounds pass through his hands in a year, and this gives an extra
+responsibility to his post. Of course all his accounts are carefully
+audited by one of the masters, and the experience gained, not only in
+looking after money, but also in arranging dates of races, in choosing
+and in captaining his crew, and in judging disputed points, is well
+worth all the trouble and worry entailed.
+
+Our Eton Lower Boy has now reached the position of Captain of the Boats,
+and here I will leave him to go on either to Oxford or Cambridge and
+represent his University at Putney. A few words, however, may still be
+added.
+
+There is a great difference between teaching a boy of sixteen and a man
+of twenty to row, and this difference lies in the fact that it is much
+easier, and perhaps even more important, to teach your boy to row in
+good form. By good form, I mean the power to use all his strength
+directly in making the boat move so that no energy is wasted in making
+the body pass through the extraordinary contortions and antics often
+seen in an inferior college crew.
+
+It is easier to teach the boy of sixteen to row in good form, because
+his muscles are not yet formed, and his body still lithe and supple; it
+is more important to teach him, because he is not so strong as his
+elders, and consequently has not as much strength to waste.
+
+A description of best how to use your strength would be out of place
+here, for it will be found set forth in another part of this volume. Let
+me, therefore, pass on to a subject which lately has caused considerable
+discussion--the subject of the length of the course for the Junior and
+School races. All these races are held over a course of about three
+miles in length, and take some twenty minutes to row. They start
+opposite the Brocas, and continue up-stream round "Rushes," and then
+down-stream to Windsor Bridge. The contention of many is that the length
+of these races is too great, and that the trial put on boys of perhaps
+fifteen years of age is too severe. From this view of the matter I
+differ, for to any one who has rowed over both the Henley and Putney
+course it will be evident that the forty strokes per minute for a mile
+and a half would be more trying to a young boy than the thirty-four per
+minute for four miles.
+
+A short note on the proceedings of the wetbobs on the 4th of June, the
+great day of celebration at Eton, may have some interest.
+
+As I have said, a procession of all the boats takes place on this day.
+About five o'clock they start in order from the Brocas, and row to
+Surley Hall, where, in tents on the grass, a supper is prepared. After
+supping, they return to the rafts in time for a display of fireworks,
+the crews standing up in their boats and tossing their oars, whereby a
+very pretty effect is obtained. The dresses worn by the crews are quaint
+and old-fashioned on this great day. All are dressed in white ducks, a
+shirt of the colours of their boat, a dark-blue Eton jacket trimmed with
+gold or silver braid, and a straw hat covered with various emblems of
+their boat. The coxswains of the Upper Boats wear naval captain's
+clothes, while the Lower Boat coxswains represent midshipmen.
+
+So much for Eton rowing; and, in finishing, I must pay a slight tribute
+to three old Etonians, to whom the success of Eton rowing is mainly
+due. They are Dr. Warre, the Rev. S. A. Donaldson, and Mr. de
+Havilland; and I feel sure that out of these three, who have all done
+yeomen service for their school, I may single out Dr. Warre, and yet
+give no offence to his two successors. Before Dr. Warre came to Eton as
+a master, in the early sixties, the masters had taken little interest in
+the proceedings on the river; consequently the traditions of rowing,
+learnt mainly from the riverside watermen, were not of a very high
+standard. Eton had never rowed in any races, except against Westminster,
+and it was due to Dr. Warre's efforts that competition for the Ladies'
+Plate was first allowed. From this date till the middle of the eighties,
+Dr. Warre was always ready to coach when asked, but never till asked,
+for he believed, and still believes strongly, in allowing the boys to
+manage their own games as far as possible.
+
+How well he kept his principles of rowing up to date is shown in his
+pamphlets on rowing and coaching, for probably no one but he could have
+written so clear and concise a description as he has given.
+
+Besides being an eminent coach, he understands thoroughly the theories
+of boat-building, his ideas being well exemplified of late by the boats
+which won for Eton in '93, '94, '96, and '97.
+
+When the duties of head-master became too engrossing to allow him to
+devote as much time to the Eight as formerly, his place was taken, and
+well filled, by Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson was always a most keen and
+patient coach, and followed closely on the head-master's lines; and his
+cheery voice at Henley--clear above all the din of the race--once heard,
+could never be forgotten. He was very successful with his crews, and
+helped them to win the Ladies' Plate several times.
+
+In 1893 Mr. de Havilland first coached the Eight, and, since this date,
+has had an unbroken series of wins. In the first year of his coaching,
+fifteen-inch slides, instead of ten-inch, were used, and this, aided by
+his excellent advice, helped to produce one of the fastest Eights that
+Eton has ever sent to represent the school. Mr. de Havilland has that
+wonderful knack, possessed by some good coaches, of training his crew to
+the hour, and it is surprising with what speed his crews always improve
+in the last week or so of practice.
+
+I can only hope, in conclusion, that I have to some extent succeeded in
+explaining to the uninitiated the mysteries of the career of an Eton
+wetbob during the five or six happiest years of his life spent at the
+best of schools.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+AUSTRALIAN ROWING.
+
+_By E. G. Blackmore._
+
+
+A country which has produced such scullers as Beach and Searle, not to
+mention Trickett, Laycock, Kemp, Nielson, Stanbury, and many others of
+less calibre, may well claim a place in a work treating of the science
+and art of rowing. In the limits of a chapter it is scarcely possible to
+give an exhaustive account of Australian oarsmen and oarsmanship, and as
+the performances of the leading Colonial scullers are sufficiently well
+known, from their having competed on English waters, this record will be
+almost entirely confined to amateur rowing, as practised in Australia.
+
+That large continent, with the island of Tasmania, consists of six
+colonies, in all of which the art is cultivated, with more or less
+enthusiasm.
+
+The first record we can find of anything like boat-racing occurs in
+1818, when ships' gig races were rowed in the Sydney Harbour, while the
+first regatta was held in the same place in 1827. In 1832 an
+Australian-born crew, in a locally built whale-boat, beat several crews
+of whaling ships. Passing over a series of years, in which nothing of
+more than local and momentary interest occurred, we find that in 1858,
+in the first race rowed on the present Champion course, the Parramatta
+River, Green beat an English sculler, Candlish, in a match for £400. I
+am inclined to regard this as the real foundation of New South Wales
+professional sculling, which afterwards culminated in the performances
+of Beach and Searle. The mother colony is the only one of the group
+which has produced a professional sculler of any class. Amongst amateurs
+none has yet appeared who could be placed in the first rank.
+
+In all the Colonies there are rowing associations which regulate and
+control amateur rowing. Of these, New South Wales alone has attempted to
+maintain the amateur status on English lines. The other associations
+recognize men who would not pass muster at any regatta in the United
+Kingdom where the regulation definition obtains. To the New South Wales
+Association about ten clubs are affiliated. Under its auspices regattas
+are held in the harbour of Sydney, and one on the Parramatta River. The
+former water is utterly unfit for first-class racing, as it is
+exceedingly rough, exposed to sudden winds, and hampered with steam
+traffic of all sorts. In September--regarded as the commencement of the
+rowing season--there is an eight-oar race, the winners of which rank as
+champions for the ensuing year, and fly the "Premiership Pennant." On
+January 26 is held the Anniversary Regatta, which, founded in 1834, has
+been an annual event since 1837.
+
+The Parramatta River course, on which champion events are decided, and
+which Hanlan, Beach, and Searle have made classic ground, is 3 miles 330
+yards. It is practically straight, with a strong tide, the set of which
+is very difficult to learn. At times it is so affected by wind, as to
+render rowing impossible. The most perfect water is that of the Nepean
+River. Here a straight 3¼ miles course can be found, perfectly calm,
+and with no current. It was on this river that Beach beat Hanlan in
+1887.
+
+The Victorian Rowing Association holds three Championship events in the
+year--sculls, fours, and eights rowed in best boats on the Lower Yarra,
+and an annual regatta on the Albert Park Lake, though in former years it
+has taken place on the Upper and the Lower river. Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Colac,
+Nagambie, and Lake Moodemere. The length for Intercolonial and
+Championship races is 3 miles 110 yards, with the tide, which may be set
+at three miles an hour.
+
+The South Australian Association holds an annual regatta on the river
+Torrens, and has champion races for eights, fours, and sculls, on the
+Port River. The city course is one mile, that for the champion races,
+three miles. The Torrens is at the best an inferior river for rowing,
+while the Port Water is a broad tidal stream, exposed to south-west
+winds, and at times exceedingly rough.
+
+Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, like their sister Colonies,
+have associations, and hold regattas.
+
+The great event of the year is the Intercolonial eight-oar race, rowed
+alternately in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Western Australia is
+now (1897) entering the field, but her crew is composed almost entirely
+of former Victorian oarsmen. In the past the rowing of Victorian crews
+has been generally far superior to that of the other Colonies, and in
+1894 the Victorian combination was the nearest approach to English form
+that has yet been attained. South Australia has not so far been
+represented. Speaking generally, none of the picked eights of the
+Colonies have ever shown form or pace within measurable distance of the
+best college crews at Oxford and Cambridge, or the eights which may be
+seen at Henley. There is no approach to that systematic rudimentary
+teaching, coaching, and training, which proves so successful on English
+waters, and without which no crew can ever become that perfect human
+machine which a finished eight should be.
+
+
+_Public School Rowing._
+
+_Sydney._
+
+The principal rowing schools in New South Wales are the Church of
+England Grammar School, North Shore, the Sydney Grammar School, and St.
+Ignatius College. Under the "Athletic Association of the Great Public
+Schools" an annual regatta is held on the Parramatta River in May. The
+events are--"Schools Championship," Maiden Fours, Junior Eights, and a
+June Handicap Sculling Race. The association has fixed the distance at
+1¼ miles. The races are rowed in string test gigs; and 8 mins. 15
+secs. is considered good time for school crews, whose age, it must be
+remembered, does not equal that of English schoolboys. The boathouses of
+the two grammar schools are at Berry's and Woolloomooloo Bays, in the
+harbour; and they are at a disadvantage compared with St. Ignatius
+College, which, at Lane Cove River, has a splendid course and smooth
+water. The ten days of the Easter vacation are spent by the two former
+schools in "Rowing Camp," _i.e._ they migrate to the Parramatta River,
+where there are better opportunities of systematic work and coaching.
+Each club, notably St. Ignatius, has a good set of boats, those of the
+North Shore School being fitted with convertible fixed or sliding seats,
+carried on frames. The form of the two grammar schools is decidedly
+good, and conforms to the English standard much more nearly than that of
+most of the clubs.
+
+_Victoria._
+
+There are five schools approaching, as nearly as circumstances allow,
+the great public schools of England, viz. in the capital, the Church of
+England Grammar School, the Scotch College, Wesley College, St Patrick's
+College, and the Church of England Grammar School at Geelong.
+
+Two races are rowed annually, for first and second crews, each school in
+turn having the choice of course, which is either on the Upper or Lower
+Yarra, the Albert Park Lagoon, or the Barwon at Geelong. For first crews
+the distance is 1¼ miles, for second a mile, the boats being string
+test gigs, fixed seats. Of all the schools none has a record equal to
+that of Geelong, where rowing, in comparison with other sports, occupies
+the same position as at Eton. To the Cambridge Eight it has contributed
+four oars, including the well-known heavyweight S. Fairbairn; while in
+the memorable race of '86, when Pitman made his victorious rush on the
+post, the school had an "old boy" in each boat--Fairbairn rowing for the
+Light Blues, and Robertson, whose father had been in Hoare's famous '61
+crew, for Oxford. In the Cambridge Trial Eights seven "old Geelongs"
+have rowed; in the Oxford Trials only one; while the school has also
+been represented in the Grand Challenge and other races at Henley.
+
+The Public Schools' Race for first crews was established in 1868, and
+for second in 1878. Geelong first rowed for the former in 1875, since
+when it has twelve wins to its credit, and the same number in the minor
+event.
+
+The Boat Club was established in 1874, and at the present date has a
+roll of fifty-six members, an excellent boathouse, and nineteen boats.
+It holds an annual school regatta in June.
+
+Rowing at the other schools is very spasmodic, mostly confined to a few
+weeks' training for the above races.
+
+_South Australia._
+
+There are only two schools in South Australia which merit the
+designation of public schools in the English sense, viz. St. Peter's
+Collegiate School and Prince Alfred College, both in the immediate
+neighbourhood of the city.
+
+Adelaide is bisected by the river Torrens, where, by reason of a dam, a
+mile and a half of water is available for rowing. But the course is so
+tortuous that racing is limited to a mile. The accumulation of silt is
+so great, and the growth of weeds and rushes so rapid, that for some
+five months in the year the river is kept empty for necessary
+operations; and at the best of times the water is slow and sluggish. At
+the annual regatta, under the Rowing Association, the rivals have often
+competed in a special race; but they ran the chance of being drawn to
+row private schools. In order to make rowing as important a part of
+school athletics as cricket and football, the present writer, who was
+then chairman of the Rowing Association, instituted in 1893 an annual
+race between these schools for a challenge shield, to be rowed on the
+tidal river at the Port, over a straight mile course. The boats used are
+half-outrigged, clinker, keelless fours, fixed seats, with a
+twenty-six-inch beam. The crews practise on the home water, and finish
+their preparation on the scene of the contest. So far, St. Peter's
+College has won each event in the easiest style. A race has also been
+established with the Geelong school. Of three, each of which has been of
+the closest, Geelong has won once, St. Peter's twice. The boats used are
+full outrigged clinkers, with sliding seats.
+
+In spite of the inferior water, rowing at St. Peter's is becoming almost
+as popular with the boys as cricket and football. To this state of
+things their success against Prince Alfred and Geelong crews has
+materially contributed, as well as the institution of school regattas.
+The club has a good boathouse, with the right class of boats for
+teaching and coaching, viz. steady, roomy, half-outrigged, clinker
+fours, with keels, convertible as fixed or sliders.
+
+
+_University Rowing._
+
+There are three Universities of Australia--those of Sydney, Melbourne,
+and Adelaide. Racing was first instituted when Sydney and Melbourne met
+on the water of the latter in string test gig fours over a three and a
+half miles course. In the following year they met on the Parramatta.
+Melbourne won on both occasions. The race was then discontinued, but in
+1885 the Sydney University Boat Club was founded, and in 1888 the three
+Universities mutually agreed to establish the race as an annual event in
+eights, to be rowed in turn on the Parramatta, the Yarra, and the Port
+Adelaide rivers, over a three mile course. Of nine races rowed--in two
+of which Adelaide, and in one of which Sydney, did not compete--Sydney
+has won four times, Melbourne thrice, and Adelaide on two occasions. The
+presentation by Old Blues of Oxford and Cambridge of a magnificent cup,
+to be held by the winners, has given a great stimulus to the race, and
+invested it with an importance which otherwise would not have attached
+to it. It has served to establish the continuity of the contest, and to
+connect the local Universities with their more famous elder sisters of
+England.
+
+The Sydney U.B.C. undoubtedly takes the lead in prosecuting rowing. It
+promotes annual races for Freshmen, and intercollegiate fours between
+the three colleges of St. John's, St. Andrew's, and St. Paul's. Since
+their inauguration, in 1892, St. Paul's has won on every occasion except
+in 1894. In 1895 and 1896 the U.B.C. won the Rowing Association
+Eight-oar Championship.
+
+There is an annual race in eights between Ormond and Trinity Colleges of
+the Melbourne University, besides a few other less important events, but
+the rowing spirit is not in such evidence as in Sydney and Adelaide. The
+latter is simply a teaching and examining University, with members so
+few that it is rather a matter of finding eight men to put in a boat
+than of picking or selecting a crew from a number of aspirants. Its
+success and enterprise are the more remarkable.
+
+Speaking generally of University form in Australia, it is far inferior
+to that of a good college eight. Nor is the reason far to seek. There is
+no such recruiting ground as, for instance, Eton or Radley, not to
+mention other rowing schools, nor are there the opportunities for making
+oars such as the college clubs at the two great Universities present,
+with the successive stages of the Torpids and Lent races, the May and
+Summer Eights, Henley, and the Trial Eights. Coaching, as in England,
+from the tow path or a fast steam-launch, is practically impossible, and
+the number of those who have a scientific knowledge of oarsmanship, and,
+what is rarer still, the gift of imparting it to a crew, individually
+and collectively, is small indeed. Coaching in Australia is done from
+the stern, or from another boat, or by an occasional view from the bank,
+sometimes from a launch seldom fast enough to keep up, or range abeam.
+Pair-oar tubbing is of course utilized. Sydney University rowing is,
+however, far superior to non-University oarsmanship. The men sit up, use
+their backs and legs well, understand the knee work at the end of the
+slide, and do not rush their recovery. They are somewhat deficient in
+fore and aft swing, have a tendency to sky the feather, and rarely
+catch their water at the first. Melbourne rowing is wanting in body
+work, and conspicuous for absence of length. The men apparently are
+taught to discard on slides every approach to fixed-seat form, instead
+of to retain as much as possible. Thanks to a strong Oxford inspiration
+in Adelaide, and a belief in fixed-seat form as the foundation of good
+rowing on slides, an Adelaide school or University crew is conspicuous
+for length, reach, and swing. The pace of the eights is far behind
+English standard.
+
+
+_Boatbuilding in Australia._
+
+It was the opinion of Hanlan that in the matter of boats and sculls he
+had never been so well served as by Donnelly and Sullivan of Sydney, a
+judgment as regards sculls endorsed by Beach and Searle. Chris. Nielsen,
+the sculler, has brought out a boat which he claims to be faster than
+the ordinary wager boat, with, against, or without tide, in rough water
+or smooth. The dimensions for an 11½ stone man are--length, 23 ft.;
+beam, 16 ins.; depth, 7 ins.; for'ard, 6 ins.; aft, 5½ ins.; full
+lines throughout; height of seat from heel plates, 7 ins.; height of
+work from seat, 5¾ ins.; needs no fin, steers well, very light off
+hand; weight without fittings, 14 lbs. Riggers are bicycle tubing
+fittings, ordinary Davis gate; Colonial cedar, pine, and hickory
+timbers. The Australian-built boats are probably, so far as lines,
+general design, and workmanship, quite equal to the best English craft.
+For pairs, fours, and eights the Melbourne builders, Fuller, Edwards,
+and Greenland, are of the first class. They use a skeleton frame for the
+slides, built with angle pieces. This has all the rigidity of Clasper's
+more solid style, is lighter and stronger, and when the boat is being
+emptied allows the free escape of water. A Colonial eight is certainly
+lighter than those sent to Australia by Clasper or Rough. Probably the
+English builders have overestimated the weight of Australian eight-oar
+crews, which do not scale anything approaching a 'Varsity eight. Seating
+down the middle is generally preferred, which the present writer thinks
+has everything in its favour. The great drawback from which local
+builders suffer is the want of seasoned cedar. From this cause their
+boats do not last as long as English ones.
+
+
+_Times._
+
+I am not disposed to place much reliance on time as a test of a crew or
+a sculler, as conditions can never be so identical as to make comparison
+a safe guide. Still a certain interest attaches to records. It is
+contended that the Parramatta is a fifth slower than the Thames. The
+best trial with the tide that I know of is for a mile, 5 mins. 20 secs.
+with a four; 4 mins. 47 secs. with an eight. Over the whole course, 3
+miles 330 yards, an eight has put up 17 mins. 12 secs., one mile of
+which was compassed in 4 mins. 52 secs. On the Yarra the Victorian Eight
+of 1889 is said to have rowed two measured miles in 10 mins. 2 secs. At
+Brisbane, in 1895, the Sydney International Eight, with a strong stream,
+compassed three miles in 15 mins., but the distance is doubted. On the
+Nepean course, 3 miles 440 yards, Sullivan beat Bubear in 19 mins. 15
+secs., no current.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ROWING IN AMERICA.
+
+
+The sport of rowing, as I gather from Mr. Caspar Whitney's well-known
+book,[14] was in its infancy in America when it had already taken a
+prominent place amongst our amateur athletic exercises in England. The
+Detroit Boat Club, established in 1839, was the first rowing
+organization in America. Next came Yale University, which established a
+Boat Club in 1843, and was followed by Harvard University in 1846. The
+first boat-race between Harvard and Yale took place in 1852 on Lake
+Winipiseogee, New Hampshire, in eight-oared boats with coxswains. Other
+meetings between these two followed at intervals until 1859, when a
+College Union Regatta was instituted. This took place at Worcester
+(Mass.), on Lake Quinsigamond, in six-oared boats without coxswains, the
+bow oar invariably steering, and was continued, with an interruption of
+three years during the Rebellion, until 1870, when the course was
+changed to the Connecticut River. Up to this time two Universities only
+had competed besides Yale and Harvard; but in 1872 the number increased
+considerably, and in 1875 no less than twelve different Universities
+were represented in one race. These were, in the order in which they
+finished, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth (Hanover, N.H.),
+Wesleyan (Middletown, Conn.), Yale, Amherst (Mass.), Brown (Providence,
+R.I.), Williams (Williamstown, Mass.), Bowdoin (Brunswick, Maine),
+Hamilton (Clinton, N.Y.), and Union (Schenectady, N.Y.). The most
+eventful of these big regattas was that of 1874 at Saratoga, when nine
+boats entered. Harvard and Yale, having adjoining stations,
+unfortunately became engaged in a dispute as to "water," and were left
+disputing by several boats. Harvard got away from the entanglement
+first, leaving Yale with her rudder and one oar broken, and went in
+pursuit of the others; but in spite of the most heroic efforts, were
+beaten by Columbia and Wesleyan, who finished respectively first and
+second. In 1876 Harvard and Yale decided to withdraw from these crowded
+meetings, and in this and the following year they rowed a private match
+at Springfield in Eights with coxswains, and in 1878 on the Thames at
+New London, where they continued their annual contest up to and
+including 1895.[15] In that year there took place a break in the
+athletic relations between these two Universities, and in 1896 Harvard
+took part in a "quadrangular" race with Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania Universities. This was won by Cornell, Harvard being
+second, and was rowed on a perfectly straight four-mile course at
+Poughkeepsie on the River Hudson, where Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania had decided some previous contests. In the present year,
+however, the differences between Harvard and Yale were happily adjusted,
+and a race was rowed at Poughkeepsie between them and Cornell, in which
+Cornell came in first, Yale defeating Harvard for second place. Harvard,
+Yale, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell possess at the present day
+the most important University rowing organizations, and at all of them
+the sport is practised with that intense keenness which characterizes
+the young American in everything that he undertakes. Especially is this
+the case with Harvard and Yale. Their rivalry has continued for many
+years, and a meeting between them in rowing, or in any other sport,
+evokes among their members an eagerness and an enthusiasm of which an
+Englishman can have little conception. Most of the Universities that
+took part in the contests of the seventies seem to have dropped
+altogether out of the rowing world. Last year saw a new arrival in the
+shape of the University of Wisconsin. These Westerners, in spite of
+their difficulties of climate, were able to form a very good freshman
+crew, which defeated the Yale freshmen in a two-mile race. This year the
+Wisconsin University Eight rowed a two-mile race against the Yale
+University Eight, but were unable to make much of a show against them.
+The United States Naval Academy at Minneapolis can also put a very fair
+crew on the water, though the course of their studies allows them but
+little leisure for practice. This year they were defeated by Cornell in
+a two-mile race. The chief rowing school of America is undoubtedly St.
+Paul's, at Concord, New Hampshire. It is divided into two boat-clubs,
+the Halcyon and the Shattuck, and the teaching and training of the boys
+are looked after by Mr. Dole, a man of great knowledge and experience in
+rowing matters. They practise on a large lake situated close to the
+school buildings, and show on the whole very fair form, though in this
+respect they cannot equal an Eton crew. Rowing recruits from this school
+are eagerly sought after by Harvard and Yale, in whose contests old St.
+Paul's boys have a very brilliant record. At Groton School, in
+Massachusetts, the boys row in Fours on the river Nashua, their coach
+being Mr. Abbot, a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford. Rowing,
+however, at Groton has not yet assumed the importance it has at St.
+Paul's, baseball being considered of the first importance, and the
+captain of baseball having the right to claim rowing boys for his team.
+Not a few Groton wet-bobs have, however, done well in Harvard and Yale
+crews. Besides these two rowing-schools, there is also the High School
+of Worcester (Mass.), whose Eight this year--the first, I believe, in
+its rowing history--rowed a severe but unsuccessful race against the
+Harvard freshmen on Lake Quinsigamond, and later in the summer won the
+race for Intermediate Eights at the National Regatta held on the River
+Schuylkill at Philadelphia.
+
+  [14] "A Sporting Pilgrimage" (published in 1895 by Messrs. Osgood,
+  McIlvaine & Co.), one of the best all-round accounts of English sport
+  that it has ever been my good fortune to read.
+
+  [15] For many of these details I am indebted to an article by Mr. J. A.
+  Watson-Taylor in the _Granta_.
+
+[Illustration: A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON AT POUGHKEEPSIE.]
+
+To an English reader, with his experience of Henley Regatta, it will
+seem strange that the Universities in America should take little or no
+part in any rowing contests except their own private matches, and should
+have no voice, and apparently no wish to have any voice, in the general
+management of the sport outside the Universities. But such is the case.
+The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen of America has more than
+sixty clubs affiliated to it, but neither Harvard nor Yale nor Cornell
+is amongst the number. The National Association holds a successful
+regatta every year in August, but no really representative Eight from
+Harvard or Yale has ever, I believe, taken part in it. With that
+exception, this Association corresponds to our Amateur Rowing
+Association, and in its constitution states its object to be "the
+advancement and improvement of rowing amongst amateurs." By Article III.
+of the Association an amateur is defined as "one who does not enter in
+an open competition; or for either a stake, public or admission money,
+or entrance fee; or compete with or against a professional for any
+prize; who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the pursuit of
+athletic exercises as a means of livelihood; whose membership of any
+rowing or other athletic club was not brought about, or does not
+continue, because of any mutual agreement or understanding, expressed or
+implied, whereby his becoming or continuing a member of such club would
+be of any pecuniary benefit to him whatever, direct or indirect;[16] who
+has never been employed in any occupation involving any use of the oar
+or paddle; who rows for pleasure or recreation only, and during his
+leisure hours; who does not abandon or neglect his usual business or
+occupation for the purpose of training, and who shall otherwise conform
+to the rules and regulations of this Association (as adopted August 28,
+1872, amended January 20, 1876, and July 18, 1888)."
+
+  [16] This clause is intended especially to prevent any so-called amateur
+  oarsmen being surreptitiously compensated for rowing, as, for instance,
+  by being furnished lucrative employment in sinecure positions.
+
+"Any club which shall issue or accept a challenge for the purpose of
+holding a professional race, shall be for ever debarred from entering an
+individual or crew in the Regattas of the Association, and such club, if
+connected with the Association, shall be expelled."
+
+In point of strictness, it will be noticed this Rule does not suffer by
+comparison with that of our own Amateur Rowing Association.[17] Indeed,
+in some respects it is both fuller and stricter. Practically the only
+difference is that whereas we disqualify as an amateur one who has been
+employed in manual labour for money or wages, or who is or has been by
+trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artizan, or labourer, or
+engaged in any menial duty, this exclusion finds no place in the
+American Amateur definition. The Laws of Boat-racing adopted by the
+Association are practically the same as our own.
+
+  [17] See Appendix.
+
+It may be interesting to contrast the organization and management of
+rowing at an American University with the systems that a long tradition
+has consecrated at Oxford and Cambridge. In our Universities, in the
+first place, each particular sport is entirely independent of all
+others. Each has its own club, its own funds, derived from the
+subscriptions of its members, and each manages its own affairs and
+arranges its own contests, except occasionally in the matter of
+convenience of date, without any reference whatever to the others. A don
+is usually treasurer of these clubs, but he has no special authority or
+control merely because he is a don. His experience and greater knowledge
+are placed at the disposal of undergraduates in matters of finance; that
+is all. Certain general University rules as to time of residence, etc.,
+have to be observed, but beyond this the dons assume absolutely no
+authority at all in the sports of the undergraduates. The undergraduates
+themselves, through undergraduate officers, elected by themselves, make
+all their own arrangements as to dates, matches, and everything else
+connected with their competitions; and a don would as soon think of
+flirting with a barmaid as of interfering with these matters in virtue
+of his donship. This point is really of capital importance. The
+responsibility of everything connected with the sports of the University
+thus falls upon the proper shoulders--those, namely, of the
+undergraduates who take part in them. The full glory of the victory is
+theirs, and a defeat they must feel is due to them alone. They cannot
+shift the blame to any don or committee of dons, and, as they must
+acknowledge themselves responsible, so the necessity of taking steps to
+restore the fortunes of their club is the more strongly brought home to
+them. The captain of a Boat Club is its absolute autocrat as regards
+work and discipline and the selection of his crew. The coach whom he
+asks to instruct them may possibly be old enough to be his father, but
+the coach, none the less, defers with an almost filial respect to the
+captain, through whom all executive orders are issued. In practice, of
+course, the wise captain is guided in most matters by his coach, but,
+should a serious difference arise between them, it is the coach who must
+give way to the authority of the captain. This uncontrolled management
+of their sports by the undergraduates is, it seems to me, no unimportant
+part of a University education; and a man may learn from it even more
+valuable lessons in conduct, self-control, and the treatment of his
+fellow-men, than from all the books, papers, and examinations of his
+University curriculum.
+
+At an American University a very different situation exists. I will take
+the case of Harvard, not merely because it is more familiar to me, but
+because it is typical in its general features, though not, of course, in
+all its details, of the position taken up by the authorities at most
+American Universities with regard to the sports of the undergraduates.
+From the earliest days of athletic exercises the Faculty, or Governing
+Body, of the University has kept a very tight control over them. It has
+issued rules and ordinances, allowing or forbidding certain
+competitions, deciding not only the number, but the date and place of
+matches in which it was allowable to take part, and regulating and
+controlling the conduct of those undergraduates who took part in
+athletics. This system, no doubt, originated at a time when the numbers
+at Harvard were comparatively small, and when the men entered College at
+an age considerably younger than is usual in England. But the numbers at
+Harvard have increased by leaps and bounds, and the age of
+undergraduates is now on an average the same as at Oxford and Cambridge.
+
+In recent years, indeed, a slight change has been found advisable. The
+control of all athletics, whether rowing, baseball, football, or track
+athletics, is vested in what is called an Athletic Committee, composed
+of three professors (_Anglicé_, dons), three graduates of the
+University, and three undergraduates. These nine, who are not selected
+on any representative system, promulgate laws, conduct negotiations,
+settle dates, and generally perform those details of business which in
+England are left entirely to the undergraduates. For instance, the
+negotiations for a resumption of athletic relations with Yale University
+were on the Harvard side managed by and through the Athletic Committee.
+Moreover, the Athletic Committee has in its hands the appointment of
+coaches for the crew, and for the football, baseball, and athletic
+teams. The captain of a crew or a team is, to be sure, elected by the
+undergraduates themselves, the established system being that the crew
+should, before disbanding itself, elect the captain for the ensuing
+year. But no election of this kind is valid until it has been confirmed
+by the Athletic Committee. From the above account, in which I have
+confined myself to facts, and have not attempted to criticize, it will
+be seen how profound are the differences between athletic organizations
+at English and American Universities.
+
+But there are further differences which have nothing to do with the
+system of control and management. An English University is composed of
+many colleges, each entirely independent, so far as the management of
+its affairs are concerned. An English University Boat Club is organized
+on the same principle. It is made up of representatives of all the
+College Boat Clubs, and combines these autonomous institutions for what
+may be termed Imperial purposes. College rowing at Oxford and Cambridge
+foments a keen and healthy rivalry, and to no small extent helps to keep
+up the standard of University rowing. In America, on the contrary, the
+University is one, and apparently indivisible. There are no colleges,
+and, therefore, there is no aggregation of College Boat Clubs such as we
+have at home. The want of this element is, no doubt, a serious
+disadvantage to an American University Boat Club. The only element of
+rivalry comes from the competition of the four different classes (_i.e._
+years, as we should call them--freshmen; second-year men, or
+"sophomores;" third-year men, or "juniors;" and fourth-year men, or
+"seniors") against one another in an eight-oared race in the spring.
+Beyond this there has been hitherto no internal competition between
+members of the University Boat Club. Compare this single race with the
+long series of contests in which an English University oarsman takes
+part. He may begin in October with the Fours, row in the University
+Trial Eights in December, and in the University crew in the following
+March. Then come the College eight-oared races in May or June, followed
+by Henley Regatta in July, to say nothing of pair-oar races, and
+sculling races, and College Club races, or of the various Thames
+regattas, in which he may take part during what remains of the summer.
+He thus gains invaluable lessons, both in watermanship and in racing
+experience, which are not open to his American cousin.
+
+For this absence of competitions in an American University Boat Club,
+the severe American winter, which closes the rivers from about the
+middle of December until early in March, is only partly responsible.
+During October and November the rivers are open; but up to the present
+very little advantage has been taken of these valuable months. At
+Harvard there has hitherto been no race or series of races for Fours or
+Pairs or Scullers, and freshmen, during their first term, have been
+exercised on a rowing machine, when they might, with infinitely greater
+profit, have gained instruction on the water.
+
+Early in January, when the undergraduates have returned from their short
+Christmas vacation, a "squad" for the University crew has generally been
+formed and sent to the "training-table," and the men composing it have
+been put into regular exercise, consisting of running varied by
+occasional skating, and of rowing practice every day in the tank. When
+the ice breaks up in March an Eight appears upon the water, and
+practises regularly from that time until towards the end of June, when
+its race against the rival University takes place. This long period of
+combined practice has many obvious drawbacks, which will at once strike
+an experienced oarsman. I believe better results might be obtained by
+allowing members of the University "squad" to take part in the Class
+races, and then, after a period of rest, selecting the University crew.
+
+[Illustration: COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON.]
+
+Notwithstanding, however, all these disadvantages, rowing at American
+Universities has reached a high standard--a result due to the
+extraordinary earnestness and enthusiasm of those who take part in it.
+The American University oarsman is in every respect as strong and as
+well-developed in physique as the average Englishman. All he lacks is
+the prolonged racing experience, which makes the Englishman so
+formidable and robust an opponent. There are men amongst the old oars of
+Harvard, Yale, and Cornell, who have made skilled rowing their special
+study, and whose knowledge of all points of the game is fully as great
+as that of our English oars. Yale, in particular, has, during the last
+ten years, been able to turn out some wonderfully fine and powerful
+crews; but the tendency amongst the American University oarsmen, during
+recent years, has been to sacrifice body-swing to the mere piston action
+of the legs on a very long slide. There is now, however, a reaction, due
+to the visits paid by Cornell and Yale to Henley in 1895 and 1896, and
+the long body-swing and general steadiness, which are marked features of
+English rowing, are now being very successfully cultivated in America.
+
+At the five chief rowing Universities--Harvard, Yale, Columbia,
+Pennsylvania, and Cornell--it is also customary to train a freshman crew
+every year, not merely for the local class races, but for competition
+against one another, the races taking place a few days before those in
+which the University crews compete. This year Yale defeated Harvard by
+something more than a length, Harvard being about three-quarters of a
+length ahead of Cornell. The race--a two-mile one--was very severe, and
+the crews, considering their material, showed, on the whole, better form
+than that displayed by the University crews. A week later the Cornell
+freshmen defeated those from Pennsylvania and Columbia over the same
+course. It is surprising to see what good results can be obtained from
+these freshmen crews. The men composing them have, for the most part,
+not rowed before coming to the University; they have had no graduated
+system of instruction on fixed seats. Up to March, all their rowing has
+been done on hydraulic machines in the gymnasium. They then launch a
+sliding-seat Eight and practise for the Class races at the beginning of
+May. After that they are carefully taken in hand, and trained for their
+race in June against the other Universities. It is from this freshman
+crew, and from the older hands, who may have been rowing in the Class
+races, that the 'Varsity crew of the following year will be recruited.
+
+The number of students at American Universities is thus stated in Mr.
+Caspar Whitney's book: Harvard, 3100; Yale, 2400; Pennsylvania, 2500;
+Columbia, 1600; Cornell, 1800; as against about 2400 at Oxford, and 2800
+at Cambridge.
+
+I ought to add that the use of swivel rowlocks is almost universal in
+America, and that all their Eights are built with the seats directly in
+a line in the centre of the boat. Boats of _papier maché_ have had a
+great vogue, their builder being Waters of Troy; but there is now a
+reaction in favour of cedar boats, as being stiffer and more durable.
+The Harvard and Yale boats this year were built by Davy of Cambridge
+(Mass.), and were beautiful specimens of the art. American boats,
+however, cost at least twice as much as English boats. T. Donoghue, of
+Newburgh, N.Y., makes most of the oars that are used in first-class
+racing. They are lighter by a full pound than our English oars, and are
+every bit as stiff. It is a real pleasure to row with them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+TRAINING OF OARSMEN.
+
+
+It would not be right, I think, to send forth a new book on rowing
+without referring to the controversy that has recently been carried on
+in the columns of the _St. James's Gazette_ under the general title of
+"Are Athletes Healthy?" The discussion, which concerned itself mainly
+with oarsmen, is naturally of very deep interest, not only to them, but
+to the fathers and mothers who are anxious about the welfare of their
+energetic sons, and who, if the charges alleged against rowing can be
+proved, will, of course, do their best to dissuade their offspring from
+indulging in this pernicious exercise. I should have preferred to
+discuss the matter in the earlier chapters of this book, but the
+printing was already so far advanced as to render this course out of
+the question, and I am therefore compelled to deal with it somewhat out
+of its place in this final chapter.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 1.]
+
+It would be idle to deny that there was some reason for beginning this
+discussion. Within the past two years three magnificent young oarsmen,
+Mr. H. B. Cotton, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, and Mr. E. R. Balfour, have
+died; the first after an illness of six months' duration, the other two
+after being ill for less than a fortnight. They were all Oxford men, had
+rowed in victorious races both at Putney and at Henley, and two of
+them--Mr. Cotton and Mr. Balfour--had been actually rowing and racing
+till within a short time of the attack that proved fatal to them. Mr.
+Stretch had not raced, except in scratch Eights at Putney, since the
+Henley Regatta of 1896, some ten months before he died.
+
+It has been asserted that these three untimely deaths were due directly
+to the severe strain undergone both in preparation for racing and in the
+actual races in which these oarsmen took part, and that had they been
+content with unathletic lives they might have lived on for many years.
+Can that be proved? I admit that I do not wish to think the allegation
+capable of proof, for these three were my familiar friends. I had
+coached and trained them all; with two of them I had rowed in several
+races; I had spent innumerable happy days in their society, and the
+sorrow I feel in having lost them would be terribly increased if I were
+forced to believe that our favourite sport had had any part in hastening
+their end. In these cases I will confine myself to stating facts within
+my own knowledge, and will leave those who read my statement to say
+whether on a fair view of the matter the exercise of rowing can be held
+blameworthy.
+
+I may begin by saying that it is the invariable rule at Oxford to send
+all men who may be required for the University Eight to undergo a
+preliminary medical examination. This examination is no perfunctory one.
+It is conducted by Mr. H. P. Symonds, a gentleman of very wide
+experience, especially amongst undergraduates, and I have known several
+instances in which, owing to his report, an oarsman has had to withdraw
+temporarily from the river, and has lost his chance of wearing the
+coveted blue. There has never been any question about yielding to Mr.
+Symonds's judgment. His verdict, if adverse, has always been accepted
+as final both by the oarsman concerned and by the president of the Boat
+Club. In all the three cases with which I am dealing, Mr. Symonds passed
+his men as perfectly sound in heart and lungs and in every other organ.
+
+I take the case of Mr. Stretch first, in order to eliminate it
+conclusively. The cause of his death was appendicitis, followed by
+severe blood-poisoning. It is quite impossible to connect this painful
+and malignant illness with rowing or with any other exercise. The
+_appendix vermiformis_, which is the seat of the disease, is an
+unaccountable relic in the internal organization of human beings; it is
+liable to be affected mysteriously and suddenly in the young and the
+old, and the only effective remedy, I believe, is by means of an
+operation which removes it altogether. Mr. Stretch had, as I said, not
+trained and raced for ten months, and up to the moment of his illness
+had been in the enjoyment of robust and almost exceptional health.
+
+Mr. Cotton, whose case I now proceed to consider, was an Eton boy, and
+had rowed a great deal during his school days, though he had not been
+included in the Eton crew at Henley. He was a man of small stature,
+beautifully built and proportioned, well-framed, muscular, strong, and
+active. On coming to Oxford he continued his rowing, and being a good
+waterman and a man of remarkable endurance and courage, he was in his
+second year placed at bow of the University crew. Altogether he rowed in
+four victorious Oxford crews, he won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley
+twice as bow of a Leander crew, he won the Stewards' Cup in a Magdalen
+College Four, rowed Head of the River three times, besides taking part
+in many other races more or less important. During his whole rowing
+career I knew him to be unwell only once, and that was in 1893, when he
+suffered from a sore throat at Putney. In 1895 he rowed bow of the
+Oxford Eight for the fourth time. The training of this crew was a very
+anxious one. Influenza was very prevalent, and one after another the
+Oxford men were affected by this illness. There were only two
+exceptions, and one of these was Mr. Cotton, who was never sick or sorry
+for a single day during the whole period of practice. Shortly after the
+race he came to stay with me. He was then perfectly strong, perfectly
+healthy, and in wonderfully good spirits, and showed not the least sign
+of being stale or exhausted. He told me himself, on my congratulating
+him on having escaped the influenza, that he had never felt better or
+stronger in his life than he did at that time. On the Easter Monday he
+bicycled from Bourne End to Oxford and back (a distance of nearly
+seventy miles as he rode it), and, as he had had to battle against a
+strong cold wind on the return journey, he was very tired on his
+arrival. On the following morning, however, he appeared perfectly well.
+Towards the end of that week he complained of feeling "very
+lackadaisical and having a bad headache," but he attached no importance
+to these symptoms, and soon after went back to Oxford with a view to
+rowing in the Magdalen Eight. The tired feeling and the headache,
+however, continued, and eventually got so bad that he had to take to his
+bed with a high temperature and all the other symptoms of violent
+influenza. This illness, neglected at the outset, almost immediately
+settled on his lungs, both of which were congested with pneumonia.
+Owing, as Mr. Symonds himself told me, to his good general condition and
+his great strength, he fought through this, but in the mean time signs
+of consumption had declared themselves, and of this he died at Davos
+Platz in the following October.
+
+With regard to Mr. Balfour, the facts are these: He was a man of
+Herculean build and strength. He played in the Oxford Rugby Union
+Football team for two years, 1894 and 1895. In 1896 and in this year he
+rowed in the University Eight, and last July he rowed at Henley in the
+Leander Eight, and won the pair-oared race with Mr. Guy Nickalls. I can
+answer for it that during all his races he was absolutely fit and well.
+I saw him daily at Henley, and, though I knew him to be strong and
+healthy, I was surprised not merely by his improvement in style, but by
+the great vigour he displayed in rowing. On the morning after the
+Regatta I saw him for the last time. He was then in splendid health and
+spirits. On the 12th of August he shot grouse; on the following day, in
+very cold wet weather, he went out fishing, and came home wet through,
+complaining of a chill. On the following day he took to his bed in a
+high fever, with both lungs congested. The illness next attacked his
+kidneys, and soon after his life was despaired of. However, he rallied
+in an extraordinary way until symptoms of blood-poisoning declared
+themselves, when he rapidly sank, and died on August 27th. Now, this
+illness was due either to an ordinary chill or to influenza, or, as I
+have since heard, primarily to blood-poisoning, caused by leaky and
+poisonous drains at a place where he had been staying before his
+shooting excursion. A subsequent examination of these drains revealed a
+very bad condition of affairs immediately underneath the room that Mr.
+Balfour had occupied. In any case it does not appear--and the strong
+testimony of the doctors who attended him confirms me in this--that Mr.
+Balfour's death was due to his rowing. But an objector may say, "It is
+true that neither in Mr. Cotton's nor in Mr. Balfour's case can death be
+_directly_ attributed to rowing; their exertions, however, so exhausted
+their strength, the soundness of their organs, and their powers of
+resistance to disease, that when they were attacked they became easy
+victims." To this I oppose (1) the report of Mr. H. P. Symonds, who
+examined both these oarsmen before they rowed in their University
+Eights; (2) my own observation of their health, condition, and spirits
+during practice, in their races, and afterwards when the races were
+over; and (3) the reports of the doctors who attended them during their
+last illnesses, and who declared (I speak at second hand with regard to
+Mr. Balfour, at first hand with regard to Mr. Cotton) that they were
+both, when struck down, in a surprising state of strength, due to the
+exercise in which they had taken part, and that in both cases their
+powers of resistance were far greater than are usually found. Do I go
+too far in asserting that any doctor in large practice could find in his
+own experience for each of these two cases at least twenty cases in
+which non-rowing and non-athletic men have been suddenly carried off by
+the same sort of illness? I am not concerned to prove that rowing
+confers an immunity from fatal illness: my point is that in the two
+cases I have considered, and in all cases where it is pursued under
+proper conditions of training and medical advice, rowing does not in any
+way promote a condition favourable to disease.
+
+I pass from these particular cases, the discussion of which has been
+painful to me, to the general question of health amongst the great mass
+of those who have been, or are, active rowing men. It may be remembered
+that some twenty-five years ago Dr. J. H. Morgan, of Oxford, moved to
+his task by a controversy similar to that which has recently taken
+place, instituted a very careful inquiry into the health of those who
+had taken part in the University Boat-race from 1829 to 1869. Their
+number amounted, if I remember rightly, to 294, of whom 255 were alive
+at the date of the inquiry. Of these 115 were benefited by rowing, 162
+were uninjured, and only in 17 cases was any injury stated to have
+resulted. And it must be remembered that this inquiry covered a period
+during which far less care, as a general rule, was exercised both as to
+the selection and the training of men than is the case at the present
+day. I may add my own experience. Since I began to row, in 1874, I have
+rowed and raced with or against hundreds of men in college races and at
+regattas, and I have watched closely the rowing of very many others in
+University and in Henley crews. I have kept in touch with rowing men,
+both my contemporaries and my successors, and amongst them all I could
+not point to one (putting aside for the moment the three special cases I
+have just discussed) who has been injured by the exercise, or would
+state himself to have been injured. On the contrary, I can point to
+scores and scores of men who have been strengthened in limb and
+health--I say nothing here of any moral effect--by their early races
+and the training they had to undergo for them. I could at this moment
+pick a crew composed of men all more than thirty years old who are
+still, or have been till quite recently, in active rowing, and, though
+some of them are married men, I would back them to render a good account
+of themselves in Eight or Four or Pair against any selection of men that
+could be made. Nay more, in any other contests of strength or endurance
+I believe they would more than hold their own against younger athletes,
+and would overwhelm any similar number of non-athletes of the same or
+any other age. As contests I should select a hard day's shooting over
+dogs, cross-country riding, tug-of-war, boxing, long-distance rowing,
+or, in fact, any contest in which the special element of racing in light
+ships has no part. For such contests I could pick, not eight, but eighty
+men well over thirty years old, and if the limit were extended to
+twenty-four years of age I could secure an army. Is there any one who
+doubts that my rowing men would knock the non-athletes into a cocked
+hat? For it must be remembered that the bulk of rowing men are not
+exclusively devoted to oarsmanship. A very large proportion of those
+that I have known have been good all-round sportsmen.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 2.]
+
+As to the general effect of rowing on strength and health I may perhaps
+be pardoned if I cite my own case, not because there is anything
+specially remarkable in it, but because it bears on some of the
+questions that have been raised, and I can speak about it with
+certainty. In early childhood I had a serious illness which considerably
+retarded my physical development. At school, however, I took my part in
+all sports, played three years in the Cricket XI. and in the Football
+XV., and won several prizes at the athletic sports. I went to Cambridge
+in 1874, when I was three months short of nineteen, and immediately took
+to rowing. I was certainly not a particularly strong boy then, though I
+had a fair share of activity. I rowed persistently in Eights, Fours and
+Pairs, at first with labour and distress, but gradually, as time went
+on, with ease and pleasure, and I found that the oftener I rowed the
+greater became my powers of endurance. I ought to add that I never rowed
+in the University Race, but I have borne my share in thirty-six bumping
+races, as well as in numerous other races ranging in distance from
+three-quarters of a mile to three miles. I believe that the six
+consecutive races of a May Term call for endurance at least as great as
+the single race from Putney to Mortlake. My actual muscular strength,
+too, increased very largely, and has ever since maintained itself
+unimpaired. I have found that this exercise has, in fact, strengthened
+and consolidated me all round; and I can think of no other exercise that
+could have had upon me the same salutary effect that I am justified in
+attributing mainly to rowing--an effect which has enabled me to endure
+great exertion, sometimes in extremes of heat or of cold, without the
+smallest ill result, and has brought me to middle age with sound organs,
+a strong constitution, active limbs, and a good digestion. There are
+hundreds of other men who could, I doubt not, give a similar account of
+themselves.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 3.]
+
+Out of this main discussion on the health of athletes there sprang a
+subsidiary one, which proved of even greater interest to rowing men. It
+was started by Mr. Sandow, the eminent weight-lifter and modern
+representative of Hercules. Mr. Sandow, stimulated by a disinterested
+love for his fellow-men in general, and for those of Cambridge
+University in particular, wrote an article in the _St. James's
+Gazette_ in which he put forward his own peculiar views on the proper
+system for the training of athletes. He ended by declaring that if he
+were allowed to train a Cambridge crew according to his system (it being
+understood that rowing instruction was at the same time to be imparted
+to them by a properly qualified teacher), he would guarantee to turn out
+a crew the like of which had never before sat in a boat. We were to
+infer, though this was at first sight not obvious, that this crew would
+easily defeat an Oxford crew trained on a system which Mr. Sandow
+evidently considered to be absurd and obsolete.
+
+According to Mr. Sandow's system, as he subsequently developed it, the
+members of this crew were to have complete license in all things. They
+were to eat what they liked, drink what they liked, smoke as much as
+they liked, and, in fact, make their own good pleasure the supreme law
+of their existence. All that Mr. Sandow stipulated was that for some two
+hours a day during a period of several months these men were to put
+themselves in Mr. Sandow's hands for the purpose of muscular development
+all round according to the methods usually employed by him. Any spare
+energy that might then remain to them might be devoted to the work of
+rowing in the boat.
+
+Now, in the first place, there are certain elementary difficulties which
+would go far to prevent the adoption of this experiment. The crew is not
+selected several months before the race; and even if it were, it would
+be practically impossible for the men composing it to spare the time
+required by Mr. Sandow. After all, even the most brilliant of us have to
+get through a certain amount of work for our degrees. There are lectures
+to be attended, there is private reading, not to speak of the time which
+has to be devoted to the ordinary social amenities of life at a
+University. Sport has its proper place in the life of an undergraduate;
+but it does not, and cannot, absorb the whole of that life. Yet if a man
+is to spend two hours with Mr. Sandow, and about two hours and a half (I
+calculate from the moment he leaves his rooms until he returns from the
+river) on the exercise of rowing, it is not easy to see how he will have
+sufficient vigour left to him to tackle the work required even for the
+easiest of pass examinations. I can foresee that not only the man
+himself, but his tutors and his parents might offer some rather serious
+objections.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 4.]
+
+But I am not going to content myself with pointing out these preliminary
+difficulties. I go further, and say that the whole proposal is based
+upon a fallacy. The method of training and development that may fit a
+man admirably for the purpose of weight-lifting, or of excelling his
+fellow-creatures in the measurement of his chest and his muscles, is
+utterly unsuited for a contest that requires great quickness of
+movement, highly developed lung-power, and general endurance spread over
+a period of some twenty minutes. It does not follow that because a man
+measures forty-two inches round the chest, and has all his muscles
+developed in proportion, he will therefore be better fitted for the
+propulsion of a racing-boat than a man who in all points of development
+is his inferior. If I produced Mr. C. W. Kent _incognito_ before Mr.
+Sandow and asked whether it would be feasible to include this gentleman
+in an eight-oared crew, Mr. Sandow would probably laugh me to scorn. Mr.
+Sandow could doubtless hold out Mr. Kent at arm's length with the
+greatest possible ease. I am perfectly certain that Mr. Kent--if he will
+pardon me for thus making free with his name--could do nothing of the
+kind to Mr. Sandow. Yet I am perfectly certain, too, that, in a severely
+contested race, Mr. Kent--admittedly one of the finest strokes that ever
+rowed--would, to put it mildly, be more useful than Mr. Sandow. All
+gymnasium work, and even the modified form of it patented by Mr. Sandow,
+must tend to make men muscle-bound, and therefore slow. Skilled rowing
+consists of a series of movements which have to be gone through with a
+peculiar quickness, precision, and neatness. To be able to go through
+Mr. Sandow's eight weight exercises, to lift weights, to carry horses on
+your chest, may indicate great muscular strength, but it has absolutely
+nothing to do with being able to row. If a rowing man requires some
+exercise subsidiary to rowing, he would, in my opinion, be far better
+advised if he devoted some of his spare time to boxing and to fencing,
+exercises which necessitate immense quickness and perfect combination
+between brain, hand, and eye, than if he were to spend time in building
+up his body with such exercises as are included in the Sandow
+curriculum. But, in the main, rowing must develop for itself the muscles
+it requires. It is an exercise which, when all is said and done, can
+only be learnt effectively in a boat on the water. It is thus, and thus
+only, that a man can acquire the necessary movements, and perfect
+himself in that sense of balance and of rhythm which is as necessary to
+a rowing man as muscular strength. My experience leads me to the
+conclusion that men who, though naturally well-framed and proportioned,
+are not afflicted with excessive muscle, are more likely to be useful in
+rowing than the pet of a gymnasium or the muscle-bound prodigies made in
+the image of Mr. Sandow. I may cite as examples such men as Mr. R. P. P.
+Rowe, Mr. R. O. Kerrison, Mr. W. Burton Stewart, Mr. W. E. Crum, Mr. J.
+A. Ford, and Mr. C. W. Kent.[18] All these men acquired their
+unquestionable excellence as oarsmen by the only possible method--that
+is, by long practice of rowing in boats. Even an exercise so nearly
+resembling actual rowing as the tank work practised in the winter by
+American crews has very serious disadvantages. It might be supposed that
+it would exercise and keep in trim the muscles required for actual
+rowing; but its effect is to make men slow and heavy, faults which they
+have to correct when they once more take to the river.
+
+  [18] The photographs reproduced in this chapter are those of active
+  rowing men. No. 4, whose muscular development is the slightest, is one
+  of the most brilliant oarsmen of the day. See also photographs of Mr.
+  Kent and Mr. Gold in Chapter V.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 5.]
+
+With regard to Mr. Sandow's revolutionary proposals about diet, smoking,
+and hours, I have only this to say. We rowing men have shown time after
+time that by adhering to what I do not hesitate to call our common-sense
+system of rules tempered with indulgences we can bring our men to the
+post in the most perfect health and condition, absolutely fit, so far as
+their wind and powers of endurance are concerned, to take part in the
+severest contests. What has Mr. Sandow shown that should avail, with
+these results before our eyes, to make us exchange our disciplined
+liberty for his unfettered license? In the mean time we shall very
+properly hesitate to take the leap in the dark that he suggests.
+
+I trust that the President of the C.U.B.C. will, in future, conduct the
+practice of his crew according to the methods that have proved their
+efficacy over and over again, and that he will not listen to the voice
+of Mr. Sandow, charm he never so unwisely. _Non tali auxilio_ are
+boat-races to be won.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA.
+
+_Secretary_: J. F. COOPER.
+
+QUALIFICATION RULES.
+
+
+THE GRAND CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any University or public school,
+or who are officers of Her Majesty's army or navy, or any amateur club
+established at least one year previous to the day of entry, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize.
+
+
+THE STEWARDS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Grand Challenge Cup.
+
+
+THE LADIES' CHALLENGE PLATE, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any of the boat clubs of
+colleges, or non-collegiate boat clubs of the Universities, or boat
+clubs of any of the public schools, in the United Kingdom only, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize; but no member of any college or
+non-collegiate crew shall be allowed to row for it who has exceeded four
+years from the date of his first commencing residence at the
+University; and each member of a public school crew shall, at the time
+of entering, be _bonâ fide_ a member "_in statu pupillari_" of such
+school.
+
+
+THE VISITORS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Ladies' Challenge Plate.
+
+
+THE THAMES CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Grand
+Challenge Cup; but no one (coxswains excepted) may enter for this cup
+who has ever rowed in a winning crew for the Grand Challenge Cup or
+Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes as per Rule II
+excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cup and for the
+Grand Challenge Cup, or Stewards' Challenge Cup, at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Stewards'
+Challenge Cup; but no one shall enter for this cup who has ever rowed in
+a winning crew for the Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes
+as per Rule II excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cap
+and for the Stewards' Challenge Cup at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE SILVER GOBLETS, FOR PAIR OARS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+THE DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS, FOR SCULLS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+_Revised December 1st, 1894._
+
+
+_Definition._
+
+I.--No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler or
+coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or
+    entrance-fee.[19]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+    professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+    athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+    labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages, a mechanic,
+    artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [19] This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any otherwise
+  duly qualified amateur who previously to June 23, 1894, has rowed or
+  steered for a stake, money, or entrance-fee, in a race confined to
+  members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+
+_Eligibility._
+
+II.--No one shall be eligible to row or steer for a club unless he has
+been a member of that club for at least two months preceding the
+regatta, but this Rule shall not apply to colleges, schools, or crews
+composed of officers of Her Majesty's army or navy.
+
+
+_Entries._
+
+III.--The entry of any amateur club, crew, or sculler, in the United
+Kingdom, must be made ten clear days before the regatta, and the names
+of the captain or secretary of each club or crew must accompany the
+entry. A copy of the list of entries shall be forwarded by the secretary
+of the regatta to the captain or secretary of each club or crew duly
+entered.
+
+IV.--The entry of any crew or sculler, out of the United Kingdom, other
+than a crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the Union des
+Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques, or of the Deutscher Ruder
+Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must be
+made on or before the 31st of March, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration made before a notary public, with regard to
+the profession of each person so entering, to the effect that he has
+never rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee;
+has never knowingly rowed or steered with or against a professional for
+any prize; has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+athletic exercises of any kind for profit; has never been employed in or
+about boats, or in manual labour for money or wages; is not, and never
+has been, by trade or employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or
+labourer, or engaged in any menial duty; and is not disqualified as an
+amateur in any other branch of sport; and in cases of the entry of a
+crew, that such crew represents a club which has been duly established
+at least one year previous to the day of entry: and such declaration
+must be certified by the British Consul or the mayor, or the chief
+authority of the locality.
+
+The entry of any crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the
+Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques, or of the Deutscher
+Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must
+be made on or before the 1st of June, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration in writing by the secretary of such Union,
+or Verband, or by the Council of the club from time to time appointed by
+the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, with regard to the
+profession of each person so entering, to the effect that he has never
+since the institution of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports
+Athlétiques, or the Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden
+Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, as the case may be, either rowed or
+steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee; or knowingly
+rowed or steered with or against a professional for any prize; has never
+taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises of
+any kind for profit; has never been employed in or about boats, or in
+manual labour for money or wages; is not, and never has been by trade or
+employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged in
+any menial duty; and is not disqualified as an amateur in any other
+branch of sport; and in cases of the entry of a crew, that each member
+thereof is and has been for two months a member of such club, and that
+such club has been duly established at least one year previous to the
+day of entry.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary unless accompanied
+by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--Entrance money for each boat shall be paid to the secretary at
+the time of entering, as follows:--
+
+                                          £   _s._  _d._
+  For the Grand Challenge Cup             6   6   0
+     "    Ladies' Challenge Plate         5   5   0
+     "    Thames Challenge Cup            5   5   0
+     "    Stewards'    "                  4   4   0
+     "    Visitors'    "                  3   3   0
+     "    Wyfold       "                  3   3   0
+     "    Silver Goblets                  2   2   0
+     "    Diamond Challenge Sculls        1   1   0
+
+IX.--The Committee shall investigate any questionable entry,
+irrespective of protest.
+
+X.--The Committee shall have power to refuse or return any entry up to
+the time of starting, without being bound to assign a reason.
+
+XI.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered shall, seven
+clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of the regatta a
+list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to compete, to
+which list the names of not more than four other members for an
+eight-oar and two for a four-oar may be added as substitutes.
+
+XII.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XIII.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the
+crews entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a
+copy of the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or
+secretary of each club or crew entered, and in the case of pairs or
+scullers to each competitor entered.
+
+
+_Objections._
+
+XIV.--Objections to the entry of any club or crew must be made in
+writing to the secretary at least four clear days before the regatta,
+when the committee shall investigate the grounds of objection, and
+decide thereon without delay.
+
+XV.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary at the earliest moment practicable. No protest
+shall be entertained unless lodged before the prizes are distributed.
+
+
+_Course._
+
+XVI.--The races shall commence below the Island, and terminate at the
+upper end of Phyllis Court. Length of course, about 1 mile and 550
+yards.
+
+XVII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+
+_Stations._
+
+XVIII.--Stations shall be drawn by the Committee.
+
+
+_Row over._
+
+XIX.--In the event of there being but one boat, entered for any prize,
+or if more than one enter, and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+
+_Heats._
+
+XX.--If there shall be more than two competitors, they shall row a trial
+heat or heats; but no more than two boats shall contend in any heat for
+any of the prizes above mentioned.
+
+XXI.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, the same crews shall
+contend again, after such interval as the Committee may appoint, or the
+crew refusing shall be adjudged to have lost the heat.
+
+
+_Clothing._
+
+XXII.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders
+to the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+
+_Coxswains._
+
+XXIII.--Every eight-oared boat shall carry a coxswain; such coxswain
+must be an amateur, and shall not steer for more than one club for the
+same prize.
+
+    The minimum weight for coxswains shall be 7 stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 10½ stone and under 11 stone to carry not less
+      than 7½ stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 11 stone or more, to carry not less than 8 stone.
+
+    Deficiencies must be made up by dead weight carried on the
+      coxswain's thwart.
+
+    The dead weight shall be provided by the Committee, and shall be
+      placed in the boat and removed from it by a person appointed for
+      that purpose.
+
+    Each competitor (including the coxswain) in eight and four-oared
+      races shall attend to be weighed (in rowing costume) at the time
+      and place appointed by the Committee: and his weight then
+      registered by the secretary shall be considered his racing weight
+      during the regatta.
+
+    Any member of a crew omitting to register his weight shall be
+      disqualified.
+
+
+_Flag._
+
+XXIV.--Every boat shall, at starting, carry a flag showing its colour at
+the bow. Boats not conforming to this Rule are liable to be disqualified
+at the discretion of the umpire.
+
+
+_Umpire._
+
+XXV.--The Committee shall appoint one or more umpires to act under the
+laws of boat-racing.
+
+
+_Judge._
+
+XXVI.--The Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose decision as
+to the order in which the boats pass the post shall be final.
+
+
+_Prizes._
+
+XXVII.--The prizes shall be delivered at the conclusion of the regatta
+to the respective winners, who on receipt of a challenge prize shall
+subscribe a document of the following effect:--
+
+"I/We A (B C D, etc.) (members of the club), having been this day
+declared to be the winners of the Henley Royal Regatta Challenge Cup (or
+diamond sculls), and the same having been delivered to us on behalf of
+the stewards of the said regatta, do (jointly and severally) agree to
+return in good order and condition as now received the said cup (or
+diamond sculls), to the stewards on or before June 1st next, and I/we do
+also (jointly and severally) agree that if the said cup (or sculls) be
+accidentally lost or destroyed, or in any way permanently defaced, I/we
+will on or before the date aforesaid, or as near thereto as may be
+conveniently possible, place in the hands of the said stewards a cup (or
+diamond sculls) of similar design and value, and engraved with the names
+of the previous winners (their officers) (and crews) as now engraved on
+the present cup and base./case. In witness of which agreement I/we have
+hereunto subscribed my/our (respective) name./names."
+
+_Committee._
+
+XXVIII.--All questions of eligibility, qualification, interpretation of
+the Rules, or other matters not specially provided for, shall be
+referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
+
+XXIX.--The laws of boat-racing to be observed at the regatta are as
+follows:--
+
+                    (_The same as the A.R.A. Laws._)
+
+
+
+
+THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.
+
+_Hon. Sec._: R. C. LEHMANN, 30, Bury Street, St. James's, S.W.
+
+_Revised, April 23rd, 1894._
+
+
+CONSTITUTION.
+
+I.--This Association shall be called "The Amateur Rowing Association,"
+and its objects shall be--
+
+    1. To maintain the standard of amateur oarsmanship as recognized by
+      the Universities and principal boat clubs of the United Kingdom;
+
+    2. To promote the interests of boat-racing generally.
+
+II.--The Association shall consist of clubs which adopt the following
+definition of an amateur, viz.:
+
+No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler, or coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money or
+      entrance-fee.[20]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+      professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+      athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+      labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic,
+      artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [20] N.B.--This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any
+  otherwise duly qualified amateur who previously to April 23rd, 1894, has
+  rowed or steered for a stake, money or entrance-fee, in a race confined
+  to members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+III.--Any amateur club willing to bind itself to observe the rules of
+the Association may become affiliated upon making application to the
+Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A., and being elected by a majority of two-thirds
+of the meeting of the Committee.
+
+Every affiliated club shall have at least one vote at General Meetings.
+Any club having more than two hundred full members shall have in
+addition one vote for every hundred or part of a hundred members in
+excess of two hundred; but no club shall have more than six votes.
+
+Every affiliated club shall, when required, send to the Hon. Sec. of the
+A.R.A. a list of its members and a copy of its last balance-sheet.
+
+The Committee shall not consider an application for affiliation from any
+club previously refused, until after the expiration of twelve calendar
+months from the date of such refusal.
+
+IV.--Each club shall pay to the expenses of the Association an annual
+subscription to be fixed by the Committee; such subscription not to
+exceed one guinea.
+
+V.--The government and management of the Association shall be vested in
+a Committee of twenty-five members, who shall meet once at least in
+every six months, or as often as may be required. At the first meeting
+of the Committee in each year a chairman shall be elected, who shall
+remain in office until the next General Meeting. At all meetings of the
+committee the chairman shall preside, and in his absence a chairman
+shall be elected for the occasion; seven members shall form a quorum,
+and the chairman shall have a casting vote.
+
+VI.--For the purpose of electing the members of the Committee a General
+Meeting of the representatives of the affiliated clubs shall be held
+once a year at a date to be fixed by the Committee. Ten days' notice of
+this meeting shall be given.
+
+Each club shall notify to the Secretary in writing, not less than three
+days prior to the Annual General Meeting, the names of its authorized
+representatives, the number of whom must not exceed the number of votes
+to which such club is entitled; but should a club nominate one
+representative only such representative can record the number of votes
+to which his club is entitled.
+
+VII.--Five members of the Committee shall be elected at each Annual
+General Meeting, and shall remain in office for three years. The
+Committees of the Cambridge University Boat Club, the Royal Chester
+Rowing Club, the Kingston Rowing Club, the Leander Club, the London
+Rowing Club, the Molesey Boat Club, the Oxford University Boat Club, the
+Thames Rowing Club, and the Twickenham Rowing Cub shall each nominate
+annually a member of the Committee, and such nomination shall be sent to
+the Secretary prior to the General Meeting. The Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A.
+shall be an _ex officio_ member of the Committee of the A.R.A. In the
+year 1894, in order to complete the number of twenty-five, the fifteen
+members of the Committee elected and nominated as hereinbefore provided
+shall meet and co-opt the remaining ten members, and the business of
+that meeting shall be confined to this object alone. Five members of the
+Committee shall retire annually by rotation, but shall be eligible for
+re-election. Five of the co-opted members shall retire in 1895, the
+remaining five in 1896. The Committee shall have power to fill up any
+vacancy that may occur during the year amongst the elected members, but
+any vacancy amongst the nominated members shall be filled up by the club
+affected.
+
+VIII.--The Committee shall have power to affiliate clubs to the
+Association, to appoint officers, to make or alter rules, to suspend,
+disqualify, and reinstate amateurs, and generally to determine and
+settle all questions and disputes relating to boat-racing which may be
+referred to them for decision. And further, the Committee shall take
+such other steps as they may consider necessary or expedient for
+carrying into effect the objects of the Association.
+
+IX.--The Committee shall have power on due cause being shown to suspend
+any affiliated club or to remove it from the list of affiliated clubs.
+
+No motion for the suspension or removal of a club shall be considered
+except at a Committee Meeting specially called at not less than seven
+days' notice for the purpose. Such a motion shall not be deemed carried
+except by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee present.
+
+A resolution for the removal of a club must be confirmed at a subsequent
+meeting of the Committee specially summoned at not less than seven days'
+notice for the purpose.
+
+X.--The hon. sec. shall be elected by the Committee; he shall keep a
+proper record of the proceedings of the Committee and of General
+Meetings, and shall be responsible for the books, accounts, and funds of
+the Association.
+
+XI.--No member of any club affiliated to the Association shall compete
+in any regatta in England which is not held in accordance with the rules
+of the Association.
+
+XII.--No addition to or alteration in these rules shall be made except
+by the vote of a majority of two-thirds of a meeting of the Committee
+specially summoned at not less than seven days' notice for the purpose.
+Such notice shall state the alteration or addition proposed.
+
+
+LIST OF AFFILIATED CLUBS.
+
+N.B.--The figures denote the number of votes to which each of the clubs
+is entitled.
+
+  (1) Albion Rowing Club.
+  (1) Anglian Boat Club.
+  (1) Ariel Rowing Club.
+  (1) Avon Rowing Club.
+  (1) Barry Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bedford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bewdley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Birmingham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bradford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bridgnorth Rowing Club.
+  (1) Broxbourne Rowing Club.
+  (1) Burton Rowing Club.
+  (6) Cambridge University Boat Club.
+  (1) Cardiff Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cecilian Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cooper's Hill Boat Club.
+  (1) Gloucester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Henley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Irex Rowing Club.
+  (1) Iris Rowing Club.
+  (1) Ironbridge Rowing Club.
+  (1) Kensington Rowing Club.
+  (2) Kingston Rowing Club.
+  (6) Leander Club.
+  (1) Leicester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Liverpool Rowing Club.
+  (6) London Rowing Club.
+  (1) Marlow Rowing Club.
+  (1) Medway Rowing Club.
+  (1) Mersey Rowing Club.
+  (1) Molesey Boat Club.
+  (1) North London Boat Club.
+  (1) Nottingham Rowing Club.
+  (6) Oxford University Boat Club.
+  (1) Pembroke Rowing Club.
+  (2) Pengwern Boat Club.
+  (1) Reading Rowing Club.
+  (1) Redcliffe Rowing Club.
+  (2) Royal Chester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Royal Savoy Club.
+  (1) Staines Boat Club.
+  (1) Stourport Boat Club.
+  (5) Thames Rowing Club.
+  (1) Twickenham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Vesta Rowing Club.
+  (1) Warwick Boat Club.
+  (1) Worcester Rowing Club.
+
+
+RULES FOR REGATTAS.
+
+I.--The laws of boat-racing adopted by the Association shall be
+observed, and the Association's definition of an amateur shall govern
+the qualifications of each competitor.
+
+II.--The Regatta Committee shall state on their programmes, and all
+other official notices and advertisements, that their regatta is held in
+accordance with the rules of the A.R.A.
+
+III.--No money or "value prize" (_i.e._ a cheque on a tradesman) shall
+be offered for competition, nor shall a prize and money be offered as
+alternatives.
+
+IV.--Entries shall close at least three clear days before the date of
+the regatta.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary of the regatta
+unless accompanied by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--The Regatta Committee shall investigate any questionable entry
+irrespective of protest, and shall have power to refuse or return any
+entry up to the time of starting, without being bound to assign a
+reason.
+
+IX.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered, shall, at
+least three clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of
+the regatta a list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to
+compete, to which list the names of not more than four other members for
+an eight-oar, and two for a four-oar, may be added as substitutes.
+
+X.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XI.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the crews
+entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a copy of
+the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or secretary
+of each club or crew entered, and, in the case of pairs or scullers, to
+each competitor entered.
+
+XII.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary of the regatta at the earliest moment
+practicable. No protest shall be entertained unless lodged before the
+prizes are distributed.
+
+XIII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+XIV.--In the event of there being but one boat entered for any prize, or
+if more than one enter and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+XV.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, any competitor refusing
+to row again, as may be directed by the Regatta Committee, shall be
+adjudged to have lost.
+
+XVI.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders to
+the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+XVII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more umpires.
+
+XVIII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose
+decision as to the order in which the boats pass the posts shall be
+final.
+
+XIX.--A maiden oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta; (B) who has never been a competitor in any
+International or Inter-University Rowing Match.
+
+A maiden sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta; (B) who has never competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or
+for the Amateur Championship of any country.
+
+XX.--A junior oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta other than a school race; a race in which the
+construction of the boats was restricted; or a race limited to members
+of one club; (B) who has never been a competitor in any International or
+Inter-University match. No oarsman who has won a race at a regatta in
+which the construction of the boats was restricted, shall compete as a
+junior in any such race after the end of the current year.
+
+A junior sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta other than a race in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted; or a race limited to members of one club; (B) who has never
+competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or for the Amateur
+Championship of any country.
+
+N.B.--The qualification shall in every case relate to the day of the
+regatta.
+
+XXI.--All questions not specially provided for shall be decided by the
+Regatta Committee.
+
+
+LAWS OF BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--All boat races shall be started in the following manner:--The
+starter on being satisfied that the competitors are ready, shall give
+the signal to start.
+
+II.--A boat not at its post at the time specified, shall be liable to be
+disqualified by the umpire.
+
+III.--The umpire may act as starter, or not, as he thinks fit; when he
+does not so act, the starter shall be subject to the control of the
+umpire.
+
+IV.--If the starter considers the start false, he shall at once recall
+the boats to their stations, and any boat refusing to start again shall
+be disqualified.
+
+V.--Each boat shall keep its own water throughout a race. A boat
+departing from its own water will do so at its peril.
+
+VI.--A boat's own water is its due course, parallel with the course of
+the other competing boat or boats, from the station assigned to it at
+starting, to the finish.
+
+VII.--No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat or boats committing
+a foul shall be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--It shall be considered a foul when, after a race has been
+started, any competitor, by his oar, boat, or person, comes into contact
+with the oar, boat, or person of another competitor; unless, in the
+opinion of the umpire, such contact is so slight as not to influence the
+race.
+
+IX.--A claim of foul must be made to the umpire or the judge by the
+competitor himself before getting out of his boat.
+
+X.--In case of a foul the umpire shall have power--
+
+    (_a_) To place the boats not disqualified in the order in which they
+      come in.
+
+    (_b_) To order the boats not disqualified to row again on the same
+      or another day.
+
+    (_c_) To re-start the boats not disqualified according to his
+      discretion.
+
+XI.--The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat's own water and due course
+during a race, and he may caution any competitor when in danger of
+committing a foul.
+
+XII.--The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all questions as to a
+foul.
+
+XIII.--Every boat shall abide by its accidents, but if during a race a
+boat shall be interfered with by any outside boat, the umpire shall have
+power, if he thinks fit, to re-start the boats according to his
+discretion, or to order them to row again on the same or another day.
+
+XIV.--No boat shall be allowed to accompany or follow any race for the
+purpose of directing the course of any of the competitors. Any
+competitor receiving any extraneous assistance may be disqualified, at
+the discretion of the umpire.
+
+XV.--Boats shall be held to have completed the course when their bows
+reach the winning post.
+
+XVI.--Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision of the umpire, or
+to follow his directions, shall be disqualified.
+
+XVII.--The umpire, if he thinks proper, may reserve his decision,
+provided that in every case such decision be given on the day of the
+race.
+
+XVIII.--The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over a race and all
+matters connected with it, from the time the race is specified to start
+until its termination, and his decision in all cases shall be final and
+without appeal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A brief explanation of some points arising out of the Rules and
+Regulations of the A.R.A. may be useful.
+
+
+"PROFESSIONAL."
+
+Up to 1894 the A.R.A. gave a very wide interpretation to the term
+"professional," which was held to include "any person not qualified as
+an amateur under A.R.A. Rules." Mechanics, artisans, labourers, men
+engaged in menial duty, or employed in manual labour for money or wages,
+were, therefore, not merely disqualified as amateurs, but were
+considered to be professionals, and competition against them for a prize
+involved disqualification to the amateur so competing. In 1894, however,
+the whole code of A.R.A. was submitted to the revision of a
+sub-committee, and their report, subsequently adopted by the full
+committee, laid it down that from this time on the word "professional"
+must be interpreted "in its primary and literal sense," _i.e._ one who
+makes money by rowing, sculling, or steering. An amateur rowing, or
+sculling, or steering with or against a professional for a prize is
+still disqualified, but the amateur status of one who rows or steers
+with or against mechanics, artisans, etc. (provided, of course, the
+race is not for a stake, money, or entrance fee), is not affected. At
+the same time it must be remembered (Rule I of Rules for Regattas) that
+at regattas held in accordance with A.R.A. rules no mechanic, artisan,
+etc., can be admitted to compete, and by Clause XI. of the Constitution
+no member of any club affiliated to the A.R.A. is permitted to compete
+at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules. The result would
+seem to be, therefore, that whereas an amateur who is not a member of a
+club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against mechanics, artisans,
+etc., at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules without
+incurring any penalty, a member of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can
+compete against this class only in a private match. Any member of an
+affiliated club transgressing Clause XI. would unquestionably render
+himself liable to suspension under Clause VIII. of the Constitution.
+There are now, therefore, three classes of oarsmen, viz. amateurs,
+non-amateurs, and professionals.
+
+
+NON-AMATEURS.
+
+The A.R.A. holds that "apprenticeship is no disqualification." Nobody,
+therefore, is to be disqualified for serving an apprenticeship, even if
+it involves (as in the case of engineers or nurserymen) manual labour
+for a money payment. But such manual labour on the part of one who has
+passed through his ordinary apprenticeship and still continues at the
+work for a year or two would disqualify.
+
+The committee has held that disqualification attaches, for instance,
+to--
+
+(1) A watchmaker's assistant who works, or has worked, at the bench.
+
+(2) A baker's assistant who not only helps to make bread, but also
+delivers it.
+
+(3) Engravers and etchers.
+
+(4) A man having an interest in a boat-letting business, _and_ taking in
+or starting boats at a raft.
+
+But not to--
+
+(5) A 3rd engineer, sea-going, who goes to sea and works for money,
+where such sea-service it necessary to qualify him for passing his
+examinations for the position of chief engineer.
+
+(6) A draughtsman in an engineering firm, though working for wages.
+
+Decisions 3 and 6 are not easily to be reconciled.
+
+
+REGATTA. JUNIOR OARSMEN AND SCULLERS.
+
+Doubts have occasionally arisen as to what is the correct meaning of the
+word "Regatta" in Clause XI. of the Constitution, and in Rules 19 and 20
+of the Rules for Regattas. The committee has held that any meeting,
+whether or not called open, at which more than one club, or members of
+more than one club, compete, is a regatta. This decision does not cover
+a private match, but does cover a regatta where, for instance, the
+competition is limited to certain clubs, specially invited by the club
+or committee who arrange and manage the regatta. Thus, if a junior
+competed and won, either as an oarsman or sculler, at a regatta limited,
+say, to members of the London, Kingston, and Thames Rowing Clubs, he
+would by so winning cease to be a junior, provided the race was neither
+a school race nor one in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted.
+
+The committee has decided that a man who rows over for a junior sculls
+race, even though he receive no prize (the committee not awarding one in
+any race in which there was only one starter), ceases to be a junior
+sculler.
+
+A junior sculler may be a senior oarsman, and _vice versâ_.
+
+
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE CLUB.
+
+I.--That the CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT CLUB consist of the members of
+the several boat clubs in the University.
+
+II.--That the affairs of the club be under the management of a
+president, a vice-president (who shall also be hon. secretary), a
+treasurer, the captains of all boats rowing in the regular University
+races, and all those who have been members of the University crew. The
+president and vice-president shall be elected at the first meeting in
+each term, and those only to be eligible who shall have been members of
+a University crew. The treasurer shall be a resident graduate of the
+University, to be elected annually at the first meeting of the Easter
+Term.
+
+III.--That to assist the officers in case of extraordinary and pressing
+business, a small committee be formed, consisting of the president,
+vice-president, treasurer, and three extra committee-men, who shall be
+elected at the last meeting of the C.U.B.C. in each term. That members
+of the Committee shall have the right of attending meetings of the
+C.U.B.C. and voting at the same. That at meetings of the committee all
+except the treasurer must be present in person or by deputy. The
+treasurer must attend all meetings of the committee on financial
+questions.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VIII.--That all cases of dispute be referred to the president or his
+deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs in
+their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute: whose
+decision shall be final. That representatives of the clubs concerned be
+present at the meeting.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XVIII.--That the secretary of each boat club do send in to the
+assistant-secretary of the C.U.B.C. a balance-sheet of the receipts and
+expenditure of his club for the past year, within three weeks of the
+beginning of the October Term. That the penalty for neglecting this Rule
+be one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That every club do pay to the C.U.B.C. a subscription in
+proportion to its receipts for the previous year.
+
+XX.--That the rate per cent. of this tax be fixed by the treasurer of
+the C.U.B.C., and, when confirmed by the Finance Committee, levied in
+three equal instalments.
+
+XXI.--That all moneys, however obtained, be included in the receipts of
+a College boat club, except such as are specially subscribed towards the
+expenses of a crew going to Henley.
+
+XXII.--That any club neglecting to pay the subscriptions or arrears due
+to the C.U.B.C. within six weeks of the beginning of full term be fined
+one guinea; and that no captain be allowed to vote whose club is in
+arrear.
+
+XXIII.--That medals be given by the C.U.B.C. to each member of such
+University crews as shall be winners of the University match with
+Oxford. Also to each member of those College crews which shall be head
+of the river at the end of the Lent and Easter Term races; and to each
+member of the Trial Eights.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all boats, except tub-pairs, used for coaching purposes be
+obliged to carry an india-rubber ball fixed to the nose of the boat.
+That the penalty for neglecting this Rule be one guinea.
+
+
+REGULATIONS FOR BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--That none but members of the C.U.B.C. be allowed to row or steer in
+the C.U.B.C. races.
+
+II.--That there be regular eight-oared races in the Easter and Lent
+Terms, and that the days on which they shall take place and the number
+of races be appointed and declared at the last general meeting of the
+preceding term respectively. That in these races two umpires be
+appointed by the president or his deputy; that in all other C.U.B.C.
+races one umpire be appointed.
+
+III.--That the number of boats be limited in the Easter Term to thirty,
+rowing in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen respectively, including
+the sandwich boat, and in the Lent Term to thirty-one, rowing in two
+divisions of sixteen each, including the sandwich boat.
+
+IV.--(1) That in the Lent and Easter Terms the two divisions be named
+respectively first and second division. That in the Lent Term both
+divisions shall row in clinker-built boats not more than 57 feet long,
+with not less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed
+4½ inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. before they can be used in the
+races. That in the Easter Term the first division shall row in racing
+ships on sliding seats, and the second division in clinker-built boats,
+as above, and sliding seats.
+
+(2) That every college boat club have the right to be represented by at
+least one boat in the Lent races; and by at least one, and not more than
+three, in the May races.
+
+V.--That during the races no person shall row or steer in both divisions
+(the crews of the last boats in a division excepted), except under
+peculiar circumstances, to be decided by the president or his deputy and
+the four senior captains in residence who are not concerned, which
+decision must be obtained before the crew or crews in question be
+allowed to start.
+
+VI.--In the races in the Lent Term no one be allowed to row or steer who
+rowed or steered respectively in any race of the previous Easter Term.
+
+VII.--That no one be allowed to row in the Lent or May races, or Fours
+or Pairs, after more than four years have elapsed from the first term he
+came up, unless he keep in residence three-fourths of the term in which
+he desires to row.
+
+VIII.--That each crew be chosen from one club and college in the case of
+Trinity and St. John's, and from not more than two clubs or two colleges
+in the case of other colleges; and that the crew of the two colleges
+joining be considered as a fresh one, and start from the bottom.
+
+IX.--That in order to take a boat off the river the captain must give
+notice to the hon. secretary of the C.U.B.C., who shall place lists of
+the boats entered for the races, arranged according to their order, in
+the different University boat-houses, at least a week before the
+commencement of races in each term, and on every race day during the
+term.
+
+X.--(1) That in the Easter Term any club desirous of putting on a second
+or third boat shall have the right to challenge the lowest
+non-representative boat to a bumping-race, but if successful shall start
+at the bottom of the river. That if there be more challenging crews than
+one, they shall row a time race amongst themselves, and the winner shall
+row the challenged boat. That the entrance fee for such races be five
+guineas; that the date for them be fixed at the first general meeting
+of the term, and that at least ten clear days' notice be given to the
+secretary of the C.U.B.C. by the captains of crews desirous to compete.
+
+(2) That no man who has rowed in the successful challenging boat shall
+row in a higher boat during the following May races, except as in
+Chapter III., rule 7.
+
+XI.--That the boats row down to their stations in reversed order, the
+last boat of each division starting first.
+
+XII.--That on racing days in the Lent Term a gun be fired at the Railway
+Bridge, at 3 p.m., as a signal for the last boat of the second division
+to row down; at 3.15 p.m. for the first boat of the division; and a
+third at 4 p.m. for the first boat of the first division. That in the
+Easter Term corresponding signals be fired for the second and first
+division boats at 5, 5.15, and 6.15 p.m. respectively. That boats
+starting late be fined one guinea.
+
+That at the close of each race of the second division in the Lent Term,
+and of the second division in the Easter Term, a gun be fired at the
+Bridge; and that until this gun be fired no boat of the other racing
+division shall pass below the Ash Plantation under penalty of one
+guinea. That the umpire be responsible for the punctual firing of these
+guns. That any racing boat, leaving so late as to be obliged to pass the
+first boat of its division below Ditton Corner, be fined one guinea by
+the captain of the latter on behalf of the C.U.B.C. That the captain of
+the first boat starting late, or neglecting to act as this rule directs,
+be fined one guinea.
+
+XIII.--That the races be bumping races, and the starting posts be 175
+feet apart. That the last post be at Baitsbite-lock, and the
+winning-posts at the Big Horse-grind and the first ditch above the
+Railway Bridge.
+
+XIV.--That the first seven boats in all divisions be obliged to go up to
+the further post at the Big Horse-grind, and the other boats be obliged
+to stop at the nearer post at the first ditch above the Railway Bridge;
+also that the eighth boats have the option of stopping at the nearer or
+going on to the further post.
+
+XV.--That each boat start with the coxswain holding a line 36 feet in
+length attached to its post (or, if he by chance lose the line, with No.
+7's rowlock opposite the post); that otherwise it cannot make a bump,
+but is subject to be bumped and to be fined one guinea.
+
+XVI.--That if a boat miss a race, the boat behind it shall row past its
+post and be allowed the bump, and that the boat missing the race be
+fined one guinea.
+
+XVII.--That the boats be started by three guns: the first gun shall be
+fired when the head boat shall have arrived at its post, the order being
+given by the captain of that boat; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last gun one minute after the second.
+
+XVIII.--That a boat be considered fairly bumped when it is touched by
+any part of the boat behind it, before its stern is past the
+winning-post; passing a boat being equivalent to a bump, providing the
+passing boat draw its whole length in advance. (The word boat includes
+the ship, crew, and oars, if in rowlock). That the coxswain of a boat so
+bumped shall immediately acknowledge the bump by holding up his hand,
+and that the crew making the bump immediately cease rowing; that any
+crew neglecting this rule be fined one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That when one boat bumps another, both shall immediately draw
+aside till the racing boats have passed; that the last boat carry a
+white flag in the bows; that any boat neglecting this rule be fined one
+guinea.
+
+XX.--That if one boat bumps another they exchange places, whatever may
+have been their position before starting. That any boat making a bump
+may row up after the race with its flag hoisted; as also the boat rowing
+head.
+
+XXI.--That in order to claim a bump, the captain, on arriving at the
+Goldie Boat-house, must bracket the bump, state where it took place, and
+sign his name on the secretary's list; if the bump be not bracketed he
+shall be fined one guinea, but that the bumps shall, on sufficient
+evidence, be allowed; and that no bumps can be claimed after six o'clock
+in the Lent Term, or after nine in the Easter Term, or disputed after
+nine on the following morning.
+
+XXII.--That all cases of disputed bumps be referred to the president, or
+his deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs
+in their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute, whose
+decision shall be final; and who shall have the power, in all doubtful
+cases, of causing the boats concerned to row the race again, starting
+from their original posts; and that there be representatives at the
+meeting of the clubs interested in the dispute.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That watermen be allowed to coach members of College boats in
+tub-pairs only till within a fortnight of the first day of the races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVII.--That breaches of Regulations issued by the officers of the
+C.U.B.C. be liable to a fine of one guinea.
+
+
+LENT TERM RACES AND TIME RACES.
+
+I.--That all clubs wishing to put another boat on the river must enter
+such boat with the secretary of the C.U.B.C. on or before a date to be
+appointed by him at the beginning of the Lent Term.
+
+Entrance fee, three guineas, to be paid at the time of entry.
+
+II.--That the Rules for these races be the same as those for the
+"Getting-on" races in the Easter Term, and that the races be under the
+management of the C.U.B.C. or their deputies [see chapter II., rule 10
+(1)].
+
+III.--That no first boat of a club be obliged to row for its place.
+
+IV.--That these races be rowed on days preceding the Lent races.
+
+V.--That no man shall row in these time races (1) who has rowed on any
+night of the previous May races, or (2) who does not comply with Chapter
+II., rule 7.
+
+VI.--That no man who has rowed in the successful boat or boats during
+these trial time-races shall row in a higher boat in the following Lent
+races, except under peculiar circumstances, to be decided upon by the
+president, or his deputy, and the four senior captains in residence who
+are not concerned.
+
+VII.--That when more than two boats start in a heat to race for getting
+on the river, such heat be started by three guns: the first gun to be
+fired when the last boat to come down shall have arrived at its post,
+the order being given by the umpire; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last one minute after the second. That chains 36 feet
+in length be provided 100 yards apart. That each boat start with the
+coxswain holding the chain allotted to it (or, if he by chance lose the
+chain, with No. 7's rowlock opposite the post), that otherwise it is
+liable to be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--That in time races, under the management of the C.U.B.C., the
+pistols at the winning-posts be fired by University men, who shall be
+called on to do so in the following order:--
+
+The president, secretary, and committee of the C.U.B.C.; then the first
+captain of the boats in their order on the river, or deputies from their
+own clubs; provided that no one of the same club as any of the
+competitors shall fire a pistol in any race in which such competitor of
+his own club is rowing; and that no one need, by reason of this rule,
+refuse to umpire. And that to prevent all difficulties of a pistol
+missing fire, a second person be appointed by the President or his
+deputy to stand at each winning-post and hold up a white flag, which
+shall be dropped the moment that the nose of the boat passes the post.
+
+IX.--That in time races no boat draw more than one bye.
+
+X.--That if in any time race any boat touch any part of, or pass on the
+course, or be in any way inconvenienced by any boat in front of it, and
+the boat so touching, passing, or being inconvenienced, shall not come
+to its post first in order, such boat shall be allowed to start in the
+following day's race, whether the same would otherwise have been a final
+or a trial heat, and shall start on the same footing as regards drawing
+for stations, etc., as the other boats left in.
+
+Or the boat so impeded shall row again with the boat coming in first.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY CLINKER FOURS.
+
+I.--That the University Clinker-built Fours be rowed as time races over
+the Colquhoun course.
+
+II.--That the race be open to crews from any club, such crews to be
+composed solely of men who did not row in the first division of the
+previous May races.
+
+III.--That no "Blue" be allowed to compete.
+
+IV.--That the coxswains must be members of the clubs they steer, and
+must weigh not less than 7st. 7lbs.
+
+V.--The definition of a clinker boat is as follows:--That no boat have
+less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed 4½
+inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. at least one week before the
+commencement of the races.
+
+VI.--That the entrance money for each boat be one guinea.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE MAGDALENE SILVER PAIR-OARS AND UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION CUPS.
+
+I.--That watermen be allowed to coach and steer for these races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+IV.--That any member qualified to pull in the C.U.B.C. races be
+qualified to start for these oars.
+
+V.--That the crews need not consist of members of one club.
+
+VI.--That no winning pair be allowed to enter together a second time.
+
+
+REGULATIONS OF THE "COLQUHOUN SILVER SCULLS."
+
+III. That only those members of the C.U.B.C. who have not exceeded five
+years from the date of their first commencing residence be allowed to
+start, on complying with the terms herein specified.
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+I.--That the club be open to all members of the University on the
+following conditions:--
+
+II.--That any graduate of the University by paying two pounds, or any
+undergraduate by paying three pounds ten shillings, may become a life
+member.
+
+III.--That any member of the University by paying one pound may become a
+member for one term, not being thereby qualified to row or steer in any
+of the University races unless he has paid four such terminal
+subscriptions.
+
+IV.--That the subscription must be paid before the admission to the
+club.
+
+V.--That this club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association, and
+that members are therefore bound to observe the A.R.A. rules.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That the officers of the club consist of president, secretary, and
+treasurer; who, with two other members of the club, shall form a
+committee.
+
+VIII.--That no member who is not strictly residing be on the committee.
+
+IX.--That the president, secretary, treasurer, and committee be elected
+by the captains of College boat clubs, or their representatives.
+
+X.--That the election of the president and secretary take place at the
+first captains' meeting in the Summer Term, that of the treasurer and
+the other members of the committee at the first meeting in the October
+Term.
+
+XI.--That the president have the entire supervision of the property of
+the club; that he preside over all captains' meetings; have the sole
+selection and management of all University crews, and that he have
+absolute authority and entire responsibility in all matters immediately
+concerning the University boat; that he have charge of the president's
+book, and make such records in it as shall be interesting and useful to
+the future of the club; and that he keep the official records of all
+University races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That if Henley Regatta do not take place at such a date in
+relation to Commemoration Day as is convenient to the O.U.B.C., the club
+reserves to itself the right of withdrawing its subscription.
+
+XXVI.--That the racing boat last purchased be not let or sold under any
+circumstances whatever.
+
+
+RULES FOR RACES.
+
+I.--That all future members of the O.U.B.C. shall show a certificate of
+having passed a satisfactory swimming test before being allowed to row
+in University races.
+
+II.--That such certificate be either (1) that of some public school
+approved by the committee, or (2) a certificate from Dolley's Baths,
+signed by the bathman, and countersigned by the captain of the College
+boat club.
+
+III.--That any College boat club rowing a member who has obtained a
+certificate unfairly shall be fined five pounds, and lose one place on
+the river for each night on which he has rowed.
+
+IV.--That each college shall have its own punt and waterman during the
+races.
+
+V.--That the captain of each boat club shall, so far as possible, fix
+upon the maximum number which his punt is able to carry, and that this
+number shall in no case exceed twelve, and that the fine for
+overcrowding be five shillings.
+
+VI.--That each barge shall be furnished with two lifebuoys.
+
+VII.--That the bows of all racing Eights and Fours, both keel-less and
+clinker-built, and of all racing pair-oars and sculling boats be
+protected by an india-rubber ball, and the penalty for violation of this
+rule be, in the case of Eights and Fours, one pound; in the case of all
+other boats, ten shillings.
+
+VIII.--That all Challenge Cups which are the property of the O.U.B.C.
+shall either be taken home by the captain of the boat club which holds
+them, or be deposited at Rowell and Harris's during the vacation.
+
+
+THE EIGHTS AND TORPIDS.
+
+I.--That all gentlemen rowing or steering in the races must be life
+members of the O.U.B.C.
+
+II.--That no boat be allowed to start in the races with more or less
+than eight oars.
+
+III.--That all boats starting in the races carry a coxswain over the
+whole course.
+
+IV.--That the names of the crews be sent to the treasurer at least one
+day before the races begin, and that afterwards no change can be made,
+unless notice is given to the president at least one hour before the
+races begin, under a penalty of one pound.
+
+V.--That every club neglecting to send in the names of its crew to the
+treasurer, and pay the entrance money, five pounds, into the Old Bank,
+on or before the day previous to the first race in which they intend to
+row, shall forfeit five shillings; and that every club entering a boat
+after the races have begun shall pay one pound for every night of the
+races on which it has not had a boat on.
+
+VI.--That no club start a boat in the races till all its arrears are
+paid, whether of fines, entrance money, or annual subscription.
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start in the races which shall have
+employed any waterman in capacity of coach or trainer within three weeks
+of the first race.
+
+VIII.--That no college be allowed to enter more than one boat for the
+Eights, unless it has had on a Torpid in the same year.
+
+IX.--That each boat start from a rope held by the steerer, and fastened
+to a post on the Berkshire shore; the rope to be 50 feet in length.
+
+X.--That the last boat be stationed above Iffley Lasher; and that 130
+feet be the distance between the posts.
+
+XI.--That the boats entered for the races be divided as equally as
+possible, and row in two divisions; that the second division row first,
+and never contain fewer boats than the first division; that the head
+boat of the second division may row again with first division; and that
+the last boat of the first division start head of the second division on
+the following day.
+
+XII.--That the president provide a starter, who shall fire a signal gun
+for the boats to take their places; after four minutes another gun; and
+after the interval of one minute another gun for the start; after the
+third gun the race be always held to have begun.
+
+XIII.--That any boat starting before the gun goes off do lose a place
+forthwith.
+
+XIV.--That when a boat touches the boat or any part of the boat before
+it, or its oars or rudder, it be considered a bump; and also if a boat
+rows clean by another it be equivalent to a bump.
+
+XV.--That both the boat which bumps and the boat which is bumped
+immediately row out of the course of the other racing boats; and in case
+any obstruction be caused by culpable neglect of this, the offending
+boat be fined five pounds.
+
+XVI.--That after every bump the boat bumping change places with the boat
+bumped, whatever be their orders before starting; also in a bumping race
+no boat can make more than one bump, but of four boats, A, B, C, D,
+should B bump C, then A may bump D, and the next race A and D change
+places with each other.
+
+XVII.--That in the case of any boat not starting, the boat immediately
+behind them do row past their starting-post and be considered to have
+bumped the other boat.
+
+XVIII.--That all boats stand by their accidents; and that, in case of
+dispute, boats must take the place assigned them by the committee.
+
+XIX.--That an umpire be appointed by the first six colleges of each
+division in rotation, who shall sit and vote on the committee to decide
+disputes on the day on which he is in authority.
+
+XX.--That the races finish at the lower of the white posts to which
+Salter's barge is moored, on which a flag is to be hoisted, and that a
+boat is liable to be bumped till every part of it has passed that post,
+and that a judge be appointed by the president.
+
+XXI.--That if any boat after passing the post impedes another which has
+not passed the post, it be fined five pounds.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all disputes concerning bumps, etc., arising out of the
+races, be referred to the committee on the day of the race, who shall
+decide the point before the next race.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVIII.--That the College races take place in Easter or Act Term, and be
+six in number.
+
+XXIX.--That no non-resident member of the University may either row or
+steer in the races, unless he has resided in Oxford at least ten
+consecutive days before the races commence. That this rule apply to all
+University races, viz. Eights, Torpids, Fours, Pairs, and Sculls.
+
+XXX.--That no one may be allowed to row or steer in the races for a
+college or hall of which he is not a _bonâ fide_ member.
+
+XXXI.--That a man may be held to have rowed or steered in the Eights or
+Torpids when he has so officiated for three days.
+
+
+TORPID RACES--SPECIAL RULES.
+
+That the Torpid races be regulated by the above rules as far as they are
+applicable: but
+
+(1) That the races take place in the Lent Term, and be six in number.
+
+(2) That no one who has rowed or steered in the Eights may officiate in
+the same capacity in the next Torpid races.
+
+(3) That no one be allowed to row in his Torpid who has exceeded sixteen
+terms from his Matriculation.
+
+(4) That unless a college has had an Eight on the river more than three
+nights during the previous year, it be not permitted to start a Torpid,
+unless it engage to put on a distinct Eight in the ensuing Eights.
+
+That in this case the distinct Eight
+
+    (_a_) do contain five men, at least, who have not rowed in the
+      Torpids.
+
+    (_b_) be compelled to row more than three nights, under penalty of
+      £10.
+
+(5) That the committee have power to relax this rule at their discretion
+in the case of boats in the second division.
+
+(6) That these races be rowed in gig boats, of the specified mould,
+measuring inside at the gunwale not less than 2ft. 2in., clinker-built
+of not less than 5 streaks.
+
+(7) That the distance between the starting-posts be 160 feet.
+
+(8) That no Torpid be allowed to use sliding seats.
+
+(9) That if more than twenty-five Torpids enter, the races shall be in
+three divisions; the boats to be divided as equally as possible, so that
+a higher division shall not contain more boats than a lower one.
+
+
+FOUR-OAR CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+I.--That the Cup be open for competition to members of any one college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually, in the Michaelmas Term.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer within three weeks of the first race.
+
+
+CLINKER FOURS RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "Clinker Fours" race.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually in the Lent Term.
+
+III.--That it should be open for competition to members of any college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation,
+and who have not rowed either in the University Race at Putney, or the
+Trials, or rowed in a College Eight which finished in the upper division
+of the summer races in the previous year, sandwich boat reckoning as
+Second Division.
+
+IV.--That the race shall be rowed in keeled clinker-built boats with
+slides of not more than 12 inches, having not less than 5 streaks in
+each side, exclusive of saxe-board. The streaks shall not be more than
+4¼ inches in breadth. The maximum inside width of each boat shall not
+be less than 24 inches, measured on the top of the gunwale. No
+batswings, false outriggers, splayed-boards, or other device will be
+allowed to take the place of saxe-boards, and the committee of the
+O.U.B.C. reserve the right of determining in each instance whether these
+conditions have been fairly carried out or not.
+
+V.--That no boat be allowed to start with more or less than four oars
+and a coxswain.
+
+VI.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY TRIAL EIGHT RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "University Trial Eight Race."
+
+II.--That the race take place in Michaelmas Term, and subsequent to that
+for the Four-Oared Challenge Cup.
+
+III.--That the crews be selected by the president.
+
+IV.--That the crews be in practice not less than twelve days.
+
+V.--That each member of the two crews pay ten shillings entrance money.
+
+VI.--That a silver medal be presented to each of the winning crew.
+
+VII.--That any member of the two crews who refuses to row in the
+University Eight if called upon to do so, be suspended by the committee
+from rowing in any University race till the end of the Summer Term,
+unless he shows reasonable grounds for refusal.
+
+
+PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  _November, 1897._
+
+  NEW & RECENT
+  BOOKS PUBLISHED
+  BY
+  A. D. INNES
+  & COMPANY
+  BEDFORD ST.
+  MDCCCXCVII.
+
+
+                   DRAWING-ROOM PLAYS FOR CHILDREN.
+
+
+_Just Ready._
+
+  Cinderella. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper wrapper, 6_d._
+
+  Beauty and the Beast. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper Wrapper, 6_d._
+
+                  HALF-HOUR PLAYS. By AMABEL JENNER.
+
+  Rumpelstilskin.
+  Tommy Trout and the Owl.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Silverlocks and the Three Bears; and the Snow Queen.
+  Little Prit.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
+    Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d._
+
+
+                 TERRA-COTTA PLAYS. By C. M. PREVOST.
+
+  The Sleeping Beauty.
+  The White Cat.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
+    Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d._
+
+
+LONDON: A. D. INNES & CO., 31 and 32 Bedford Street, Strand.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                                31 & 32, BEDFORD STREET,
+                                      STRAND, W.C.,
+                                            _November, 1897_.
+
+                             NEW BOOKS
+                            PUBLISHED BY
+                         A. D. INNES & CO.
+
+                      HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, ETC.
+
+    By F. H. S. MEREWETHER.
+
+Through the Famine Districts of India.
+
+    Being an Account, by Reuter's Special Correspondent, of his
+      experiences in travelling through the Famine Districts of India.
+      Profusely illustrated. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._
+
+    By Sir JOSEPH FAYRER, Bart., K.C.S.I., M.D.
+
+The Life of Sir Ranald Martin, C.B.
+
+    A Brief Account of the Life and Work of the great Sanitary Reformer
+      in India. Crown 8vo, cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    From the Letters of Major W. P. JOHNSON.
+
+Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life.
+
+    Edited by his Widow. Being an Account of the experiences of a Major
+      in the Native Irregular Cavalry in India and elsewhere. Crown 8vo,
+      cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    By Professor W. C. LAWTON.
+
+The Successors of Homer.
+
+    Being an Account of the Greek Poets who followed from Homer down to
+      the time of Aeschylus. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, price 5_s._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B.
+
+The Coldstream Guards in the Crimea.
+
+    Being a Sketch of the Crimean War, treating in detail of the
+      operations in which the Coldstream took part. With numerous Maps.
+      Crown 8vo, cloth, price 6_s._
+
+                       SECOND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+The Sepoy Revolt.
+
+    A Critical Narrative, covering the whole field of the Indian Mutiny,
+      its causes and course, till the final suppression. With numerous
+      Maps and Plans. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s.
+
+_The picturesque aspects of the Indian Mutiny have been frequently
+treated. The purpose of this volume is to convey in a clear and
+compendious form the underlying causes as well as the immediate
+circumstances which led up to the Revolt; and the true relation and
+importance of the various phases._
+
+    By General Sir CHARLES GOUGH, V.C., G.C.B., and ARTHUR D. INNES,
+      M.A.
+
+The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars.
+
+    With 13 Maps and Plans. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16s.
+
+_An account of the rise of the Sikh State; of the struggle with the
+British, the most stubborn in our Indian record; and of the subsequent
+Annexation. With especial reference to current misapprehensions as to
+Lord Gough._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B., late Coldstream
+      Guards.
+
+             Dedicated, by permission, to H.M. the Queen.
+
+A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1885.
+
+    With numerous Coloured Plates, Drawings, and Maps by Lieutenant
+      NEVILE R. WILKINSON. Crown 4to, cloth, gilt top, two guineas net.
+
+_An account of the famous regiment since Waterloo; with the history of
+the political events and the campaigns with which it has been
+associated._
+
+    By A. HILLIARD ATTERIDGE, Special Correspondent of the _Daily
+      Chronicle_ with the Dongola Expeditionary Force.
+
+Towards Khartoum.
+
+    The Story of the Soudan War of 1896. With numerous Maps and
+      Illustrations from Photographs taken by the Author. Demy 8vo,
+      buckram, price 16s.
+
+_Mr. Atteridge's letters to the "Daily Chronicle" contained no more than
+the skeleton of the present work, which is in no sense a reprint of
+them._
+
+    By C. R. B. BARRETT.
+
+Dedicated, by permission, to General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.
+
+Battles and Battlefields in England.
+
+    With an Introduction by H. D. TRAILL, and profusely Illustrated by
+      the Author. Super royal 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 18s.
+
+_Compiled from a thorough examination of the authorities, and personal
+inspection of the ground._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                    RECENT WORKS OF HISTORY, ETC.
+
+    By G. BOISSIER (de l'Académie Française).
+
+Cicero and his Friends.
+
+    Translated by A. D. JONES. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+_M. Boissier's work in the French is familiar to historical students;
+but it has been felt that a translation would make it available for many
+more readers. The addition of an index and analytical contents increase
+its advantages for reference._
+
+    By J. S. RISLEY, M.A., B.C.L.
+
+The Law of War.
+
+    A Study of the Legal Obligations and Conditions applying to
+      Belligerents or Neutrals in Times of War. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
+_Compiled primarily for the use of the ordinary reader rather than the
+technical student._
+
+First Review.--"The book ... is admirably done. It avoids technicalities
+and ... is admirably suited to serve as a guide and first introduction
+to a most instructive subject."--_Scotsman._
+
+                       NEW AND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+Lucknow and Oude in the Mutiny.
+
+    A Narrative and a Study. With Numerous Maps, Plans, etc., and an
+      Index. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._ net.
+
+_A critical narrative of the causes and course of the Mutiny, with a
+full account of the operations in Oude and the siege of Lucknow, from
+personal knowledge._
+
+"A most valuable contribution to the history of the great
+crisis."--_Times._
+
+"Recent literature concerning the Indian Mutiny has brought us nothing
+so valuable.... His knowledge of India and her people is accurate and
+profound.... The facts are marshalled with consummate skill. In this
+book General Innes has rendered invaluable service in regard to the
+military history of the Mutiny and the Indian Empire."--_Army and Navy
+Gazette._
+
+    By Dr. WILHELM BUSCH, Professor at the University of Freiburg, in
+      Baden.
+
+England under the Tudors.
+
+    Vol. I. Henry VII. (1485-1509). Translated from the German by Miss
+      ALICE M. TODD and the Rev. A. H. JOHNSON, some-time Fellow of All
+      Souls College, Oxford, under the supervision of, and with an
+      Introduction by, Mr. JAMES GAIRDNER, Editor of the "Paston
+      Letters." Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._ net.
+
+"Since a body of Oxford Tutors published a translation of Ranke's
+English History just twenty years ago, no more important step has been
+taken to give English readers access to recent German work on English
+History than in the book now before us.... The general value of what we
+hope will ultimately be the best general text-book of Tudor History is
+too well known to scholars to make it worth while to dwell upon it
+here."--_Speaker._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A., Author of "Seers and Singers," etc.
+
+Britain and her Rivals.
+
+    1713-1789. A Study dealing chiefly with the Contests between the
+      Naval Powers for Supremacy in America and India. With numerous
+      Plans, Maps, etc. Large crown, buckram, 7_s_. 6_d_.
+
+The _Pall Mall Gazette_, in a review headed, "History as it Should be
+Written," says: "The book is indeed just what was most wanted: ... a
+great deal more than a popular work in the usual sense of the term,
+seeing that it is accurate and thoughtful, besides being eminently
+readable."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         NEW AND RECENT BELLES LETTRES.
+
+Eighteenth Century Letters.
+
+    Edited by R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON, with Introductions by eminent
+      scholars. Illustrated with Photogravure Portraits of the writers.
+      Crown 8vo, half-parchment, gilt top, price 6_s._ each volume.
+
+    VOL. I.--SWIFT, ADDISON, STEELE. With an Introduction by STANLEY
+      LANE POOLE.
+
+    VOL. II.--JOHNSON AND CHESTERFIELD. With an Introduction by GEORGE
+      BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.
+
+    By MAIDIE DICKSON.
+
+The Saga of the Sea Swallow.
+
+    Illustrated by J. D. BATTEN and HILDA FAIRBAIRN. Fcap. 4to, cloth,
+      gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The narrative is told with the most engaging circumstantial vividness,
+and it held us as we read."--_Academy._
+
+    By COSMO MONKHOUSE.
+
+In the National Gallery.
+
+    The Italian Schools from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century.
+      Illustrated with numerous examples specially prepared for this
+      work. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+"One of the most popular handbooks yet issued on the development of
+Italian art as exemplified by the works in our National Collection. The
+author's name is a guarantee of the precision of the facts he produces,
+and of the excellence of the writing by which they are connected. The
+book is illustrated by a good number of excellent reproductions of the
+principal pictures."--_Magazine of Art._
+
+    By A. J. BUTLER.
+
+Dante: his Times and his Work.
+
+    A Popular Treatise dealing with the great Poet. Crown 8vo, cloth,
+      gilt top, 3_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The work should be interesting and profitable both to every Dante
+student and to every general reader who wishes to acquire a knowledge of
+a most interesting epoch of modern history, and one of the most
+interesting figures of any epoch."--_Illustrated London News._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A.
+
+Seers and Singers.
+
+    A Study of Five English Poets (BROWNING, TENNYSON, WORDSWORTH,
+      MATTHEW ARNOLD, and MRS. BROWNING). Cloth antique, extra gilt top,
+      5_s._
+
+"Never were great poets and their gifts to us dealt with in a more
+reverential and yet discriminating fashion. Comments and criticism are
+alike delicate and suggestive. All followers of the great five should
+posses this little book, whose dainty get-up is still its least
+charm."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+    By CLIFFORD HARRISON.
+
+The Lute of Apollo.
+
+    An Essay on Music. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 5_s._ net.
+
+"No real lover of music will fail to give an easily accessible and
+honoured corner on his or her favourite bookshelf to this little volume.
+It has a unique charm which no words of mine can properly define or
+describe."--_Ladies' Pictorial._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                       RECENT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
+
+    By GWENDOLEN TRENCH GASCOIGNE.
+
+Among Pagodas and Fair Ladies.
+
+    Being an Account of a Tour through Burma. With numerous
+      Illustrations from Photographs. Medium 8vo, buckram, 12_s._
+
+
+    By G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, F.S.S., F.R.G.S.
+
+A Naturalist in Mid Africa.
+
+    Being an Account of a Journey to the Mountains of the Moon and
+      Tanganyika. With numerous Illustrations from Photographs and
+      Sketches by the Author, and Three Coloured Maps. Medium 8vo,
+      buckram, 16_s._
+
+
+    By ROBERT K. DOUGLAS.
+
+Society in China.
+
+    An Account of the Everyday Life of the Chinese People, Social,
+      Political, and Religious. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._ (Library
+      Edition, with 22 Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                  Theological and Devotional Works.
+
+
+    By Rev. W. F. COBB, D.D.
+
+Origines Judaicæ.
+
+    An Inquiry into Heathen Faiths as affecting the Birth and Growth of
+      Judaism. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
+"We cannot help feeling very grateful to our author. He has obtained a
+competent knowledge of what recent investigation has revealed in
+Egyptology and Assyriology, and he has brought his stores of knowledge
+to interpret the Old Testament religion and history, and by his
+conception of 'Menotheism,' if not by the coining of the word, he has
+brought a welcome illumination to the obscure subject of the primitive
+Hebrew religion."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+    With an Introduction by the Very Reverend F. W. FARRAR, D.D., Dean
+      of Canterbury.
+
+The New Life in Christ Jesus.
+
+    Essays on Subjects relating to Spiritual Life. Edited by JULIAN
+      FIELD. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, 5_s._
+
+
+Prayers, Penitence, and Holy Communion.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. Bound together in one volume. Royal 16mo, cloth
+      extra, bevelled boards, with red edges and silk book-markers,
+      4_s._ 6_d._
+
+     _The three parts may be had separately, price 1s. 6d. each._
+
+Daily Text-Book.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. With Preface by the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF
+      LINCOLN. Square 16mo, cloth, 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+On the Catholic Faith. Notes and Questions.
+
+    Compiled from the Works of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. With
+      Preface by the Rev. Canon CARTER. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._;
+      or in paper wrapper, 1_s._
+
+The Spiritual Combat; with the Path of Paradise; and the Supplement; or,
+the Peace of the Soul.
+
+    By SCUPOLI. (From the Italian.) Edited by the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY,
+      D.D. Post 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Sufferings of Jesus.
+
+    Composed by FRA THOMÈ DE JESU, of the Order of Hermits of S.
+      Augustine. Translated for the first time from the original
+      Portuguese. In two parts. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 5_s._; or separately,
+      each 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Soul's Hour Glass.
+
+    Translated from the Horologium of Drexelius. Edited by the Rev.
+      Canon ATKINSON; being a Book of Devotions for the Twenty-four
+      Hours. Printed in red and black. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 3_s._
+      6_d._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                        NEW AND RECENT VERSE.
+
+    By GEORGE COOKSON.
+
+Poems.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By A. E. HILLS.
+
+Elfinn's Luck, and Other Poems.
+
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+
+
+    By MOSTYN T. PIGGOTT.
+
+Songs of a Session.
+
+    A Volume of Political Verses. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By E. H. LACON WATSON.
+
+Verses Suggested and Original.
+
+    Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+    By ROBERT GEORGE LEGGE.
+
+Songs of a Strolling Player.
+
+    Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1_s._ net.
+
+
+    By the SAME AUTHOR.
+
+Player Poems.
+
+    Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1_s._ net.
+
+
+    By the late JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
+
+Last Poems.
+
+    Being the Last Unpublished Poems written by the late JAMES RUSSELL
+      LOWELL. Crown 8vo, gilt top, buckram, 4_s._ net.
+
+
+    By CLIFFORD HARRISON.
+
+On the Common Chords.
+
+    Verses by CLIFFORD HARRISON. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4_s._
+      6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A.
+
+Verse Translations from Greek and Latin Poets.
+
+    Large post 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 5_s._ net.
+
+
+    By W. J. ROBERTSON.
+
+A Century of French Verse.
+
+    Being a Series of Translations from the French Poets since the
+      Revolution, with Biographical Notices and Appreciations. Fcap.
+      4to, buckram, gilt top, 6_s._ net.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         The Isthmian Library.
+
+
+VOL. I.
+
+    By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON.
+
+Rugby Football.
+
+    With Chapters by FRANK MITCHELL, R. H. CATTELL, C. J. N. FLEMING,
+      GREGOR MACGREGOR, C. B. NICHOLL, and H. B. TRISTRAM. Illustrated,
+      post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. II.
+
+    By A. C. PEMBERTON, MRS. HARCOURT WILLIAMSON, C. P. SISLEY, and
+      GILBERT FLOYD.
+
+The Complete Cyclist.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. III.
+
+    By E. F. KNIGHT.
+
+Sailing-boats and Small Yachts.
+
+  Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._      [_In Preparation._
+
+VOL IV.
+
+    By R. C. LEHMANN.
+
+Rowing.
+
+    With Chapters by GUY NICKALLS and C. M. PITMAN. Illustrated, post
+      8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. V.
+
+    By R. ALLANSON WINN.
+
+Boxing.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. VI.
+
+Ice Sports.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL VII.
+
+    By MONTAGU S. MONIER WILLIAMS.
+
+Figure Skating.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+
+  _Other Volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                        New One-Volume Novels.
+
+    By A. E. W. MASON.
+
+Lawrence Clavering.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRED T. JANE.
+
+The Lordship, the Passen, and We.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By LADY HELEN CRAVEN.
+
+Katharine Cromer.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By C. M. CAMPBELL.
+
+Deilie Jock.
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+Sunlight and Limelight.
+
+  Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._               [_Ready January, 1898._
+
+
+By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+The King's Chamber.
+
+  Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._               [_Ready January, 1898._
+
+
+    By ESTHER MILLER.
+
+Shadows of Guilt.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRED T. JANE.
+
+To Venus in Five Seconds.
+
+    Demy 12mo, cloth, 2_s._; or in paper wrapper, 1_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+Only an Angel.
+
+    Demy 12mo, half-parchment, yellow edges, 2_s._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                      RECENT POPULAR 6s. NOVELS.
+
+    By J. C. SNAITH, Author of "Mistress Dorothy Marvin."
+
+Fierceheart the Soldier.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Snaith has given us a resource that for terse, pregnant phrasing,
+exception character, and recurring and vivid depiction of dramatic
+situation, is the best thing of its kind we remember to have seen for a
+long time."--_Observer._
+
+
+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
+
+Christine of the Hills.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Assuredly he has never written anything more fresh, more simple, more
+alluring or more artistically perfect."--_Daily Mail._
+
+
+    By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+Lying Prophets.
+
+    _Third Edition._ Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"An excellent novel.... A place of serious and admirable work.... Not
+unworthy of a place with George Eliot's 'Adam Bede' and 'Mill on the
+Floss.'"--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+
+    By ISABEL CLARKE.
+
+The Episode of Alethea.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The author deals with admirable taste and tact with the situation....
+The story is one of high merit from beginning to end."--_Scotsman._
+
+
+    By ESTHER MILLER.
+
+The Sport of the Gods.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"It is very well told.... The novel is exciting, and preserves its
+interest to the end.... Excellent story."--_Athenæum._
+
+    By E. F. BENSON, Author of "Dodo."
+
+Limitations.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Benson has written an interesting and truly human book. His range
+is much wider than it was: his character-drawing has gained in depth,
+delicacy, and precision; while the sparkling dialogue which we enjoyed
+in 'Dodo' has lost none of its old brilliancy."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+The Lower Life.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A very remarkable novel, well thought out, well sustained, and inspired
+from first to last."--_National Observer._
+
+
+    By G. B. BURGIN.
+
+Tomalyn's Quest.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Burgin has just scored a second shining success with 'Tomalyn's
+Quest,' a tale of the keenest interest."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By W. L. ALDEN.
+
+The Mystery of Elias G. Roebuck.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Alden has the true gift of honour.... It is impossible to read the
+collection of short stories without genuine enjoyment."--_Times._
+
+
+    By C. R. COLERIDGE and HELEN SHIPTON.
+
+Ravenstone.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The love interest of 'Ravenstone' is twofold, and is admirably
+sustained throughout this bright, vigorous, and refreshing
+story."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By X. L., Author of "Aut Diabolus aut Nihil."
+
+The Limb.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+MR. GLADSTONE writes: "Pray accept my thanks.... I was so imprudent as
+to read it at once, and since that act have found great difficulty in
+laying it down."
+
+"'The Limb' is unquestionably one of the most fascinating books of the
+season."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
+
+A Stolen Mask.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A capital story, and Mrs. Roma White tells it with a delicate humour
+and a spontaneous brilliancy as rare as they are delightful. 'A Stolen
+Mask' is a novel that stands high above the average, and can be strongly
+recommended. It is a long time since we have come across anything so
+thoroughly fresh and bright."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+The Things that Matter.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Is an extremely psychological study."--_Times._
+
+"It is a very amusing novel, full of bright satire directed against the
+new woman and similar objects."--_Speaker._
+
+
+    By G. B. BURGIN.
+
+The Judge of the Four Corners.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A delightfully humorous sketch, full of the purest fun, and
+irresistibly laughable."--_Saturday Review._
+
+
+    By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+My Laughing Philosopher.
+
+    Illustrated by GEORGE HUTCHINSON. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"We commend to the notice of any one wanting a good laugh 'My Laughing
+Philosopher,' whose varied character-sketches amply prove Mr. Eden
+Phillpotts to be endowed with those two excellent gifts of humour and
+imagination."--_Spectator._
+
+"The book will be welcome to every one who likes a book from which a man
+can get a good laugh."--_Scotsman._
+
+
+    By LESLIE KEITH, Author of "The Chilcotes," "'Lisbeth," etc.
+
+For Love of Prue.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Plot and incident in this present story are alike remarkable ...
+altogether we heartily commend 'For Love of Prue' as a sensible,
+humorous, and thoroughly wholesome book."--_Speaker._
+
+
+    By DOROTHEA GERARD.
+
+Lot 13.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A bright, buoyant, and bustling story, with plenty of local colour
+derived from the scenery and the society, black and white, of a West
+Indian plantation."--_Times._
+
+
+    By the late Mrs. J. K. SPENDER, Author of "Thirteen Doctors," etc.
+
+The Wooing of Doris.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Has much to commend it to novel-readers. A clever plot: well-drawn
+characters--such are the leading features of a novel by which the
+reputation of its much-regretted writer is fully sustained to the
+last."--_World._
+
+
+    By J. C. SNAITH.
+
+Mistress Dorothy Marvin.
+
+    A Romance of the Glorious Revolution.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The author has succeeded in making his story intensely interesting....
+One of the very best adventure stories we have had for a long time
+past."--_Speaker._
+
+"'Mistress Dorothy Marvin,' most delightful and winsome of women, and
+one of the freshest and most unhackneyed heroines whose acquaintance we
+have had the pleasure of making for a very considerable period.... Mr.
+Snaith has a great gift of observation, and his book is a remarkable
+picture of the age it is intended to depict."--_World._
+
+
+    By STANLEY WEYMAN.
+
+My Lady Rotha.
+
+    A Romance of the Thirty Years' War.
+
+    Illustrated by JOHN WILLIAMSON. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"No one who begins it will lay it down before the end, it is so
+extremely well carried on from adventure to adventure."--_Saturday
+Review._
+
+
+    By FRANK BARRETT, Author of "The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane."
+
+A Set of Rogues.
+
+    A Romance of the Seventeenth Century.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"He has related the adventures of a set of rogues ... with so pleasant a
+tongue and in such attractive fashion that it impossible for mere flesh
+and blood to resist them. His set of rogues have won our entire
+sympathy, and his narrative our hearty approval."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+"Another capital story.... Strongly recommended. Stirring tale this,
+without a dull chapter in it, and just enough human sentiment in it to
+soften down the roguery.... Let the honest reader procure the
+book."--_Punch._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+                      SCARLET NOVELS.
+     A SERIES OF POPULAR NOVELS BY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS.
+  _Crown 8vo, uniform scarlet cloth, 3s. 6d. each Volume._
+
+
+ANTHONY HOPE'S SOCIETY NOVELS.
+
+Comedies of Courtship.
+
+"He is undeniably gay in the best sense of the word, now and then almost
+rollicking. An admirable example of what we mean by gaiety in fictional
+literature."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+Half a Hero.
+
+"The book is delightful to read, and an excellent piece of
+work."--_Standard._
+
+
+Mr. Witt's Widow.
+
+"A brilliant little tale.... Exhibits unborrowed ingenuity,
+plausibility, and fertility in surprises."--_Times._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
+
+A Gentleman's Gentleman.
+
+"This is very much the best book that Mr. Max Pemberton has so far given
+us."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+
+    By RICHARD PRYCE.
+
+The Burden of a Woman.
+
+"The conception and execution of this interesting story are excellent. A
+book to read and remember with pleasure."--_Lady's Pictorial._
+
+
+    By C. R. COLERIDGE.
+
+Amethyst.
+
+"Extremely amusing, interesting, and brightly written."--_Guardian._
+
+
+    By F. FRANKFORT MOORE.
+
+Two in the Bush and Others Elsewhere.
+
+"Carry the reader on from page to page till criticism is forgotten in
+enjoyment."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
+
+Punchinello's Romance.
+
+"We give Roma White the warmest of welcomes into the world of
+fiction.... Admirably and irresistibly comic, without anything in the
+nature of force or even of apparent exaggeration, ready at the least
+moment to run into equally true pathos."--_Graphic._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+There is some text missing between Page 64 and Page 65: the beginning of
+paragraph (4) with an opening quotation mark is missing, as shown by
+'[(4) "...]'. ([(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move,
+and mould yourself on their movement.")
+
+
+Factual errors were noted as follows:
+
+Page 273: Reference to "Minneapolis" instead of "Annapolis" (The United
+States Naval Academy at Minneapolis ...)
+
+
+Changes to the text are as follows:
+
+Title page: added comma after "C. M. PITMAN" ( ... C. M. PITMAN, W. E.
+CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE)
+
+Page xii: added missing line in the List of Illustrations (LENT RACES IN
+THE PLOUGH REACH 200)
+
+Plate "Henley Regatta" originally facing page 157: changed "Heart fo" to
+"Heat for" (A Heat for the Diamonds.)
+
+Page 258: changed "Warnambool" to "Warrnambool" (Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, ...)
+
+Page 339: changed "captain's" to "captains'" ( ... at the first
+captains' meeting ...)
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Rowing
+
+Author: Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+Contributor: Guy Nickalls
+             G. L. Davies
+             C. M. Pitman
+             W. E. Crum
+             E. G. Blackmore.
+
+Editor: B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34950]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Simon Gardner, Chris Curnow and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+This Plain Text version uses symbols from the ASCII and Latin-1
+character sets; oe ligature is represented by [oe]. Fractions are shown
+in the form 1/2, 2-1/4 etc. Greek transliterations are shown (at this
+stage) as [Greek: ... ].
+
+Italic typeface is represented by _underscores_. Small capital typeface
+is represented by UPPER CASE.
+
+Detailed notes on corrections to the text etc. are listed at the end of
+the book.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    THE ISTHMIAN LIBRARY: A Series of Volumes dealing popularly with the
+      whole range of Field Sports and Athletics.
+
+    Edited by B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, and Illustrated by numerous Sketches
+      and Instantaneous Photographs. Post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._ each.
+
+    Vol. I. Rugby Football. By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, with chapters by
+      FRANK MITCHELL, R. H. CATTELL, C. J. N. FLEMING, GREGOR MACGREGOR,
+      and H. B. TRISTRAM, and dedicated by permission to Mr. ROWLAND
+      HILL.
+
+    Vol. II. The Complete Cyclist. By A. C. PEMBERTON, Mrs. HARCOURT
+      WILLIAMSON, and C. J. SISLEY.
+
+    Vol. IV. Rowing. By R. C. LEHMANN, with chapters by GUY NICKALLS and
+      C. M. PITMAN.
+
+    Vol. V. Boxing. By R. ALLANSON WINN.
+
+
+    _Other volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced._
+
+
+
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+
+[Illustration: THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE, 1894.]
+
+                           The Isthmian Library
+                      Edited by B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+                                  No. 4
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+                                    BY
+                              R. C. LEHMANN
+
+                          WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY
+                 GUY NICKALLS, G. L. DAVIS, C. M. PITMAN,
+                 W. E. CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE
+
+                              _ILLUSTRATED_
+
+                                  LONDON
+                          A. D. INNES & COMPANY
+                                  LIMITED
+                                   1898
+
+         *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                     AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP
+
+                           I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
+
+                                    TO
+
+                       MR. HERBERT THOMAS STEWARD,
+
+               CHAIRMAN OF THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION;
+         CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, HENLEY REGATTA;
+                    AND PRESIDENT OF THE LEANDER CLUB.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+My thanks are due to the proprietors of the _Daily News_ and of the
+_English Illustrated Magazine_ for permission to include in this book
+the substance of articles originally contributed to their columns. I
+have not added to the Appendix any lists of winning crews, as these are
+to be found very fully and accurately set out in the Rowing Almanack,
+published every year at the office of the _Field_.
+
+For the rest, I have endeavoured to make the rowing instructions which
+will be found in this book as concise as was compatible with perfect
+clearness, assuming at all times that I was addressing myself first of
+all to the novice. No doubt other oarsmen will differ here and there
+from my conclusions. Absolute unanimity on every detail of rowing is not
+to be expected.
+
+All I can do is to assure my readers that nothing has been set down here
+the truth and accuracy of which I have not proved--at least, to my own
+satisfaction.
+
+_The illustrations are reproduced from photographs by Messrs. Stearn, of
+Cambridge; Messrs. Gillman, of Oxford; Messrs. Marsh, of
+Henley-on-Thames; Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton; Messrs. Pach
+Brothers, of Cambridge (Mass.); and Mr. J. G. Williams, of East
+Molesey._
+
+                                                            R. C. L.
+    _October, 1897._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                                    PAGE
+
+     I. INTRODUCTORY                                            1
+
+    II. FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS                           14
+
+   III. FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS                         38
+
+    IV. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS                         55
+
+     V. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           72
+
+    VI. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           89
+
+   VII. OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF
+          STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF COACHING               109
+
+  VIII. OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE
+          NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF LEISURE
+          TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS                             128
+
+    IX. FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS              144
+
+     X. SCULLING. _By_ GUY NICKALLS                           157
+
+    XI. STEERING. _By_ G. L. DAVIS                            176
+
+   XII. COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD. _By_ C. M. PITMAN           194
+
+  XIII. COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE                           211
+
+   XIV. ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE. _By_ W. E. CRUM               234
+
+    XV. AUSTRALIAN ROWING. _By_ E. G. BLACKMORE               255
+
+   XVI. ROWING IN AMERICA                                     270
+
+  XVII. A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES
+          HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+          TRAINING OF OARSMEN                                 288
+
+        APPENDIX--HENLEY REGATTA RULES; RULES OF
+          THE A.R.A.; RULES OF THE C.U.B.C. AND
+          O.U.B.C.                                            307
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF PLATES.
+
+
+  PAGE
+  THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE, 1894     _Frontispiece._
+  FIRST HENLEY REGATTA PROGRAMME                 _To face_   6
+  FIXED SEATS. NUMBER 1                                     20
+       "          "   2                                     22
+       "          "   3                                     24
+       "          "   4                                     26
+       "          "   5                                     30
+  SLIDING SEATS. NUMBER 1                                   38
+         "         "    2                                   40
+         "         "    3                                   41
+         "         "    4                                   42
+         "         "    5                                   44
+         "         "    6                                   45
+         "         "    7                                   47
+         "         "    8                                   48
+         "         "    9                                   50
+         "         "   10                                   52
+         "         "   11                                   54
+  SNAP-SHOTS--CREW IN MOTION. NUMBERS 1 AND 2               56
+      "         "       "        "    3 AND 4               58
+      "         "       "        "    5 AND 6               61
+      "         "       "        "    7 AND 8               64
+  MR. C. W. KENT                                            78
+  MR. H. G. GOLD                                            81
+  HENLEY REGATTA, 1897                                     130
+  HENLEY REGATTA: A HEAT FOR THE DIAMONDS                  157
+  A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS                                     194
+  A START IN THE EIGHTS                                    202
+  THE GOLDIE BOAT-HOUSE                                    211
+  A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON, AT POUGHKEEPSIE     272
+  COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON                             284
+  ROWING TYPES. NUMBER 1                                   289
+        "         "    2                                   298
+        "         "    3                                   301
+        "         "    4                                   303
+        "         "    5                                   305
+
+
+
+
+ROWING.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+INTRODUCTORY.
+
+
+My object in the following pages will be not merely to give such hints
+to the novice as may enable him, so far as book-learning can effect the
+purpose, to master the rudiments of oarsmanship, but also to commend to
+him the sport of rowing from the point of view of those enthusiasts who
+regard it as a noble open-air exercise, fruitful in lessons of strength,
+courage, discipline, and endurance, and as an art which requires on the
+part of its votaries a sense of rhythm, a perfect balance and symmetry
+of bodily effort, and the graceful control and repose which lend an
+appearance of ease to the application of the highest muscular energy.
+Much has to be suffered and many difficulties have to be overcome
+before the raw tiro, whose fantastic contortions in a tub-pair excite
+the derision of the spectators, can approach to the power, effectiveness
+and grace of a Crum or a Gold; but, given a healthy frame and sound
+organs inured to fatigue by the sports of English boyhood, given also an
+alert intelligence, there is no reason in the nature of things why
+oarsmanship should not eventually become both an exercise and a
+pleasure. And when I speak of oarsmanship, I mean the combined form of
+it in pairs, in fours, and in eight-oared racing boats.
+
+Of sculling I do not presume to speak, but those who are curious on this
+point may be referred to the remarks of Mr. Guy Nickalls in a later
+chapter. But of rowing I can speak, if not with authority, at any rate
+with experience, for during twenty-three years of my life I have not
+only rowed in a constant succession of boat-races, amounting now to
+about two hundred, but I have watched rowing wherever it was to be seen,
+and have, year after year, been privileged to utter words of instruction
+to innumerable crews on the Cam, the Isis, and the Thames. If, then, the
+novice will commit himself for a time to my guidance, I will endeavour
+to initiate him into the art and mystery of rowing. If he decides
+afterwards to join the fraternity of its votaries, I can promise him
+that his reward will not be small. He may not win fame, and he will
+certainly not increase his store of wealth, but when his time of action
+is past and he joins the great army of "have-beens," he will find, as he
+looks back upon his career, that his hours of leisure have been spent in
+an exercise which has enlarged his frame and strengthened his limbs,
+that he has drunk delight of battle with his peers in many a hard-fought
+race, that he has learnt what it means to be in perfect health and
+condition, with every sinew strung, and all his manly energies braced
+for contests of strength and endurance, and that he has bound to himself
+by the strongest possible ties a body of staunch and loyal friends whose
+worth has been proved under all sorts of conditions, through many days
+of united effort.
+
+It has often been objected to rowing, either by those who have never
+rowed, or by those who having rowed have allowed themselves to sink
+prematurely into sloth and decay, that the sport in the case of most men
+can last only for a very few years, and that having warred, not without
+glory, up to the age of about twenty-five, they must then hang their
+oars upon the wall and pass the remainder of their lives in an envious
+contemplation of the exploits of old but unwearied cricketers. Judging
+merely by my own personal experience, I am entitled to pronounce these
+lamentations baseless and misleading, for I have been able to row with
+pleasure even in racing boats during the whole period of nineteen years
+that has elapsed since I took my degree at Cambridge. But I can refer to
+higher examples, for I have seen the Grand Challenge Cup and the
+Stewards' Cup at Henley Regatta either rowed for with credit, or won by
+men whose age cannot have been far, if at all, short of forty years, and
+of men who won big races when they were thirty years old the examples
+are innumerable. But putting actual racing aside, there is in skilled
+rowing a peculiar pleasure (even though the craft rowed in be merely a
+fixed seat gig) which, as it seems to me, puts it on a higher plane than
+most other exercises. The watermanship which enables a party of veterans
+to steer their boat deftly in and out of a lock, to swing her easily
+along the reaches, while unskilled youths are toiling and panting
+astern, is, after all, no mean accomplishment. And in recent years
+rowing has taken a leaf out of the book of cricket. Scattered up and
+down the banks of the Thames are many pleasant houses in which, during
+the summer, men who can row are favoured guests, either with a view to
+their forming crews to take part in local regattas, or merely for the
+purpose of pleasure-rowing in scenes remote from the dust and turmoil of
+the city. Let no one, therefore, be repelled from oarsmanship because he
+thinks that the sport will last him through only a few years of his
+life. If he marries and settles down and becomes a busy man, he will
+enjoy his holiday on the Thames fully as much as his cricketing brothers
+enjoy theirs on some country cricket field.
+
+Of the early history of boats and boat-racing it is not necessary to say
+very much. It is enough to know that the written Cambridge records date
+back to 1827, though it is certain that racing must have begun some
+years previously; that Oxford can point to 1822 as one of the earliest
+years of their College races; that the two Universities raced against
+one another for the first time in 1829; and that Henley Regatta was
+established in 1839, when the Grand Challenge Cup was won by First
+Trinity, Cambridge. Opposite is a facsimile copy of the programme of
+this memorable regatta.
+
+Those who desire to go still further back, have the authority of Virgil
+for stating that the Trojans under �neas could organize and carry
+through what Professor Conington, in his version of the "�neid," calls
+"a rivalry of naval speed." The account of this famous regatta is given
+with a spirit and a richness of detail that put to shame even the most
+modern historians of aquatic prowess. After reading how Gyas, the
+captain and coach of the _Chim�ra_--
+
+    "Huge bulk, a city scarce so large,
+    With Dardan rowers in triple bank,
+    The tiers ascending rank o'er rank"
+
+--how Gyas, as I say, justly indignant at the ineptitude and cowardice
+of his coxswain, hurled him from the vessel, and himself assumed the
+helm at a critical point of the race, it is a mere paltering with the
+emotions to be told, for instance, that "Mr. Pechell, who owes much to
+the teaching of Goosey Driver, steered a very good course," or that he
+"began to make the shoot for Barnes Bridge a trifle too soon." How,
+too, can the statement that "both crews started simultaneously,
+Cambridge, if anything, striking the water first," compare with the
+passage which tells us (I quote again from Professor Conington) how
+
+            "at the trumpet's piercing sound,
+    All from their barriers onward bound,
+    Upsoars to heaven the oarsman's shout,
+    The upturned billows froth and spout;
+    In level lines they plough the deep--
+    All ocean yawns as on they sweep."
+
+It may be noted in passing that no one else seems to have felt in the
+least inclined to yawn, for
+
+    "With plaudits loud and clamorous zeal
+      Echoes the woodland round;
+    The pent shores roll the thunder peal--
+      The stricken rocks rebound;"
+
+which seems, if the criticism may be permitted, a curious proceeding
+even for a stricken rock during the progress of a boat-race. Finally, a
+touch of religious romance is added when we learn that the final result
+was due, not to the unaided efforts of the straining crew, but to the
+intervention of Portunus, the Harbour God, who, moved by the prayer of
+Cloanthus, captain of the _Scylla_, pushed that barque along and carried
+her triumphantly first into the haven--invidious conduct which does not
+appear to have caused the least complaint amongst the defeated crews, or
+to have prevented Cloanthus from being proclaimed the victor of the day.
+Only on one occasion (in 1859) has Father Thames similarly exerted
+himself to the advantage of one of the University crews, for during the
+boat-race of that year he swamped the Cambridge ship beneath his mighty
+waves, and sped Oxford safely to Mortlake. Lord Justice A. L. Smith,
+amongst others, still lives, though he was unable to swim, to tell the
+exciting tale.
+
+Before I take leave of this Virgilian race, I may perhaps, even at this
+late date, be permitted as a brother coach to commiserate the impulsive
+but unfortunate Gyas on the difficulties he must have encountered in
+coaching the crew of a trireme. Not less do I pity his oarsmen, of whom
+the two lower ranks must have suffered seriously as to their backs from
+the feet of those placed above them, while the length and weight of the
+oars used by the top rank must have made good form and accurate time
+almost impossible. A Cambridge poet, Mr. R. H. Forster, has sung the
+woes of the Athenian triremists and their instructor--
+
+    "Just imagine a crew of a hundred or two
+      Shoved three deep in a kind of a barge,
+    Like a cargo of kegs, with no room for their legs,
+      And oars inconveniently large.
+    Quoth he, '[Greek: pantes pros�]' and they try to do so.
+      At the sight the poor coach's brains addle;
+    So muttering '[Greek: oimoi],' he shouts out '[Greek: hetoimoi],'
+      And whatever the Greek is for 'paddle.'
+    Now do look alive, number ninety and five,
+      You're 'sugaring,' work seems to bore you;
+    You are late, you are late, number twenty and eight,
+      Keep your eyes on the man that's before you."
+
+So much for the trireme. But neither the Greeks nor any other race
+thought of adapting their boats merely to purposes of racing until the
+English, with their inveterate passion for open-air exercise, took the
+matter in hand. African war-canoes have been known to race, but their
+primary object is still the destruction of rival canoes together with
+their dusky freight. In Venice the gondoliers are matched annually
+against one another, but both the gondola and the sandolo remain what
+they always have been--mere vessels for the conveyance of passengers and
+goods. The man who would make war in a racing ship would justly be
+relegated to Hanwell, and to carry passengers, or even one "passenger,"
+in such a boat is generally looked upon as a certain presage of defeat.
+Consider for a moment. The modern racing ship (eight, four, pair, or
+single) is a frail, elongated, graceful piece of cabinet work, held
+together by thin stays, small bolts, and copper nails, and separating
+you from the water in which it floats by an eighth of an inch of Mexican
+cedar. The whole weight of the sculling-boat, built by Jack Clasper, in
+which Harding won the Searle Memorial Cup, was only nineteen pounds,
+_i.e._ about 112 pounds lighter than the man it carried. Considering the
+amount of labour and trained skill that go towards the construction of
+these beautiful machines, the price cannot be said to be heavy. Most
+builders will turn you out a sculling-boat for from �12 to �15, a pair
+for about �20, a four for �33, and an eight for �55. But the development
+of the racing type to its present perfection has taken many years.
+Little did the undergraduates who, in 1829, drove their ponderous
+man-of-war's galleys from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, while the
+stricken hills of the Thames Valley rebounded to the shouts of the
+spectators--little did they imagine that their successors, rowing on
+movable seats and with rowlocks projecting far beyond the side would
+speed in delicate barques, of arrowy shape and almost arrowy swiftness,
+from Putney to Mortlake--in barques so light and "crank" that, built as
+they are without a keel, they would overturn in a moment if the balance
+of the oars were removed. The improvements were very gradual. In 1846
+the University race was rowed for the first time in boats with
+outriggers. That innovation had, however, been creeping in for some
+years before that. Mr. Hugh Hammersley, who rowed in the Oriel boat
+which started head of the river at Oxford in 1843, has told me that in
+that year the University College boat, stroked by the famous Fletcher
+Menzies, was fitted with outriggers at stroke and bow; and the bump by
+which University displaced Oriel was generally ascribed to the new
+invention.
+
+In 1857 the University race was rowed in boats without a keel, and oars
+with a round loom were used for the first time by both crews. At the
+Henley Regatta of the preceding year the Royal Chester Rowing Club had
+entered a crew rowing in this novel style of keelless boat for the Grand
+Challenge and the Ladies' Cups. Her length was only fifty-four feet, and
+her builder was Mat Taylor, a name celebrated in the annals of
+boat-building, for it is to him, in the first instance, that our present
+type of racing-boat owes its existence. "The Chester men," Mr. W. B.
+Woodgate tells us in his Badminton book on boating, "could not sit their
+boat in the least; they flopped their blades along the water on the
+recovery in a manner which few junior crews at minor regattas would now
+be guilty of; but they rowed well away from their opponents, who were
+only College crews." They won, as a matter of fact, both the events for
+which they entered.
+
+One might have thought that with this invention improvements would have
+ceased. But in course of time the practical experience of rowing men
+suggested to them that if they slid on their seats, both the length and
+power of their stroke through the water would be increased. At first
+they greased their fixed seats, and slid on those. But it was found that
+the strain caused by this method exhausted a crew. In 1871 a crew of
+professionals used a seat that slid on the thwarts, and beat a crew that
+was generally held to be superior, and from that moment slides, as we
+now know them, came into general use. In 1873 the University crews
+rowed on sliding seats for the first time. Since then the length of the
+slide has been increased from about nine inches to fifteen inches, or
+even more, a change which has made the task of the boat-builder in
+providing floating capacity more difficult; but in all essentials the
+type of boat remains the same. It ought to be added that the Americans,
+to a large extent, use boats moulded out of _papier mach�_, but this
+variation has never obtained favour in England, though boats built in
+this manner by the well-known Waters of Troy (U.S.A.) have been seen on
+English rivers. The Columbia College crew won the Visitors' Cup at
+Henley in 1878 in a paper boat, and she was afterwards bought by First
+Trinity, Cambridge, but she never won a race again.
+
+[Illustration: THE FIRST HENLEY REGATTA.]
+
+  HENLEY REGATTA
+  _June 14th_, 1839.
+
+  [Illustration]
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    OXFORD.--BRASEN NOSE COLLEGE,--Blue Cap, with Gold Tassel; Rosette,
+      yellow, purple, and crimson.
+
+    CAMBRIDGE.--TRINITY BOAT CLUB,--Blue stripe Jersey and Trowsers;
+      Rosette, French blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--ETONIAN CLUB,--White Jersey, with pale blue facings;
+      Rosette, sky blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--WADHAM COLLEGE,--White Jersey, with narrow blue stripes,
+      dark blue cap, with light blue velvet band, and light blue scarf.
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+
+  TOWN CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+  WAVE.--White Jersey, pale blue facings.
+
+  DREADNOUGHT.--Blue Striped Shirt, blue Cap
+
+  ALBION.--Blue Striped Jersey, crimson scarf.
+
+  TURN OVER.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  ORDER OF THE RACES.
+
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    The first trial heat will commence at FOUR o'clock precisely.
+
+    The second trial heat will follow immediately.
+
+    The final heat will take place at SEVEN o'clock precisely.
+
+  The Race for the
+
+  TOWN CUP,
+
+  Will take place at SIX o'clock precisely.
+
+    Previous to each Race, a Signal Gun will be fired at the Bridge to
+    clear the course, another when the course is clear, a third at the
+    Island when the Boats start, and a fourth at the Bridge to announce
+    that the race is ended.
+
+  Lithographic Drawings of the Cups,
+
+  _Two Shillings per pair_,
+
+  And the Henley Guide, Two Shillings,
+
+  May be had of HICKMAN & KINCH, Post-Office.
+
+  Hickman & Kinch, Typ. Henley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS.
+
+
+If the tiro who aspires to be an oarsman has ever seen a really good
+eight-oared crew in motion on the water, he will probably have been
+impressed not so much by the power and the pace of it as by the
+remarkable ease with which the whole complicated series of movements
+that go to make up a stroke is performed. The eight blades grip the
+water at the same moment with a perfect precision, making a deep white
+swirl as they sweep through; the bodies swing back with a free and
+springy motion; the slides move steadily; and almost before one has
+realized that a stroke has been begun, the hands have come squarely home
+to the chest and have been shot out again to the full extent of the
+arms, the blades leaving the water without a splash. Then with a
+balanced swing the bodies move forward again, the oar-blades all in a
+level line on either side, and, _presto!_ another stroke has been
+started. Nothing in these movements is violent or jerky; there are no
+contortions--at least the tiro can see none, though the coach may be
+shouting instructions as to backs and shoulders and elbows--and the boat
+glides on her way without a pause or check.
+
+What sort of spectacle, on the other hand, is afforded by a thoroughly
+bad eight? The men composing it have chests and backs together with the
+usual complement of limbs that make up a human being; they are provided
+with oars; their ship is built of cedar and fitted with slides and
+outriggers--in short, as they sit at ease in their boat, they resemble
+in all outward details the crew we have just been considering. But watch
+them when they begin to row. Where now are the balance, the rhythm, the
+level flash of blades on the feather, the crisp beginning, the dashing
+and almost contemptuous freedom of bodies and hands in motion, the even
+and unsplashing progress of the ship herself? All these have vanished,
+and in their place we see a boat rolling like an Atlantic liner, oars
+dribbling feebly along the water or soaring wildly above it, each
+striking for the beginning at the sweet will of the man who wields it,
+without regard to anybody else; eight bodies, cramped and contorted
+almost out of the semblance of humanity, shuffling, tumbling, and
+screwing, while on eight faces a look of agony bears witness to such
+tortures as few except Englishmen can continue to suffer without mutiny
+or complaint. It is not a noble or an inspiring sight; but it may be
+seen at Oxford or at Cambridge, on tidal waters, and even at Henley
+Regatta.
+
+What, then, is the main cause of the difference between these two crews?
+It lies in good "style"--style which is present in the one crew and
+absent from the other. And this style in the rowing sense merely sums up
+the result, whether to individuals or to a crew, of long and patient
+teaching founded upon principles the correctness of which has been
+established ever since rowing became not merely an exercise, but a
+science in keelless racing ships. And here one comment may be added. It
+is the habit of every generation of rowing men to imagine that they have
+invented rowing all over again, and have at last, by their own
+intelligence and energy, established its principles on a firm
+foundation. Within my own experience, five at least of these
+generations believed that for the first time the virtues of leg-work had
+been revealed to them, four thought they had made out a patent in the
+matter of body-swing, and six were convinced that they had discovered
+length of stroke and firmness of beginning. In the eyes of these young
+gentlemen, the veterans whom they occasionally condescended to invite to
+their practice were harmless and well-meaning enthusiasts, who might
+have made a figure in their day, but who were, of course, utterly unable
+to appreciate the niceties of rowing as developed by their brilliant and
+skilful successors.[1] Amiable presumption of youth and innocence! The
+fact is, of course, that the main principles of good rowing are the same
+now as they have always been, on long slides or on short slides, or even
+on fixed seats. And, personally, I have always found that the hints I
+gathered from such men as Dr. Warre, Mr. W. B. Woodgate, Mr. J. C.
+Tinne, or Sir John Edwards-Moss, whose active rowing days were over
+before sliding seats came into use, were invaluable to me in the
+coaching of crews.
+
+  [1] I shall never forget the tone of kindly patronage in which the
+  stroke of my college crew once observed to his coach, a man about
+  fifteen years older than himself: "Ah, I suppose, now, they all used to
+  row in top-hats in your day!"
+
+How is a novice to be taught so that he may some day take his seat with
+credit in a good crew? I answer that there is no royal road; he must
+pass through a long period of practice, often so dull that all his
+patience will be required to carry him through it. His progress will be
+so slow, that he will sometimes feel he is making no headway at all; but
+it will be sure none the less, and some day, if he has in him the
+makings of an oar, he will realize, to his delight, that his joints move
+freely, that his muscles are supple, that his limbs obey his brain
+immediately--that, in short, the various movements he has been striving
+so hard to acquire have become easy and natural to him, and that he can
+go through them without the painful exercise of deliberate thought at
+every moment of their recurrence.
+
+Every oarsman must begin on fixed seats. This statement is to an English
+public school or University oar a mere platitude; but in America, and
+even in some of our English clubs outside the Universities, its force
+and necessity have been lost sight of. Here and there may be found a
+born oar, whose limbs and body do not require an arduous discipline; but
+in the case of ordinary average men like the immense majority of us, it
+is impossible, I believe, to acquire correct body movement without a
+stage, more or less prolonged, of practice in fixed-seat rowing. For it
+is on fixed seats alone that a man can learn that free and solid swing
+which is essential to good oarsmanship on slides.
+
+I will, therefore, ask my novice reader to imagine that he is seated on
+one of the thwarts of a fixed-seat tub-pair, while I deceive myself into
+the belief that I am coaching him from its stern. My first duty will be
+to see that all his implements are sound and true and correct, since it
+is probable that faults are often due as much to the use of weak or
+defective materials as to any other cause. I must satisfy myself that
+his oar is stiff and of a proper length; that when pressed against the
+thole in a natural position it can grip the water firmly and come
+through it squarely;[2] that the stretcher is properly set, and that the
+straps pass tightly over the root of the toes. I must also see that he
+is properly dressed, and not constricted about the waist by impeding
+buttons. A belt is never permissible. Now for instruction.
+
+  [2] The breadth of beam of an ordinary in-rigged fixed-seat gig for the
+  use of novices may be stated at 3 ft. 10 in. A line drawn horizontally
+  across the boat, at right angles from the rowing thole, would be from
+  11-1/2 in. to 12 in. distant from the aft, or sitting edge of the
+  thwart. Oars should measure 12 ft. over all, with an in-board length of
+  3 ft. 5 in. to 3 ft. 5-1/2 in. Breadth of blades 5-1/2 in. to 5-3/4, not
+  more.
+
+(1) Sit erect on the aft edge of your seat, exactly opposite the point
+at which your heels touch the stretcher. The feet must be placed firm
+and flat upon the stretcher, the heels touching one another, and forming
+an angle of about forty-five degrees. The knees must be bent to about
+one-third of their scope, and set a shoulder's breadth apart. Shoulders
+must be well set back, the chest open, and the stomach well set out.
+
+(2) Now swing your body slowly forward as far as you are able _from the
+hips_, without bending the back, being careful to let your head swing
+with your body. Repeat this movement several times without holding the
+oar.
+
+(_Note._--The ideal swing is that which takes the whole unbending body
+full forward till it is down between the knees. This, to a novice, is
+impossible, and the coach must therefore be content to see the first
+efforts at swing very short. It is better that this should be so than
+that a man should prematurely attain length by bending his back,
+doubling in his stomach, and over-reaching with his shoulders, faults
+that, once acquired, it is extremely difficult to eradicate.)
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_This is a stationary photograph. In the movement of the swing the body
+will come still further down._)]
+
+The swing must be slow and balanced, for "the time occupied in coming
+forward should be the body's rest, when the easy, measured swing, erect
+head, braced shoulders, and open chest, enable heart and lungs to work
+freely and easily, in preparation for a defined beginning of the next
+stroke."[3]
+
+  [3] From an article by Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith.
+
+(3) Take hold of your oar, the fingers passing round it, thumbs
+underneath, and the hands one hand's-breadth apart. The grip on the oar
+should be a finger-grip, not the vice-like hold that cramps all the
+muscles of the arm. It is important, too, to remember that, while the
+arms are presumably of the same length, the outside hand (_i.e._ the
+hand at the end of the oar) has, during stroke and swing forward, to
+pass through a larger arc than the inside hand. The inside wrist should,
+therefore, be slightly arched even at the beginning of the stroke, thus
+shortening the inside arm, but without impairing its use during the
+stroke. This arch, too, will give the inside hand a greater leverage and
+ease for performing the work of feathering, which devolves mainly upon
+it.
+
+(4) Draw your oar-handle slowly in till the roots of the thumbs touch
+the chest, the elbows passing close to the sides, and the body
+maintaining the erect position described above in instruction (1), but
+slightly inclined beyond the perpendicular. I assume that the blade of
+the oar is covered in the water in the position it would have at the
+finish of a stroke.
+
+(5) Drop your hands; in fact, not merely the hands, but the forearms and
+hands together. This movement will take the oar clean and square out of
+the water.
+
+(6) Turn your wrists, more particularly the inside wrist, with a quick
+sharp turn. This movement will feather the oar.
+
+(7) Without attempting to move your body, shoot your hands sharply out
+to the full extent of your arms, taking care to keep the blade of the
+oar well clear of the water. Repeat these last three movements several
+times, at first separately, then in combination.
+
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER CATCHING, BEGINNING.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(_Note._--These three movements are sometimes spoken of incorrectly as
+the finish of the stroke. Properly speaking, however, the finish, as
+distinguished from the beginning, is that part of the stroke which is
+rowed through the water from the moment the arms begin to bend until the
+hands come in to the chest. The movements I have described are in
+reality part of the recovery, _i.e._ they are the movements necessary to
+enable the oarsman's body to recover itself after the strain of one
+stroke, and to prepare for the next. Smartly performed, as they ought to
+be, they have all the appearance of one quick motion. As to the dropping
+of the hands, the novice must practise this so as to get his oar square
+and clean out of the water. It is, however, necessary to guard against
+exaggerating it into the pump-handle or coffee-grinding style, which
+merely wastes energy and time. Later on, when an oarsman is rowing in a
+light racing ship, a very slight pressure will enable him to release his
+oar, the movement and elasticity of the boat helping him.)
+
+(8) You have now taken the blade out of the water, feathered it, and
+have shot your hands away, the blade still on the feather, to a point
+beyond the knees. In so doing you will have released your body, which
+you must now swing forward slowly and at a perfectly even pace, in a
+solid column from the hips, as described in instruction 2.
+
+(9) Obviously, if you keep your arms stiff in the shoulder-sockets, you
+will eventually, as your body swings down, force your hands against the
+stretcher, or into the bottom of the boat, with the blade of the oar
+soaring to the level of your head. To avoid this windmill performance
+let your hands, especially the inside hand, rest lightly on the
+oar-handle, and as the body swings down let the hands gradually rise,
+_i.e._ let the angle that the arms make with the body increase. You will
+thus, by the time you have finished your swing, have brought the blade
+close to the water, in readiness to grip the beginning without the loss
+of a fraction of a second.
+
+(10) During the foregoing man[oe]uvre keep your arms absolutely straight
+from shoulder to wrist. Many oarsmen, knowing that they have to get hold
+of the beginning, cramp their arm-muscles and bend their elbows as they
+swing forward, the strain giving them a fictitious feeling of strength.
+But this is a pure delusion, and can only result in waste, both of
+energy and of time.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--POSITION HALF-WAY THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+(11) As you swing, use the inside arm and hand to shove against the oar.
+You will thus keep the button of the oar pressed up against the rowlock,
+a position it ought never even for a moment to lose; you will help to
+steady your swing, and you will go far towards keeping both shoulders
+square. Most novices and many veterans over-reach badly with the outside
+shoulder.
+
+(12) While you are carrying out the last four instructions, your feet,
+save for a slight pressure against the straps during the very first part
+of the recovery (see instruction 23), must remain firmly planted, heel
+and toe, against your stretcher. During your swing you should have a
+distinct sense of balancing with the ball of your foot against the
+stretcher. This resistance of the feet on the stretcher helps to prevent
+you from tumbling forward in a helpless, huddled mass as you reach the
+limit of your forward swing.
+
+(13) As to taking the oar off the feather. Good oars vary considerably
+on this point. Some carry the blade back feathered the whole way, and
+only turn it square just in time to get the beginning of the stroke.
+Others turn it off the feather about half-way through, just before the
+hands come over the stretcher. For a novice, I certainly recommend the
+latter method. Turn your wrists up and square your blade very soon after
+the hands have cleared the knees. It will thus be easier for you to keep
+your button pressed against the rowlock; your hands can balance the oar
+better, and you will not run the risk, to which the former method
+renders you liable, of skying or cocking your blade just when it ought
+to be nearest the water, so as to catch the beginning. A good and
+experienced waterman, however, ought certainly to be able to keep his
+oar on the feather against a high wind until the last available moment.
+The movement of returning the blade to the square position ought to be
+firm and clean.
+
+(14) As the body swings, your hands ought to be at the same time
+stretching and reaching out as if constantly striving to touch something
+which is as constantly evading them.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--POSITION AS ARMS ARE BENDING FOR FINISH.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(15) When you are full forward, the blade of your oar should not be
+quite at a right angle to the water, but the top of it ought to be very
+slightly inclined over, _i.e._ towards the stern of the boat. A blade
+thus held will grip the water cleaner, firmer, and with far less
+back-splash than a blade held absolutely at right angles. Besides,
+you will obviate the danger of "slicing" into the water and rowing too
+deep. At the same time, I am bound to admit that I know only a few oars
+who adopt this plan. One of them, however, is the present President of
+the Oxford University Boat Club, Mr. C. K. Philips, as good a waterman
+as ever sat in a boat. I am quite firmly convinced that the plan is a
+sound one, and I believe if it were more generally followed, we should
+see far less of that uncomfortable and unsightly habit of
+back-splashing, which is too often seen even in good crews.
+
+(16) I have now brought you forward to the full extent of your swing and
+reach. Your back is (or ought to be) straight, your shoulders are firm
+and braced, your chest and stomach still open, though your body is down
+somewhere between your open knees. Your hands have been gradually
+rising, and your oar-blade is, therefore, close to the water. Now raise
+your hands a little more, not so as to splash the blade helplessly to
+the bottom of the river, but with a quick movement as though they were
+passing round a cylinder. When they get to the top of the cylinder the
+blade will be covered in the water. At the same moment, and without the
+loss of a fraction of a second, swing the body and shoulders back as
+though they were released from a spring, the arms remaining perfectly
+straight, and the feet helping by a sharp and vigorous pressure (from
+the ball of the foot, and the toes especially) against the stretcher.
+The result of these rapid combined movements will be that the blade, as
+it immerses itself in the water, will strike it with an irresistible
+force (a sort of crunch, as when you grind your heel into gravel),
+created by the whole weight-power of the body applied through the
+straight lines of the arms, and aided by all the strength of which the
+legs are capable. This, technically speaking, is the beginning of the
+stroke. The outside hand should have a good grip of the oar.
+
+(17) Swing back, as I said, with arms straight. The novice must,
+especially if he has muscular arms, root in his head the idea that the
+arms are during a great part of the stroke connecting rods, and that it
+is futile to endeavour to use them independently of the body-weight,
+which is the real driving power.
+
+(18) Just before the body attains the limit of its back-swing, which
+should be at a point a little beyond the perpendicular, begin to bend
+your arms for the finish of the stroke, and bring the hands square home
+until the roots of the thumbs touch the chest about three inches below
+the separation of the ribs. Here you must be careful not to raise or
+depress the hands. They should sweep in to the chest in an even plane,
+the outside hand drawing the handle firmly home without lugging or
+jerking. As the hands come in, the body finishes its swing, the elbows
+pass close to the sides, pointing downwards, and the shoulders are rowed
+back and kept down. The chest must be open, but not unduly inflated at
+the expense of the stomach, the head erect, and the whole body carrying
+itself easily, gracefully, and without unnecessary stiffness.
+
+(19) Do not meet your oar, _i.e._ keep your body back until the hands
+have come in. If you pull yourself forward to meet your oar, you will
+certainly shorten the stroke, tire yourself prematurely, and will
+probably fail to get the oar clean out of the water or to clear your
+knees on the recovery.
+
+(20) Do not try to force down your legs and flatten the knees as if you
+were rowing on a sliding seat. The mere movement of the body on the
+back swing and the kick off the stretcher will cause a certain
+alteration in the bend of the knees, but this tendency should not be
+consciously increased. Remember that fixed-seat rowing is not now an end
+in itself. It is a stage towards skilled rowing on sliding seats, and
+its chief object is to give the novice practice in certain essential
+elements of the stroke, and particularly in body-swing, which could not
+be so easily taught, if at all, if he were to begin at once on sliding
+seats. Swing is still, as it always has been, all important in good
+rowing, and if a novice attempts to slide (for that is what it comes to)
+on fixed seats he will begin to shuffle and lose swing entirely.
+
+(21) Do not let your body settle down or fall away from your oar at the
+finish. Sit erect on your bones, and do not sink back on to your tail.
+The bones are the pivot on which you should swing.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--THE FINISH.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph. In movement the body would go a little further
+back._)]
+
+(22) The blade of the oar, having been fully covered at the very
+beginning of the stroke, must remain fully covered up to the moment that
+the hands are dropped. If the oarsman, when he bends his arms during the
+stroke, begins to depress his hands, he will row light, _i.e._ the blade
+will be partially uncovered, and will naturally lose power. On the
+other hand, if he raises his hands unduly, he will cover more than the
+blade, and will find great difficulty in extracting it from the water
+properly. The outside hand should control the balance of the oar, and
+keep it at its proper level.
+
+(23) As to the use of the stretcher-straps. Many coaches imagine that
+when they have said, "Do not pull yourself forward by your toes against
+the straps," they have exhausted all that is to be said on the matter. I
+venture, with all deference, to differ from them. I agree that in the
+earlier stages of instruction it is very useful to make men occasionally
+row in tub-pairs without any straps, so as to force them to develop and
+strengthen the muscles of stomach and legs, which ought to do the main
+work of the recovery. But later on, when a man is rowing in an eight,
+and is striving, according to the instructions of his coach, to swing
+his body well and freely back, he can no more recover properly without a
+slight toe-pressure against the straps--the heels, however, remaining
+firm--than he could make bricks without straw. The straps, in fact, are
+a most valuable aid to the recovery. Take them away from a crew and you
+will see one of two things: either the men will never swing nearly even
+to the upright position, and will recover with toil and trouble, or, if
+they swing back properly, they will all fall over backwards with their
+feet in the air. This slight strap-pressure just helps them over the
+difficult part of the recovery; as the body swings forward the feet
+immediately resume their balance against the stretcher. Indeed, if these
+movements are properly performed, you get a very pretty play of the toes
+and the ball of the foot against the stretcher, you counteract the
+tendency of the body to tumble forward, and you materially help the
+beginning from that part of the foot in which the spring resides.
+Totally to forbid men to use their straps seems to me a piece of
+pedantry. On this point I may fortify myself with the opinion of Mr. W.
+B. Woodgate, as given in his "Badminton Book on Boating." I am glad,
+too, to find that Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith, of the London Rowing Club, a
+most finished and beautiful oarsman, whose record of victories at Henley
+is a sufficient testimony to his knowledge and skill, agrees with me. In
+an article published during a recent rowing controversy, he remarks, "I
+think Mr. ---- will find that all men, consciously or unconsciously,
+use the foot-strap more or less, to aid them in the first inch or two of
+recovery. If he doubts this, let him remove the strap and watch results,
+be the oarsman who he may." I need only add that this pressure should
+never be greater than will just suffice to help the body-recovery. If
+exaggerated, its result on slides will be to spoil swing by pulling the
+slide forward in advance of the body.
+
+I have now, I think, taken you through all the complicated movements of
+the stroke, and there for the present I must leave you to carry out as
+best you can instructions which I have endeavoured to make as clear on
+paper as the difficulties of the subject permit. But I may be allowed to
+add a warning. Book-reading may be a help; but rowing, like any other
+exercise, can only be properly learnt by constant and patient practice
+in boats under the eyes of competent instructors. Do not be discouraged
+because your improvement is slow, and because you are continually being
+rated for the same faults. With a slight amount of intelligence and a
+large amount of perseverance and good temper, these faults will
+gradually disappear, and as your limbs and muscles accustom themselves
+to the work, you will be moulded into the form of a skilled oarsman.
+Even the dread being who may be coaching you--winner of the Grand
+Challenge Cup or stroke-oar of his University though he be--had his
+crude and shapeless beginnings. He has passed through the mill, and now
+is great and glorious. But if you imagine that even he is faultless,
+just watch him as he rows, and listen to the remarks that a fearless and
+uncompromising coach permits himself to address to him. And to show you
+that others have suffered and misunderstood and have been misunderstood
+like yourself, I will wind up this chapter with "The Wail of the
+Tubbed," the lyrical complaint of some Cambridge rowing Freshmen.
+
+    "Sir,--We feel we are intruding, but we deprecate your blame,
+    We may plead our youth and innocence as giving us a claim;
+    We should blindly grope unaided in our efforts to do right,
+    So we look to you with confidence to make our darkness light.
+
+    "We are Freshmen--rowing Freshmen; we have joined our college club,
+    And are getting quite accustomed to our daily dose of tub;
+    We have all of us bought uniforms, white, brown, or blue, or red,
+    We talk rowing shop the livelong day, and dream of it in bed.
+
+    "We sit upon our lexicons as 'Happy as a King'
+    (We refer you to the picture), and we practise how to swing;
+    We go every day to chapel, we are never, never late,
+    And we exercise our backs when there, and always keep them straight.
+
+    "We shoot our hands away--on land--as quick as any ball:
+    Balls always shoot, they tell us, when rebounding from a wall.
+    We decline the noun 'a bucket,' and should deem it--well, a bore,
+    If we 'met,' when mainly occupied in oarsmanship, our oar.
+
+    "But still there are a few things that our verdant little band,
+    Though we use our best endeavours, cannot fully understand.
+    So forgive us if we ask you, sir--we're dull, perhaps, but keen--
+    To explain these solemn mysteries and tell us what they mean.
+
+    "For instance, we have heard a coach say, "Five, you're very rank;
+    Mind those eyes of yours, they're straying, always straying,
+                                                           on the bank.'
+    We are not prone to wonder, but we looked with some surprise
+    At the owner of those strangely circumambulating eyes.
+
+    "There's a stroke who 'slices awfully,' and learns without remorse
+    That his crew are all to pieces at the finish of the course;
+    There's A., who 'chucks his head about,' and B.,
+                                                who 'twists and screws,'
+    Like an animated gimlet in a pair of shorts and shoes.
+
+    "And C. is 'all beginning,' so remark his candid friends;
+    It must wear him out in time, we think, this stroke that never ends.
+    And though D. has no beginning, yet his finish is A1;
+    How can that possess a finish which has never been begun?
+
+    "And E. apparently would be an oar beyond compare,
+    If the air were only water and the water only air.
+    And F., whose style is lofty, doubtless has his reasons why
+    He should wish to scrape the judgment seat, when rowing, from the sky.
+
+    "Then G. is far too neat for work, and H. is far too rough;
+    There's J., who lugs, they say, too much, and K. not half enough;
+    There's L., who's never fairly done, and M., who's done too brown,
+    And N., who can't stand training, and poor O., who can't sit down.
+
+    "And P. is much too limp to last; there's Q. too stiffly starched;
+    And R., poor fool, whose inside wrist is never 'nicely arched.'
+    And, oh, sir, if you pity us, pray tell us, if you please,
+    What is meant by 'keep your button up,' and 'flatten down your knees.'
+
+    "If an oar may be described as 'he,' there's no death half so grim
+    As the death like which we hang on with our outside hands to 'him;'
+    But in spite of all our efforts, we have never grasped, have you?
+    How _not_ to use 'those arms' of ours, and yet to pull it through.
+
+    "S. 'never pulled his shoestrings.' If a man must pull at all,
+    Why uselessly pull shoestrings? Such a task would surely pall.
+    But T.'s offence is worse than that, he'll never get his Blue,
+    He thinks rowing is a pastime--well, we own we thought so too.
+
+    "Then V.'s 'a shocking sugarer,' how bitter to be that!
+    X. flourishes his oar about as if it were a bat;
+    And Y. should be provided, we imagine, with a spade,
+    Since he always 'digs,' instead of 'merely covering his blade.'
+
+    "Lastly, Z.'s a 'real old corker,' who will never learn to work,
+    For he puts his oar in gently and extracts it with a jerk.
+    Oh! never has there been, we trow, since wickedness began,
+    Such a mass of imperfections as the perfect rowing man.
+
+P.S. BY TWO CYNICS.
+
+    "So they coach us and reproach us (like a flock of silly jays
+    Taught by parrots how to feather) through these dull October days.
+    We shall never understand them, so we shouldn't care a dam[4]
+    If they all were sunk in silence at the bottom of the Cam."
+
+  [4] Dam--an Oriental coin of small value.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS.
+
+
+Let me assume (I am still addressing my imaginary novice) that you have
+passed through the first few stages of your novitiate. If you are an
+Oxford or a Cambridge freshman you will have been carefully drilled in a
+tub-pair, promoted later to a freshmen's four or eight, and during the
+next term may have been included in the Torpid or Lent-Boat of your
+College. At any rate, I am assuming that you have by now rowed in a race
+or a series of races for eight-oared crews on fixed seats. But I prefer
+to leave the general subject of combined rowing, whether in eights or
+fours, to a later chapter, while I attempt to explain the mysteries and
+difficulties of the sliding seat.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+The slide may be described as a contrivance for increasing the length of
+the stroke (_i.e._ of the period during which, the oar-blade remaining
+covered in the water, power is applied to the propulsion of the
+boat), and for giving greater effect to the driving force of the
+oarsman's legs. Long before the actual sliding seat had been invented
+professional oarsmen and scullers had discovered that if they slid on
+their fixed thwarts they increased the pace of their boats, and even
+amongst amateurs this practice was not unknown. Mr. R. H. Labat has told
+me that so far back as 1870 he and his colleagues fitted their rowing
+trousers with leather, greased their thwarts, and so slid on them. In
+1872 slides were used at Henley Regatta, and in 1873 the Oxford and
+Cambridge crews for the first time rowed their race on slides, Cambridge
+winning in 19 mins. 35 secs., which remained as record time until 1892.
+This performance, though it was undoubtedly helped by good conditions of
+tide and wind, served to establish slides firmly in popular favour, and
+from that time onwards fixed seats were practically retained only for
+the coaching of novices and, in eights, for the Torpids and Lent Races
+at Oxford and Cambridge. Now, proceeding on the principle that rowing is
+meant to be an exercise of grace, symmetry, and skill, as well as of
+strength and endurance, I think I may lay it down as an essential rule
+that it is necessary on slides to observe those instructions which made
+fixed-seat rowing in the old days a pleasure to the eye. In the very
+early days of slides, while men were still groping for correct
+principles, this important axiom was too often neglected. It was
+imagined that swing was no longer necessary, and accordingly the rivers
+were filled with contorted oarsmen shuffling and tumbling and screwing
+on their slides. Veteran oars and coaches, to whom "form" was as the
+apple of their eye, were horror-struck, and gave vent to loud
+lamentations, utterly condemning this horrible innovation, which, as
+they thought, had reduced oarsmanship to the level of a rough and tumble
+fight. "If both Universities," wrote the Rev. A. T. W. Shadwell in his
+"Notes on Boat-building," published in the "Record of the University
+Boat Race" in 1881, "would condescend to ask Dr. Warre to construct for
+them, and if their crews would also either learn to use the sliding
+apparatus effectively, or to discard it as pernicious and as an enemy to
+real oarsmanship when not thoroughly mastered, then we should be treated
+again to the welcome spectacle of boats travelling instead of
+dragging, riding over the water instead of the water washing over the
+canvas, combined with that still more-to-be-desired spectacle of
+faultless form and faultless time--eight men ground into one perfect
+machine. Nothing short of that result will satisfy those who know what
+eight-oared rowing ought to be, and lament its decadence." Yet Cambridge
+had produced the 1876 crew, Oxford the 1878 crew, both of them models of
+style, unison and strength, and Leander both in 1875 and in 1880 had won
+the Grand Challenge Cup with admirable crews composed exclusively of
+University men. It would seem, therefore, as if Mr. Shadwell's
+strictures were undeserved, at least by the better class of University
+oars. The fact is that by that time, and for some years before that
+time, the true principles of sliding had been acquired, and the more
+serious defects of form had once more become the cherished possession of
+inferior college crews. But then, even in the glorious old fixed-seat
+days, College crews were not always remarkable for the beauty and
+correctness of their form. I am not going to deny that the difficulty of
+teaching good style has been increased by the addition of the sliding
+seat; but there have been innumerable examples during the last quarter
+of a century to prove that this difficulty can be faced and entirely
+overcome. Four crews I have already mentioned. I may add to them, not as
+exhausting the list of good crews, but as being splendid examples of
+combined style and power, the London Rowing Club crew of 1881, which won
+the final of the Grand from the outside station against Leander and
+Twickenham; the Oxford crews of 1892, 1896 and 1897; the crews of
+Trinity Hall, the Oxford Etonians, and the Thames Rowing Club in 1886
+and 1887; the Cambridge crew and the Thames Rowing Club crew of 1888;
+the London Rowing Club crew of 1890; the Leander crews of 1891, 1893,
+1894 and 1896; and the New College and Leander crews of the present
+year. It is fortunate that this should be so, for, the proof of the
+pudding being in the eating, it is hardly likely that crews will abandon
+a device which, while it has actually increased pace over the Henley
+course by close on half a minute, has rendered skill and watermanship of
+higher value, and has given an additional effect to physical strength.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_As the recovery movements begin, the hands have been dropped and the
+wrists have begun to turn over for feather. Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--THE RECOVERY.
+
+(_Arms have been sharply straightened out and the body has been released
+for the swing._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--FORWARD POSITION ON 16 INCH SLIDE LEVEL WITH "WORK."
+
+(_In movement the body would swing a little further forward, the chest
+pressing against left knee._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+During my undergraduate days at Cambridge, and for some years afterwards
+(say, up to about 1884), the slide-tracks in racing boats were
+sixteen inches long.[5] This, allowing seven inches as the breadth of
+the seat itself, would give the slide a "play," or movement, of nine
+inches. The front-stop, which forms the limit of the forward movement of
+the slide, was fixed so as to bring the front edge of the slide to a
+point five inches from the "work," _i.e._ from a line drawn straight
+across the boat from the back, or rowing, thole. At the finish of the
+stroke, therefore, when the slide had been driven full back, its front
+edge was fourteen inches away from the work. To put it in technical
+language, we slid up to five inches from our work and finished fourteen
+inches away from it. Since that time slides have become longer, and
+there are but few racing boats in which the slide-tracks are less than
+twenty-two or even twenty-three inches long, giving the slide a play of
+fifteen or sixteen inches. The front edge of the slide now moves forward
+(when I say "forward" I speak in relation to the movement of the body
+and not in relation to the ends of the boat) to a point which is level
+with the work. In other words, we now slide up to our work and finish
+fifteen or sixteen inches from it. On these long slides, when the body
+has attained the full reach, the flanks are closed in upon the thighs,
+the knees are bent until the thighs come fairly close to the calves,
+and, _ex necessario_, the ankle-joints are very much bent. It is plain
+that great flexibility of hip-joints, knees, and ankles must be attained
+in order that the slide may be used fully up to the last fraction of an
+inch in coming forward. This flexibility very few novices, and not all
+old stagers, possess. The muscles and joints at first absolutely refuse
+to accommodate themselves to this new strain, and you will see a man as
+he slides forward, taking his heels well off the stretcher in order to
+ease the strain upon his ankles, and moving his shoulders back long
+before his oar has gripped the water in order to relieve his hip-joints.
+This results in his missing the whole of his beginning, striking the
+water at right-angles to his rigger instead of well behind it, and
+having absolutely no firmness of drive when it becomes necessary for him
+to use his legs. In order, therefore, that matters may be made easier
+for novices, and that they may be brought on gradually, I strongly
+advise coaches to start them on slides much shorter than those now
+in vogue. A slide with a play of eight inches, coming to a point six
+inches from the work, is ample. A few days will make a wonderful
+difference, and later on, when the first stiffness has worn off and the
+movements have become easier, the slide can be gradually increased. At
+Oxford and Cambridge the proper seasons for such preliminary practice
+would be the Lent Term, when Torpids and Lent Races are over, and the
+beginning of the October term, when many College clubs--at any rate at
+Cambridge--organize Sliding-seat Trial Eights in clinker-built boats.
+
+  [5] The Metropolitan rowing clubs had, I believe, lengthened their
+  sliding some time before this.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph. N.B.--Head inserted by engraver._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 6.--POSITION OF BODY ABOUT HALF THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+Two further points remain to be noticed. On fixed seats the ankles
+hardly bend up as the body swings forward, and it is possible,
+therefore, to use a stretcher fixed almost erect in the boat, the seat
+being placed eleven or twelve inches from the work. But with slides, as
+I have explained, the seat moves to a point which in racing boats is now
+level with the work, and few ankles are capable of submitting to the
+strain which would be involved if the stretchers were set up as erect
+("proud" is the technical term) as they are with fixed seats. It is
+necessary, therefore, to set the stretchers more off on an incline
+(technically, to "rake" them). It will be found, I think, that,
+assuming a stretcher to be one foot in height, a set-off of nine inches
+will be amply sufficient for most novices, even on full slides.[6] I
+have myself never found any difficulty in maintaining my feet firm on a
+stretcher of this rake or even of less, and I have known some very
+supple-jointed men, _e.g._ Mr. H. Willis, of the Leander Crews of 1896
+and 1897, who preferred to row with a stretcher set up a good deal
+prouder. But the average oar is not very supple-jointed, though his
+facility in this respect can be greatly improved by practice. To make
+things easier--and after all our object should be to smooth away all the
+oarsman's external difficulties--I consider it advisable to fix
+heel-traps to the stretcher. This simple device, by the pressure which
+it exercises against the back of the heels, counteracts their tendency
+to come away from the stretcher; but even with heel-traps, I have seen
+stiff-jointed oarsmen make the most superbly successful efforts to bring
+their heels away.
+
+  [6] The angle made by the back of the stretcher and the kelson may vary
+  from 43� to 53�. Personally, I prefer 50�. The prouder (up to a certain
+  point) you set the stretcher the firmer will your leg-power be at the
+  finish of the stroke.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 7.--POSITION JUST BEFORE FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_The hands have still to come in to chest and a few inches of slide
+remain for final leg-pressure._)]
+
+The second point is this: With sliding seats you require an oar of
+longer leverage (_i.e._ inboard measurement from rowing-face of
+button to end of handle) than with fixed seats. For a fixed seat an oar
+with a leverage of 3 ft. 5-1/2 ins. should suffice. With long slides the
+leverage of an oar should not be less than 3 ft. 8 ins., nor more than 3
+ft. 8-1/2 ins. For this I assume that the distance of the centre of the
+seat from the sill of the row-lock is 2 ft. 7 ins. With regard to
+leverage, there is a practical unanimity of opinion amongst modern
+oarsmen. With regard to the outboard measurement of oars and the proper
+width of blade, they differ somewhat, but I can reserve this matter for
+the next chapter, merely premising that in any case it is not advisable
+to start your novices in gigs with oar-blades broader than 5-3/4 ins.
+
+Let me imagine, then, that my pupil is seated in the gig, his stretcher
+having been fixed at a point that will enable him, when his slide is
+full back, and he is sitting on it easily without pressing, to have his
+knees _slightly_ bent.
+
+And now to the business of instruction.
+
+1. Remember and endeavour to apply all the lessons you have learnt on
+fixed seats. Slides add another element to the stroke. They do not alter
+the elements you have previously been taught.
+
+2. BEGINNING.--Get hold of this just as you would on a fixed seat, with
+a sharp spring of the whole body, which thus begins its swing-back
+without the loss of a fraction of time.
+
+    (_a_) The natural tendency of a tiro will be to drive his slide away
+      before his shoulders have begun to move. This must at all costs be
+      avoided. In order to secure the effectual combination of
+      body-swing and leg-work, it is essential that the swing should
+      start first.
+
+    (_b_) It is equally reprehensible to swing the body full back before
+      starting the slide; you thus cut the stroke into two distinct
+      parts, one composed of mere body-swing, the other of mere
+      leg-work. Therefore:
+
+(2) When the body-swing backwards has started, but only the smallest
+fractional part of a second afterwards--so quickly, indeed, as to appear
+to the eye of a spectator almost a simultaneous movement--let the slide
+begin to travel back, the swing meanwhile continuing.
+
+    (_a_) Remember what was said in fixed-seat instructions as to the
+      use of the toes and the ball of the foot at the beginning of the
+      stroke. On slides this is even more important.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 8.--BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, head left behind._)]
+
+(3) Body and slide are now moving back in unison, the feet pressing with
+firm and steady pressure against the stretcher, _and the arms perfectly
+straight_. As the slide moves, the leg-power applied must on no account
+diminish. If anything it ought to increase, for the body is beginning to
+lose its impetus, and the main part of the resistance is transferred to
+the legs, the blade all the time moving at an even pace through the
+water.
+
+(4) The body must swing a little further back than on a fixed seat.
+
+(5) Body-swing and slide-back should end at the same moment.
+
+(6) As they end, the knees should be pressed firmly down so as to enable
+you to secure the last ounce of leg-power from the stretcher.
+Simultaneously with this depression of the legs, the hands (and
+particularly the outside hand, which has been doing the main share of
+the work of the stroke all through) must bring the oar-handle firmly
+home to the chest, sweeping it in and thus obtaining what is called a
+firm hard finish. As the knees come finally down, the elbows pass the
+sides, and the shoulders move back and downwards.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 9.--THOROUGHLY BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, back doubled over, arms bent, hands heavy on
+handle. A position entailing great labour and resulting in a short weak
+stroke._)]
+
+    (_a_) Mr. W. B. Woodgate, in the Badminton book on "Boating," says:
+      "Many good oarsmen slide until the knees are quite straight. In
+      the writer's opinion this is waste of power: the knees should
+      never quite straighten; the recovery is, for anatomical reasons,
+      much stronger if the joint is slightly bent when the reversal of
+      the machinery commences. The extra half-inch of kick gained by
+      quite straightening the knees hardly compensates for the extra
+      strain of recovery; also leg-work to the last fraction of a second
+      of swing is better preserved by this retention of a slight bend,
+      and an open chest and clean finish are thereby better attained."
+
+    If Mr. Woodgate means that the legs are _not_ to be pressed down as
+      the stroke finishes, but are to remain loosely bent, I differ from
+      him, though, considering his high authority, with hesitation and
+      regret. As a matter of fact, the front edge of the thwart catches
+      the calves of the legs at the finish, when the legs are pressed
+      down, and prevents the knees from being _absolutely_
+      straightened. But I am certain that unless an oarsman assures his
+      legs in the firm position that I have explained, he will lose most
+      valuable power at the end of the stroke, and will materially
+      increase his difficulty in taking his oar clean out of the water
+      and generally in getting a smart recovery. This final leg-pressure
+      not only supports the body in a somewhat trying position, but
+      enables the hands to come home to the chest without faltering. As
+      on fixed seats, it is essential that the body should not be pulled
+      forward to meet the oar. And it is equally essential that it
+      should not sink down or fall away from the hands, thus rendering
+      an elastic recovery impossible.
+
+    (_b_) The blade, as on fixed seats, must be kept fully covered to
+      the finish, and there must be power on it to the last fraction of
+      an inch. If a man takes his oar out of the water before he has
+      fairly ended his stroke, and rows his finish in the air, or if he
+      partially uncovers his blade and rows "light," he commits in
+      either case a serious fault. In the former case his whole
+      body-weight, which ought to be propelling the boat, not only
+      ceases to have any good effect, but becomes so much dead lumber,
+      and actually impedes her progress. In the latter he can only exert
+      half, or, it may be, one quarter of his proper power during an
+      appreciable part of the stroke.
+
+(7) The drop of the hands, the turn of the wrists, the shoot-out of the
+hands, and the straightening of the arms must be performed precisely as
+on a fixed seat, but the legs, meanwhile, are to remain braced, so that
+knees may not hamper hands. As soon as ever the hands have been shot
+out, and _immediately_ after the start of the forward swing, the slide
+comes into play, and the knees consequently begin to bend outwards and
+upwards. It is very important not to pause or "hang" on the recovery.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 10.--A THOROUGHLY BAD AND VERY COMMON POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body lying much too far back, elbows sticking out. From such a
+position a smart and elastic recovery is impossible._)]
+
+(8) The recovery movements ought to release the body smartly, but care
+must be taken not to hustle the body forward with a rush before the arms
+are straightened. The body _begins_ to swing _from the hips_ as soon
+as the hands release it, but the swing is to be a slow one.
+
+    (_a_) Do not begin to slide forward before you swing. Let your swing
+      just have the precedence, and let it then carry your slide with
+      it.
+
+(9) The pace of the swing forward must be slow and unvarying, and the
+slide, therefore, must also move slowly. The time occupied by the swing
+should be the body's rest.
+
+(10) Remember the fixed-seat instructions as to balance against the
+stretcher with the feet during the swing forward, and especially during
+the latter part of it. The fault of tumbling forward over the stretcher
+is far too common, and can only be avoided or corrected by maintaining
+the pressure on the stretcher. In fact, never let your body get out of
+control. You ought to feel and to look as if at any moment during the
+swing forward you could stop dead at the word of command. Swing and
+slide should practically end together, the body "snaking out," as I have
+heard it expressed, in the final part of the swing, but without
+"pecking" over the front-stop. There must be no over-reach with the
+shoulders.
+
+(11) When the body is full forward the knees should be opened to about
+the breadth of the arm-pits, the flanks closed in against the thighs.
+The knees should bend steadily and gradually into this position, and at
+the moment of beginning they must maintain themselves there and not fall
+loosely apart. Such a movement entails a great loss of power at the
+beginning of the next stroke. Nor, on the other hand, ought the knees to
+be clipped together as the stroke begins.
+
+(12) Remember, finally, that grace, erectness, straightness of back and
+arms, and a clean precision, balance and elasticity of all movements are
+as important now as they were on fixed seats. A man who on slides rounds
+his back, humps up his shoulders, and hollows his chest _may_ do good
+work, but it will be in spite of and not because of these serious
+disfigurements. Only by carefully observing fixed rules and by prolonged
+practice will you be able to attain to the harmonious ease and elegance
+by which a comparatively weak man can so economize his strength as to
+outrow and outlast some brawny giant who wastes his power in useless
+contortions.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 11.--ANOTHER BAD POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body doubled up over handle of oar, elbows sticking out. With the body
+in this position heart and lungs get no chance of working properly._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS.
+
+
+The novice, having passed successfully through his period of
+apprenticeship, is by this time ready, let us suppose, to be included in
+an eight-oared, sliding-seat crew, either for his college or for the
+rowing club to which he may happen to belong. He will marvel at first at
+the fragile and delicate fabric of the craft in which he is asked to
+take his place. One-eighth of an inch of cedar divides him from the
+waters that are to be the scene of his prowess. In stepping into the
+boat he must exercise the greatest care. The waterman and the coxswain
+are firmly holding the riggers, while the oarsman, placing a hand on
+each gunwale to support himself, steps cautiously with one foot on to
+the kelson, or backbone of the ship. Then he seats himself upon his
+slide, fits his feet into the stretcher-straps, and inserts his oar in
+the rowlock, finally getting the button into its proper place by
+raising the handle, and so working at it until the button comes in under
+the string that passes from thole to thole, and keeps the oar from
+flying out of the rowlock. His seven companions having performed the
+same feats, the boat is now shoved out from the bank, and the work of
+the day begins.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 1.--JUST BEFORE FULL REACH.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 2.--FULL REACH.
+
+("_Reach out and row!_")]
+
+The oarsman who thus takes his first voyage in a racing-ship, built, as
+all racing-ships are, without a keel, must remember that her stability,
+when she contains her crew, is obtained merely by the balance of the
+oars. Remove the oars, and the boat would immediately roll over to one
+side or the other, and immerse her crew in the water. With eight bodies
+and oars in a constant state of movement, the problem of keeping the
+boat upon an even keel is not an easy one. It can only be solved
+satisfactorily in one way: There must be absolute harmony in every
+movement. The hands must come in and out at the same moment and at the
+same level, and the oar-blades must necessarily be maintained, on the
+feather and throughout the swing, at the uniform level prescribed for
+them by the harmonious movement of eight pairs of hands. The bodies must
+begin, continue, and end the swing together; the blades must strike
+the water at precisely the same moment; all the bodies must swing back
+as if released from one spring; the slides must move together; the arms
+bend as by one simultaneous impulse; and the eight oar-blades, having
+swept through the water in a uniform plane, must leave it as though they
+were part of a single machine, and not moved by eight independent wills.
+When this unison of movements has been attained by long and persevering
+practice, marred by frequent periods of disappointment, by knuckles
+barked as the boat rolls and the hands scrape along the gunwale, and by
+douches of cold water as the oars splash, then, and not till then, may
+it be said that a crew has got together.
+
+The above details concern the harmony and unison of the crew. It is
+obvious, however, that the eight men who compose it may be harmonized
+into almost any kind of style, and it is important, therefore, to settle
+what is the best style--the style, that is, which will secure the
+greatest possible pace at the smallest cost of effort. In the first
+place, then, you must remember and endeavour to apply all the
+instructions I have laid down in the two previous chapters. These were
+framed upon the supposition that you were trying to qualify yourself to
+row eventually in a light racing-ship. Summing these up generally, and
+without insisting again upon details, I may say that you are required to
+have a long, steady, and far-reaching body-swing; you must grip the
+beginning of the stroke well behind the rigger at the full reach forward
+without the loss of a fraction of a second, with a vigorous spring back
+of the whole body, so as to apply the body-weight immediately to the
+blade of the oar. As your body swings back, your feet are to press
+against the stretcher and drive the slide back, in order that, by the
+combination of body-swing and leg-drive, you may retain the power which
+you have applied at the beginning evenly throughout the whole of the
+stroke. It is essential that the body should not fall away at the
+finish, but maintain an easy, graceful position, so that, with a final
+pressure of the legs, the swing of the elbows past the sides, and a
+rowing back of the shoulders which opens the chest, the hands may be
+swept fair and square home, the oar-blade being meanwhile covered, but
+not more than covered, from the moment it enters the water until it is
+taken clean out. The hands must then leave the chest as a
+billiard-ball rebounds from the cushion, in order that you may have a
+smart and elastic recovery. This swift motion of the hands straightens
+the arms, and releases the body for its forward swing. The body-swing
+forward, as I cannot too often repeat, must be slow, especially during
+its latter part; in fact, during that swing, a perfect balance must be
+maintained, the feet being well planted against the stretcher. When a
+man rows in this style with seven other men, in absolute time and
+harmony with them, he will find a rhythmical pleasure and a delightful
+ease in movements which at the outset were cramped and difficult. Then,
+as he swings his body, grips the water and drives his swirling oar-blade
+through, he will feel that every ounce of strength he puts forth has its
+direct and appreciable influence upon the pace of the boat. Not for him
+then will it be to envy the bird in its flight, as, with all his muscles
+braced, his lungs clear, and his heart beating soundly, he helps to make
+his craft move like a thing of life over the water.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 3.--JUST AFTER BEGINNING OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 4.--SLIDES BEGINNING TO MOVE.]
+
+That is the ideal. Let us come down to the actual. I will imagine myself
+to be coaching an average crew in a racing-ship.
+
+I must first of all assure myself that the boat is properly rigged, and
+that the men have a fair chance of rowing with comfort. The thole-pins
+should stand absolutely straight from the sill of the rowlock. If the
+rowing-pin is bent outwards towards the water in the slightest degree,
+the oar will have a tendency to "slice," and a feather under water will
+be the result. The actual wood of the rowing-pin, however, should be
+slightly filed away at the bottom, so as to incline a very, very little
+towards the stern of the boat. Care must be taken also to have a
+sufficient width between the thole-pins to prevent the oar from locking
+on the full reach. The rowlock-strings must be taut. They must have a
+sufficient pressure on the oar to prevent the button being forced out of
+the rowlock. For these and other details, the table of measurements
+given at the end of this chapter should be consulted.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 5.--ARMS ABOUT TO BEND FOR FINISH OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 6.--ARMS BENT FOR FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+("_Sit Up No. 3!_")]
+
+In this crew I will suppose that five of the members have already had
+experience in lightship rowing. The three others--bow, No. 3, and No.
+4--are quite new to the game. I point out to these three, to begin with,
+the importance of balancing the boat by having their arms rigidly
+straight as they swing forward, so as to be able, by the slightest
+amount of give and take from the shoulders, to counteract any tendency
+to roll, by sitting firmly on their seats, and not shifting about to
+right or to left, and by keeping their feet well on the stretchers. That
+done, the words of command will come from the cox. "Get ready all!" (At
+this command, the oarsmen divest themselves of all unnecessary
+clothing.) "Forward all!" (The oarsmen swing and slide forward to within
+about two-thirds of the full-reach position, the backs of the blades
+lying flat upon the water.) "Are you ready?" (This is merely a call to
+attention.) "Paddle!" (At this the blades are turned over square, and
+immediately grip the water, and the boat starts.) During the progress of
+this imaginary crew, I propose to invest them individually and
+collectively with certain faults, and to offer suggestions for their
+improvement, just as if I were coaching them from the bank or from a
+steam-launch.
+
+(1) "Stroke, you're tumbling forward over your stretcher. Keep the last
+part of your swing very slow by balancing against the stretcher with
+your feet as you swing forward. That's better. You got a beginning twice
+as hard that time."
+
+(2) "Seven, you're feathering under water. Keep pressure on to the very
+finish of the stroke, and drop your hands a little more, so as to get
+the oar out square and clean. Use the legs well at the finish."
+
+(3) "Six, you're very slow with your hands. Consequently, your body
+rushes forward to make up for lost time. Shoot the hands away quickly,
+with a sharp turn of the inside wrist. Then let the body follow slowly."
+
+(4) "Five, you slide too soon and fall away from your oar at the finish.
+Get your shoulders and the whole of your body-weight well on to the
+beginning, so as to start swinging back before you drive your slide
+away. At the finish keep your shoulders down and sit up well upon your
+bones."
+
+(5) "Four and three, your blades are coming out of the water long before
+any of the others. This is because you are afraid of reaching properly
+forward. You therefore get your oars in scarcely if at all behind the
+rigger, and consequently there is not enough resistance to your oar in
+the water to enable you to hold out the stroke fully to the finish.
+Swing, and reach well forward, and let your oars strike the beginning at
+the point to which your reach has brought it. You may splash at first,
+but with a little confidence you will soon get over that. Three, you're
+late. As you come forward you press heavily on the handle of your oar,
+the blade soars up, and is coming down through the air when the rest
+have struck the water. Keep your hands, especially the inside one, light
+on the handle of the oar, and let them come up as the body swings
+forward."
+
+(6) "Two, your arms are bending too soon. Try to swing back with
+perfectly straight arms. Don't imagine that you can row your stroke
+merely by the power of your arms. Also try and keep your shoulders down
+at the finish and on the recovery."
+
+(7) "Bow, swing back straight. Your body is falling out of the boat at
+the finish. Use the outside leg and hand more firmly through the stroke,
+and row the hands a little higher in to the chest; also arch the inside
+of the wrist a little more to help you in turning the oar on the
+feather."
+
+So much for individuals. Now for the crew.
+
+(1) "The finish and recovery are not a bit together. I can almost hear
+eight distinct sounds as the oars turn in the rowlocks. Try and lock it
+up absolutely together. There ought to be a sound like the turning of a
+key in a well-oiled lock--sharp, single, and definite."
+
+(_Note._--This is a very important point. On the unison with which the
+wrists turn and the hands shoot away depends the unison of the next
+stroke. When once, in coaching, you have locked your crew together on
+this point, you will greatly decrease the difficulty of the rest of your
+task.)
+
+(2) "Don't let the boat roll down on the bow oars. Stroke side, catch
+the beginning a little sharper. Bow side, when the roll of the boat
+begins, do not give in to it by still further lowering your hands. Keep
+your hands up." (The same instruction applies, _mutatis mutandis_, when
+the boat rolls on the stroke oars. Apart from individual eccentricities,
+a boat is often brought down on the one bank of oars by the fact that
+the opposite side, or one or two of them, grip the water a little too
+late.)
+
+(3) "You are all of you slow with your hands. Rattle them out sharply,
+and make your recovery much more lively. Steady now! don't rush forward.
+Keep the swing slow and long. You are all much too short on the swing,
+and consequently get no length in the water."
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 7.--A BAD LURCH ON TO STROKE-SIDE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 8.--A LURCH ON TO BOW-SIDE.]
+
+[(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move, and mould
+yourself on their movement."
+
+(5) "You have fallen to pieces again. Use your ears as well as your
+eyes, and listen for the rattle of the oars in the rowlocks. Whenever
+you fall to pieces, try to rally on that point. Also plant your feet
+firmly on the stretchers, and use your legs more when the boat rolls."
+
+These, I think, are a fair sample of the faults that may be found in
+almost any crew, and to their eradication coach and oarsmen have
+patiently to devote themselves.
+
+
+MEASUREMENTS OF AN EIGHT-OARED RACING-BOAT.
+
+For purposes of convenience, I have taken the following measurements
+from a boat built by Rough for Leander, in 1891. In that year she
+carried a very heavy crew, who won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in
+record time. She repeated her Grand Challenge victory in 1892 and 1893,
+with crews very differently constituted from the first one:--
+
+                                                      ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                  60   3
+
+  (2) Beam amidships, under gunwale                     1  11
+
+  (3) Depth    "        "      "                        1   1
+
+  (4) Height of thwarts above skin of boat              0   7-1/8
+
+  (5)   "       seats     "         "                   0   9-1/8[7]
+
+  (6)   "       rowlock sills above seat                0   6-7/8
+
+  (7)   "       heels above skin of boat                0   1-1/4
+
+  (8) Position of front edge of slide in relation to
+        rowing-pin when well forward                    level
+
+  (9) Length of movement of slide                       1   4
+
+  (10) Distance from rowing-pin, measured horizontally
+         and at right angles to boat, to centre of seat 2   7
+
+  (11) Distance from wood of one thole-pin to wood
+         of the other                                   0   4-7/8
+
+This boat, like nearly all English Eights, was "side-seated," _i.e._ the
+centre of the seat, instead of being over the kelson, was set away from
+it, and from the outrigger. Bow's and stroke's seats were 2-1/2 ins.
+from centre, No. 5's 3-1/2 ins. Nearly all Fours and Pairs in England
+are now centre-seated, as are Eights in America. Of course, with
+centre-seating, assuming that you want the same leverage, you require a
+longer outrigger. Otherwise, the only difference between the two systems
+would seem to be that with centre-seating you naturally align the bodies
+better.
+
+  [7] A few very short-bodied men have to be "built-up," _i.e._ their
+  seats have to be raised even higher than this to enable them to clear
+  their knees and to swing. This, however, should not be done unless
+  absolutely necessary, as it tends to make the boat unsteady.
+
+Since 1891 boat-builders have somewhat increased the length of the boats
+they build, and it is not uncommon now to find boats with a measurement
+of 63 feet and a few inches over all. The boat whose measurements I have
+given had, if I remember rightly, a slightly wider beam at No. 3
+stretcher than she had amidships. I have noticed, and my experience in
+this respect confirms that of Mr. W. B. Woodgate, though it is entirely
+opposed to the Rev. A. T. Shadwell's theories, that a boat with a full
+beam somewhere between No. 4 and No. 3 is always a fast one. A boat
+should never dip her head, but should always maintain it free.
+
+
+MEASUREMENT OF OARS.
+
+On this matter there is now a great divergence of opinion amongst rowing
+men. From 1891 inclusive up to the present year, the Leander crews have,
+with trifling divergences, rowed with oars built on the following
+measurements:--
+
+                                                             ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                         12   0
+
+  (2) Length in-board, _i.e._ measured from rowing face
+        of bottom to end of handle                             3   8
+
+  [_Note._--In some cases an extra half-inch was
+      added, which would make the length over all             12   0-1/2]
+
+  (3) Length of button from top to bottom, measured
+        in a straight line                                     0   3-1/4
+
+  (4) Length of blade measured over the arc of the
+        scoop                                                  2   7
+
+  (5) Breadth of blade                                         0   6
+
+[_Note._--These are what are called square blades, _i.e._ the widest
+part came at the end. Barrel blades are those in which the widest part
+comes about the middle. In 1893 an extra half-inch was added out-board.
+In 1896 the length of the Leander oars over all was only 11 ft. 11-1/8
+ins., the in-board measurement being 3 ft. 8 ins. With these oars the
+Leander crew defeated Yale, and in the next heat, after a very severe
+struggle, rowed down and defeated New College, who were rowing with oars
+three inches longer out-board. Here are the measurements of the oars
+with which the Eton crew won the Ladies' Plate in 1885--
+
+                                            ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                                  12    6
+
+  In-board                                   3    7-1/2
+
+  Length of blade                            2    5
+
+  Breadth of blade near shank                0    6-3/8
+
+     "         "   at end                    0    5
+
+(These blades were "coffin"-shaped on a pattern invented by Dr. Warre.)]
+
+_Measurement of Oars of Oxford Crew, 1890._
+
+                                ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                      12    3-1/8
+
+  In-board                       3    8-1/2
+
+  Length of blade                2    7
+
+  Greatest breadth               0    6-1/2
+
+  (These were barrel blades.)
+
+In 1896 the Oxford crew rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 2 ins. over
+all, with a leverage of 3 ft. 8-1/4 ins., and blade 6 ins. broad. With
+these, it will be remembered, they rowed down and defeated Cambridge,
+after a magnificent struggle, by two-fifths of a length, Cambridge using
+oars measuring some 3 ins. longer out-board. It will thus be seen that
+short oars have a very good record to support them--especially over the
+Henley course. This year, however, a reaction took place at Oxford in
+favour of longer oars with narrower blades. The Oxford Eight of this
+year rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 6 ins. over all, the extra length
+being, of course, out-board, and their blades were cut down to a breadth
+of 5-1/2 ins. They were, by common consent, a very fine crew, but were
+unable to command a fast rate of stroke, and in the race against an
+inferior crew they hardly did themselves or their reputation justice.
+This pattern of oar was used by New College at Henley, the blades,
+however, being further cut down to 5-1/4 ins. In the final heat of the
+Grand Challenge Cup, they met Leander, who were rowing with 12-ft. oars.
+Leander, rowing a considerably faster stroke, at once jumped ahead, and
+led by a length in three minutes. New College, however, came up to
+them, still rowing a slower stroke, then picked their stroke up, and,
+after rowing level with Leander for about 250 yards, finally defeated
+them by 2 ft. The result of this race cannot be said to have settled the
+question as between long oars and short. In the Stewards' Fours, on the
+other hand, Leander, rowing with oars measuring 12 ft. 1/2 in. over all,
+and blades 5-3/4 ins. in breadth, defeated New College, rowing with 12
+ft. 6 ins. oars, and blades of 5-1/2 ins., the leverage in both cases
+being 3 ft. 8-1/2 ins. The advocates of the long oar maintain that they
+secure a longer stride, and are thus able to economize strength by using
+a slower rate of stroke. Those who favour the shorter ones believe that
+the extra lightness of their implement enables them to row a faster
+stroke without unduly tiring themselves. Personally, I found, after
+trying the experiment several times, that Leander crews I have coached
+invariably rowed better and commanded more speed in practice with 12 ft.
+to 12 ft. 1 in. oars than with oars 3 ins. or 4 ins. longer.[8]
+
+  [8] Mr. S. Le B. Smith informs me that, to the best of his recollection,
+  the oars used by the London Rowing Club, up to 1878, measured--for
+  Eights, 12 ft. 2 ins. all over, and for Fours, 12 ft., the inboard
+  measurement being 3 ft. 6-1/2 ins. My impression is that they used
+  riggers shorter by 2 ins. than those now in use. Their blades were not
+  quite 6 ins. broad.
+
+It must be remembered, finally, that men, as well as measurements, have
+something to do with the pace of a crew, and that style and uniformity
+count for a good deal. The advocates of long or short oars will always
+be able to explain a defeat sustained by one of their crews by alleging
+causes that are totally unconnected with the measurement of the oars. On
+the other hand, such is their enthusiasm, they will attribute the
+victory of their crew entirely to their favourite pattern of oar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+Now that the novice has been safely launched in his racing-ship, we may
+hark back for a space and consider some important points connected with
+the organization and management of an eight-oared crew. And first as to
+its selection and arrangement.
+
+As a general rule, it may be laid down that two middle-weights (men
+ranging from 11 st. 5 lbs. to 11 st. 10 lbs. or even to 12 st.) will be
+best at stroke and No. 7; three heavy-weights (12 st. 4 lbs. and
+upwards) will suit for No. 6, No. 5, and No. 4; then with two more
+middle-weights at No. 3 and No. 2, and a light-weight (10 st. to 11 st.
+3 lbs. or so) at bow, your crew will be complete. This sounds easy
+enough, but in practice the matter is complicated by a hundred
+difficulties, such as (_a_) a superfluity or (_b_) a total absence of
+good heavy-weights; (_c_) the absence of any good middle-weights
+possessing the peculiar qualities necessary for stroke and No. 7; and
+(_d_) the inability of good oars to row on one side or the other of the
+boat, for you may find that of six valuable oars whom you may want to
+include in a crew, every one will tell you that he can only row on the
+stroke side or the bow side, as the case may be. In theory, of course,
+every man ought to be able to row equally well on both sides. In
+practice it will be found that most men, apart from any conscious
+preference on their own part, do better work on one side than on the
+other, while some are absolutely useless if shifted from the side they
+prefer. This last class is, however, not nearly so numerous as it used
+to be; and if, for instance, you consult the list of victorious Oxford
+crews from 1890 up to the present year, and compare it further with
+lists of Leander crews and Oxford College crews, you will see that a
+very large number of men have rowed and won races on both sides of the
+boat. I may mention specially Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. C. W. Kent, Mr. W.
+A. L. Fletcher, Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, Mr. H. B.
+Cotton, Mr. M. C. Pilkington, Mr. C. D. Burnell, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch,
+Mr. C. K. Philips, Mr. C. M. Pitman, and Mr. H. G. Gold. On the other
+hand, I cannot remember--to take only two instances of excellent
+heavies--that Mr. E. G. Tew or Mr. W. Burton Stewart ever rowed except
+on the bow side.
+
+All such difficulties the captain and coach of a crew must overcome as
+best they can. In any case they will find it advisable to put their
+lighter men in the stern and the bows, dumping down their heavies in the
+waist of the boat, where they will have more room, and where it will be
+easier to correct the clumsiness which is often associated with great
+weight.
+
+
+STROKE.
+
+For stroke I like a man of not more than twelve stone. A few good
+strokes, _e.g._ the late Mr. J. H. D. Goldie, have topped this weight by
+a few pounds. But a real heavy-weight is almost invariably slow and
+lacking in initiative when placed at stroke, although, in the middle of
+the boat, with another man acting as fugleman for him, he may be able to
+row perfectly well at any rate of stroke that may be set to him. A
+long-backed, supple-jointed man is of course best, for the
+short-backed, long-legged man invariably has trouble in clearing his
+knees, and consequently develops faults of style which it is hard to
+eradicate or even to reduce when he has no model in front of him. These
+faults will therefore exercise a very deleterious influence on the rest
+of the crew. As to temperament, I should select a good fighter, a man,
+that is, who would rather die than abandon the struggle, and whose fiery
+determined nature does not exclude perfect coolness and mastery over
+himself when a crisis calls for resource. Let me cite some examples.
+
+I may begin my list with Mr. H. P. Marriott and Mr. C. D. Shafto, the
+Oxford and Cambridge strokes of 1877, the dead-heat year. It is rare
+indeed to find two such splendid performers matched against one another.
+Mr. L. R. West, the Oxford stroke of 1880, 1881, and 1883, was as good a
+stroke as ever came to the University from Eton. He only weighed eleven
+stone, but his style was simply perfect. The finest demonstration of his
+racing judgment was given when he took his crew off at the start in
+1883, and left Cambridge, on whom odds of three to one had been laid,
+struggling hopelessly in the rear. More familiarly known to me was the
+rowing of Mr. F. I. Pitman. In the University Boat Race of 1886 both
+crews started at a very fast rate, and rowed little under thirty-eight
+to the minute all the way to Hammersmith Bridge, which was passed by
+Cambridge with a trifling lead. Immediately afterwards a strong
+head-wind and a rough sea were encountered; the rate of stroke in both
+boats dropped to about thirty-two, and Oxford began to forge steadily
+ahead, until at Barnes Bridge they led by nearly two lengths. Here the
+water was again smooth, and Mr. F. I. Pitman, the Cambridge stroke,
+nerved himself for a supreme effort. With a wonderful spurt he picked it
+up, and in the first half-minute after Barnes, actually rowed twenty-one
+strokes, and in the full minute forty. The result of the race in favour
+of Cambridge is a matter of history; but, even had Cambridge lost, the
+merits of that wonderful spurt would have remained as striking.
+
+[Illustration: MR. C. W. KENT.]
+
+Mr. C. W. Kent, of Oxford and Leander fame, is another remarkable
+instance of a born stroke. He rarely rowed as much as eleven stone, and
+his general appearance outside a boat hardly gave promise of his
+marvellous vigour and endurance in a race. He is a loose-limbed,
+long-armed man, with no superfluous flesh, and with very little muscle.
+In any purely gymnastic competition he would stand no chance whatever.
+Yet it is not too much to say that as stroke of an Eight or a Four no
+man has ever been of greater value, none has a more brilliant record of
+victories secured by his own courage and resource after desperate
+struggles. He was not a very easy man to follow in the early stages of
+practice, but when once he had got his crew together behind him, he had
+the most absolute control over them, and could always get the last
+possible ounce of work out of them, and yet leave himself with
+sufficient vigour to wind them up to a final extra spurt if the
+necessity arose. His crew behind him became a single living entity, on
+which he could play as a musician plays on an instrument over which he
+has perfect command. He seemed to have a sort of intuitive knowledge,
+not merely of the capacity of his own crew, but also of the capacity of
+his opponents, at any given moment in a race. And he had, moreover, the
+gift--inestimably valuable in a stroke--of taking his men along at their
+best pace while economizing his own strength, thus always leaving
+himself with a margin to put in extra work and pace when a close finish
+required them. For there is no crew, however hard the men may have
+worked, and however greatly they may be exhausted, that cannot screw
+itself up to follow if only their stroke will give them a lead. Mr.
+Kent's record of brilliant achievements begins in 1889, when, as stroke
+of the Brasenose crew, with Mr. W. F. C. Holland at No. 7, he maintained
+his boat at the head of the river against the repeated attacks of a
+considerably stronger and faster New College crew. In 1890 he was stroke
+of a Brasenose four at Henley. In one of the preliminary heats of the
+Stewards' Cup, this crew defeated a strong Leander Four by two feet. In
+the final heat they had to meet the Thames Rowing Club. At Fawley Court,
+the halfway point, Thames had secured a lead of two lengths, and were
+apparently rowing well within themselves. From here, however, Mr. Kent
+began an extraordinary series of spurts. With a relentless persistence,
+his crew rowing as one man behind him, he drove his boat inch by inch up
+to the Thames boat, drew level with them about 300 yards from the
+finish, and then, reinvigorated by the sight of his rivals, sailed
+past them and won the race by something more than a length. In 1891, as
+stroke of the Leander Eight he still further distinguished himself.
+Rowing from the unsheltered station against a strong "Bushes" wind, he
+just managed by a final effort to avert defeat at the hands of the
+Thames Rowing Club, and made a dead heat of it. On the following day,
+there being no wind, Leander beat Thames by two lengths, and in the
+final heat beat the London Rowing Club by a length. Again, in the final
+heat of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1894, he won another terrible race
+from the worse station by half a length against the Thames Rowing Club.
+No one who saw that extraordinary race can forget the wonderful
+succession of efforts put forth both by Mr. Kent and by the Thames
+stroke, Mr. J. C. Gardner, a very fine and powerful oar, who had stroked
+Cambridge to victory in '88 and '89. Time after time did Mr. Gardner
+force his boat almost level with Leander, and time after time Mr. Kent
+just stalled him off and reasserted his crew's lead, until at the last
+he went in with horse, foot, and artillery, and won the furious contest.
+I cannot forbear citing another instance which shows merit as great,
+though of a different order, in this remarkable stroke. In 1891 he
+stroked the Oxford Eight, a crew of very heavy metal, but not well
+arranged, and containing one welter-weight, who, in consequence of a
+severe attack of influenza during the earlier stages of training, could
+not be depended upon to last at top pressure over the whole of a course
+of four miles and a quarter. In fact, Oxford, considering their
+material, were unaccountably slow, and Cambridge, admirably stroked by
+Mr. G. E. Elin, were as unaccountably fast. The race, it will be
+remembered, was a very close one, and was won by Oxford by only half a
+length. During its progress there were many temptations to Mr. Kent, a
+man whose favourite rate of stroke was as a rule not less than forty, to
+increase the pace. He saw the Cambridge crew hanging doggedly on to him,
+and there were not wanting voices from his own crew to urge him to pick
+it up. But Mr. Kent knew the capacity of his crew, and knew that, though
+a fast spurt might give him a temporary advantage, it would leave him in
+all probability with a completely exhausted heavy-weight on his hands to
+struggle hopelessly against Cambridge's next effort. So he resolutely
+kept the stroke slow until he got to Chiswick, where he made his only
+effort, a slight one, it is true, but just sufficient to give him a
+margin on which he could win the race.
+
+[Illustration: MR. H. G. GOLD.]
+
+I have dwelt at some length on Mr. Kent's performances, because I think
+that he showed in the highest degree all the qualities that make a man a
+good stroke in spite of the absence of mere brute strength. Mr. C. M.
+Pitman, who as a freshman stroked Oxford in 1892, was a worthy successor
+to Mr. Kent. The three Oxford crews stroked by him won with comparative
+ease, a result of which the credit in a very large share must go to Mr.
+Pitman, who proved his judgment and coolness, not only in the races, but
+during practice against scratch Eights. Mr. H. G. Gold's remarkable
+victories are too recent to require any comment beyond the statement
+that they stamp him as one of the company of really great strokes.
+
+Of non-University strokes, the best I have seen have been Mr. J. Hastie,
+of the Thames R.C.; Mr. F. L. Playford, of the London R.C.; Mr. J. A.
+Drake-Smith, of the Thames R.C.; and Mr. G. B. James, of the London R.C.
+The three last of these possessed, in addition to considerable natural
+strength and endurance, a rhythmical ease and finished elegance which
+made their rowing a pleasure to the eye, and rendered it easy for a crew
+to shake together behind them. Mr. Hastie had enormous power and perfect
+judgment, and no man ever knew better exactly how and when to crack up
+an opposing crew.
+
+
+NO. 7.
+
+This position is every whit as important as that of stroke. Indeed, I
+have known many crews that were made by a good No. 7, in spite of an
+inferior or an inexperienced stroke. Of the converse I cannot at this
+moment remember any instances. No. 7 is the keystone of the crew. If he
+fits perfectly into his place, the whole fabric remains firm; if he fits
+badly, it will crumble to pieces at the first shock.
+
+It is the duty of No. 7 to weld the two sides of the crew into harmony,
+to transmit to the rest of the crew the initiative of the stroke-oar, to
+be ever on the watch to make stroke's task an easy one by following him
+implicitly and immediately. But, more than this, a good No. 7 can
+control and manage an inexperienced stroke, can check him when he
+attempts to hurry unduly, can inspirit him and renew his energies when
+he shows signs of flagging. The style and elegance of a crew depend even
+more upon No. 7 than they do upon stroke. Therefore select for this
+position a man whose movements are graceful, rhythmical and easy, who
+can show style in his own rowing, and thus instil it into the rest of
+the crew. It is important for No. 7 that he too should be able to
+economize his power in a race. I do not mean that he is to be a
+"sugarer" (a word we use to indicate a man who may show style, but who
+never works honestly), but he must row with judgment. I have seen many
+very big men row well at No. 7, but I should always prefer a man of the
+stamp of the late Mr. H. E. Rhodes, the late Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, Mr.
+R. P. P. Rowe, and Mr. W. E. Crum. These were all born No. 7's, though
+the reputation of the first was chiefly gained at stroke. Still, I
+consider that his best rowing was shown in 1876, when he rowed No. 7 of
+the Cambridge crew behind Mr. C. D. Shafto. Those who can recall the
+marvellous flexibility and adaptable ease of Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, and
+who have seen similar qualities exhibited by Mr. Rowe and Mr. Crum,
+will realize what I mean when I insist upon the importance of grace,
+rhythm, and elegance, in a word, of style in a No. 7. You can rarely, of
+course, count upon such a paragon for your No. 7, but at any rate get a
+man who approaches more nearly than the rest to this ideal.
+
+
+NO. 6.
+
+This, again, is a very important place; for your No. 6 must back up
+stroke, and must, by genuine hard work, take as much as possible of the
+burden off stroke's shoulders. Choose for the position a man who
+combines great weight and power and endurance with a large share of
+experience, a man who can row every stroke hard, and by his swing can
+help to keep it long. Mr. S. D. Muttlebury, in the Cambridge crews of
+1886 and 1887, was such a No. 6. Such, too, was Mr. W. A. L. Fletcher,
+in the Oxford and Leander crews of a later date, and such is the veteran
+Mr. Guy Nickalls at the present time. It must be an inspiration to the
+rest of the crew to have the broad back of this iron oarsman swinging up
+and down with an untiring vehemence, and slogging at every stroke as if
+he had no thought whatever of the strokes that had to come after. But
+then Mr. Nickalls is equally at home at No. 5 in an Eight; and as
+stroke-oar of a Four or pair--a position from which he invariably steers
+the boat--he is to my mind unapproachable. He would not himself assert
+that he was a model of elegance, but for power and endurance, and for
+the knack of infusing these qualities into the rest of the crew, no man
+has ever, in my experience, surpassed, and very few indeed have
+equalled, him.
+
+
+NO. 5 AND NO. 4.
+
+These two are places which require weight and power. The details of
+elegance and polish are not here so important, though it is, of course,
+well to secure them if you can. A No. 5 who swings long and steadily is
+of the utmost value, and the same may be said of No. 4. For instance, no
+small part of the merit of the Oxford and Leander crews in which he
+rowed was due to Mr. W. B, Stewart, their No. 5. A very tall,
+well-built, and extremely powerful man, he rowed, I think, with the
+longest swing I have ever seen. It was for this quality that we picked
+him out of his college crew, when he was a comparative novice, and gave
+him No. 5's seat in the Leander crew of 1893, and his rowing in that
+crew and in others subsequently proved the correctness of our judgment.
+The late Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, too, was a remarkable No. 5, a position
+in which, however, he only rowed once, viz. in the Leander crew of 1896.
+He was then certainly, for style and power combined, the best
+heavy-weight oar at Henley Regatta. Mr. Broughton, of the Thames Rowing
+Club, was another fine example of what a No. 5 ought to be--a really
+slashing oar of wonderful power. I might use the same words to describe
+Mr. R. S. Kindersley, of the Oxford crews of 1880, 1881, and 1882.
+Amongst good No. 4's, I should specially select Mr. S. Swann, in the
+Cambridge crew of 1884; Mr. C. B. P. Bell, of the Cambridge crews of
+1888 and 1889; and Mr. F. E. Robeson, of the splendid Oxford crew of
+1892.
+
+
+NO. 3 AND NO. 2.
+
+Of these positions little need be said. Weight here ceases to be of
+great importance compared with briskness and liveliness of movement. Yet
+instances are not wanting of genuine heavy-weights who rowed at No. 3 in
+fast crews. Mr. E. F. Henley, in the Oxford crew of 1866, rowed at 12
+st. 13 lbs.; Mr. P. W. Taylor, in the Oxford crew of 1885, and Mr. W. B.
+Stewart, in the Oxford crew of 1894, were placed at No. 3 in spite of
+their weighing well over 13 st.; and Mr. Vivian Nickalls, in the Leander
+crew of 1891, was little short of this weight. But where these cases
+have occurred, they were generally due to the fact that the authorities
+had at their disposal a great number of really good heavy-weights, and,
+rather than lose one of them, they placed him at No. 3.
+
+
+BOW.
+
+Bow should be light, alert, compact, springy and cat-like, and a good
+waterman. Such discomforts as may exist in a boat seem to concentrate
+themselves at bow's seat. He has less room than any other man in the
+boat, and any unsteadiness affects him more. I can recall a long list of
+good bows, but none better than Mr. W. A. Ellison of Oxford, Mr. R. G.
+Gridley of Cambridge, Mr. C. W. Hughes of the Thames R.C., Mr. W. F. C.
+Holland and the late Mr. H. B. Cotton of Oxford, and Mr. C. W. N.
+Graham of Leander fame. The last two rarely rowed as much as ten stone,
+but their work was remarkable. In their respective college crews, they
+proved that they could row at stroke just as well as at the other end of
+the boat.
+
+Finally, a captain of a crew must remember, if with these great examples
+before his eyes he feels inclined, as he runs over his list of available
+oars, to despair of getting together a good crew, that wonderful results
+have been achieved by college captains who had to draw their men from a
+comparatively narrow field, and were often forced by the exigencies of
+the case to fill places in their boats with men who were far removed
+from ideal perfection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+From the hints given in the preceding chapter it will have been gathered
+that good oarsmen are of all sizes and weights. But it must not be
+forgotten that no small part of the motive-power of a crew comes from
+heavy men. By weight I do not, of course, mean that which results from
+mere adipose deposit; but weight, as it is usually found amongst young
+men, that depends on the size of the frame and the limbs, and on their
+due covering of muscle and sinew. I cannot, therefore, too strongly
+advise a captain or a coach to spare no labour and no patience in
+endeavouring to teach big men how to row. There will be disappointments.
+Every one who has experience of rowing must remember at least one
+massive and magnificent giant who failed to learn, in spite of infinite
+pains on his own part and on the part of those who had to teach him.
+Out of a boat he may have looked the very model of what a heavy-weight
+oarsman should be--erect, strong, well-proportioned, supple, and active.
+But put him in a boat, and at once he suffered a river change. His
+muscles turned into pulp, his chest became hollow, his arms and legs
+were mere nerveless attachments, and his whole body assumed the
+shapelessness of a sack of potatoes. In the end, after many days, the
+hopeless effort had to be sadly abandoned, and the would-be oarsman
+returned to the rough untutored struggles of the football field, or the
+intoxicating delights of lawn-tennis and golf. But, on the other hand,
+there are innumerable instances to prove that a big man who has never
+touched an oar before he came to Oxford or Cambridge, or joined one of
+the Metropolitan clubs, may, by care and perseverance, be turned into
+the pride and mainstay of his crew. Therefore, I say, persist with big
+and heavy men, in spite of occasional discouragements; for there is more
+advantage to a crew in one rough thirteen-stoner who really works and
+swings than in two light-weights polished _ad unguem_.
+
+In the shapes of oarsmen, again, every kind of variety may be found, not
+merely in minor details, but in the whole physical characteristics of
+their bodies. Bob Coombes, the professional champion of 1846, 1847, and
+1851, has recorded his opinion that the best physical type of oarsman is
+the man who is, amongst other things, deep-chested and straight and full
+in the flanks; who, in other words, has no waist to speak of. To this
+type Mr. S. D. Muttlebury and Mr. Guy Nickalls conform, and there can be
+no doubt that it is the best. But I have known oarsmen who varied from
+it in every detail, and yet did magnificent work in a crew. I have
+already mentioned Mr. C. W. Kent, and I may add another example in Mr.
+H. Willis, of the Leander Club, a very finished and valuable oar, who
+has given his proofs not only in an Eight, but also as No. 3 of the
+winning Stewards' Four at Henley Regatta this year. Mr. Willis is tall
+and loose-jointed. He is not furnished with any great quantity of
+muscle, and his modesty will not resent my adding that, though he has a
+well-framed chest, he also possesses a very distinct waist. I might
+multiply such instances; but they may all be summed up in the statement
+that a really good oarsman is never of a bad shape--for rowing. The
+ultimate test is to be found not in the examination of his muscle or the
+measurement of his frame, but in the careful and patient observation of
+his work while he is actually engaged in rowing. A mere weed, of course,
+cannot row to advantage; but I have seen more than one instance of
+so-called weeds who eventually developed under the influence of the
+exercise into solid and capable oars. And, as a rule, there is more
+promise in the comparative weakling than in the gymnast whose tight
+binding of muscles impedes the freedom and alertness of his limbs.
+
+We may now consider how the practice of an ordinary eight-oared crew
+should be conducted. There is a certain amount of difference of opinion
+as to how long a crew should remain in their tub--that is, in their
+clinker-built boat--before taking to the racing-ship. Most college
+captains, I think, keep their men in the heavy boat too long. Four or
+five days are, I think, an amply sufficient period. Experienced oars are
+none the better for rowing in a heavy boat, and novices who have much to
+learn in watermanship, and want a long period for the learning, can be
+taught the requisite lessons only in a light ship. The difficulties of
+sitting such a ship are, as a rule, much exaggerated; and the young oar
+who watches the scratch crews rowing against a University crew, or sees
+a Leander Eight setting out for the first time, is apt to be surprised
+when he notes how eight men, who have never rowed together before, can
+move along with uniformity and steadiness. There are, no doubt,
+difficulties of balance and quickness in light ship rowing; but the
+sooner these are faced the better for all concerned. I am assuming, of
+course, that the novice has been already drilled in the manner described
+in previous chapters.
+
+As to the total length of the period of practice from the start to the
+day of the race, that must, and does, vary according to circumstances. A
+University crew practising for a long race will be at work generally
+from about the middle of January until towards the end of March, some
+ten weeks in all. Cambridge college crews have six weeks, Oxford college
+crews only about four, for the college races. A London, Thames, or
+Kingston crew can command at least seven weeks for the practice of its
+Henley crew. On the other hand, no winning Leander crew that I have
+known has ever practised for more than three weeks as a combination;
+though individual members of it, who had not been at work since the
+previous year, may have been taking rowing exercise on their own account
+for some little time before the eight got to work. As a typical example,
+I may take the remarkable Leander crew of 1896. Five members of this
+crew--Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. J. A. Ford, Mr. C. W. N. Graham, Mr. T. H.
+E. Stretch, and Mr. H. Willis--had had no rowing exercise for a year;
+one, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, had not worked, except for a casual regatta
+in Portugal, since the final of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1893; the
+other two, Mr. H. Gold and Mr. R. Carr, had been in regular practice at
+Oxford or at Putney since the previous October. Two weeks before
+practice in the Eight began, Messrs. Holland, Ford, Stretch, and Graham
+began work in a Four, with Mr. Graham, the eventual bow of the Eight, at
+stroke. Mr. Willis had half this period of preliminary practice in a
+pair. Mr. Nickalls had for some weeks been working at Putney in a Four
+and a pair. Just three clear weeks before the first day of Henley
+Regatta the Eight was launched; but it was not until three days after
+this that Mr. Nickalls was able to come into the boat, and the crew for
+the first time rowed in its final order, the advent of Mr. Nickalls
+resulting in four changes in its arrangement. And yet this crew defeated
+Yale University, who had been practising for months, and other crews,
+composed of good material, that had been together for six or seven
+weeks. I have in my mind, too, another crew, a combination of three
+Oxonians, two Cantabs, two Etonians, and one Radleian, who, on one
+week's practice, managed to beat over a one-mile course the Eights of
+the London and Thames clubs, in spite of their ten or eleven weeks of
+practice.
+
+I do not wish to have it inferred from the foregoing facts that in my
+opinion those crews are likely to turn out best which practise together
+for a very short time. Still, the qualities of skill, keenness of
+enthusiasm, strength, condition, and racing ability, are factors in
+success even more important than length of practice. It ought, of
+course, to be true that if you could get two crews equally matched as
+regards these qualities that which had had the longer period of practice
+should win because of its greater uniformity. Moreover, in most cases
+extra length of practice _up to a certain point_ ought to imply
+superiority of condition. Beyond that point a crew, though it maintains
+its outward uniformity and style, will fall off in pace, because
+overwork will have dulled the edge of its energies, and robbed it of the
+brisk animation that marks the rowing of men trained to the very
+needle-point of perfect condition. And on the whole, taking condition
+and the risks of staleness into account, I should prefer to take my
+chances for an ordinary race with a crew that had practised from four to
+five weeks, rather than with one that had been at it for ten or eleven.
+I leave out of account the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, both because
+of the length of the course over which it is rowed, and on account of
+the frequent changes to which the authorities generally find themselves
+compelled to resort. And even for this race, if a president could at the
+outset be absolutely certain as to the general composition of the crew,
+he would find, I think, that a period of seven weeks at the outside
+would be fully sufficient for him and his men. The whole matter amounts
+to this, that a captain or a coach must consider carefully all the
+circumstances of his case--the skill, the condition, the experience and
+the strength of his men, and the distance over which they have to race,
+and must decide on the period of practice accordingly. I cannot on paper
+lay down any fixed general rule for his guidance, but can only bring
+before him a few detached considerations which may be useful to him as
+food for reflection. For my own part, I may add that I have never found
+the least difficulty, even after a year's rest from rowing, in getting
+into very good racing condition on three or four weeks of work.
+
+
+HOW TO ARRANGE THE DAILY WORK OF AN EIGHT.
+
+Let the real hard work be done in the earlier stages of practice. You
+thus accustom your men to one another, and you grind them into a
+uniformity which makes all their subsequent work easier. This plan has
+been very successfully followed by Oxford crews. Before they get to
+Putney they will have rowed over the long course of four miles some ten
+times. As a result, the men are hard and row well together; and during
+their stay at Putney it is found possible to ease them in their work,
+so as to bring them fresh and vigorous to the post on the day of the
+race. Supposing you have five weeks for practice, you ought, I think,
+during the first fortnight to row your crew over the racing course at
+least four times. During the next ten days one full course will be
+sufficient. The work of the last ten days must vary according to the
+condition of the men, but two half courses and one full course at a
+racing stroke will probably be found sufficient. Save for the rare case
+of an exceptionally long row, a practice of about an hour and a half
+every day is enough. At Henley all crews practise twice a day, but I do
+not think they spend more than two hours, if so much, on the water every
+day.
+
+
+RATE OF STROKE.
+
+The practice rate for paddling ought not in the early stages to be less
+than twenty-eight to the minute, which you may raise two points when
+rowing hard. Later on, when your men are doing their rowing work at
+thirty-six or more, and when they are, or ought to be, well together,
+you may drop the rate of paddling to twenty-six or twenty-five, in order
+to give them periods of rest, and to instil into them that steadiness
+of swing which they are apt to neglect when engaged in the effort of
+working up the stroke to racing pace. For a course of a mile to a mile
+and a half, a crew should be able to start at forty, continue at
+thirty-eight, and, if necessary, finish at forty in the race. Even for
+the Putney to Mortlake course a crew ought to be able to command forty
+at a pinch. As a rule, however, over a four-mile course a crew will go
+quite fast enough if it starts for not more than a minute at
+thirty-seven to thirty-eight, and continues, in the absence of a
+head-wind at an average of thirty-five.[9] At Henley most crews will
+start off at forty-one to forty-two for the first minute, and continue
+at thirty-nine. Anything higher than this is dangerous, though on a
+course of two-thirds of a mile I have known a Four to row forty-six in
+the first minute with advantage.
+
+  [9] Against a head-wind the rate of stroke must be slower. A coach's
+  instructions would be, "Swing down and reach out well, and swing hard
+  back against the wind." A following wind makes a crew very unsteady,
+  unless they remember that, since the pace of the boat is increased by
+  the wind, they must catch the beginning sharper, to prevent the boat
+  running away from them, and take their oars out even quicker and cleaner
+  than before, in order to prevent the boat catching them up, as it were.
+  Above all, they must keep the swing slow when they have a following
+  wind.
+
+These instructions are intended to apply to light racing ships. For the
+clinker-built fixed-seat boats that are used at Oxford and Cambridge for
+the Torpids and Lent races, a racing rate of thirty-seven ought to be
+high enough, seeing that the crews are mainly composed of young oars.
+The second division crews of the Cambridge "May" races row with slides,
+but in heavy, clinker-built boats. The advantages of this arrangement
+are not obvious. Still, these crews ought to be able to race at
+thirty-six to thirty-seven. As a rule, however, when I have seen them
+practising a minute's spurt, nearly all of them seem to have imagined
+that thirty-two strokes were amply sufficient for racing purposes.
+
+
+PADDLING.
+
+Paddling should be to rowing what an easy trot is to racing speed on the
+cinder-path. A crew when paddling is not intended to exert itself
+unduly, but to move at a comfortable pace which excludes any sense of
+fatigue, and enables the men to give their best attention to perfecting
+themselves in style, and to harmonizing their individual movements with
+those of the rest. In paddling men do not slash at the beginning so
+hard, nor do they grind the rest of the stroke through with the same
+power as when rowing. Less violent energy is put into the work, and the
+stroke consequently does not come through so fast. The rate of paddling
+must therefore be slower than that of rowing, since each stroke takes a
+longer time for its completion. As a rule, too, the blade is in paddling
+not quite so deeply covered, and cannot make the same rushing swirl
+under water. During the earlier stages of practice paddling is merely
+easier rowing; it is not so sharply distinguished from hard rowing as it
+becomes later on. At the outset it is necessary to make your crew both
+paddle and row with a full swing, in order to get length ineradicably
+fixed in their style. But later on a coach may tell his men, when he
+asks them to paddle, not only to use the easier movements prescribed
+above, but also to rest themselves additionally by using a somewhat
+shortened swing. Then, when they are to row, he must call on them to
+swing forward and reach out longer; to swing back harder and longer,
+with a more vigorous beginning; and to put more force into their
+leg-drive. A very useful plan, especially for the purpose of getting a
+crew finally together, is to make them do long stretches of paddling
+varied here and there by about a dozen or twenty strokes of rowing, care
+being taken, however, not to allow the paddling to get dead and dull,
+and a special point being made of getting the rowing not only hard, but
+very long.
+
+Paddling is a difficult art to learn, and only the very best crews
+paddle really well with balance, rhythm, and ease. Many a time I have
+seen a good crew and an inferior one paddling along the course together,
+and almost invariably the good crew, which had mastered the trick of
+paddling at a slow stroke and with perfect ease, was distanced. Yet a
+moment afterwards, when they ranged up alongside, and started together
+for a two minutes' burst of rowing, the good crew would leave its
+opponents as though they were standing still.
+
+
+HOW TO WORK THE STROKE UP TO RACING PACE.
+
+There comes a time in the history of every crew when, having been
+plodding along comfortably at thirty-four, they suddenly realize that
+the race is barely a week off, that if they are to have any chance of
+success they must raise the stroke, and that they don't know how on
+earth it is to be done, seeing that they have usually felt pretty well
+cleaned out after rowing even a half course at their present rate.
+However, they generally do manage _tant bien que mal_ to get it done,
+and find in the end that thirty-eight is not really much more difficult
+for men in good training than thirty-four.
+
+The best plan, I think, is to devote the greater part of an afternoon's
+practice to short rows of half a minute and a minute at, say,
+thirty-seven, and to wind up with three minutes of this. On that day
+there will probably be at first a terrible amount of rushing and
+splashing. On the following day you will find that things have settled
+down, and you will be able to row for five minutes at the faster rate.
+On the third day practise short pieces again at thirty-eight,
+thirty-nine, forty; and on the fourth day row your full course at as
+fast a rate as you can command. A coach should impress upon his crew
+that a fast stroke is to be secured not by rushing forward with the
+bodies, but by rattling away the hands quicker and by increasing the
+force employed in forcing the oar through the water. The pace of the
+bodies on the forward swing, though, of course, it does increase, should
+feel as if it were slower. _Relatively to the rate of stroke used_, it
+is, in fact, slower at a fast than at a slow stroke. The best
+stroke-oars have been men who fully realized this, and who, either in
+breaking from a paddle into a row, or in spurting during a hard piece of
+rowing, gave their crew a delightful sense of steadiness and balance,
+which enabled them to put their utmost energies into every stroke.
+
+
+PRACTICE IN STARTING.
+
+During the week preceding the race a coach should devote a great part of
+his attention to the task of getting his crew quick off the mark. If a
+crew starts in a brisk and lively manner, and gets pace on its boat
+immediately, it is far more likely to continue well, so long as its
+strength and condition last, than a crew that ponderously drags its boat
+off, with the notion that it can put pace on later. At the end of half a
+minute the lively crew would be well ahead--no small moral advantage
+where two crews are evenly matched. The best position for the first
+stroke is a little more than half forward with the body and three parts
+forward with the slide. The mind, as well as the muscles, must be intent
+on the effort. At the word "Go" at once cover the blade deeply, spring
+the body on to the work, use the arms vigorously on this occasion only,
+and, above all, drive, drive, drive with the legs, wrenching the stroke
+fully home with outside hand.[10] Then make a special point of rattling
+hands out like lightning, and get hold of the second stroke when the
+hands are over the stretcher. Again a lightning rattle, followed by a
+longer swing. The fourth stroke should be a full one. During the first
+two strokes the crew should watch stroke's blade, and take their time
+from that.
+
+  [10] The simplest and easiest plan is to have the back of the blades
+  flat on the water while you are waiting for the word. In rowing _with_ a
+  strong tide it may sometimes be advisable to have the top of the blades
+  turned over towards the stern and to square blades at the "Are you
+  ready?" But this requires a lot of practice, and even then generally
+  causes unsteadiness.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF BEING EXHAUSTED.
+
+I hold it to be absolutely necessary that during practice men should
+learn thoroughly to row themselves out. If they do not, they need never
+expect to become properly fit for the hard strain involved in a race. If
+men will only consent to put their best and hardest work into a practice
+course, so that they may feel at the end of it that they have neither
+wind nor strength left, I will guarantee that all the subsequent work
+will become infinitely easier for them, and the race itself will be a
+pleasure instead of a pain. I hate to see a crew finish a practice row,
+no matter how short it may be, in perfectly fresh trim. That is a sign
+that they must have shirked their work. Yet I have often read in
+newspaper reports of the practice of crews some statement like the
+following:--"The boat travelled well all through, and the time
+accomplished was fast; but when it was over most of the men were much
+distressed"--as if this were a reproach instead of a compliment. Such
+"distress" is one of the necessary stages through which crews must pass
+on their way to good physical condition and perfect racing power. If a
+crew never tires itself in practice, it will never row fast in a race.
+
+
+HOW TO JUDGE A MAN'S WORK IN A BOAT.
+
+This can only be done properly by watching both the movements of the
+body and the action of the blade in the water. It may be assumed that if
+the blade strikes the water fairly at the full reach, is covered at
+once, produces a deep boiling swirl _under_ the water, and remains
+covered to the end of the stroke, the oarsman who wields it must be
+working, in spite of many possible faults of form. Again, if the body
+moves well, and with a vigorous briskness through the stroke, it may be
+found that the swirl of the blade through the water does not show
+properly, because the blade is put in too deep. This, of course, is a
+fault, for the oarsman is giving himself too much work, and the effect
+on the propulsion of the boat is smaller; but, at any rate, there is
+honesty of intention. On the other hand, a man may make a great show of
+form with his body, and a great splash in the water, by merely covering
+half his blade through the stroke, or by missing his beginning and
+rowing light at the finish; or he may seem to be swinging his body on to
+his work, and yet by some subtly contrived disconnection between body
+and arms and legs, produce no effect on the water. For all this a coach
+must be on the look out. If he has once done hard rowing himself, and
+watched it in others, he will never mistake the sham article (the
+"sugarer") for the genuine, though possibly clumsy, worker.
+
+
+THE VALUE OF TUB-PAIR PRACTICE.
+
+Practice in the tub-pair is one of the greatest possible aids towards
+the consolidation of an eight-oared crew. A coach or captain should
+never omit during the early stages of work to take out his men two by
+two in a tub. Sitting at ease in the stern, he can lecture them to his
+heart's content, and can devote himself with far better effect than when
+his crew are in the Eight to eradicating individual faults and drilling
+the men into one uniform style. During the latter part of training,
+however, the tub-pair is, with rare exceptions, an unnecessary burden.
+The crew then require all their energies for the work of the Eight, in
+which they ought to be learning the last important lessons of
+watermanship and uniformity every day. To drag them into tub-pairs at
+such a time can only weary them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF
+COACHING.
+
+
+AILMENTS.
+
+I may preface what I have to say about ailments by stating, as
+emphatically as it can be stated, that every man who proposes to take
+part in a race ought, before he begins practice, to be thoroughly
+overhauled by a medical man. I do not believe that any man whose heart
+and lungs and general constitution are sound can be injured by rowing.
+On the contrary, I have seen scores and scores of instances in which
+sound but imperfectly developed youngsters were formed and solidified
+and made into robust men by the exercise. But if a doctor reports of an
+apparently powerful man that his heart is weak and his circulation
+defective, or that the state of his lungs is unsatisfactory, no power on
+earth would induce me to include him in my crew. Race-rowing is one of
+the severest strains to which a man can submit himself, and only a
+perfectly sound man can go through it without taking harm.
+
+Coaches are sometimes ridiculed for the excessive care they take of
+their men; and there are not wanting those who draw the inference that
+rowing men are peculiarly liable to illness, and suffer, when attacked
+by it, more than others. Nothing can be further from the truth. If we
+are anxious, it is because we know that for the special strain involved
+in racing a man must be in specially good condition, and we desire,
+above all things, to avoid anything that may keep him back in his
+training and his work. Moreover, even a slight illness may entail
+temporary retirement from the crew, and thus necessitate changes in its
+order which will prevent the men from getting together.
+
+In rowing hard a man should keep a good colour. If you see him turning
+green and yellow, you may be sure that something is wrong with him, and
+you must pack him off to the doctor at once. It may turn out that his
+digestion is in fault, and that a careful attention to diet is all that
+is necessary to cure him. I have seen only two men actually faint
+during a race. One of them was a distinguished Oxford Blue, who
+collapsed during a heat of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley; the other
+was a college oar rowing in the Cambridge Fours. With regard to him, we
+discovered afterwards that he had overtaxed his strength by working in
+the Cambridge engineering workshop for about six hours every day. Both
+these cases took place a good many years ago, and in neither has any
+permanent injury resulted. I have, of course, seen hundreds of men
+absolutely rowed out at the end of a race; but, with hardly an
+exception, they were perfectly fit a few minutes afterwards and,
+possibly, in the course of a few hours they might be seen rowing in
+another severe race with unimpaired strength and vitality.
+
+With regard to ailments generally, I cannot do better than quote Mr.
+Woodgate in the Badminton book: "A crew should be under strict orders to
+report _all_ ailments, if only a blister, _instantly_ to the coach. It
+is better to leave _no_ discretion in this matter to the oarsman, even
+at the risk of troubling the mentor with trifles. If a man is once
+allowed to decide for himself whether he will report some petty and
+incipient ailment, he is likely to hush it up, lest it should militate
+against his coach's selection of him. The effect of this is that
+mischief which might otherwise have been checked in the bud, is allowed
+to assume dangerous proportions for want of a stitch in time. An oarsman
+should be impressed that nothing is more likely to militate against his
+dream of being selected than disobedience to this or any other standing
+order. The smallest pimple should be shown forthwith to the
+coach"--verily the coach is not only [Greek: dios], but [Greek:
+polytlas]--"the slightest hoarseness or tendency to snuffle reported,
+any tenderness of joint or sinew instantly made known."
+
+To these golden words I would merely add that in all more serious cases,
+such as boils, colds, coughs, severe diarrh[oe]a, or strains, it is best
+for the coach not to attempt any amateur doctoring, but to send his
+oarsman at once to a qualified doctor. In nearly every large rowing
+club, and at the Universities, there are to be found doctors who have
+either rowed themselves, or have had long experience of treating the
+ailments of rowing men; and it is far better to take their advice,
+which, as a rule, does not incline to molly-coddling, than to run the
+risk of losing a valuable oar out of the crew through one's own
+quackery.
+
+
+_Blisters._
+
+Blisters are a common accompaniment of the early days of practice. They
+are ordinarily innocuous enough if well treated; but a neglected blister
+may result in a raw hand, and lead to blood-poisoning. The best plan is
+to prick a blister at its side with a clean needle before going to bed,
+and on the following day or two to row with a glove and a pad of
+cotton-wool over the blister. The skin very soon hardens into a
+callosity.
+
+
+_Boils._
+
+These are a sure sign that the blood is in a bad condition, due probably
+to over-eating. They afflict novices much more often than old oars, who
+have learnt by experience to diet themselves. A mild dose of Eno's Fruit
+Salt before breakfast may be recommended. The quantity of beef and
+mutton eaten must be largely reduced. Fish and the dark meat of poultry
+should be the staple articles of diet, and not too much of those. Nor
+must the mistake be made of making up for the decrease of meat by
+over-loading the stomach with immense masses of vegetables, though in
+moderation vegetables are excellent. Having thus done his best for the
+patient's inside, the coach must send him to a doctor to have the boil
+treated externally.
+
+
+_Diarrh[oe]a._
+
+Cut off fruits of all kinds; reduce meat; give an extra glass of port,
+and if the complaint continues, send the afflicted to a doctor.
+
+
+_Strains._
+
+Ordinary muscular strains generally yield to a good rubbing with an
+embrocation. For wrist-strains a leather band may be recommended.
+Abdominal strains must be seen to by a doctor.
+
+
+_Colds._
+
+The best remedy for a severe cold is to give your man at least one day's
+complete rest, and make him keep his room. Indeed, with most ailments a
+day's rest will work wonders; and it is far better for a coach to make
+up his reluctant mind to grant it, than to run the risk of losing a
+valuable man altogether by keeping him chained to his oar when he is
+unfit to work. However, no man who takes proper care of himself, and
+always makes a point of wrapping up when his crew easies, ought to catch
+a cold.
+
+
+TRAINING AND DIET.
+
+The rules of training and diet should be the rules of common sense,
+applied to cases in which the body has to prepare itself, by severe work
+and perfectly simple, healthy living, for an exceptional effort or
+series of efforts. Rules there must be, if only on account of the
+advantage that comes of being able to make exceptions to them. But the
+chief points must be regularity and simplicity--a regularity, that is,
+which shall not entail an unvarying and wearisome monotony, and
+simplicity which shall not exclude occasional little luxuries that act
+as a stimulus to a man's jaded energies.
+
+I shall give here two tables showing the hours and the dietary of an
+Oxford crew training during a little more than five weeks for the race
+against Cambridge, and of a Leander crew training for nearly three
+weeks for the Grand Challenge race at Henley Regatta.
+
+    I. _Oxford Crew._
+
+       7    A.M. Out of bed, and without bathing or washing dress
+                 immediately in flannels. A cup of milk and a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       7.15  "   Out of the house. A brisk walk with one sharp
+                 run of 150 yards.
+
+       7.50  "   Back to the house. Bath, etc.
+
+       8.30  "   Breakfast.--Fish, plainly cooked, without sauce.
+                 Soles, whiting, and smelts are best. Salmon
+                 is not allowed. Cutlets or beefsteaks, or grilled
+                 chicken. Eggs, boiled, or poached, or fried,
+                 sometimes scrambled. Mustard and cress, or
+                 water-cress. Toast. Limited amount of butter.
+                 Marmalade is allowed only during the last
+                 fortnight of training. Not more than a cup
+                 and a half of tea.
+
+      11     "   At Putney, when the state of the tide permits it,
+                 exercise in the boat. It should be noted that
+                 the tide sometimes makes it necessary for the
+                 crew to do its rowing in the morning, sometimes
+                 in the afternoon. Occasionally work can be
+                 done both in the morning and afternoon.
+
+       1    P.M. Lunch.--Cold meat. Tomatoes plainly made into
+                 a salad with oil and vinegar. Toast. Small
+                 quantity of butter. Oatmeal biscuits. One
+                 glass of draught beer, or claret and water.
+
+      3 or 4 "   (according to tide). Work in the boat.
+
+       6.30  "   Dinner.--Fish, as at breakfast. An _entr�e_ of
+                 pigeons, or sweetbread, or spinach and poached
+                 eggs. Roast joint (not pork or veal), or else
+                 chicken, with potatoes, mashed or boiled, and
+                 boiled vegetables. Stewed fruit with rice puddings.
+                 Sometimes jelly. Two glasses of draught
+                 beer, or claret and water. For dessert, figs,
+                 prunes, oranges, dry biscuits, and one glass of
+                 port wine.
+
+       9.50 P.M. A glass of lemon and water, or a cup of water-gruel.
+
+      10     "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--Once or twice during training there is a "champagne
+    night," when champagne is substituted for beer or claret and water;
+    but this only occurs when the crew have been doing very hard work,
+    or when they show evident signs of being over-fatigued, and require
+    a fillip.)
+
+    II. _Leander Training at Henley._
+
+       7 to 8.30 A.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+       8.30 A.M. Breakfast.--Same as in previous table, save for
+                 the frequent absence of meat. Marmalade
+                 allowed. Strawberries or peaches without
+                 sugar; no cream.
+
+      10.30 or 11, or 12 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       1.30 P.M. Lunch.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       4.45 " Cup of tea with a slice of bread and butter, or a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       5.30 or 6 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       7.30 or 8  "  Dinner.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       9.50 P.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+      10.15  "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--With most Leander crews, which are composed of experienced
+    oarsmen, it has been found possible to abolish restrictions on the
+    amount of liquor, and to allow the men to take what they want to
+    satisfy their thirst, which at Henley time is naturally more severe
+    than it is in the early spring at Putney. With a college crew of
+    younger and less experienced oars such liberty of action is not to
+    be recommended; but a trainer ought, during hot weather, to tell his
+    men that if they really want an extra half-glass or so, they are not
+    to hesitate to ask for it. Men in training will, however, generally
+    find that if they exercise a little self-control during the first
+    few days of training, when the restriction on their drink seems
+    specially painful, their desire for drink will gradually diminish,
+    until at last they are quite content with their limited allowance.
+    If, on the contrary, they perpetually indulge themselves, they will
+    always be wanting more. On this point I may cite the authority of
+    the following remarks extracted from a recent article in the
+    _British Medical Journal_:--
+
+    "Among the various discomforts entailed upon us by the hot weather
+    is thirst, which leads to many accidents. First and most especially
+    is the danger arising from the ingestion of ices and cold drinks,
+    which so many people fly to directly they feel hot. Difficult as it
+    may be to explain in precise physiological terms the evil
+    consequences which so often follow the sudden application of cold to
+    the mucous membrane of the stomach when the body is over-heated,
+    there is no doubt about the fact, and people would do well to
+    remember the risk they run when they follow their instinct, and
+    endeavour to assuage their thirst by huge draughts of cold fluids.
+    There can be but little doubt that the profuse perspiration which is
+    the cause of so many dangers is greatly aggravated by drinking, and
+    especially by drinking alcoholic fluids. No one can watch a tennis
+    match without noticing how the men perspire, while the girls hardly
+    turn a hair. Some, perhaps, will say that the girls play the feebler
+    game; but, game or no game, they exert themselves. The same also may
+    be seen at any dance. The secret is that the men follow their
+    instinct and slake their thirst, while the girls simply bear it. It
+    should be remembered that thirst is the result of want of fluid in
+    the blood, not want of fluid in the stomach, and that a pint or more
+    may be drunk before a single ounce is absorbed. Any attempt, then,
+    to assuage thirst by rapid drinking must of necessity lead to far
+    more being taken than is wanted, the moral of which is that if we
+    must drink, at least let us drink slowly."
+
+    Besides asking his men to drink slowly, a coach will do well to see
+    that they take no drink at all before they have eaten a certain
+    amount of food. Between meals, except as set out in the tables given
+    above, no drink of any kind should be allowed.
+
+    Over-eating, too, is a very common danger, especially in the case of
+    youngsters, and a coach must warn his crew severely against it.)
+
+A captain ought to be specially strict in insisting on getting his men
+out of their beds at a fixed time, and in seeing that they do not stay
+up too late at night. Absolute punctuality all round ought to be rigidly
+enforced. If, however, anybody should resent the severities entailed by
+this dietary, and pine for freedom, he may be recommended to try what I
+may call the Ouida system. It is fully set out in "Under Two Flags,"
+from which, in a spirit of humble admiration, I venture to give an
+extract:--
+
+"'Beauty don't believe in training. No more do I. Never would train for
+anything,' said the Seraph, now pulling the long blonde moustaches that
+were not altogether in character with his seraphic cognomen. 'If a man
+can ride, let him. If he's born to the pig-skin he'll be in at the
+distance safe enough, whether he smoke or don't smoke, drink or don't
+drink. As for training on raw chops, giving up wine, living like the
+very deuce, and all as if you were in a monastery, and changing yourself
+into a mere bag of bones--it's utter bosh. You might as well be in
+purgatory; besides, it's no more credit to win then than if you were a
+professional.'
+
+"'But you must have trained at Christ Church, Rock, for the Eight?'
+asked another Guardsman, Sir Vere Bellingham--'Severe,' as he was
+christened, chiefly because he was the easiest-going giant in existence.
+
+"'Did I! Men came to me; wanted me to join the Eight. Coxswain came,
+awful strict little fellow, docked his men of all their fun--took plenty
+himself, though! Coxswain said I must begin to train, do as all his crew
+did. I threw up my sleeve and showed him my arm;' and the Seraph
+stretched out an arm magnificent enough for a statue of Milo. 'I said,
+There, sir, I'll help you thrash Cambridge, if you like, but train I
+_won't_ for you or for all the University. I've been captain of the Eton
+Eight; but I didn't keep my crew on tea and toast. I fattened 'em
+regularly three times a week on venison and champagne at Christopher's.
+Very happy to feed yours, too, if you like--game comes down to me every
+Friday from the Duke's moors; they look uncommonly as if they wanted it!
+You should have seen his face! Fatten the Eight! He didn't let me do
+that, of course; but he was very glad of my oar in his rowlocks, and I
+helped him beat Cambridge without training an hour myself, except so far
+as rowing hard went.'
+
+"And the Marquis of Rockingham, made thirsty by the recollection, dipped
+his fair moustaches into a foaming seltzer.
+
+"'Quite right, Seraph!' said Cecil. 'When a man comes up to the weights,
+looking like a homonunculus after he's been getting every atom of flesh
+off him like a jockey, he ought to be struck out for the stakes, to my
+mind.'"
+
+The obvious inference from this is that if we want to avoid looking like
+"homonunculi" we must acquire dukes as fathers, and get fattened on
+venison and champagne.
+
+
+SMOKING.
+
+There are no smokes in training.
+
+
+STALENESS.
+
+In the practice of almost every crew there comes a period, generally
+about half way through training, when they begin to show the effects of
+hard work by a certain lassitude and loss of vigour. This, in fact, is
+not genuine staleness, but is the half-way house to perfect condition.
+An experienced coach can always detect the signs of it amongst his men.
+Their tempers will be short, they will begin to mope about the room, and
+their general manner will betray languor and listlessness, instead of
+that brisk cheerfulness that one has a right to expect. Their appetite
+will decrease, and at meals they will dally with their food instead of
+consuming it with a hearty zest. If a coach is blind to these signs, and
+pursues, in spite of them, the scheme of work and diet which he may have
+laid down at the first, he will probably bring to the post a crew as
+stale and lifeless as London shrimps. If, however, he grants certain
+indulgences to those who are most affected; if he lets them lie in bed
+of a morning, adds a basin of soup to their lunch or dinner, gives them
+extra liquor, or champagne in place of their ordinary liquor, and eases
+the work of the crew all round, he will probably find that within three
+days they will be perfectly brisk and fit again. I remember the case of
+an Oxford crew which showed the worst symptoms of staleness on a Friday.
+Saturday to Monday they spent in Brighton, and returned so
+reinvigorated, that on the following Wednesday they were able in the
+race to row Cambridge down at Chiswick and win by a length. For extreme
+cases of what I call genuine staleness, I do not think there is any
+remedy except complete rest for a period more or less prolonged. I have
+seen instances of this at Henley amongst University oarsmen, who had had
+practically no rest since the previous October.
+
+
+DISCIPLINE.
+
+Not the least important point in the management of a crew lies in the
+preservation of strict discipline. While they are in the boat and
+engaged in rowing, no man, except the captain or the cox, should speak a
+word, unless he is appealed to by the coach. A wise captain, too, when
+he has a coach in whom he trusts, will content himself with saying very
+little indeed. To be constantly cursing his crew, or to be shouting
+directions to them from the boat, not only irritates the other men, but
+increases all the difficulties of a coach. To "answer back" a coach is a
+capital offence, which ought to lead to immediate removal from the crew.
+I can only remember one instance of it in all my experience, and that
+was promptly followed by a humble apology. Silence, prompt obedience,
+absolute subordination of the individual self to the collective good of
+the crew, a quick and hearty willingness in endeavouring to carry out
+orders or instructions, a cheerful temper when things are going awry,
+and a constant keenness whether in rowing or paddling--these are model
+qualities which will go far to make a man a valuable oar. Nothing has so
+bad an effect upon a crew as the display of moroseness or sullenness on
+the part of one of its members. If that member should chance to be the
+captain, the baneful effects are increased tenfold. There are times of
+inattention and slackness when a coach does well to be angry, and to
+bring his men sharply back to a knowledge of their duty.
+
+
+THE COACH.
+
+I cannot deal with this subject at any length, for good coaching is a
+matter of temperament, sympathy, tact, and intelligence--qualities that
+cannot be taught. The man who has these necessary qualities, and adds to
+them a wide experience of rowing, can never go very far wrong in
+coaching a crew. If a man can once establish between himself and his
+crew that subtle bond which comes of their conviction that their welfare
+and success are his chiefest desire, and that everything he says is
+absolutely right, the rest will be comparatively easy. A few simple
+hints may, however, be given.
+
+(1) Never nag at your crew, or at an individual. Point out his fault;
+explain to him as clearly as you can how he ought to correct it, and
+then leave him alone for a bit. Never weary your men with an incessant
+stream of talk. Periods of complete silence on your part are very
+valuable, to you and to the crew.
+
+(2) If you see signs of improvement in a man whom you have been
+correcting, never fail to tell him so. A little encouragement of this
+kind has more effect than heavy loads of objurgation.
+
+(3) Rebuke any carelessness very sharply, but always keep strong
+measures, such as taking a crew back to the start, for really serious
+emergencies.
+
+(4) Show no partiality, and make as little difference as you can between
+man and man. It is useful to begin by coaching old hands with some
+severity. New hands are encouraged by feeling that even a Blue or a
+Grand Challenge winner is liable to error, and that a coach is not
+afraid to tackle these eminent men.
+
+(5) Make a gallant effort never to lose your temper with an individual,
+though loss of temper with a crew as a whole need not always be avoided.
+When things go wrong in a crew, impress upon each and every man that he
+is individually responsible for the defects. Every man is probably doing
+something wrong, and in any case a determined and united attempt to row
+better can do no harm.
+
+(6) Never tell your men that they are rowing "well," or " better," when
+these statements are contrary to the truth. The men in the boat can
+generally feel what is happening as well as you can see it from the bank
+or the launch, and they are apt to lose confidence in a man who talks
+smooth things when everything is rough.
+
+(7) Never confuse a man by telling him more than one thing at a time
+while he is rowing. When the crew has easied you can lecture him and
+them more at length.
+
+(8) Remember Dr. Warre's rule, that general exhortations, such as
+"Time," "Beginning," "Smite," "Keep it long," and the like, are to be
+given at the right moment, not used as mere parrot cries.
+
+(9) Vary the tone of your voice as much as possible.
+
+(10) Vary, if possible, the expressions you use in pointing out and
+correcting faults.
+
+(11) Always insist on your crew putting on their wraps when they easy
+after rowing hard.
+
+(12) Never allow men during summer training to stand, sit, or lie about
+in the full blaze of the sun.
+
+(13) Teach by example as well as by precept. The coach should be able to
+take his seat in a gig pair, and to show his men practically the style
+he wishes them to row in, and how their faults may be corrected.
+
+(14) Always remember, while paying attention to the form of individuals,
+that your main object is to secure uniformity in the crew. Never fail,
+therefore, to correct faults of time instantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF
+LEISURE TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+
+THE DAY OF THE RACE.
+
+On this tremendous day, towards which all their efforts for weeks past
+have been directed, the coach will find that all his crew are suffering
+from that peculiar nervousness to which rowing men have given the name
+of "the needle." It is a complaint against which no length of experience
+can harden a man, and the veteran of a hundred races will feel it as
+acutely as the boy who is engaged in his first struggle. A sort of
+forced cheerfulness pervades the air. Men make irrelevant remarks about
+their oars, their stretchers, or the notorious incapacity of their
+rivals, while they are reading the newspapers or discussing the politics
+of the day. Even a coach is seized with the universal affection,
+however gallantly he may strive against it, and endeavour to entertain
+the crew with all his best stories of triumphant victories, of defeats
+averted by brilliant spurts, or of the last sayings of some well-known
+aquatic humourist. Old oars drop in, and for a few moments divert the
+conversation, only to flow back with it into the one absorbing topic
+that occupies all men's minds. The feeling goes on increasing until at
+last, oh joy! the time comes for getting into the boat. With his
+faithful oar in his hand, and his feet fixed to the stretcher, a man
+regains his confidence, and when the word is given he will find that the
+only effect that the needle has had upon him has been to brace his
+energies to their highest pitch. The duty of a coach on such an occasion
+is clear. He must try to keep his men cheerful, and prevent them from
+brooding over the race that is to come. Visits from old oars should be
+encouraged, for it is often a relief and an amusement to a youngster to
+find that some solid oar of the past is even more agitated than he is
+himself. One thing must not be omitted, and that is the preliminary
+spin, which should take place about two hours before the race, and
+should consist of two sharp starts of ten strokes each and one hard row
+of a minute. This has an invaluable effect in clearing the wind. I have
+always felt, when I have rowed more than one race in a day, and I think
+my experience will be confirmed by most other oarsmen, that I have been
+able to row better, harder, and with less distress, in the second race
+than in the first. An hour and a half before the race a man will be all
+the better for a biscuit and a hot cup of strong meat soup, with perhaps
+a dash of brandy to flavour it, but this must depend upon the hour at
+which the race is rowed, for if you have lunched at one and have to race
+at half-past three you will want nothing between times to stay your
+stomach. The early morning sprint should be taken as usual.
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA, 1897.
+
+(_New College_ v. _Leander_. _Won by New College by 2ft._)]
+
+
+THE RACE.
+
+"I shall say, 'Are you ready?' once; if I receive no answer, I shall
+say, 'Go!'" It is the voice of the umpire addressing us from the
+steam-launch in which he will follow the race. He must be a man dead to
+all feeling, incapable of sympathy, for he actually turns to one of his
+fellow-passengers and makes a jesting remark, while our hearts are
+palpitating and our minds are strung up to face the stern actualities of
+the race. The other crew look very big and strong, and fit and
+determined. We shall have to row our hardest, and we all know it. "Get
+the top of your shorts properly tucked in," says our captain, "so as not
+to catch your thumbs; and mind, all of you, eyes in the boat, and when
+cox shouts for ten strokes let her have it. Come forward all."
+
+"Touch her gently, bow" (it is the cox who speaks, and his voice sounds
+thin and far away and dream-like). "One more. That'll do. Easy, bow. Now
+we're straight."
+
+"Are you ready?" from the umpire. Great heaven! will he never
+say----"Go!" he shouts. There is a swish, a leap, a strain, a rattle of
+oars, a sense of something moving very swiftly alongside, a turmoil of
+water, a confused roar from the bank: we are off!
+
+We started splendidly. For half a minute I am a mere machine; thoughts,
+feelings, energies--all are concentrated into one desire to work my
+hardest and to keep in time. Then my mind clears, and I become conscious
+once more of myself and my surroundings. Have we gained? I _must_ steal
+a look. By Jupiter, they're leaving us! "Eyes in the boat, four,"
+screams the cox; "you're late!" Be hanged to cox! he's got eyes like a
+lynx. Yes; there's no doubt of it--I can see, without looking out of the
+boat, out of the corner of my eye. They're gaining still. Now their
+stroke is level with me; now he has disappeared, and for a few strokes I
+am conscious of a little demon cox bobbing and screeching alongside of
+me. Then he, too, draws away, and their rudder is all I can see. At last
+that also vanishes, and a sense of desolation descends on us. Nearly two
+minutes must have gone; I know that by the landmarks we have passed.
+Surely we ought to spurt. What can stroke be up to? Is he going to let
+us be beaten without an effort. Ugh! what a shower-bath that was. It's
+six splashing, as usual. Well, if we're beaten, we must just grin and
+bear it. We shall have to congratulate the other ruffians. Hateful!
+Somebody must get beaten. But we're not beaten yet, hang it all! Three
+minutes. What's this? Cox is shouting. "Now, ten hard strokes together;
+swing out, and use your legs!" He counts them out for us at the top of
+his voice. Grand! We're simply flying. That's something like it. And
+I'm not a bit done yet. We're none of us done. The boat's going like
+smoke. "Nine!" yells the cox. "Ten! Now, don't slack off, but keep her
+going. You're gaining, you're gaining! On to it, all of you." He is
+purple in the face, and foaming at the mouth. Glorious! Their rudder
+comes back to me; I see their cox. We _are_ catching them. Now for it! A
+few strokes more and the boats are running dead level, and so they
+continue for half a minute. Stroke has now, however, taken the measure
+of his foes. We are steadying down and swinging longer, and I am
+conscious that the other crew are rowing a faster stroke. It is now our
+turn to leave them. Foot by foot we creep past them; their bows come
+level with me, and then slowly recede. I can see the back of their
+bowman. His zephyr has come out from his shorts; the back of his neck is
+very pale. There can't be more than two minutes left now, and I'm still
+fit, and my wind is all right. We are winning; I'm sure of it. No;
+they're spurting again, and, by Jove! they're gaining! Spurt, stroke,
+spurt! We mustn't get beaten on the post. But stroke, that wary old
+warrior, knows what he is about. Unmistakable signs prove to him that
+this effort is the last desperate rally of his enemies. He sees their
+boat lurch; their time is becoming erratic; two of them are rolling
+about in evident distress. His own crew he has well in hand; we are
+rowing as one man, and he feels that he has only to give a sign, and our
+restrained eagerness will blaze forth and carry us gloriously past the
+post. Let us wait, he seems to say, a very few seconds more, until the
+opposing spurt fades out to its inevitable end; so he rows on
+imperturbably. But isn't he running it too fine? Not he. He gives a
+quick word to cox, rattles his hands away, and swings as if he meant to
+strike his face against the kelson of the boat. "Pick her up all!"
+screams the cox. "Now then!" comes in a muffled gasp from the captain.
+We feel that our moment has come, and, with a unanimous impulse, we take
+up the spurt and spin the ship along. In a flash we leap ahead; we leave
+the other crew as if it was standing still. We are a length ahead; now
+we are clear; half a length of open water divides us from them. To all
+intents and purposes the race is over. The crowd grows thicker; the
+shouts from the bank become a deafening din. Enthusiasts scream futile
+encouragements to pursuer and pursued, and in another moment the flag is
+down, the cox cries, "Easy all!" and with triumph in our hearts we
+realize that we have won. The captain turns round to us--he is rowing
+No. 7--his face glowing with pleasure. "Well rowed indeed, you men!" he
+pants. "You all did thundering well! And as for you, stroke----" but
+words fail him, and all he can do is to clap his delighted stroke on the
+back. Then, having duly exchanged the customary "Well rowed!" and its
+accompanying rattle of oars in rowlocks with our gallant enemy, we
+paddle home to the raft, where our exultant coach and our perspiring
+partisans receive us with hand-shakings and embraces and fervently
+epitomized stories of the struggle. "I knew you had got 'em all the
+way!" says the coach. "Did you hear me shout when you got to the
+half-way point?" "Hear you shout?" we reply in a chorus of joyful
+assent. "Of course we did. That's why we spurted." Of course, we had
+heard nothing; but at this moment we almost think we did hear him
+plainly, and in any case we are not going to be so churlish as to
+detract from anybody's joy over our victory.
+
+And so the struggle is ended, and we have won. Pleasant though it is to
+know that training is over, there is not one of us who does not feel a
+sense of sorrow as he realizes that these days of toil and hardship and
+self-restraint, of glorious health and vigorous effort are past. All the
+little worries under which we chafed, the discipline that at times was
+irksome, the thirst, the fatigue, the exhaustion, the recurrent
+disappointments--all these become part of a delightful memory. Never
+again, it may be, shall these eight men strike the sounding furrows
+together. The victory that has crowned us with honour has at the same
+time broken up our companionship of labour and endurance; but its
+splendid memory, and the friendships it knit together--these remain with
+us, and are a part of our lives henceforth wherever we may be.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT.
+
+Let me turn now to lighter matters, for there are lighter matters
+connected with rowing. And first let me insist on the necessity of
+having a butt in a crew. It appears strange at first sight that the
+system of training--that is to say, of diet, of early hours, of healthy
+exercise, and of perfect regularity in all things, which has so
+admirable an effect upon the condition of the body, should sometimes
+impair the powers of the mind, and absolutely shatter the temper. I have
+seen eight healthy, happy, even-tempered young men go into training
+together for three weeks. They were all the best of friends. Tom had
+known Dick at school, and both had been inseparable from Harry ever
+since they had gone up to the University. With these three the other
+five were closely linked by a common pursuit and by common interests.
+Each one of them was a man of whom his friends could say, he was the
+easiest man to get on with you could possibly meet. Yet mark what
+happened. At the end of three weeks every man in that crew was the proud
+possessor of seven detested foes. They ate their food in morose silence;
+they took no delight in the labour of the oar, and each one confided to
+his outside friends his lamentable opinions about the seven other
+members of the crew. Even now, though years have passed away, no one who
+rowed in that crew can look back without horror on those three terrible
+weeks. Why was this so? The simple answer is this, that the crew in
+question did not number among its members a butt. I doubt if the
+importance of a butt in modern boat-racing has been properly recognized.
+Speaking from an experience of many years, I should affirm
+unhesitatingly, if I did not remember what I have written in previous
+chapters, that in an ordinary crew, composed, as ordinary crews are, of
+men and not of angels, the position of butt is a far more important and
+responsible one than that of stroke or No. 7. If you can find a good,
+stout, willing butt--a butt who lends himself to nicknames, and has a
+temper as even as a billiard-table and as long as a tailor's
+bill--secure him at once and make him the nucleus of your crew. There
+may be difficulties, of course, if he should happen to be a heavy weight
+without a notion of oarsmanship, but these defects can easily be
+mitigated by good coaching, and in any case they cannot be allowed to
+count against the supreme merit of keeping the rest of the crew in good
+temper. Salient characteristics are apt to be a rock of offence to a
+training crew. To be a silent thinker does not give rise to happiness in
+the seven who watch you think. It is an even deadlier thing to be an
+eloquent gabbler or a dreary drawler. There is nothing an ordinary
+rowing man detests so much as windy eloquence, unless it be perhaps the
+miserable indolence which is known as slackness. The butt must therefore
+be neither silent, nor slack, nor a drawler. Nature will probably have
+saved him from being a thinker or an orator. He must be simply
+good-natured without affectation, and ready to allow tempers made stormy
+by rowing and training to break upon his broad back without flinching.
+Your true butt is always spoken of as "old" So-and-so, and, as a rule,
+he is a man of much sharper wits, with a far keener insight into
+character, than most of those who buffet or tease him. Among eminent
+butts may be named Mr.----, but on second thoughts I refrain.
+
+
+LEISURE TIME.
+
+It seems a mere platitude to say that a man who can occupy his spare
+moments in writing or reading is likely to be happier and more
+even-tempered than one who is never seen with a book or a pen in his
+hand. Yet it is a platitude of which not many oarsmen realize the force;
+and, indeed, it is not an uncommon sight to see most of the members of
+a crew sitting about listlessly in armchairs or talking the stale
+futilities of rowing shop when they might with more solid advantage be
+engaged, let us say, in following Mr. Stanley Weyman's or Dr. Conan
+Doyle's latest hero through the mazes of his exciting adventures. At
+Oxford or Cambridge, of course, a man has his lectures to attend, his
+fixed tale of work to get through. But at Putney or at Henley this is
+not so. There a man is thrown back on his own resources, a companionship
+which he does not always seem to find particularly cheerful or
+attractive. A billiard table, of course, is a valuable adjunct to
+training quarters, but this is scarcely ever found at Henley, and not
+always at Putney. Besides, most of us, after a short time, cease to take
+any pleasure whatever in a game in which we are not qualified to shine.
+The joy of reading the sporting reporter's account of your doings, and
+of proving conclusively that he knows nothing about rowing, lasts but a
+short time every morning. I may, therefore, offer the oarsman a piece of
+advice which is, sound, in spite of its copybook flavour, and that is,
+that he shall cultivate a habit of reading, and, if possible, of reading
+good literature. Many moralists might recommend this habit on the
+common ground that good literature tends to improve the tone of a man's
+mind; and even a coach who is not a moralist will find it useful in
+distracting the thoughts of his men. Besides, it is quite pleasant in
+after life to recognize a well-worn quotation in a newspaper article,
+and to remember, probably with complete inaccuracy, where it originated.
+A little attention to writing and spelling might also prove valuable.
+Oarsmen who had devoted themselves, say for ten minutes a day, to these
+simple tasks, would have been saved from perpetrating the following
+correspondence, which I quote _verbatim et literatim_ from letters in my
+possession:--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"It has been reported to me that you broke training last night you were
+seen smoking not only a few wiffs but a whole pipe I have therefore
+decided to turn you out of the boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+Answer to the above--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"I am in reciet of your letter it is true that I smoked two whifs (not
+"wiffs" as you say) out of another man's pipe but that's all however I
+don't want to row in your beastly boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+
+AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+I may add here some axioms which have been printed before,[11] but which
+I may venture to repeat in a treatise on rowing. The years that have
+passed since they were first set down have not weakened my conviction
+that they are accurate. I still believe myself justified in stating--
+
+(1) That if two crews row a course within ten minutes of one another,
+the wind is always more violent and the stream more powerful against the
+crew in which you yourself happen to be rowing.
+
+(2) That it is always right to take off at least five seconds from the
+time shown on your stop-watch in timing your own crew, and to add them,
+by way of compensation, to the time shown on the same watch when timing
+a rival crew.
+
+(3) That your own crew is absolutely the only one which ever rows the
+full course right out or starts at the proper place.
+
+(4) That if your crew is impeded while rowing a course you must allow
+ten seconds; but if any other crew is impeded you must allow only two
+seconds.
+
+(5) That if you row a slow course, No. 5's stretcher gave way, or his
+slide came off.
+
+(6) That you could always knock a quarter of a minute off when you row a
+faster stroke, but that--
+
+(7) You never do, as a matter of fact, row a faster stroke.
+
+(8) That your crew always rowed a slower stroke than the rest.
+
+(9) That you are sure to do a faster time to-morrow.
+
+(10) That your private opinion is, that if everybody in the crew did as
+much work as you do yourself your crew would be many lengths faster,
+and--
+
+(11) (and last) That you always lose by the steering of your coxswain
+three lengths, which all other crews gain by the steering of theirs.
+
+  [11] In "In Cambridge Courts."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+
+A good coxswainless four-oared crew represents skill and watermanship,
+as distinguished from mere brute strength, in their highest development.
+I may lay it down as an axiom that any man who can row well in a
+coxswainless Four will row equally well in an eight-oared crew. The
+converse of this is, however, by no means true. A man may do good work
+in an Eight, and yet be incapable of doing himself justice in a Four,
+or, indeed, of helping the pace of the boat in any way. Rowing of a more
+refined order is requisite for a Four. Greater power of balance is
+needed, and a more perfect sense of that rhythm which goes far to secure
+uniformity in rowing. You may have in your Eight a clumsy heavy-weight,
+who at No. 5 can use his strength to wonderful advantage, in spite of
+various aberrations from correct form. But if you put this man at No. 3
+in a Four, the results are sure to be disastrous. An easier style of
+movement is required for a Four. A strenuous application of all the
+body-weight at the beginning of the stroke is still, no doubt,
+necessary. The beginning must, of course, be gripped, and that firmly;
+but the best four-oared rowing I have seen always gave me the impression
+that a sort of "oiling" method of progression, in which steady
+leg-pressure plays a prominent part, was best suited to a Four which is
+not encumbered with the weight of a coxswain. Over and over again have
+Eights been defeated at Henley for the Grand Challenge Cup, and yet
+Fours, selected from their members, have been able to beat all comers in
+the Stewards'. From 1868 to 1878 the London Rowing Club won the Grand
+five times. In the same period of eleven years their Four was only once
+defeated for the Stewards', proving, if any proof were needed, that an
+inferior Eight (I use the term merely relatively) may contain a
+first-class victorious Four. On the other hand, from 1891 to 1897, a
+period during which Leander won the Grand five times, they were able to
+win the Stewards' only once, and that was this year, when their Eight
+was defeated. Instances of this kind might be multiplied.
+
+But besides skill in oarsmanship, another element, which adds greatly
+both to the difficulties and pleasures of a Four, has to be considered.
+This is the necessity that one of the oarsmen should not only row, but
+also guide the course of the boat by steering with his foot. It is
+evident that watermanship of a very high order is needed for this feat.
+The steerer must know the course and all its points perfectly. The
+ordinary oar often finds it difficult to keep time when his eyes are
+glued on the back of the men in front of him, but the steerer in a Four
+has to keep time and regularity, even though he may be forced to look
+round in order to ascertain the true direction of his boat. An oarsman
+in an Eight has both his feet firmly fixed; a steerer of a Four must
+keep one foot constantly ready for movement. And all this he has to do
+without making the boat roll, or upsetting the harmony of his crew.
+These difficulties, no doubt, are great; but when once they have been
+overcome, and the crew has shaken absolutely together, there can be few
+pleasures in the world of exercise comparable to that of rowing in a
+Four.
+
+During a long period the London Rowing Club had almost a monopoly of
+good Fours. Their crews showed a degree of watermanship which in those
+days University oarsmen despaired of attaining to. Gulston, Stout, A. de
+L. Long, Trower, and S. Le B. Smith were not only names to conjure with,
+but showed in their rowing that perfection of apparently simple ease
+which lies at the root of success in four-oared rowing. Who that ever
+witnessed it can forget the sight, once well-known at Henley, of Mr. F.
+S. Gulston as he rowed and steered his Four to victory? As a recent
+Cambridge versifier said of him--
+
+    "They can't recall, but ah, I can,
+       How hard and strong you looked, sir;
+     Twelve stone, and every ounce a man,
+       Unbeatable, uncooked, sir.
+     Our French friends, had they seen your rude
+       Vast strength had cried, '_Ah quel beau
+     Rameur, celui qui arque le coude_'--
+       That is, protrudes his elbow.
+
+    "Your ship could run like Charley's Aunt,
+       And you, demure as Penley,
+     Knew all the wiles that might enchant
+       The river nymphs at Henley.
+     No piles had yet marked out the way
+       Forbidding men to try on
+     The tricks that found round every bay
+       The short cuts to the 'Lion.'
+
+    "Each inch of bay you knew by heart,
+       You knew the slackest water;
+     All foes who faced you at the start,
+       You beat, and beat with slaughter.
+     To 'form' a stranger, yet your style
+       The kind that much endures was.
+     I never saw--forgive the smile--
+       A rounder back than yours was.
+
+    "But round or straight, when all dismayed
+       Your rivals lagged in trouble,
+     Still with a firm, unfaltering blade
+       You drove the swirling bubble.
+     With you to speed the hours along
+       No day was ere spent dully,
+     Our stalwart, cheerful, matchless, strong,
+       Our undefeated Gully."
+
+As a matter of record it may be stated that Mr. Gulston won five Grand
+Challenge Cup medals and ten Stewards' Cup medals, Mr. A. de L. Long
+five Grand Challenge Cup medals and eight Stewards' Cup medals, and Mr.
+S. Le B. Smith four Grand Challenge Cup medals, and seven Stewards' Cup
+medals. No oarsman of the present day can boast of anything like such a
+record in these two events.
+
+The art of four-oared rowing, then, was brought to perfection by the
+crews of the London Rowing Club many years ago; but there is no danger
+that it will be forgotten by oarsmen of the present day. Indeed, the
+rowing of the Leander Four that won the Stewards' Cup this year was
+about as good as four-oared rowing can be. They were absolutely
+together, they rowed with most perfect ease, and in the race they beat
+record time by seven seconds, and might have beaten it by still more,
+had they not easied a length or two from the finish. Their weights were
+as follows:--
+
+  Bow. C. W. N. Graham                   10 st. 2 lbs.
+    2. J. A. Ford                        12 st. 1 lb.
+    3. H. Willis                         11 st. 12 lbs.
+       Guy Nickalls (stroke, and steers) 12 st. 7 lbs.
+
+From the above remarks it will be gathered that the great points to be
+insisted upon in four-oared rowing are uniformity, and again uniformity,
+and always uniformity. A coach should insist, if possible even more
+strenuously than he insists in an Eight, on bodies and slides moving
+with a faultless precision and perfectly together. Let him devote his
+energies to getting the finish and recovery locked up all through the
+crew, and let him see to it that the movements of their bodies shall be
+slow and balanced on the forward swing, and strong and not jerky on the
+back swing. More it would be difficult to add.
+
+When a Four is practising for a four-oared race alone--that is to say,
+when its members are not rowing in an eight-oared crew as well, their
+course of work should be similar to that laid down for an Eight. But
+when, as often happens at Henley, a Four is made up out of the members
+of an eight-oared crew, it will always be found better to allow its
+members to do the bulk of their work in the Eight, and to confine
+themselves in the Four principally to long and easy paddling, varied by
+short, sharp bursts of rowing. It may be necessary for such a Four to go
+over the full course once at top speed, but that ought to be enough.
+Their work in the Eight should get them into condition; all that they
+really need in the Four is to be able to row perfectly together. The
+Brasenose Four that won the Stewards' in 1890 had never rowed over the
+full course before the day of the race. Their longest piece of rowing,
+as distinguished from paddling, had been a burst of three minutes. Their
+men acquired fitness by working in the Eight, and proved their
+condition by the two desperate races they rowed.
+
+As to steering, it used to be said that anybody might steer in a Four
+except stroke, but Mr. Guy Nickalls has proved that a stroke can steer
+as well as row. He has won four Stewards' Cup medals, has stroked and
+steered in every race, and his boat has always been kept on a faultless
+course.
+
+In the case of the ordinary oar, however, the old saying, I think, holds
+good. Bow naturally is the best place to steer from, not only because in
+turning his head he can obtain a clear view of the course, but also
+because he has a considerable advantage in leverage, and ought to be
+able to control the direction of his boat merely by relaxing or
+increasing the power applied to his oar. The best part of the stroke for
+looking round is, I consider, towards the finish. A turn of the head,
+accompanied by an outward movement of the outside elbow to suit the
+slightly altered position of the body, while keeping pressure on the
+oar, is all that is necessary. Yet I have seen Mr. Guy Nickalls look
+round in the middle of his forward swing without apparently disturbing
+the equilibrium of the boat. In any case, the best thing a steerer can
+do is to learn his course by heart, so that he may be able to steer for
+the most part without looking round at all, judging the direction she is
+taking by her stern and by well-known objects on the bank as he passes
+them. Personally I prefer, and I think most men prefer, to steer with
+the outside foot. The captain of a Four should always look carefully to
+his steering-gear to see that the wires and strings are taut, and that
+they move properly and without jamming over the wheels. I have seen more
+than one race lost by accidents to the steering-gear that might have
+been avoided by a little preliminary attention.
+
+
+PAIR OARS.
+
+This, too, is a very pleasant form of rowing, both with a view to racing
+and merely for casual amusement. The main elements for success are
+similar to those laid down in the case of Fours. In pair-oared rowing,
+however, there is one important point which distinguishes it from all
+other forms of rowing. It is absolutely essential that the two men
+composing a Pair should not row "jealous," _i.e._ neither of them must
+attempt to row the other round in order to prove his own superior
+strength and ability. Such a course of action not only makes progress
+circuitous and slow, but also ends by entirely destroying the tempers of
+both oarsmen. In a Pair, even more than in a Four, the bow oar has a
+considerable advantage in leverage, whence it comes that a lighter and
+less powerful man can often row bow in a Pair with a strong and heavy
+stroke. The most surprising instance of this occurred in the Oxford
+University Pairs of 1891, which were won by the late Mr. H. B. Cotton,
+rowing bow at 9 st. 12 lbs., to the stroke of Mr. Vivian Nickalls, who
+weighed close on 13 st. An instance to the contrary was afforded by the
+winners of the Goblets at Henley in 1878. These were Mr. T. C.
+Edwards-Moss, bow, 12 st. 3 lbs., and Mr. W. A. Ellison, stroke, 10 st.
+13 lbs. The Goblets at Henley have been won six times by Mr. Guy
+Nickalls, and five times by his brother Vivian.
+
+
+SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+There has been, during the past year, a movement in favour of using
+swivel rowlocks, not only in sculling-boats, but also in Pairs, Fours,
+and Eights, though the majority of English oarsmen, even when inclined
+to use them in Pairs and Fours, set their faces against them for
+Eights. The advocates of swivels contend that by their use the hands are
+eased on the recovery, and the jar that takes place when the oar turns
+on a fixed rowlock is absolutely abolished. These advantages seem to me
+to be exaggerated, for, though I have carefully watched for it, I have
+never seen an Eight or a Four retarded in her place for even a fraction
+of a second by the supposed jar due to the turning of the oar on the
+feather in fixed rowlocks. On the other hand, I am convinced that for an
+ordinary eight-oared crew the fixed rowlock is best, and for the
+following reasons:--
+
+The combined rattle of the oars as they turn constitutes a most valuable
+rallying-point. The ears are brought into action as well as the eyes.
+This advantage is lost with swivels. In modern sculling-boats a man must
+use swivels, for the reach of the sculler extends to a point which he
+could not reach with fixed rowlocks, as his sculls would lock before he
+got there. As he moves forward he is constantly opening up, his arms
+extending on either side of his body; but in rowing, one arm swings
+across the body, and unless you are going to screw the body round
+towards the rigger, and thus sacrifice all strength of beginning, you
+cannot fairly reach beyond a certain point, which is just as easily and
+comfortably attained with fixed rowlocks as with swivels. Moreover--and
+here is the great advantage--you have in the thole-pin of a fixed
+rowlock an absolutely immovable surface, and the point of application of
+your power is always the same throughout the stroke. With a swivel this
+is not so, for the back of the swivel, against which your oar rests, is
+constantly moving. To put it in other words, it is far easier with a
+fixed rowlock to get a square, firm, clean grip of the beginning, and
+for the same reason it is easier to bring your oar square and clean out
+at the end of the stroke. A really good waterman can, of course, adapt
+himself to swivels, as he can to almost anything else in a boat, but his
+task will not be rendered any easier by them. For average oars, and even
+for most good oars, the difficulties of rowing properly will be largely
+increased, without any compensating advantage, so far as I am able to
+judge. In the case of novices, I am convinced that it would be quite
+disastrous to attempt to make them row with swivel rowlocks.
+
+
+_Measurements of Racing Four built by J. H. Clasper._
+
+(In this boat Leander won the Stewards' Cup, 1897.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                42  3
+  Greatest breadth of beam, exactly amidship      1  8-3/8
+  From centre of seat to sill of rowlock          2  8-1/2
+  Length of play of slides                        1  3-7/8
+  Height of sliding-seat above skin of boat          8-7/8
+  Height of heel-traps above skin of boat            1-5/8
+    (This would make the heels about one inch
+        above skin of boat.)
+  Height of sill of rowlock above seat               6-3/4
+  Depth forward                                      6-1/8
+  Depth aft                                          5
+
+
+_Measurements of Oars used._
+
+  Length over all                                12  0-1/2
+  Length in-board                                 3  8-1/2
+  Length of blade                                 2  8
+  Breadth of blade                                   5-3/4
+
+This boat is some three feet shorter than the average of Fours nowadays.
+
+The oars used by the New College Four measured over all 12 ft. 6 ins.;
+in-board, 3 ft. 8-1/2 ins.; breadth of blades, 5-1/2 ins.
+
+
+_Measurement of a Pair Oar built by Sims, of Putney._
+
+(In this Pair Mr. H. G. Gold, and Mr. R. Carr won the University Pairs
+at Oxford, their weights being 11 st. 10 lbs. and 12 st. 8 lbs.
+respectively.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                37  1
+  Greatest breadth                                1  3-3/4
+  Length of slide play                            1  4
+  Distance from sill of rowlock to centre of seat 2  8-1/2
+  Height of seat above skin of boat                  8-1/8
+  Height of heels above skin of boat                 1-1/4
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA.
+
+(_A Heat for the Diamonds._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+SCULLING.
+
+_By Guy Nickalls._
+
+
+In writing an article on sculling, a sculler must of necessity be
+egotistical. He can only speak of what he himself feels to be the
+correct way of doing things, and cannot judge of how a different man
+feels under the same circumstances. I therefore put in a preliminary
+plea for forgiveness if in the course of these remarks the letter "I"
+should occur with excessive frequency. Sculling is so entirely an art by
+itself, that a man might just as well ask a painter how he produces an
+impression on a canvas as ask a sculler why he can scull, or how it
+comes that so many good oarsmen cannot scull. Ask an ordinary
+portrait-painter why he cannot sketch a landscape, and ask an ordinary
+oarsman to explain why he cannot scull, and to the uninitiated the
+answer of both will have the same sort of vagueness. Sculling differs
+so vastly from rowing that no man who has not tried his hand at both can
+appreciate how really wide apart they stand; and the fact that sculling
+depends to such a great extent on one's innate sense of touch and
+balance, makes it extremely hard for a man who has tried his hand with
+some success at both sculling and rowing to explain to the novice, or
+even to the veteran oarsman, wherein the difference lies. There is as
+much difference between sculling and rowing as there is between a single
+cyclist racing without pacemakers, steering and balancing himself and
+making his own pace, and a man in the middle of a quintette merely
+pedalling away like a machine at another man's pace, and not having the
+balance or anything else solely under his control. The difference in
+"feel" is so great that one might liken it to the difference between
+riding a light, springy, and eager thoroughbred which answers quickly to
+every touch, and pounding uncomfortably along on a heavy, coarse-bred
+horse, responding slowly to an extra stimulus, and deficient in life and
+action.
+
+To scull successfully one must possess pluck, stamina, and a cool head,
+and must, above all, be a waterman. A man may _row_ well and
+successfully, and yet possess none of these qualities. Nothing depresses
+a man more when he is sculling than his sense of utter isolation. If a
+spurt is required, he alone has to initiate it and carry it through;
+there is no cheering prospect of another strong back aiding one, no
+strenuous efforts of others to which one can rally, no cox to urge one
+to further effort. You feel this even more in practice than in actual
+racing, especially when going against the clock. You are your own
+stroke, captain, crew, and cox, and success or failure depends entirely
+and absolutely upon yourself. No one else (worse luck) is to blame if
+things go wrong.
+
+The pace of a sculling-boat is strictly proportionate to the quality of
+its occupant. A good man will go fast and win his race; a bad man
+cannot. A good man in an Eight cannot make his crew win; and a bad man
+in an Eight may mar a crew, but he can also very often win a race
+against a crew containing better men than himself.
+
+People have often asked me why a first-class oar should not of necessity
+be a good sculler. This, although a hard matter to explain, is partly
+accounted for by what I have said above, in that sculling is so greatly
+a matter of delicate touch and handling. Even good oars are as often as
+not clumsy and wanting in a quick light touch. Very few really big men
+have ever been fine scullers. This is partly accounted for by the fact
+that so few boats are built large enough to carry big weights, and
+consequently they are under-boated when practising. Many big weights,
+_e.g._ S. D. Muttlebury and F. E. Churchill, have been good and fast
+scullers at Eton, but two or three years afterwards are slow, and get
+slower and slower the longer they continue. This, I think, is a good
+deal owing to the muscle which a big man generally accumulates,
+especially on the shoulders and arms, and he therefore lacks the
+essential qualities of elasticity, lissomeness, and quickness with the
+hands.
+
+Big, strong men also generally grip with great ferocity the handles of
+their sculls, and these being small, the forearm becomes cramped, and
+gives out. Many good oarsmen have never tried to scull, and those who
+have generally give it up after a first failure, which is more often
+than not due to want of attention to detail. What passes for good
+watermanship in an Eight is mere clumsiness in a sculling-boat, and, as
+a matter of fact, there are far fewer really good watermen than the
+casual observer imagines.
+
+I asked three of our best modern heavy-weight oarsmen to tell me the
+reason why they could not scull. The Thames R.C. man said the only
+reason why he had never won the Diamonds was because he had never gone
+in for them. This was straightforward, but unconvincing to any one who
+had watched this gentleman gambolling in a sculling-boat. The Cambridge
+heavy-weight affirmed solemnly that he could scull, and was at one time
+very fast. He subsequently admitted that he could never get a boat big
+enough, and, secondly, his arms always gave. The Oxford heavy-weight
+replied much to the same purpose, without the preliminary affirmation.
+
+Many men can scull well and slowly, but few can really go fast, and
+this, I think, is due to the fact that they do not practise enough with
+faster men than themselves, and so do not learn by experience what
+action of theirs will best propel a boat at its fastest pace. Nothing is
+more deceptive than pace; when a man thinks he is going fastest he is
+generally going slowest. He gets the idea that he is going fast because
+his boat is jumping under him, and creating a large amount of side-wash;
+but an observer from the bank will notice that although the sculls are
+applying great power, that power is not being applied properly, and his
+boat will be seen to be up by the head and dragging at the stern, and
+bouncing up and down instead of travelling.
+
+The first and foremost thing, then, to be attended to for pace is
+balance, _i.e._ an even keel, and to obtain this your feet should be
+very firm in your clogs. As those supplied by the trade are of a very
+rough and rudimentary character, they will nearly always require padding
+in different places. You should be able to feel your back-stop just so
+much that when leaning back well past the perpendicular you can push
+hard against it with a straight leg. You are then quite firm, and can
+control your body in the event of your boat rolling. Although when a man
+has become a waterman he will find the back-stop unnecessary, it is
+safest for the novice to have it, so as to be able to press against it;
+otherwise, having nothing to press against at the finish of his stroke,
+he may acquire the bad habit of relying entirely on his toes to pull him
+forward. In such a position he is unstable, and if his boat rolls he has
+no control over his body.
+
+Having got your balance, the next thing to be thought of is the stroke.
+Reach forward until the knees touch either armpit; put the sculls in
+quite square, and take the water firmly (be most careful not to rush or
+jerk the beginning); at the same time drive with the legs, sending the
+slide, body and all, back; the loins must be absolutely firm, so that
+the seat does not get driven away from underneath the body. If you allow
+the loins to be loose and weak you will acquire that caterpillar action
+which was to be seen in several aspirants to Diamond Sculls honours last
+year, and which ruined whatever poor chance they ever possessed. This
+diabolical habit of driving the slide away, although common to many
+professionals, cannot be too severely condemned, as it relieves the
+sculler from doing any work at all except with the arms, which, if thus
+used, without swing and leg-work to help them, cannot, unless a man is
+enormously muscular in them, hold out for any great length of time. The
+firm drive will start the swing of the body, which may be continued a
+fraction of time after the slide has finished. You will find that when
+you have driven your slide back your body will have swung well past the
+perpendicular (and in sculling you may swing further back than you are
+allowed to in rowing). When in that position a sculler is allowed to do
+that which an oarsman must not, viz. he may help to start his recovery
+by moving his body slightly up to meet his sculls as they finish the
+stroke. Thus by keeping his weight on the blades in the water as long as
+possible, instead of in his boat, he strengthens the finish and prevents
+his boat burying itself by the bows. The stroke from the beginning
+should go on increasing in strength to the finish, which should be firm
+and strong, but, like the beginning, not jerked or snapped. Strength
+applied to the finish keeps a boat travelling in between the strokes.
+
+The finish is by far the hardest part of the stroke, and is most
+difficult to get clean and smart. The position is naturally a far weaker
+one than that of the oarsman, as the hands are eight inches or so
+further back, and at the same time six inches or so clear of the ribs.
+In this position nine out of ten scullers fail to get a really quick
+recovery with the sculls clean out and clear of the water, the hands
+away like lightning and clear of the knees, and the body at the same
+time swinging forward. As soon as the hands have cleared the knees they
+should begin to turn the blade off the feather, so that by the time you
+are full forward the blades are square and ready to take the water.
+Professionals recommend staying on the feather until just before the
+water is taken, but this is apt to make the novice grip his handles
+tightly, and press on them almost unconsciously when he should be very
+light. He will thus make his blade fly up and miss the beginning. In
+order to ensure both hands working perfectly level and taking and
+leaving the water exactly together, a man should watch his stern, and by
+the turn given either way he can easily detect which hand is not doing
+its right amount of work. Which hand you scull over or which under makes
+little or no difference. Personally, I scull with the right hand under.
+In holding a scull the thumb should "cap" the handle; this prevents you
+from pulling your button away from the thowl even the slightest bit, and
+makes your grip firmer and steadier. If in steering you must look right
+round, do so shortly before you are full forward, as soon as the hands
+have cleared the knees, but generally steer by the stern, if you can,
+without looking round, and almost unconsciously by what you notice out
+of the corner of either eye as you pass.
+
+Modern professionals, with very few exceptions, scull in disgracefully
+bad form. W. Haines, Wag Harding, and W. East, at his best, are perhaps
+the only exceptions I know to this rule. English professionals, owing to
+the manual labour with which most of them start life, become abnormally
+strong in the arms, and trust almost entirely to those muscles. Their
+want of swing, their rounded backs, and "hoicked" finish they carry with
+them into a rowing-boat. Nothing shows up their bad form in rowing so
+much as sandwiching a few pros. in a goodish amateur crew--"by their
+style ye shall know them." They have acquired a style which does not
+answer, and which they cannot get rid of, and they consider an Eight can
+be propelled in the same manner as a sculling-boat. Nothing is more
+erroneous. They cannot assimilate their style to the correct one. Two
+pros. sometimes make a fair pair, because they may happen to "hoick"
+along in the same style. Professional Fours are a little worse than
+Pairs, and their Eights disgraceful. I am of opinion (and I fancy most
+men who know anything about rowing will agree with me) that England's
+eight best amateurs in a rowing-boat would simply lose England's eight
+best pros. over any course from a mile upwards. This inability to
+assimilate one's style to that of another man, or body of men, may be
+the reason why some excellent amateur scullers proved inferior oars, or
+it may be that they can go at their own pace and not at another man's. I
+myself have often felt on getting out of a sculling-boat into an Eight
+great difficulty and much weariness at being compelled to go on at
+another man's pace, and only to easy at another's order. If you are
+practising for sculling as well as rowing there is nothing like being
+_captain_ of an Eight or stroke of a Pair or Four.
+
+The novice, if he has toiled so far as this, is no doubt by now saying
+to himself that I am only repeating what he knows already, and that what
+he especially requires are hints as to rigging his boat, size and shape
+of sculls, and various measurements, the pace of stroke he ought to go,
+etc., Of course, the smaller the blade the quicker the stroke, and _vice
+vers�_. It should be remembered that even 1/16 of an inch extra in the
+breadth of a blade makes a lot of difference. Blades, I think, should
+vary according to the liveliness of water rowed on, and according to the
+strength of the individual. For myself, I am rather in favour of smaller
+blades than are generally used. My experience leads me to believe that
+racing sculls should be from 9 ft. 8-1/2 ins. to 9 ft. 9-1/2 ins. in
+length all over; in-board measurement from 2 ft. 8-1/4 ins. to 2 ft. 9
+ins., but, of course, this entirely depends on how much you like your
+sculls to overlap. When they are at right angles to the boat, my sculls
+overlap so much that there is a hand's-breadth of space in between my
+crossed hands. The length of blade should be about 2 ft.; breadth of
+blade, from 5-3/4 ins. to 6-1/4 ins. Even on the tideway sculls should
+be as light as a good scull-maker can turn them out, so long as they
+retain their stiffness. Do not, however, sacrifice stiffness to
+lightness. It is rather interesting to compare these measurements with
+those of a pair of sculls hanging over my head as I write; these were
+used in a championship race eighty years ago, and have a heavy square
+loom to counteract their length and consequent weight out-board. The
+measurements are--8 ft. 8 ins. in length over all, 1 ft. 9 ins.
+in-board; length of blade, 2 ft. 5 ins.; breadth of blade, 3-1/8 ins. I
+give below roughly what should be the measurements of a boat according
+to the weight of the sculler. For a man of--
+
+                 9 stone.   12 stone.      13 stone.
+  Length        30 ft.       31 ft.       31 ft. 3 ins.
+  Width         9 ins.       10-1/2 ins.  11-1/2 ins.
+  Depth         5-1/4 ins.    5-1/2 ins.   5-3/4 ins.
+    "  forward  3-1/4 ins.    3-1/2 ins.   3-5/8 ins.
+    "  aft      2-1/2 ins.    2-1/2 ins.   2-5/8 ins.
+  Weight        24 lbs.       28 lbs.      34 lbs.
+
+As to slide, I hold that a man should slide to a point level with his
+rowing-pin--never past it, lest the boat should be pinched instead of
+being driven at the beginning of the stroke. The clogs should be fixed
+at an angle of 55� to the keel (_i.e._ an angle measured along the back
+of the clogs). If the angle is much smaller, the feet and legs lose
+power when the sculler is full back, and the drive at the finish is
+weakened. If the angle is greater, the difficulty of bending the
+ankle-joints sufficiently as the slide moves forward becomes very
+serious. The distance of fifteen inches from the heel of the clogs to
+the edge of slide when full forward may be slightly reduced, but only
+slightly. For instance, if reduced, as is sometimes done, to ten inches,
+the body comes too close to the heels in the forward position to enable
+the sculler to get a strong, direct, and immediate drive, and the boat
+is pinched.
+
+A very old sculling-boat of mine--and perhaps the best that Clasper ever
+built--was built for Mr. F. I. Pitman in 1886. She owed her pace to the
+fact that she was very long aft, and consequently never got up by the
+head; her cut-water was always in the water, even when her occupant was
+full forward; and the most marvellous thing was that, low as she was,
+she did not bury her nose, considering that she had to endure a weight
+of 170 lbs. or so, shifting its position fore and aft to the extent of
+sixteen inches. She is a marvel of the boat-builder's art, and was built
+of exceptionally close-framed cedar, which takes a long time to get
+water-soaked, and indeed should never do so if properly looked after.
+Her dimensions were: Length, 31 ft. 2 ins.; length from edge of sliding
+seat when forward to stern-post, 14 ft. 6-1/2 ins.; width, 11-1/4 ins.;
+depth forward, 3-1/4 ins.; depth aft, 2-5/8 ins.; depth amidships, 5-1/2
+ins.; from heels to back edge of slide when back, 3 ft. 5-1/4 ins.;
+leverage, _i.e._ measurement from thowl to thowl across, 4 ft. 9 ins.;
+from heels to edge of seat when forward, 15-1/4 inches. She won the
+Diamond Sculls in 1886, 1888, 1889, 1890; the amateur championship in
+1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890; besides the Metropolitan Sculls and
+several minor races.
+
+It is a great mistake to try and get a boat too light. The eagerness a
+man will display in cutting down everything to lessen the weight of his
+craft, until he is sitting on the water on a weak bit of nothing, is
+really astounding. Three or four extra pounds often make all the
+difference, whether a boat is stiff and keeps on travelling, or whether
+she jumps, cocks her head, and waggles about generally.
+
+As to the pace of stroke, from twenty-two to twenty-six strokes a minute
+is a fair practice paddle, twenty-four to twenty-eight for sculling
+hard, and in racing, even for a minute, never attempt anything over
+thirty-eight. I once sculled seventy-eight strokes in two minutes, and
+felt more dead than alive at the end of it. It is harder work to scull
+thirty-eight strokes in a minute than it is to row forty-four in the
+same time. If you do start at thirty-eight, drop down as soon as
+possible to thirty-four, thirty-two, or even thirty, according to
+circumstances of wind and weather, etc. My best advice to the novice is
+to go just fast enough to clean out his opponent before the same thing
+happens to himself, or, even better still, to get his opponent beaten,
+and leave himself fresh. But always remember if you are at all evenly
+matched, that however bad you feel yourself, your opponent is probably
+in just as bad a plight. Talking of pace reminds me of how soon even the
+best scullers tire. In sculling a course against time at Henley, a good
+man may get to Fawley, the halfway point, in about the same time as a
+Pair, and yet will be half a minute slower from that point to the
+finish; and for the last quarter-mile the veriest tiro can out-scull a
+champion, provided the latter has gone at his best pace throughout. In
+scull-racing the advantage of the lead is greater than in rowing, as a
+sculler can help his own steering by watching the direction of the
+other's craft. Yet you should never sacrifice your wind to obtain the
+advantage, for recollect that in sculling you can never take a blow or
+an easy for even a stroke. If you are behind, never turn round to look
+at your opponent, as by doing so you lose balance and pace, and many a
+good man has lost a race by so doing. Keep just so close up to your man
+as to prevent him giving you the disadvantage of his back wash.
+
+Training for sculling requires more time and practice than training for
+rowing. If it takes an Eight 6 weeks to get together and fit to race, it
+takes a Four 9 weeks, a Pair 12 weeks, and a Sculler 15 weeks. If a man
+is training for both rowing and sculling at the same time, and racing in
+both on the same day, it takes lengths and lengths off his pace, for
+rowing upsets all that precision so necessary in sculling. If a man
+sculls and rows at Henley, and does both on the same day, and practises
+for the same daily for a month beforehand, I should think it would make
+him from six to eight lengths slower on the Henley course. Otherwise,
+train as you would for rowing, the only difference being that a little
+more time should be spent in the actual sculling than is spent in the
+actual rowing.
+
+Having attended Henley Regatta since 1883, and having raced there for
+twelve years in succession, I have met with various scullers. Mr. J. C.
+Gardner, taking him all round, was the finest I have ever seen of
+amateurs. He was quite the best stripped man I have ever seen, his
+muscles standing out like bars of steel all over his body; he was a very
+neat, finished sculler, the only fault I could find with him being a
+tendency to a weak finish. W. S. Unwin, a light weight, was extremely
+neat, but his style was rather spoilt by a roundish back. F. I. Pitman,
+his great rival, was perhaps a better stayer, and had a more elegant
+style. Vivian Nickalls, for a long man, was a fine sculler, handicapped
+by an awkward finish and handicapped also by the fact that he never
+entirely gave his time up to sculling only--his chief characteristic
+being a fine, healthy, long body swing. M. Bidault, a Frenchman, who
+rowed in the Metropolitan Regatta some years ago, was 7 ft. 4-1/2 ins.
+high; he weighed 17 stone; his boat weighed 50 lbs., was 35 feet long,
+had a 5 ft. leverage; his sculls were 11 ft. 10 ins. long. Compare with
+him Wag Harding, with a boat 19-1/2 lbs. in weight, weighing 9 stone
+himself, and you will see in what different forms and shapes men can
+scull. And M. Bidault was a fast man for a quarter of a mile. The
+fastest sculler for half a mile I have ever seen was Herr Doering, who
+sculled for the Diamonds in 1887. The slowest man I have ever seen
+was---- Well, I won't mention names, as he might go in for the Diamond
+Sculls again. Rupert Guinness, although not what I should call a born
+sculler, obtained his great proficiency in sculling by dint of a very
+long and careful preparation, by months and months of continual
+practice, and by not hampering his sculling by entering and practising
+for rowing events at the same time--in fact, by making a speciality of
+sculling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+STEERING.
+
+(SOME HINTS TO NOVICE COXSWAINS.)
+
+_By G. L. Davis_,
+
+Cox of the Cambridge Eight, 1875-79; Cox of Leander, 1880-85.
+
+
+Many people think that any one, provided he be of the proper weight, is
+fitted to fill the post of coxswain.
+
+Nobody, however, knows better than the actual rowing man what an amount
+of useless labour and irritation a crew can be saved by possessing a
+good man in the stern, not to mention the assistance he can afford both
+directly and indirectly in getting a crew together. Certainly a mere
+tiro, having acquired the elementary knowledge that if he pulls the
+right rudder-line he will turn his boat to starboard, _i.e._ to the
+right, and that if he pulls his left line he will turn her to port,
+_i.e._ to the left, may be able to guide a boat sufficiently well for
+ordinary purposes; but even in the period of training a crew, and still
+more so in the race, there is undoubtedly plenty of scope for a clever
+coxswain to distinguish himself. There is no royal road to good
+steering. Pains and perseverance are necessary, as in every other branch
+of athletics. The attainment of perfection in steering is not all that
+is requisite; there are many other qualities added to this skill which
+combine to make a coxswain worthy to be reckoned in the front rank--a
+position which all coxswains should aim for.
+
+In the days of Tom Egan the steerer had to act as coach to his crew, but
+nowadays he is no longer called upon to do so. He is, in the first
+place, chosen on account of his light weight; but eligible though he may
+be in this respect, he is too often quite incapable in other ways of
+performing his duties. Should this be the case, a crew would be well
+advised in carrying a few more pounds, or even a stone or two extra, if
+by so doing they manage to gain an able and experienced coxswain. There
+are certain qualities which are absolutely essential in the right sort.
+He should have light hands, judgment, a cool head, and plenty of nerve
+to enable him to keep his presence of mind in the face of a sudden
+predicament or unforeseen danger. There are numberless occasions both in
+practice and during races when risks are run. A boat laden with
+pleasure-seekers may suddenly pop out from the bank into the course. The
+coolness of the coxswain may avert very much more serious consequences
+than the loss of a stroke or two, such as a broken rigger or an injury
+to an oarsman, by a touch of the rudder and a ready appeal to his crew
+to mind their oars.
+
+During a University Boat Race, in which I was steering the Cambridge
+Boat, a waterman's wherry, with two or three occupants, was suddenly
+pulled out from the Surrey shore at a short distance above Hammersmith
+Bridge. The course at this point lies somewhat near to the bank, and the
+Oxford Boat was nearly level with mine. The wherry was directly in my
+way, and, as far as I could make out, those who were in it seemed to be
+in doubt as to whether they should row still further out or make for the
+shore. If I went to the right, a foul was imminent with the Oxford Boat;
+if to the left, I should have got into slack water and lost ground by
+the _d�tour_. There was no time for those in the wherry to waste in
+making up their minds, so I promptly made straight for them with the
+object of driving them out of my course. The desired effect followed.
+They got sufficient way on in the direction of the shore to enable me to
+steer straight on and clear them. My action involved the ticklish
+question of judgment of distance and of pace, namely, should I reach the
+spot before the wherry was clear; and this anecdote illustrates my
+point--that quickness in making up the mind, and, when it is made up, in
+acting, is _essential_ to a coxswain.
+
+The duties of a coxswain consist of many and varied details. To make a
+smart crew, attention should be paid to discipline both in and out of
+the boat, and he can and ought to further this object to the utmost of
+his power, thereby saving the coach or captain a great deal of trouble.
+If the coxswain of a light eight-oared racing ship has been ordered to
+get her into the water, he ought to be there to superintend the order
+being carried out. He should bid his crew "stand by" their riggers, and
+see that each man is in readiness to lift and carry her to the water's
+edge. There is generally a waterman at hand, but whether there is or
+not, the coxswain should be ready, if necessary, to remove any stool
+upon which the ship may have been resting, so as to prevent any
+stumbling on the part of his men. His place is near the rudder (unless
+she is launched stern foremost, when, of course, it would be
+impossible), to prevent any injury happening to it, until the boat is
+safely in the water. He will then get the oarsmen into her in an orderly
+manner. There is necessity for this, for otherwise the boat's back may
+be strained. This might occur by allowing stroke and bow to get in
+first, owing to a boat of such length and lightness of build being
+supported in the centre and at the same time weighted at each end. The
+best order for the men to take their places is, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7, bow,
+and then stroke. The coxswain should call out their numbers one by one,
+holding the boat firmly whilst they take their seats, and on no account
+allow more than one man to get in at the same time. In disembarking, it
+is part of his duty to see that the crew leave the ship in the reverse
+order. The coxswain seats himself in the aftermost thwart perfectly
+upright, with his legs crossed tailor-fashion, and takes up the
+rudder-lines one in each hand; and, before he gives any command, should
+see that his steering gear is in proper order. It is a common and useful
+custom for the purpose of preventing the hand from slipping, to have
+attached to each line a piece of wood of about three to four inches in
+length, and one and a half in circumference, called a tug. These the
+coxswain clasps tightly, one in each hand. Some coxswains hold their
+rudder-lines in front of the body, others behind; but in my opinion the
+best place to hold them is by the side, with the hands resting one on
+each gunwale. The coxswain, by thus supporting himself, can better
+preserve a firm and steady seat. He should never slip about on his seat,
+but always keep his body as nearly as possible erect, and balanced from
+his hips. He must on no account roll with the boat, and should endeavour
+to prevent himself being moved to and fro by the action of the rowers.
+Often a narrow strip of wood is nailed to the seat the better to enable
+him to sit firm. The lines must be kept taut, and tied together in front
+of him, lest by any accident he should lose one or both overboard. After
+having shoved off and paddled into position, he should see that the
+bows of his boat point straight for the course he wishes to steer. He
+will then start his crew by calling upon them to "get ready," when they
+will divest themselves of any superfluous clothing and make any other
+necessary preparations. He will then say "Forward!" or "Forward all!"
+for them to come forward in readiness for the first stroke. He should
+now take care that his boat is level, and should tell the oarsmen on the
+side to which she may list to raise their hands, or call upon the crew
+to get her level. After that he asks, "Are you ready?" as a final
+warning, and lastly cries, "Row!" or "Paddle!" as may be required. Some
+other forms are employed, but this is as good as any, and better than
+most, and the same words should always be used when once adopted. In the
+event of a crew making a bad start, they should be at once stopped and
+restarted. If the coxswain be desirous for his crew to stop rowing or
+paddling, "Easy all!" is the term to use, and this order should be given
+almost immediately after the commencement of a stroke, to prevent the
+rowers coming forward for the next one. In case it may be necessary to
+bring his boat up sharp, he will say, "Hold her up all!"[12] and if (at
+any time) there is any danger of the oars touching anything, he should
+cry, "Mind your oars, bow side," or "stroke side," as the case may be.
+The boat is ordinarily turned on the port (left) side by calling upon
+bow and No. 3 to paddle, and stroke and No. 6 to back water, or back,
+for brevity; and on the starboard (right) side by calling upon Nos. 2
+and 4 to paddle, and Nos. 5 and 7 to back. In each case the coxswain
+naturally assists with the rudder. When turning a racing ship, for fear
+of weakening her, the paddling and rowing should not take place
+simultaneously.
+
+  [12] This is the term used at Cambridge, where "Hold her" is also used
+  with the same meaning. At Oxford, "Hold her up" means "Paddle on
+  gently;" and "Hold her all," or "Stop her all," would be the order if a
+  sudden stoppage were required. To carry out such an order the rowers
+  turn the blades flat on the water, and raise their hands quickly, thus
+  burying blades in the water.
+
+Whatever the coxswain addresses to his crew should be spoken clearly and
+distinctly, so that all may hear without difficulty. The preceding
+instructions comprise most of the everyday terms that a coxswain should
+know.
+
+Now let me turn to his functions of a semi-coaching character, of
+keeping his crew in time. Whether the crew are rowing or paddling, he
+must carefully watch the time of the oars, both as they catch the water
+and leave it. If the oarsman catches the water too soon, he should be
+told not to hurry; if too late, he should be told, "You're late." If he
+leaves it too soon, or, as it is called, clips his stroke at the finish,
+he should be told to finish it out, etc. (but if an oarsman finishes it
+after the stroke, I cannot advise the coxswain to take notice of it).
+All these semi-coaching remarks, if I may so call them, should be
+prefaced with the number of the crew to whom they are addressed, for the
+purpose of calling his attention, and must be used with judgment and
+tact, for nothing can be more aggravating, not to say maddening, to an
+oarsman at any time, more especially when fagged in a race, to hear
+incessantly the possibly high-pitched and monotonous tones of a
+coxswain. There is only one fault that will excuse him shouting himself
+hoarse, if he be so disposed, and it is the fault, or rather vice, of
+one of the crew looking out of the boat; and he should at once cry,
+"Eyes in the boat!" and continue to do so until he is obeyed. There are
+certain acts of watermanship which an efficient coxswain will not
+neglect to carry out, namely, when turning to come down-stream, to swing
+his boat round by pulling her head outwards into the current; and, on
+the other hand, when turning to proceed up-stream, to thrust her nose
+into the slack water inshore, and allow her stern to come round in the
+same manner; and always to bring his boat in to the raft or
+landing-stage with her head pointing up-stream.
+
+There is no need for me to set out the rules of the road for a coxswain
+to follow, as they can be read at any time in the Rowing Almanack, which
+comes out annually, and is published at the _Field_ office.
+
+To steer a straight course, a coxswain should fix upon a high and
+conspicuous object some distance ahead, and endeavour to keep the nose
+of his boat dead on it; and when learning his course, he should remember
+to choose objects of a permanent nature, or in the race he will be in
+difficulties. Now, the keeping of a straight course is not so simple as
+it appears; in fact, it is a most difficult thing to do properly, and
+there is no case in which the advantage of a coxswain with light hands
+is better displayed. It will be noticed that such a one leaves scarcely
+a ripple in his wake, whilst another will leave a considerable wash. The
+reason of it is this: that whilst the former uses practically no rudder,
+the latter, by first pulling one line and then the other, causes the
+stern of his boat to swing from side to side, until, as the sailors say,
+she becomes wild--that is to say, so unsteady that the further she
+travels the more rudder she will require to prevent her bows from yawing
+and to keep her course. He should never steer for a curve in the bank or
+for other projections--as, for instance, the buttress of a bridge--in
+such a manner as to be compelled to sheer out to clear them. He should
+approach a sharp corner as wide as possible, in order to reduce the
+acuteness of the angle at which he will have to take it, and should have
+the boat's head round by the time that the axis or pivot, if I may use
+the term, on which the boat swings, and which in the eight-oared boats I
+steered was usually trimmed to be somewhere between the seats of Nos. 4
+and 5, is off the most prominent point.
+
+The difficulty of taking this sort of corner is increased when the
+course lies up-stream, according to the strength of the current; for not
+only does the current acting on the bows tend to prevent the boat
+coming round, but also to drive her head towards the opposite bank. When
+the Cam at Cambridge is in flood, "Grassy" and Ditton are corners of
+this character, but usually that river runs sluggishly. But even then
+these corners present many difficulties. "Grassy" is on the right bank
+of the river, and therefore on the coxswain's left; Ditton is on his
+right. The former is the harder to manipulate properly, by reason of the
+river becoming a narrow neck shortly before the corner is reached.
+
+In taking "Grassy," the coxswain should keep close to the tow-path bank
+until he commences to make the turn. It is impossible to explain on
+paper the exact spot when he should do so. The common fault is to begin
+too soon. Practice and experience only can teach him when to time his
+action correctly; but having acquired this knowledge, he will get his
+boat round with but a moderate amount of rudder, especially if he call
+upon bow and No. 3 for a little extra assistance.
+
+Some years ago, during the Lent Term Bumping Races at Cambridge, the
+coxswain of one of the boats, with the intention of cutting off the
+preceding one as it was being steered round in the correct way, took
+this very corner close to the inside bend at its very commencement, and
+in so doing acted contrary to the principle of giving a sharp corner a
+wide berth at the first part. The consequence was that, having failed to
+calculate the pace at which the other was travelling, and having missed
+his bump, he found it impossible to bring his boat round, ran high and
+dry on to the opposite bank, and was, of course, himself bumped.
+
+Ditton should be approached as wide as the coxswain can manage, by
+hugging the opposite bank until he begins to bring the boat's head
+round, which, as in the case of Grassy, should not be done until as late
+as possible. Here, too, Nos. 2 and 4 may be called upon to help her
+round. The rudder should be put on between the strokes as a rule,
+gradually, and not with a jerk, which has a tendency to cause the boat
+to roll. It should be used as lightly as possible, and never under
+ordinary circumstances put hard on. The effect of a cross wind is to
+drive the stern of a boat to leeward, and to bring her bows up into the
+wind. This should be counteracted by the coxswain steering to windward
+of his usual course, and by lee rudder to meet her: how much can only
+be learnt by experience, and must be regulated by the strength of the
+wind. The fin, which is a thin plate of metal fixed slightly abaft the
+coxswain's seat on her keelson, is of great assistance in keeping the
+boat straight under such circumstances.
+
+The coxswain should pick up information relating to his course by
+observation, inquiries, and in every way he can, and, previous to a
+race, he should take careful stock of the direction and force of the
+wind, and shape his course accordingly. It is a good plan to be taken
+over the course either in a row-boat or launch, by some one acquainted
+with it, for the purposes of instruction. He can gain a general idea of
+the Putney to Mortlake course by watching the barges which float up and
+down the river with the tide, and are kept in mid-stream by long sweeps.
+But every coxswain should learn to scull; he can then not only get his
+weight down by exercise, if required, but familiarize himself with the
+set of the stream, flats, and other peculiarities of a course by actual
+experience. Training for the purpose of reducing the weight of the
+coxswain is a questionable expedient; but if practised with moderation,
+and if natural means are employed, the object, if worth it--which I very
+much doubt--may be attained, and little harm done; but weakness, the
+result of excessive wasting, is not unfrequently accompanied with an
+impaired judgment and loss of nerve, the absence of which may lead to
+serious consequences. Moreover, a coxswain not only requires a certain
+amount of physical strength to manage a boat of the length of an
+eight-oar, but, to do himself justice, should come to the post feeling
+full of energy and determination. In level races the coxswain of the
+leading boat should never take his opponents' water, unless reasonably
+certain that he cannot be overtaken, for a sudden sheer out involving
+loss of pace and ground at a critical time has before now lost a race;
+and when alongside, and in close proximity, he should avoid watching the
+other boat, otherwise he will in all probability steer into it, such is
+the apparent force of attraction exercised over a coxswain by the
+opposing crew. One coxswain should not "bore" the other. Boring is the
+act of one coxswain steering closer and closer to another until he
+gradually succeeds in pushing him out of his own water. This cannot
+take place when both coxswains engaged are equally skilful, and equally
+well acquainted with the course, for neither will give way. At the best
+it is not sportsmanlike, and there is no desire on the part of the
+majority of rowing men to win a race by the trickery of the coxswains.
+At the annual University Boat Race Dinner, when the old Blues and other
+friends assemble to do honour to the two crews, it is the time-honoured
+custom to drink the health of the coxswains. On one of these occasions,
+a well-known Oxford coxswain, who, in the fog that prevailed at the
+start of the race, had been pressed out of his course by the opposing
+crew, in returning thanks made a witty allusion to the subject in these
+words: "I have been," he said, "very much interested in this race, but I
+have also been very much bored." It was a speech meant for the occasion,
+and was received with the applause it deserved; but it was not meant
+seriously, nor was it taken so by his equally well-known Cambridge
+rival.
+
+I may at this point give a word of advice to a coxswain in a Bumping
+Race. He should, throughout the race, keep his true course, and not
+follow any vagaries of the boat in front of him, except with the
+immediate object of making his bump; he must never shoot for his bump
+when going round a corner, and ought always to make sure of his position
+before making a shot, so as not to waste the energy of his men by
+missing time after time, and zigzagging across the river. When he has
+been bumped, or has made a bump, he should at once clear out of the way
+to make room for the boats following. In all races he should encourage
+his crew at intervals with such expressions as, "Now, you fellows! Well
+rowed! On to it!" etc. But an incessant flow of language not only sounds
+ridiculous, but must be a nuisance to the crew themselves. In a
+ding-dong race, however, when neither crew can get away from the other,
+he will naturally urge them more strenuously to further exertions. He
+should watch the time as carefully as in practice, and call upon his
+crew to "Reach out," or "Keep it long," if he notices that they are
+getting short and scratchy; and he may quietly keep the stroke posted up
+in the doings of the opponents, telling him how they are rowing, how far
+ahead they are, and so on. In training quarters, especially if the crew
+are despondent, the more depressed they are, the more he should
+endeavour to cheer them up and inspire confidence in them.
+
+Finally, let me advise coxswains when steering to wear warm and
+waterproof clothing in cold and wet weather, and thus possibly save
+themselves much suffering from rheumatism and other complaints in
+after-life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD.
+
+_By C. M. Pitman,_
+
+New College; President O.U.B.C. 1895.
+
+
+If we try to examine the causes of success or failure, of a run of good
+crews or bad crews from one University or the other, it is impossible to
+overestimate the importance of good organization, good management, and
+friendly rivalry in the college boat clubs. In the long run, the success
+or failure of the University Crew depends in no small measure upon the
+amount of trouble taken and the amount of keenness shown by the various
+colleges in practising for their different races during the year. It is
+only by very careful coaching and assiduous practice in his college
+Torpid and Eight, that a man who has not rowed before going up to the
+University can ever hope to attain to a place in the University Crew;
+and it is only by trying to apply his learning to advantage in
+college races during the year that one who has just gained his blue can
+hope to be of greater value to the University in the following spring.
+
+[Illustration: A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+Only a small number of the men who take up rowing at the University
+attain to a seat in the Trial Eights, and fewer still, of course, get
+their blue. It is by rowing for their college, then, in Eight or Torpid,
+that the majority of University men gain their experience, and so it is
+but natural that even more interest is usually manifested in the
+practice of the Eights than in that of the University Crew itself.
+
+Most of the colleges at Oxford have now what is known as an "amalgamated
+club," which supplies the finances of all the various branches of
+athletics. That is to say, every undergraduate member of the college
+pays a fixed subscription to the amalgamated club fund, and the money
+thus collected is allotted proportionately to the different college
+clubs. The money thus allotted, with the addition in some cases of small
+sums received as entrance fees for college races, forms the income of
+the college boat club; and out of this income is paid a capitation fee
+to the University Boat Club, which varies according to the number of
+undergraduates on the college books, the rest of the money being devoted
+to providing boats, oars, etc.--the ordinary expenses, in fact, for
+carrying on the college boat club.
+
+A freshman, when he first comes up to Oxford, has, as a rule, made up
+his mind to which particular branch of athletics he intends to devote
+himself. If he intends to play football, and does not happen to have
+come up with a great reputation from his public school, he finds it
+somewhat hard at first, however good he may be, to make himself known;
+but if he makes up his mind to row, he finds everything cut and dried
+for him.
+
+At the beginning of the October Term, a notice is put up for the benefit
+of freshmen and others, that those desirous of being coached must be at
+the barge on and after a certain day, at 2.30. The coaching is
+undertaken by any of the college Eight of the preceding term who are in
+residence, and any others whom the captain of the boat club may consider
+qualified. The men are taken out at first in tub-pairs or heavy fours;
+and grotesque, to say the least of it, are the movements of the average
+freshmen during the first few days of his rowing career. The majority of
+men who get into a boat for the first time in their lives seem to
+imagine that it is necessary to twist their bodies into the most
+uncomfortable and unnatural it positions, and is hard at first to
+persuade them that the movements of a really good oar are easy, natural,
+and even graceful. It is not long, however, as a rule, before a
+considerable improvement becomes manifest, and, at the end of the first
+fortnight or so of the term, most of the novices have begun to get a
+grasp of the first principles of the art.
+
+About the end of the second week of the term the freshmen are picked up
+into Fours. These crews, which row in heavy tub-boats, practise for
+about three weeks for a race, which is rowed during the fifth or sixth
+week of the term. After a day or two of rest, the best men from these
+Fours are taken out in eights. No one who has not rowed in an eight with
+a crew composed almost entirely of beginners can imagine the discomfort,
+I might almost say the agony, of these first two or three rows. One of
+the chief causes of this is that the boats used on such occasions are
+usually, from motives of economy, very old ones, the riggers being often
+twisted and bent by the crabs of former generations, and the boats
+themselves heavy and inclined to be waterlogged.
+
+During the last day or two of the term, the captain, with a view to
+making up his Torpids for the next term, generally tries to arrange one
+or two crews selected from the best of the freshmen and such of the old
+hands as are available; and justly proud is a freshman if, having got
+into a boat for the first time at the beginning of the term, he finds
+himself among the select few for the first Torpid at the end of it.
+
+At the beginning of the Lent Term the energies of the college boat clubs
+are entirely devoted to the selection and preparation of the crews for
+the Torpids. The smaller colleges have one crew and the larger ones two,
+and in some cases three, crews each. No one who has rowed in his college
+Eight in the races of the previous summer is permitted to row in the
+Torpid, so the crews are generally composed partly of men who rowed in
+the Torpid of the preceding year, but who were not quite good enough to
+get into the Eight, and partly of freshmen; the boats used must be
+clinker built of five streaks, with a minimum beam measurement of 2 ft.
+2 in. measured inside, and with fixed seats.
+
+Although I do not propose here to say anything about the general subject
+of training, I cannot refrain from making one remark. It is in
+practising for the Torpids that freshmen generally get their first
+experience of strict training, and for this reason there is no crew more
+difficult to train than a Torpid. Most of the men after their first
+experience of regular work have fine healthy appetites, and, as a rule,
+eat about twice as much as is good for them, with the result that, even
+if they escape violent indigestion, they are painfully short-winded, and
+find the greatest difficulty in rowing a fast stroke. The Torpids train
+for about three weeks before the races, which take place at the end of
+the fourth and the fifth weeks in term. They last for six nights, and
+are bumping races, the boats starting 160 ft. apart. A hundred and sixty
+feet is a very considerable distance to make up in about three quarters
+of a mile, and at the head of a division a crew must be about fifteen
+seconds faster over the course to make certain of a bump.
+
+Of performances in the Torpids that of Brasenose stands by itself. They
+finished at the head of the river in 1885, and remained there for eleven
+years, until they were displaced by New College in 1896.
+
+The only other race in the Lent Term is the Clinker Fours. This race is
+rowed in sliding-seat clinker-built boats, and the crews consist of men
+who have not rowed in the Trial Eights or in the _first_ division of the
+Eights in the previous Summer Term. For some occult reason there is
+never a large entry for the Clinker Fours, although the race affords an
+excellent opportunity of seeing how the best of the Torpid men row on
+slides, and should thus be a great help to the captain of a college boat
+club in making up his Eight for the next term. With so small an entry
+for the Clinker Fours, most of the college captains devote their time
+after the Torpids, for the rest of the term, to coaching their men in
+sliding-seat tubs, the time at the beginning of the Summer Term being so
+short that it is absolutely necessary to get the men who have been
+rowing on fixed seats in the Torpids thoroughly accustomed to slides by
+the end of the Lent Term, and also to have the composition of the
+next term's Eight as nearly as possible settled.
+
+[Illustration: LENT RACES IN THE PLOUGH REACH.]
+
+At the beginning of the Summer Term, time, as I have said, is rather
+short, and consequently it is the custom at most colleges to make the
+Eight come into residence about a week before the end of the vacation.
+The _esprit de corps_ and energy which are shown during the practice
+are, perhaps, the most noticeable features of college rowing at
+Oxford--a circumstance to which may be attributed the fact that the
+crews turned out by the colleges at the top of the river are often
+wonderfully good, considering the material out of which they are formed.
+The Eights are rowed at the end of the fourth week and at the beginning
+of the fifth week in term, six nights in all. They start 130 ft.
+apart--that is to say, 30 ft. less than the Torpids. About the same
+number of boats row in a division in the former as in the latter, the
+bottom boat starting at the same place in each case; consequently the
+head boat in the Eights has a slightly longer course to row than the
+head Torpid.
+
+The start of a boat race is always rather nervous work for the crews,
+but the start of a bumping race is worse in this respect than any. A
+spectator who cares to walk down the bank and look at the crews waiting
+at their posts for the start cannot fail to notice that even the most
+experienced men look extremely uncomfortable.
+
+[Illustration: A START IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+The start is managed thus: at the starting-point of each boat a short
+wooden post is driven firmly into the ground. These posts are exactly
+130 ft. apart, and to each is attached a thin rope 60 ft. long with a
+bung at the end, while by each post a punt is moored. About twenty
+minutes or a quarter of an hour before the appointed time, the crews
+start from their barges and paddle gently down to their respective
+starting-places, where they take up their positions alongside of the
+punts. Five minutes before the starting-time the first gun is fired as a
+sort of warning. These guns are fired punctually to the second, and by
+the first gun the men who are going to start the different crews set
+their stop-watches. The duty of these "starters" is to keep the crews
+informed of the exact time, by calling out, "One minute gone," "Two
+minutes gone," etc. The second gun goes one minute before the start, and
+as soon as it is fired, the waterman slowly pushes the boat out from
+the side of the punt by means of a long pole pressed against stroke's
+rigger, the coxswain holding the bung at arm's-length in his left hand,
+with the cord taut so as to counteract the pressure of the pole, and
+"bow" and "two" paddling very gently so as to keep the boat at the very
+furthest extension of the rope. "Thirty seconds more," calls the
+starter; "fifteen," "ten," "five," "four," "three," "two," "look
+out"--Bang! and, except for those who are doomed to be bumped, the worst
+is over till the next night. Directly a bump is made both the boat which
+has made the bump and the boat which is bumped draw to one side, and on
+the next night the boat which has made the bump starts in front of its
+victim of the preceding evening. The Eights are the last event of the
+season in which the colleges compete against one another on the river,
+and the interest and excitement of the college in the doings of its crew
+generally find their final outlet, in the case of a college which has
+made five or six bumps or finished head of the river, in a bump
+supper--an entertainment of a nature peculiar to Oxford and Cambridge,
+which is, perhaps, better left to the imagination than described in
+detail.
+
+It is a curious fact that, although the ideal aimed at by each college
+is the same, different colleges seem to adhere, to a very considerable
+extent, year after year to the same merits and the same faults. One
+college gets the reputation of not being able to row a fast-enough
+stroke; another, of being ready to race a week before the races and of
+getting worse as the races proceed, and, try as hard as they like, they
+do not seem to be able to shake off the effect of the reputation of
+their predecessors. So, again, one college gets the reputation of rowing
+better in the races than could possibly be expected from their form in
+practice, or of always improving during the races. The most notable case
+of late years, perhaps, was the traditional pluck of Brasenose. For
+eleven years in the Torpids and for three years in the Eights their
+certain downfall was predicted, but year after year, sometimes by the
+skin of their teeth and sometimes with ease, they managed to get home.
+The best performances in the Eights, as a matter of mere paper record,
+are those of Trinity and Magdalen, who have each rowed head of the river
+for four years in succession, the former in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864,
+and the latter in 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. Magdalen can also boast
+of not having finished lower than third in the Eights for some fifteen
+years. Brasenose have finished head of the river fourteen times since
+the races were started in 1836; University nine times, and Magdalen
+seven times. The best performance in any one year is that of New College
+in the season 1895-96, when they completely swept the board, being head
+of the river in Eights and Torpids, and winning the University Fours,
+Pairs, and Sculls. The only other college race besides those I have
+described is the Fours. This race is rowed in coxswainless racing-ships
+during the fourth week of the October Term. It is a "time" race, the
+crews, which row two in a heat, starting eighty yards apart, the
+finishing-posts being, of course, divided by the same distance. A time
+race is a very unsatisfactory affair compared with an ordinary "breast"
+race, but it is rendered necessary by the narrow winding river, for
+there is not room between Iffley and Oxford for two boats to row
+abreast. Oxford College crews, undoubtedly excellent though they often
+are, have been singularly unsuccessful at Henley. The Grand Challenge
+Cup has only been won by a college crew from Oxford twice within the
+memory of the present generation (_i.e._ by Exeter, in 1882, and by New
+College in the present year). Wadham, it is true, won it in almost
+prehistoric times (1849), and the tradition is handed down that they
+took the light blue in their colours from those of the crew which they
+defeated--a tradition which I need hardly say the members of the sister
+University always meet with a most emphatic denial.
+
+It may, perhaps, seem that so far I have described college rowing as if
+its organization were so perfect that there is little or no difficulty
+in managing a college boat club successfully. This is by no means the
+case. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, even though it be merely
+that of the captaincy of a college boat club.
+
+In the first place, it is not always as easy as might be imagined to get
+men to row. Men who cannot be induced to row when they come up to the
+University may be divided into two classes--those who refuse because
+they do not wish to take up any branch of athletics, and those who will
+not row because they wish to do something else. The former class (_i.e._
+those of them who, after a moderate amount of persuasion, will not come
+down to the river) are not, as a rule, worth bothering about. They are
+generally weak, soft creatures, whose highest ambition is to walk
+overdressed about the "High," and, if possible, to be considered
+"horsey" without riding--the class, in fact, generally known as
+"bloods." Or else they belong to that worthy class of beings who come up
+to the University to read and only to read, and imagine that it is
+therefore impossible for them to row. The "blood" is, or should be,
+beneath the contempt of the rowing authorities, and the "bookworm" is
+generally impervious to argument, in spite of the fact that he would be
+able to read much harder if he took regular exercise.
+
+With regard, however, to those men who refuse to row because they want
+to go in for something else, a little diplomacy and a little personal
+trouble on the part of the college captain, such as coaching men at odd
+hours, once or twice a week, when it suits their convenience, will often
+work wonders. Instances of this may be seen in the fact that many
+colleges have of late years been materially assisted by a sturdy
+football player in the Torpid or Eight, and in the fact that Rugby
+football blues have rowed in the University Eight during the last three
+years. Another great difficulty which the captains of the smaller
+college boat clubs have to face is that of procuring good boats with
+very limited finances. The usual practice is to save up money for
+several years to buy a new eight, and to continue to row in her long
+after she has become practically useless, and, indeed, positively
+incompatible with good rowing. This is a difficulty which can to a great
+extent be got over by getting second-hand boats. These can be bought for
+about half price when they have only been used one or two seasons by the
+University, or by one of the larger (and therefore richer) college boat
+clubs, which can afford to get a new boat as often as they want one. By
+this means a college boat club, however poor, can always have a boat
+which, if not quite new, is at least comparatively modern, instead of
+being a water-logged hulk some eight or ten years old, such as one often
+sees wriggling along at the tail end of the Eights.
+
+Yet another obstacle is there which it is not easy to overcome. It is
+often almost impossible to find a trustworthy coach. There is nearly
+always some one in residence who is considered capable of looking after
+the college Eight, but the ignorance of college coaches is often only
+too manifest from the arrant nonsense they may be heard shouting on the
+bank. There is only one remedy I can suggest. Let the college captain
+secure some member of the University Crew, or any one else who knows
+what he is talking about, to take the crew for a couple of days, and
+_make the College coach accompany him_. He will thus learn something of
+the rowing of the crew, and you will hear him the next day pointing out
+the _real_ faults to which his attention has thus been called.
+
+In conclusion, I must add that, keen though the rivalry between the
+various colleges always is, it is a rivalry which, by the encouragement
+it gives to rowing, confers good and good only upon the interests of the
+O.U.B.C., and never degenerates into a jealousy which might be
+prejudicial to the success of the University as a whole. The college
+captains elect as president of the O.U.B.C. the man whom they consider
+to be best fitted for the post, to whatever college he may belong, for
+they know that the president will select his crew absolutely
+impartially, will never think of unjustly preferring men who belong to
+his own college, but will always do his best to serve the interests of
+the University.[13]
+
+  [13] For further details of college rowing at Oxford and Cambridge, the
+  reader is referred to the extracts from the rules and regulations of the
+  two University Boat Clubs printed in the appendix to this book.
+
+[Illustration: THE GOLDIE BOATHOUSE.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE.
+
+
+The casual visitor would scarcely imagine that Cambridge resembled
+either Macedon or Monmouth in the possession of a river. He sees in The
+Backs what looks rather like a huge moat, designed to keep marauders
+from the sacred college courts, and filled with discoloured water,
+destitute seemingly of all stream. This he knows cannot be the racing
+river. The innumerable bridges forbid the notion, although Ouida has, in
+one of her novels, sprinkled it with a mixture of racing Eights and
+water-lilies. He wanders on from college to college, and nowhere does he
+come across the slightest sign of the river of which he has heard so
+much. Indeed, a man may stroll on Midsummer Common within about a
+hundred yards of the boat-houses without suspecting the existence of the
+Cam. I can well remember convoying to the river an enthusiastic
+freshman who had just joined his college boat club. At every step I was
+asked whether we were yet approaching the noble stream. I answered
+evasively, and with an air of mystery which befits a third-year man in
+the presence of freshmen. At length we turned on to the common, which is
+bounded by the Cam; on the further bank stand the boat-houses. There
+were crowds of men busy in the yards, there were coaches riding on the
+nearer bank, but of the river itself there was no indication. We were
+still about two hundred yards away when a Lady Margaret Eight passed,
+the heads of the crew in their scarlet caps being just visible above the
+river-bank as they swung backwards and forwards in their boat. I felt my
+freshman's grip tightening on my arm. Suddenly he stood stock still and
+rubbed his eyes. "Good heavens!" he said in an awestruck voice, "what on
+earth are those little red animals I see running up and down there?
+Funniest thing I ever saw." I reassured him, and in a few moments more
+we arrived at the Cam, crossed it in a "grind," and solved the puzzle.
+Distance, therefore, can scarcely be said to lend enchantment to the
+view, since at anything over one hundred yards it withdraws the Cam
+altogether from our sight. It is not easy, indeed, to see where the
+attractions of the Cam come in. It has been called with perfect justice
+a ditch, a canal, and a sewer, but not even the wildest enthusiasm would
+have supposed it to be a running stream, or ventured at first sight to
+call it a river. Yet this slow and muddy thread of water has been for
+more than seventy years the scene of excitements and triumphs and
+glories without end. Upon its shallow stream future judges and bishops
+and Parliament-men--not to speak of the great host of minor celebrities
+and the vaster army of future obscurities--have sought exercise and
+relaxation; to its unsightly banks their memory still fondly turns
+wherever their lot may chance to be cast, and still some thousand of the
+flower of our youth find health and strength in driving the labouring
+Eights and Fours along its narrow reaches and round its winding corners.
+It may well excite the wonder of the uninitiated that, with so many
+natural disadvantages to contend against, the oarsmen of Cambridge
+should have been able during all these years to maintain so high a
+standard of oarsmanship. Time after time since the year when First
+Trinity secured the first race for the Grand Challenge have her college
+crews carried off the chief prizes at Henley against all competitors,
+until, in 1887, Trinity Hall swept the board by actually winning five
+out of the eight Henley races, other Cambridge men accounting for the
+remaining three. The record of Cambridge rowing is thus a very proud
+one; but those who know the Cambridge oarsman and his river will find no
+difficulty in accounting for it. The very disadvantages of the Cam all
+tend to imbue the man who rows upon it with a stern sense of duty, with
+the feeling that it is business and not pleasure, hard work and not a
+picnic, that summon him every day of the term to the boat-houses and
+urge him on his way to Baitsbite. We are forced to do without the
+natural charms that make the Isis beautiful. We console ourselves by a
+strict devotion to the labour of the oar.
+
+The man who first rowed upon the Cam was in all probability a lineal
+descendant of the daring spirit who first tasted an oyster. His name and
+fame have not been preserved, but I am entitled to assume that he
+flourished some time before 1826. In that year the records of Cambridge
+boat clubs begin. There is in the possession of the First Trinity Boat
+Club an old book, at one end of which are to be found the "Laws of the
+Monarch Boat Club," with a list of members from 1826 to 1828, whilst at
+the other end are inscribed lists of members of the Trinity Boat Club,
+minutes of its meetings, and brief descriptions of the races in which it
+was engaged from the year 1829 to 1834. The Monarch Boat Club was by its
+laws limited to members of Trinity, and, I take it, that in 1828 the
+club had become sufficiently important to change its name definitely to
+that of Trinity Boat Club. At any rate, it must always have been
+considered the Trinity Club; for in the earliest chart of the Cambridge
+boat races--that, namely, of 1827--in the captains' room of the First
+Trinity Boat-house, "Trinity" stands head of the river, and no mention
+is made of a Monarch Club. These ancient laws form a somewhat Draconian
+code. They are twenty-five in number, and eight of them deal with fines
+or penalties to be inflicted upon a member who may "absent himself from
+his appointed crew and not provide a substitute for his oar," or who may
+"not arrive at the boat-house within a quarter of an hour of the
+appointed time." There were fines ("by no means to be remitted, except
+in the case of any member having an _�grotat_, _exeat_, or _absit_, or
+having been prevented from attending by some laws of the college or
+University") for not appearing in the proper uniform, for "giving orders
+or speaking on a racing day, or on any other day, after silence has been
+called" (exception being made in favour of the captain and steerer), and
+for neglecting to give notice of an intended absence. To the twelfth law
+a clause was subsequently added enacting "that the treasurer be
+chastised twice a week for not keeping his books in proper order."
+
+From the minutes of the Trinity Boat Club I extract the following
+letter, dated Stangate, December, 1828, which shows that even at that
+early date the first and third persons carried on a civil war in the
+boat-builder's vocabulary:--
+
+"Rawlinson & Lyon's compliments to Mr. Greene wish to know if there is
+to be any alteration in the length of the set of oars they have to send
+down have been expecting to hear from the Club, therefore have not given
+orders for the oars to be finished should feel obliged by a line from
+you with the necessary instructions and be kind enough to inform us of
+the success which we trust you have met with in the New Boat.
+
+                    we remain Sir
+                        Your ob^t Servts
+                            RAWLINSON & LYON."
+
+In 1833 it is curious to read, "towards the end of this Easter term six
+of the racing crew were ill of influenza, etc., when the boat was bumped
+by the Queens', which we bumped next race, but were bumped again by
+them, and next race owing to a bad start the Christ's boat bumped us
+immediately being nearly abreast of us at the bumping-post." Was this
+the _grippe_, I wonder? In the Lent Term, 1834, it is stated, "The
+second race we touched the Christ's after the pistol was fired the first
+stroke we pulled, and lost our place to the Second Trinity for making a
+foul bump." By the way, in the oldest minute-book belonging to the
+University Boating Club, extending from 1828 to 1837, I find the Second
+Trinity boat occasionally entered on the list as "Reading Trinity." It
+continued to enjoy this bookish reputation up to 1876, when a debt
+which continued to increase while its list of members as constantly
+diminished, brought about its dissolution. Its members and its
+challenge-cups were then taken over by First Trinity.
+
+In an old book belonging to First Trinity is preserved a map of the
+racing river, which explains much that would be otherwise inexplicable
+in the various entries. In those days the races began in the short reach
+of water in which they now finish. A little below where Charon now plies
+his ferry were the Chesterton Locks, and in the reach above this
+starting-posts seem to have been fixed for the various boats. When the
+starting-pistol was fired the crews started rowing, but apparently no
+bump was allowed before the bumping-post, fixed some little way above
+the first bend where the big horse-grind now works. Any bump before this
+was foul, and the boat so fouling appears to have been disqualified.
+This post once passed, the racing proper began and continued past
+Barnwell up to the Jesus Locks. It must be remembered that the Jesus
+Locks were not where they are now, but were built just where the Caius
+boathouse now stands, there being a lock cut in the present bed of the
+river, and the main stream running quite a hundred yards south of its
+present course, and forming an island, on which stood Fort St. George.
+This was altered in 1837, when the Cam was diverted to its present
+course, and the old course from above Jesus Green Sluice to Fort St.
+George was filled up.
+
+A few more extracts relating to the first beginnings of college
+boat-races may be of interest. In 1827 there were six boats on the
+river--a ten-oar and an eight-oar from Trinity, an eight-oar from St.
+John's, and six-oars from Jesus, Caius, and Trinity, Westminster. In
+1829 this number had dwindled to four at the beginning of the races on
+February 28; but in the seventh race, which took place on March 21,
+seven crews competed, St John's finishing head of the river, a place
+they maintained in the following May. Usually from seven to nine races
+appear to have been rowed during one month of the term, certain days in
+each week having been previously fixed. Crews were often known by the
+name of their ship rather than by that of their college. I find, for
+instance, a _Privateer_, which was made up, I think, of men from
+private schools, a _Corsair_ from St. John's, a _Dolphin_ from Third
+Trinity (which was then, and is still, the Club of the Eton and
+Westminster men), _Black Prince_ from First Trinity, and _Queen Bess_
+from the Second or "Reading" Trinity. The following regulations, passed
+by the University Boat Club on April 18, 1831, will help to make the old
+system of boat-racing quite clear:--
+
+"1. That the distance between each post being twenty yards will allow
+eleven boats to start on the Chesterton side, the length of the ropes by
+which they are attached to the posts being ten yards.
+
+"2. That the remainder of the boats do start on the Barnwell side at
+similar distances, but with ropes fifteen yards in length.
+
+"3. That there also be a rope three yards long fixed to the head of the
+lock, which will be the station of the last boat, provided the number
+exceed twelve."
+
+These arrangements allowed thirteen boats to start at once, and special
+provision was made for any number beyond that. Obedience to the properly
+constituted authorities seems from an early period to have
+characterized the rowing man. I find that in 1831 a race was arranged
+between the captains of racing crews and the rest of the University, to
+take place on Tuesday, November 29. On Monday, the 28th, however, there
+arrived "a request from the Vice-Chancellor, backed by the tutors of the
+several colleges, that we should refrain from racing on account of the
+cholera then prevailing in Sunderland. We accordingly gave up the match
+forthwith, and with it another which was to have been rowed the same day
+between the quondam Etonians and the private school men." The secretary,
+however, adds this caustic comment, "It is presumed that Dr. Haviland,
+at whose instigation the Vice-Chancellor put a stop to the race,
+confounded the terms (and pronunciations?) 'rowing' and 'rowing,' and
+while he was anxious to stop any debauchery in the latter class of men,
+by a _slight_ mistake was the means of preventing the healthy exercise
+of the former."
+
+The umpire for the college races seems never to have been properly
+appreciated. Indeed, in 1834, the U.B.C. solemnly resolved "that the
+umpire was no use, ... and accordingly that Bowtell should be
+cashiered. In consequence of this resolution, it was proposed and
+carried that the same person who had the management of the posts, lines,
+and starting the boats should also place the flags on the bumping-post,
+and receive for his pay 4_s._ a week, with an addition of 2_s._ 6_d._ at
+the end of the quarter in case the starting be well managed, but that
+each time the pistol misses fire 1s. should be deducted from his weekly
+pay."
+
+In 1835, in consequence of the removal of the Chesterton Lock, the
+U.B.C. transferred the starting-posts to the reach between Baitsbite and
+First Post Corner, and there they have remained ever since.
+
+Side by side with the college boat clubs, formed by the combination of
+their members for strictly imperial matters, regulating and controlling
+the inter-collegiate races, but never interfering with the internal
+arrangements and the individual liberty of the college clubs, the
+University Boat Club grew up. With two short but historical extracts
+from its early proceedings, I will conclude this cursory investigation
+into the records of the musty past. On February 20, 1829, at a meeting
+of the U.B.C. Committee, held in Mr. Gisborne's rooms, it was resolved
+_inter alia_ "That Mr. Snow, St. John's, be requested to write
+immediately to Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, proposing to make
+up a University match;" and on March 12, on the receipt of a letter from
+Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, a meeting of the U.B.C. was
+called at Mr. Harman's rooms, Caius College, when the following
+resolution was passed:--"That Mr. Stephen Davies (the Oxford
+boat-builder) be requested to post the following challenge in some
+conspicuous part of his barge: 'That the University of Cambridge hereby
+challenge the University of Oxford to row a match at or near London,
+each in an eight-oared boat, during the ensuing Easter vacation.'"
+
+Thus was brought about the first race between the two Universities. Mr.
+Snow was appointed captain, and it was further decided that the
+University Boat Club should defray all expenses, and that the match be
+not made up for money. It is unnecessary for me to relate once again how
+the race was eventually rowed from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, and
+how the Light Blues (who, by the way, were then the Pinks) suffered
+defeat by many lengths. The story has been too well and too often told
+before. Each crew contained a future bishop--the late Bishop of St.
+Andrew's rowing No. 4 in the Oxford boat, whilst the late Bishop Selwyn,
+afterwards Bishop of New Zealand, and subsequently of Lichfield,
+occupied the important position of No. 7 for Cambridge. Of the remainder
+more than half were afterwards ordained.
+
+So much, then, for the origins of College and University racing.
+Thenceforward the friendly rivalry flourished with only slight
+intermissions; gradually the race became an event. The great public
+became interested in it, cabmen and 'bus-drivers decorated their whips
+in honour of the crews, sightseers flocked to the river-banks to catch a
+glimpse of them as they flashed past, and their prowess was celebrated
+by the press. It is not, however, too much to say that without the keen
+spirit of emulation which is fostered by the college races both at
+Oxford and Cambridge, the University boat-race would cease to exist.
+Truly a light blue cap is to the oarsman a glorious prize, but there are
+many hundreds of ardent enthusiasts who have to content themselves with
+a place in the college boats in the Lent or the May Term. Want of form,
+or of weight, or of the necessary strength and stamina may hinder them
+from attaining to a place in the University Eight, but they should
+console themselves by reflecting that without their patient and earnest
+labours for the welfare of their several colleges it would be impossible
+to maintain a high standard of oarsmanship, or to form a representative
+University Eight. Let me, therefore, be for a page or two the apologist,
+nay, rather the panegyrist, of the college oarsman, with whom many of my
+happiest hours have been spent.
+
+Before entering upon the serious business of life as a freshman at
+Cambridge, the youth who is subsequently to become an oar will in all
+probability have fired his imagination by reading of the historical
+prowess of past generations of University oars in races at Henley or at
+Putney. Goldie who turned the tide of defeat, the Closes, Rhodes,
+Gurdon, Hockin, Pitman the pluckiest of strokes, and Muttlebury the
+mighty heavy-weight, are the heroes whom he worships, and to whose
+imitation he proposes to devote himself. A vision of a light blue coat
+and cap flits before his mind; he sees himself in fancy wresting a
+fiercely contested victory from the clutches of Oxford, and cheered and
+f�ted by a countless throng of his admirers. With these ideas he becomes
+as a freshman a member of his college boat club, and adds his name to
+the "tubbing list." He purchases his rowing uniform, clothes himself in
+it in his rooms, and one fine afternoon in October finds himself one of
+a crowd of nervous novices in the yard of his college boathouse. One of
+the captains pounces on him, selects a co-victim for him, and orders him
+into a gig-pair, or, to speak more correctly, "a tub." With the first
+stroke the beautiful azure vision vanishes, leaving only a sense of
+misery behind. He imagined he could row as he walked, by the light of
+nature. He finds that all kinds of mysterious technicalities are
+required of him. He has to "get hold of the beginning" to "finish it
+out," to take his oar "out of the water clean" (an impossibility one
+would think on the dirty drain-fed Cam), to "plant his feet against the
+stretcher," to row his shoulders back, to keep his elbows close to his
+sides, to shoot away his hands, to swing from his hips, under no
+circumstances to bend his back or to leave go with his outside hand,
+and, above all, to keep his swing forward as steady as a rock--an
+instruction to which he conforms by not swinging at all. These are but a
+few points out of the many which are dinned into his ears by his
+energetic coach. A quarter of an hour concludes his lesson, and he
+leaves the river a much sadder, but not necessarily a wiser man.
+However, since he is young he is not daunted by all these unforeseen
+difficulties. He perseveres, and towards the end of his first term reaps
+a doubtful reward by being put into an Eight with seven other novices,
+to splash and roll and knock his knuckles about for an hour or so to his
+heart's content. Next term (the Lent Term) may find him a member of one
+of his college Lent boats. Then he begins to feel that pluck and
+ambition are not in vain, and soon afterwards for the first time he
+tastes the joys of training, which he will be surprised to find does not
+consist entirely of raw steaks and underdone chops. Common sense, in
+fact, has during the past fifteen years or so broken in upon the foolish
+regulations of the ancient system. Men who train are still compelled to
+keep early hours, to eat simple food at fixed times, to abjure tobacco,
+and to limit the quantity of liquid they absorb. But there is an
+immense variety in the dishes put before them; they are warned against
+gorging (at breakfast, indeed, men frequently touch no meat), and though
+they assemble together in the Backs before breakfast, and are ordered to
+clear their pipes by a short sharp burst of one hundred and fifty yards,
+they are not allowed to overtire themselves by the long runs which were
+at one time in fashion. Far away back in the dawn of University rowing
+training seems to have been far laxer, though discipline may have been
+more strict, than it is now. Mr. J. M. Logan (the well-known Cambridge
+boat-builder) wrote to me on this subject: "I have heard my father say
+that the crews used to train on egg-flip which an old lady who then kept
+the Plough Inn by Ditton was very famous for making, and that crew which
+managed to drink most egg-flip was held to be most likely to make many
+bumps. I believe the ingredients were gin, beer, and beaten eggs, with
+nutmegs and spices added. I have heard my father say that the discipline
+of the crews was of an extraordinary character. For instance, the
+captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club used to have a bugle, and after
+he had sounded it the crew would have to appear on the yard in high hats
+and dress suits with a black tie. The penalty for appearing in a tie of
+any other colour was one shilling. The trousers worn on these occasions
+were of white jean, and had to be washed every day under a penalty of
+one shilling. The wearing of perfectly clean things every day was an
+essential part of the preparation."
+
+All this, however, is a digression from the freshman whom we have seen
+safely through his tubbing troubles, and have selected for a Lent Boat.
+I return to him to follow him in a career of glory which will lead him
+from Lent Boat to May Boat, from that to his college Four, and so
+perhaps through the University Trial Eights to the final goal of all
+rowing ambition--the Cambridge Eight. He will have suffered many things
+for the sake of his beloved pursuit; he will have rowed many weary
+miles, have learnt the misery of aching limbs and blistered hands,
+perhaps he may have endured the last indignity of being bumped; he will
+have laboured under broiling suns, or with snowstorms and bitter winds
+beating against him; he will have voluntarily cut himself off from many
+pleasant indulgences. But, on the other hand, his triumphs will have
+been sweet; he will have trained himself to submit to discipline, to
+accept discomfort cheerfully, to keep a brave face in adverse
+circumstance; he will have developed to the full his strength and his
+powers of endurance, and will have learnt the necessity of unselfishness
+and patriotism. These are, after all, no mean results in a generation
+which is often accused of effeminate and debasing luxury.
+
+A few words as to our scheme of boat-races at Cambridge. Of the Lent
+races I have spoken. They are rowed at the end of February in heavy
+ships, _i.e._ fixed-seat ships built with five streaks from a keel.
+Thirty-one boats take part in them. Every college must be represented by
+at least one boat, though beyond that there is no restriction as to the
+number of boats from any particular college club. No man who has taken
+part in the previous May races is permitted to row. In fact, they are a
+preparatory school for the development of eight-oared rowing. Next term
+is given up to the May races, which are rowed in light ships, _i.e._
+keel-less ships with sliding seats. No club can have more than three or
+less than one crew in these races. In this term the pair-oared races
+are also rowed, generally before the Eights. The Fours, both in light
+ships and, for the less ambitious colleges whose Eights may be in the
+second division, in clinker-built boats, take place at the end of
+October, and are followed by the Colquhoun, or University Sculls, and
+next by the University Trial Eights, two picked crews selected by the
+President of the University Boat Club from the likely men of every
+college club. The trial race always takes place near Ely, over the three
+miles of what is called the Adelaide course. Besides all these races,
+each college has its own races, confined to members of the college. But
+of course the glory of college racing culminates in the May term. Who
+shall calculate all the forethought, energy, self-denial, and patriotic
+labour, all the carefully organized skill and patient training which are
+devoted to the May races; for so they are still called, though they
+never take place now before June? Every man who rows in his college crew
+feels that to him personally the traditions and the honour of his
+college are committed. The meadow at Ditton is alive with a brilliant
+throng of visitors, the banks swarm with panting enthusiasts armed with
+every kind of noisy instrument, and all intent to spur the energies of
+their several Eights. One by one the crews, clothed in their blazers,
+with their straw hats on their heads, paddle down to the start, pausing
+at Ditton to exchange greetings with the visitors. In the Post Reach
+they turn, disembark for a few moments, and wander nervously up and down
+the bank. At last the first gun is fired, the oarsmen strip for the
+race. Their clothes are collected and borne along in front by perspiring
+boatmen, so as to be ready for them at the end of the race. The men step
+gingerly into their frail craft and await the next gun. Bang! Another
+minute. The boat is pushed out, the coxwain holding his chain; the crew
+come forward, every nerve strained for the start; the cry of the careful
+timekeepers is heard along the reach, the gun fires, and a universal
+roar proclaims the start of the sixteen crews. For four "nights" the
+conflict rages, bringing triumph and victory to some, and pain and
+defeat to others; and at the end comes the glorious bump-supper, with
+its toasts, its songs, and its harmless, noisy rejoicings, on which the
+dons look with an indulgent eye, and in which they even sometimes take
+part for the honour of the college.
+
+Happy are those who still dwell in Cambridge courts and follow the
+delightful labour of the oar! For the rest of us there can only be
+memories of the time when we toiled round the never-ending Grassy
+corner, spurted in the Plough, heard dimly the deafening cheers of the
+crowd at Ditton, and finally made our bump amid the confused roar of
+hundreds of voices, the booming of fog-horns the screech of rattles, and
+the ringing of bells. What joy in after-life can equal the intoxication
+of the moment when we stepped out upon the bank to receive the
+congratulations of our friends, whilst the unfurled flag proclaimed our
+victory to the world?
+
+To such scenes the mind travels back through the vista of years with
+fond regret. For most of us our racing days are over, but we can still
+glory in the triumphs of our college or our University, and swear by the
+noblest of open-air sports.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE.
+
+_By W. E. Crum_,
+
+Captain of the Boats, 1893; President O.U.B.C. 1896, 1897.
+
+
+In most books that have been published on rowing matters, a chapter has
+been devoted to rowing at Eton. But these accounts have been mainly of a
+historical nature, and have not, I think, dealt sufficiently with the
+career of an Eton boy, from the time when he passes through the ordeal
+of the swimming examination up to the proud moment when he wears the
+light blue at Henley, representing his school in the Ladies' Plate.
+
+Before any boy is allowed to go on the river at all, he is obliged to
+satisfy the authorities of his ability to reach the banks of the river
+safely if he should upset while boating. This swimming examination is
+held about once a week after bathing has commenced in the summer half
+at the two bathing-places, Cuckoo Weir and Athens, which are reserved
+for the use of the boys alone.
+
+On the Acropolis, a mound raised some ten feet above the water for
+diving purposes, sit the two or three masters whose duty it is to
+conduct the "passing." On one side a punt is moored, from which the boys
+enter the water head first as best they can. They have to swim a
+distance of about twenty yards, round a pole, and return, showing that
+they can swim in good style, and can keep themselves afloat by "treading
+water."
+
+When a boy has successfully passed this examination, he is at liberty to
+go on the river. As it is probably well on in the summer half before he
+has passed, and it is more than likely that he has never before handled
+an oar, we will suppose that he does not enter for the Lower Boy races
+that year, but has to learn by himself, with no coaches to help him, the
+rudiments of rowing and sculling on fixed seats. Always on the river,
+whenever he has an hour to spare from his school duties, the Lower Boy
+soon acquires that knowledge of "watermanship" for which Etonian oarsmen
+are famous.
+
+By the end of the summer half, he can sit his sculling-boat in
+comparative safety, and has learnt, perhaps, at the cost of several
+fines, the rules of the river, which are considered sacred by all Eton
+boys.
+
+The ensuing winter terms are devoted to football and fives, rowing not
+being allowed; and we may pass on to the next summer, when our Lower Boy
+will probably enter for both Lower Boy sculling and pulling (_i.e._
+pairs). These two races are rowed in boats almost peculiar to Eton. That
+used for the Lower Boy pulling is called a "perfection," of which the
+design is due to the Rev. S. A. Donaldson; it is an open, clinker-built,
+outrigged boat, which recalls the lines of the old Thames wherry. That
+used for the Lower Boy sculling is known as a "whiff," an open clinker
+boat with outriggers. On an average about a dozen competitors enter for
+these events, five or six boats being started together, the first and
+second in each heat rowing in the final. The course, which is about two
+miles long, begins opposite the Brocas, extending for a mile upstream,
+where the competitors turn round a ryepeck, and then down-stream to the
+finish, just above Windsor Bridge.
+
+If fairly successful in his school examinations, the boy whose career we
+are considering will, after his second summer, have reached the fifth
+form, a position which entitles him to be tried for the boats. He
+probably does not succeed in obtaining the coveted colour at the first
+attempt; and it is, say, in his third summer, that he first comes under
+the eye of a coach.
+
+For the last month of the summer half, as many as ten or a dozen eights
+are taken out by members of the Upper Boats every evening, and four
+crews are selected from these, put into training, and carefully coached,
+and after about a fortnight's practice race against each other from
+Sandbank down to the bridge, a distance of about three-quarters of a
+mile; the race is called "Novice Eights," and each crew is stroked by a
+member of the Lower Boats. Every boy who rows in this race may be sure
+that he will get into the boats on the following 1st of March; and
+having reached this important point in an Eton wetbob's career, I must
+endeavour to explain the meaning of the term "The Boats," which I have
+already frequently used.
+
+The Boats are composed of one ten-oared, and nine eight-oared crews,
+presumably made up of the eighty-two best oarsmen in the school; the
+boats are subdivided into two classes, Upper and Lower Boats.
+
+The Upper Boats comprise the ten-oared _Monarch_, and the two eights,
+_Victory_ and _Prince of Wales_; the Lower Boats are more numerous,
+consisting of seven eights, which have characteristic names, such as
+_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, _Hibernia_, and _Defiance_. Each of the
+Upper Boats has a distinctive colour just like any other school team,
+whereas all members of the Lower Boats wear the same cap.
+
+At the head of the Eton wetbob world there reigns supreme the Captain of
+the Boats, who is always regarded in the eyes of a small Eton boy as
+next in importance only to the Prince of Wales and the Archbishop of
+Canterbury. He is captain of the _Monarch_, and after him, in order of
+merit, come the captains of the other boats, who act as his lieutenants;
+these captains are practically appointed by the first captain of the
+previous year, and were probably all members of the Upper Boats in that
+year.
+
+At the beginning of each summer term the Captain of the Boats calls a
+meeting of his other boat captains; he has by him a list of all those
+who were already members of the boats the year before, and he knows
+pretty correctly the form of every one of them; thus, with his
+lieutenants' help he can assign to each oarsman the boat in which he
+considers him worthy to row.
+
+The first boat to be made up is the _Monarch_. Though nominally the
+first of the boats, the _Monarch_ is actually composed of those who,
+from their place in the school, or from their prowess at other games,
+deserve some recognition; in fact, I may best designate the members of
+the "ten," as good worthy people, who have tried to row well and have
+not succeeded.
+
+The next boat is the _Victory_, and here we find the pick of the
+previous year's Lower Boats. Though junior, and in order of precedence
+below all the captains of the various boats, these eight have just as
+much chance of rowing in the eight at Henley as any of the captains; for
+the younger oar, whose faults can easily be cured, is often preferred to
+his stronger senior, whose faults are fixed and difficult to eradicate.
+
+Similar to the _Victory_, though of rather a lower standard, is the
+_Prince of Wales_, or "Third Upper;" and this is composed of the
+remnants of the previous year's Lower Boats who are not quite good
+enough for the _Victory_. The great distinction in the present day
+between Upper and Lower Boats is that all those in the former may row in
+any boat on sliding seats, while to those in the latter only fixed seats
+are allowed.
+
+Having completed his Upper Boats, the captain has now to fill the seats
+in the seven Lower Boats. A few of the refuse, one may almost call them,
+of the year before are still left; refuse, because it is rarely the case
+that a boy who is more than one year in Lower Boats develops into a
+really good oar. To these are generally assigned the best places in the
+Lower Boats, and after them come, in order of merit, as far as possible,
+all those who rowed in the previous summer in the "Novice Eight" race.
+
+Thus, just as the _Victory_ is always better than the _Monarch_, so the
+_Dreadnought_, the second Lower Boat, is often better than the
+_Britannia_, which may be composed of old "crocks."
+
+On the 1st of March and the 4th of June in each year the boats row in
+procession, in their order, each boat stroked by its captain, up to
+Surley Hall, where, on the 4th of June, a supper is held. But I will
+leave a description of the 4th of June till later, and will return to
+where I left our successful Etonian, who has just received his
+Lower-Boat colours.
+
+During his first summer half in the boats he is practically never out of
+training. As soon as he has rowed one race he must begin practice for
+the next. The first race of the season is "Lower Eights." Four crews are
+chosen from among members of the Lower Boats, are coached for three
+weeks by members of the Upper Boats, and then race for a mile and a
+half. After this follow "Lower Fours," in which, again, four crews take
+part, chosen from the best of those who have raced in Lower Eights.
+These two races are rowed in order that those in authority may see how
+their juniors can race, and also that the said juniors may profit by
+efficient coaching. No prizes are awarded; they simply row for the
+honour of winning. After these come Junior Sculling and Junior Pulling,
+two races again confined to the Lower Boats. They are rowed in light,
+keelless, outrigged boats, with fixed seats, no coxswain being carried
+by the pairs. And here, again, much watermanship is learned, for the
+Eton course is a difficult one to steer, and only those who steer well
+can have any chance of a win. As many as fifty entries are sometimes
+received for Junior Sculling, for though an Eton boy may have no chance
+of winning a race, he will start, just for the sport of racing and
+improving his rowing, a proceeding which might well be imitated at
+Oxford or Cambridge. Each boy who starts in one of these races has to
+wear a jersey trimmed with a distinctive colour, and carry a flag in his
+bows; and it is extraordinary what ugly combinations some of them choose
+and think beautiful.
+
+These four races have taken our young friend well on into the summer
+half; but after Henley is over, he will probably have to represent his
+House in the House Four race. Perhaps at his tutor's there may be one or
+two who have rowed at Henley in the Eight, and with these, and possibly
+another boy in Lower Boats, he has to train for another three weeks to
+row in what has been called, in a song familiar to Etonians of late
+years, "_the_ race of the year." It is an inspiriting sight for any one
+who wishes to get an idea of an Eton race to see the crowds of men and
+boys, masters and pupils, wetbobs and drybobs, running along the bank
+with the race, some so far ahead that they can see nothing, some with
+the boats, some tired out and lagging behind, but all shouting for a
+particular crew or individual as if their lives depended on it.
+
+In the last few years another race has been established for the Lower
+Boats; but it has not met with the approval of many Old Etonians. It is
+a bumping race, similar to those at Oxford and Cambridge, rowed by the
+different Lower Boats--_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, etc. It is claimed
+that by practising for this race many of those who would not otherwise
+get much teaching are coached by competent people, and thus the standard
+of rowing is raised; but the opponents of the measure object, and as I
+think rightly, on the grounds that the average oar in the Lower Boats
+has quite enough rowing and racing as it is, and that even if more
+racing were needed, a bumping race is the very worst that can be rowed.
+It is necessary at the Universities, on account of the narrowness of the
+rivers, to hold these races, for two boats cannot race abreast; but they
+must tend to make crews rush and hurry for two or three minutes, and
+then try to get home as best they can.
+
+So much for the Lower Boat races. And there is only one more point to
+add concerning the Lower Boats: at the end of each summer half a list is
+published called "Lower Boat Choices," comprising about twenty of the
+Lower Boat oarsmen; to these also is given a special colour; and it is
+in the order of these choices that places in the Upper Boats are
+assigned in the following spring.
+
+Having, therefore, in the next year, risen to the dignity of the Upper
+Boats, our Etonian has before him almost as many races as when he was in
+Lower Boats. His first is "Trial Eights." This takes place at the end of
+the Lent term, between two eight-oared crews, rowing on sliding seats,
+and chosen by the Captain of the Boats. It is from these two crews,
+picked from the Upper Boats and the boat captains, that the Henley Eight
+has to be chosen; and it is, therefore, the object of the first and
+second captains of the boats to equalize them as far as possible, so
+that they may have a close race, and that the rowing and stamina of
+individuals at high pressure may be watched. In the summer half come the
+School Pulling and Sculling, similar to junior races, but rowed on
+sliding seats, and confined to the Upper Boats. The winner of a school
+race, besides getting his prize, is entitled to wear a "School
+Shield"--a small gold shield, on which are engraved the Eton arms, and
+the name and year of the race won. To secure a "School Shield" is one of
+the greatest ambitions of every ambitious Etonian.
+
+These two races being over, practice for the Eight which is to row at
+Henley begins. Every day the Captain of the Boats, aided by one or two
+masters, who have probably represented their Universities at Putney in
+their day, has out two crews, composed of the best of those who are in
+Upper Boats. These crews are gradually weeded out till, perhaps, only an
+eight and a four are left; and then, at last, the Eight is finally
+chosen.
+
+It is difficult to say who should be pitied most while this process of
+choosing the crew is going on--the captain or those who are striving for
+their seats; the captain always worried and anxious that he should get
+the best crew to represent his school, the crew always in agony lest
+they should be turned out, and should never be able to wear the light
+blue. Of course, the captain has the advice of those much more
+experienced than himself; but if there is a close point to settle, it
+is on him alone that the responsibility of the choice falls.
+
+Once safely settled in the boat, there follows a period of five or six
+weeks of mixed pleasure and pain, for every crew, however good, must
+pass through periods of demoralization when for a few days they cease to
+improve, and periods of joy when they realize that, after all, they have
+some chance of turning out well.
+
+For the last three weeks of this Henley practice the Eight is in strict
+training; but training for Eton boys is no great hardship. The days of
+"hard steak and a harder hen" are over. The Eton boy is always fit, and
+the chief point he has to observe is regularity.
+
+His meals are much the same as usual--breakfast at eight, lunch at two,
+a light tea at five, supper together at eight in the evening, and bed at
+ten. There is no need to pull him out of bed in the morning, as at the
+Universities, for he has to go to school every morning at seven o'clock;
+he does not usually smoke--or, at any rate, is not supposed to by the
+rules of the school, and it is rarely that this rule is broken--and he
+does not indulge in large unwholesome dinners, after the manner of many
+undergraduates.
+
+Every evening at six o'clock he goes down to the river, and is probably
+tubbed in a gig-pair before rowing down the Datchet reach in the Eight.
+About twice a week the crew rows a full racing course, and is taken in
+for the last three minutes by a scratch crew, which goes by the name of
+"duffers," composed of five or six Old Etonians and masters, and one or
+two Eton boys, who are kept in training as spare men. The crew is
+coached from a horse by one of the masters--of late years Mr. de
+Havilland, who is certainly as keen for his crew to win as any boy in
+the school.
+
+For the last five years the crew has taken a house at Henley for the
+days of the regatta, and gone to Henley by train the afternoon before
+the races. Though much wiser, this departure from Eton is not as
+impressive as in older days, when the crew used to drive to Henley for
+each day's racing; when, filled with pride and shyness, the young
+oarsman used to issue from his tutor's, wearing for the first time his
+light-blue coat and white cap, and walk to Mr. Donaldson's or Dr.
+Warre's house, where waited the brake which was to convey the crew,
+with the cheers of the crowd, along the hot, dusty road to Henley. In
+1891, the last year that this drive was taken, the crew, before the
+final of the Ladies' Plate, had to drive no less than seventy-five miles
+in three days. They were only beaten by a few feet, and there is little
+doubt that but for this most tiring drive they would have won. Once at
+Henley, all is pleasure. No crew is more popular, none more cheered, as
+it paddles down the course to the starting-point and as it arrives first
+at the winning-post. The scene of enthusiasm, not only among Etonians,
+but among the whole rowing world, when an Eton crew wins the Ladies'
+Plate after a lapse of several years, is past description.
+
+After Henley come House Fours; and then the list of Upper Boat choices
+is made up by the Captain of the Boats. The captain, by this means,
+appoints his successor for the following year, for he arranges these
+choices in order of merit, just as Lower Boat choices are arranged, and
+the highest choice remaining at Eton till the next year becomes captain.
+Thus the power of the captain is absolute; he can appoint whomever he
+likes to be his successor, and it is seldom that the choice falls on
+the wrong boy. Besides being the sole authority in these matters, the
+captain has to arrange all the money matters of the E.C.B.C.; over five
+hundred pounds pass through his hands in a year, and this gives an extra
+responsibility to his post. Of course all his accounts are carefully
+audited by one of the masters, and the experience gained, not only in
+looking after money, but also in arranging dates of races, in choosing
+and in captaining his crew, and in judging disputed points, is well
+worth all the trouble and worry entailed.
+
+Our Eton Lower Boy has now reached the position of Captain of the Boats,
+and here I will leave him to go on either to Oxford or Cambridge and
+represent his University at Putney. A few words, however, may still be
+added.
+
+There is a great difference between teaching a boy of sixteen and a man
+of twenty to row, and this difference lies in the fact that it is much
+easier, and perhaps even more important, to teach your boy to row in
+good form. By good form, I mean the power to use all his strength
+directly in making the boat move so that no energy is wasted in making
+the body pass through the extraordinary contortions and antics often
+seen in an inferior college crew.
+
+It is easier to teach the boy of sixteen to row in good form, because
+his muscles are not yet formed, and his body still lithe and supple; it
+is more important to teach him, because he is not so strong as his
+elders, and consequently has not as much strength to waste.
+
+A description of best how to use your strength would be out of place
+here, for it will be found set forth in another part of this volume. Let
+me, therefore, pass on to a subject which lately has caused considerable
+discussion--the subject of the length of the course for the Junior and
+School races. All these races are held over a course of about three
+miles in length, and take some twenty minutes to row. They start
+opposite the Brocas, and continue up-stream round "Rushes," and then
+down-stream to Windsor Bridge. The contention of many is that the length
+of these races is too great, and that the trial put on boys of perhaps
+fifteen years of age is too severe. From this view of the matter I
+differ, for to any one who has rowed over both the Henley and Putney
+course it will be evident that the forty strokes per minute for a mile
+and a half would be more trying to a young boy than the thirty-four per
+minute for four miles.
+
+A short note on the proceedings of the wetbobs on the 4th of June, the
+great day of celebration at Eton, may have some interest.
+
+As I have said, a procession of all the boats takes place on this day.
+About five o'clock they start in order from the Brocas, and row to
+Surley Hall, where, in tents on the grass, a supper is prepared. After
+supping, they return to the rafts in time for a display of fireworks,
+the crews standing up in their boats and tossing their oars, whereby a
+very pretty effect is obtained. The dresses worn by the crews are quaint
+and old-fashioned on this great day. All are dressed in white ducks, a
+shirt of the colours of their boat, a dark-blue Eton jacket trimmed with
+gold or silver braid, and a straw hat covered with various emblems of
+their boat. The coxswains of the Upper Boats wear naval captain's
+clothes, while the Lower Boat coxswains represent midshipmen.
+
+So much for Eton rowing; and, in finishing, I must pay a slight tribute
+to three old Etonians, to whom the success of Eton rowing is mainly
+due. They are Dr. Warre, the Rev. S. A. Donaldson, and Mr. de
+Havilland; and I feel sure that out of these three, who have all done
+yeomen service for their school, I may single out Dr. Warre, and yet
+give no offence to his two successors. Before Dr. Warre came to Eton as
+a master, in the early sixties, the masters had taken little interest in
+the proceedings on the river; consequently the traditions of rowing,
+learnt mainly from the riverside watermen, were not of a very high
+standard. Eton had never rowed in any races, except against Westminster,
+and it was due to Dr. Warre's efforts that competition for the Ladies'
+Plate was first allowed. From this date till the middle of the eighties,
+Dr. Warre was always ready to coach when asked, but never till asked,
+for he believed, and still believes strongly, in allowing the boys to
+manage their own games as far as possible.
+
+How well he kept his principles of rowing up to date is shown in his
+pamphlets on rowing and coaching, for probably no one but he could have
+written so clear and concise a description as he has given.
+
+Besides being an eminent coach, he understands thoroughly the theories
+of boat-building, his ideas being well exemplified of late by the boats
+which won for Eton in '93, '94, '96, and '97.
+
+When the duties of head-master became too engrossing to allow him to
+devote as much time to the Eight as formerly, his place was taken, and
+well filled, by Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson was always a most keen and
+patient coach, and followed closely on the head-master's lines; and his
+cheery voice at Henley--clear above all the din of the race--once heard,
+could never be forgotten. He was very successful with his crews, and
+helped them to win the Ladies' Plate several times.
+
+In 1893 Mr. de Havilland first coached the Eight, and, since this date,
+has had an unbroken series of wins. In the first year of his coaching,
+fifteen-inch slides, instead of ten-inch, were used, and this, aided by
+his excellent advice, helped to produce one of the fastest Eights that
+Eton has ever sent to represent the school. Mr. de Havilland has that
+wonderful knack, possessed by some good coaches, of training his crew to
+the hour, and it is surprising with what speed his crews always improve
+in the last week or so of practice.
+
+I can only hope, in conclusion, that I have to some extent succeeded in
+explaining to the uninitiated the mysteries of the career of an Eton
+wetbob during the five or six happiest years of his life spent at the
+best of schools.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+AUSTRALIAN ROWING.
+
+_By E. G. Blackmore._
+
+
+A country which has produced such scullers as Beach and Searle, not to
+mention Trickett, Laycock, Kemp, Nielson, Stanbury, and many others of
+less calibre, may well claim a place in a work treating of the science
+and art of rowing. In the limits of a chapter it is scarcely possible to
+give an exhaustive account of Australian oarsmen and oarsmanship, and as
+the performances of the leading Colonial scullers are sufficiently well
+known, from their having competed on English waters, this record will be
+almost entirely confined to amateur rowing, as practised in Australia.
+
+That large continent, with the island of Tasmania, consists of six
+colonies, in all of which the art is cultivated, with more or less
+enthusiasm.
+
+The first record we can find of anything like boat-racing occurs in
+1818, when ships' gig races were rowed in the Sydney Harbour, while the
+first regatta was held in the same place in 1827. In 1832 an
+Australian-born crew, in a locally built whale-boat, beat several crews
+of whaling ships. Passing over a series of years, in which nothing of
+more than local and momentary interest occurred, we find that in 1858,
+in the first race rowed on the present Champion course, the Parramatta
+River, Green beat an English sculler, Candlish, in a match for �400. I
+am inclined to regard this as the real foundation of New South Wales
+professional sculling, which afterwards culminated in the performances
+of Beach and Searle. The mother colony is the only one of the group
+which has produced a professional sculler of any class. Amongst amateurs
+none has yet appeared who could be placed in the first rank.
+
+In all the Colonies there are rowing associations which regulate and
+control amateur rowing. Of these, New South Wales alone has attempted to
+maintain the amateur status on English lines. The other associations
+recognize men who would not pass muster at any regatta in the United
+Kingdom where the regulation definition obtains. To the New South Wales
+Association about ten clubs are affiliated. Under its auspices regattas
+are held in the harbour of Sydney, and one on the Parramatta River. The
+former water is utterly unfit for first-class racing, as it is
+exceedingly rough, exposed to sudden winds, and hampered with steam
+traffic of all sorts. In September--regarded as the commencement of the
+rowing season--there is an eight-oar race, the winners of which rank as
+champions for the ensuing year, and fly the "Premiership Pennant." On
+January 26 is held the Anniversary Regatta, which, founded in 1834, has
+been an annual event since 1837.
+
+The Parramatta River course, on which champion events are decided, and
+which Hanlan, Beach, and Searle have made classic ground, is 3 miles 330
+yards. It is practically straight, with a strong tide, the set of which
+is very difficult to learn. At times it is so affected by wind, as to
+render rowing impossible. The most perfect water is that of the Nepean
+River. Here a straight 3-1/4 miles course can be found, perfectly calm,
+and with no current. It was on this river that Beach beat Hanlan in
+1887.
+
+The Victorian Rowing Association holds three Championship events in the
+year--sculls, fours, and eights rowed in best boats on the Lower Yarra,
+and an annual regatta on the Albert Park Lake, though in former years it
+has taken place on the Upper and the Lower river. Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Colac,
+Nagambie, and Lake Moodemere. The length for Intercolonial and
+Championship races is 3 miles 110 yards, with the tide, which may be set
+at three miles an hour.
+
+The South Australian Association holds an annual regatta on the river
+Torrens, and has champion races for eights, fours, and sculls, on the
+Port River. The city course is one mile, that for the champion races,
+three miles. The Torrens is at the best an inferior river for rowing,
+while the Port Water is a broad tidal stream, exposed to south-west
+winds, and at times exceedingly rough.
+
+Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, like their sister Colonies,
+have associations, and hold regattas.
+
+The great event of the year is the Intercolonial eight-oar race, rowed
+alternately in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Western Australia is
+now (1897) entering the field, but her crew is composed almost entirely
+of former Victorian oarsmen. In the past the rowing of Victorian crews
+has been generally far superior to that of the other Colonies, and in
+1894 the Victorian combination was the nearest approach to English form
+that has yet been attained. South Australia has not so far been
+represented. Speaking generally, none of the picked eights of the
+Colonies have ever shown form or pace within measurable distance of the
+best college crews at Oxford and Cambridge, or the eights which may be
+seen at Henley. There is no approach to that systematic rudimentary
+teaching, coaching, and training, which proves so successful on English
+waters, and without which no crew can ever become that perfect human
+machine which a finished eight should be.
+
+
+_Public School Rowing._
+
+_Sydney._
+
+The principal rowing schools in New South Wales are the Church of
+England Grammar School, North Shore, the Sydney Grammar School, and St.
+Ignatius College. Under the "Athletic Association of the Great Public
+Schools" an annual regatta is held on the Parramatta River in May. The
+events are--"Schools Championship," Maiden Fours, Junior Eights, and a
+June Handicap Sculling Race. The association has fixed the distance at
+1-1/4 miles. The races are rowed in string test gigs; and 8 mins. 15
+secs. is considered good time for school crews, whose age, it must be
+remembered, does not equal that of English schoolboys. The boathouses of
+the two grammar schools are at Berry's and Woolloomooloo Bays, in the
+harbour; and they are at a disadvantage compared with St. Ignatius
+College, which, at Lane Cove River, has a splendid course and smooth
+water. The ten days of the Easter vacation are spent by the two former
+schools in "Rowing Camp," _i.e._ they migrate to the Parramatta River,
+where there are better opportunities of systematic work and coaching.
+Each club, notably St. Ignatius, has a good set of boats, those of the
+North Shore School being fitted with convertible fixed or sliding seats,
+carried on frames. The form of the two grammar schools is decidedly
+good, and conforms to the English standard much more nearly than that of
+most of the clubs.
+
+[_Victoria._
+
+There are five schools approaching, as nearly as circumstances allow,
+the great public schools of England, viz. in the capital, the Church of
+England Grammar School, the Scotch College, Wesley College, St Patrick's
+College, and the Church of England Grammar School at Geelong.
+
+Two races are rowed annually, for first and second crews, each school in
+turn having the choice of course, which is either on the Upper or Lower
+Yarra, the Albert Park Lagoon, or the Barwon at Geelong. For first crews
+the distance is 1-1/4 miles, for second a mile, the boats being string
+test gigs, fixed seats. Of all the schools none has a record equal to
+that of Geelong, where rowing, in comparison with other sports, occupies
+the same position as at Eton. To the Cambridge Eight it has contributed
+four oars, including the well-known heavyweight S. Fairbairn; while in
+the memorable race of '86, when Pitman made his victorious rush on the
+post, the school had an "old boy" in each boat--Fairbairn rowing for the
+Light Blues, and Robertson, whose father had been in Hoare's famous '61
+crew, for Oxford. In the Cambridge Trial Eights seven "old Geelongs"
+have rowed; in the Oxford Trials only one; while the school has also
+been represented in the Grand Challenge and other races at Henley.
+
+The Public Schools' Race for first crews was established in 1868, and
+for second in 1878. Geelong first rowed for the former in 1875, since
+when it has twelve wins to its credit, and the same number in the minor
+event.
+
+The Boat Club was established in 1874, and at the present date has a
+roll of fifty-six members, an excellent boathouse, and nineteen boats.
+It holds an annual school regatta in June.
+
+Rowing at the other schools is very spasmodic, mostly confined to a few
+weeks' training for the above races.
+
+_South Australia._
+
+There are only two schools in South Australia which merit the
+designation of public schools in the English sense, viz. St. Peter's
+Collegiate School and Prince Alfred College, both in the immediate
+neighbourhood of the city.
+
+Adelaide is bisected by the river Torrens, where, by reason of a dam, a
+mile and a half of water is available for rowing. But the course is so
+tortuous that racing is limited to a mile. The accumulation of silt is
+so great, and the growth of weeds and rushes so rapid, that for some
+five months in the year the river is kept empty for necessary
+operations; and at the best of times the water is slow and sluggish. At
+the annual regatta, under the Rowing Association, the rivals have often
+competed in a special race; but they ran the chance of being drawn to
+row private schools. In order to make rowing as important a part of
+school athletics as cricket and football, the present writer, who was
+then chairman of the Rowing Association, instituted in 1893 an annual
+race between these schools for a challenge shield, to be rowed on the
+tidal river at the Port, over a straight mile course. The boats used are
+half-outrigged, clinker, keelless fours, fixed seats, with a
+twenty-six-inch beam. The crews practise on the home water, and finish
+their preparation on the scene of the contest. So far, St. Peter's
+College has won each event in the easiest style. A race has also been
+established with the Geelong school. Of three, each of which has been of
+the closest, Geelong has won once, St. Peter's twice. The boats used are
+full outrigged clinkers, with sliding seats.
+
+In spite of the inferior water, rowing at St. Peter's is becoming almost
+as popular with the boys as cricket and football. To this state of
+things their success against Prince Alfred and Geelong crews has
+materially contributed, as well as the institution of school regattas.
+The club has a good boathouse, with the right class of boats for
+teaching and coaching, viz. steady, roomy, half-outrigged, clinker
+fours, with keels, convertible as fixed or sliders.
+
+
+_University Rowing._
+
+There are three Universities of Australia--those of Sydney, Melbourne,
+and Adelaide. Racing was first instituted when Sydney and Melbourne met
+on the water of the latter in string test gig fours over a three and a
+half miles course. In the following year they met on the Parramatta.
+Melbourne won on both occasions. The race was then discontinued, but in
+1885 the Sydney University Boat Club was founded, and in 1888 the three
+Universities mutually agreed to establish the race as an annual event in
+eights, to be rowed in turn on the Parramatta, the Yarra, and the Port
+Adelaide rivers, over a three mile course. Of nine races rowed--in two
+of which Adelaide, and in one of which Sydney, did not compete--Sydney
+has won four times, Melbourne thrice, and Adelaide on two occasions. The
+presentation by Old Blues of Oxford and Cambridge of a magnificent cup,
+to be held by the winners, has given a great stimulus to the race, and
+invested it with an importance which otherwise would not have attached
+to it. It has served to establish the continuity of the contest, and to
+connect the local Universities with their more famous elder sisters of
+England.
+
+The Sydney U.B.C. undoubtedly takes the lead in prosecuting rowing. It
+promotes annual races for Freshmen, and intercollegiate fours between
+the three colleges of St. John's, St. Andrew's, and St. Paul's. Since
+their inauguration, in 1892, St. Paul's has won on every occasion except
+in 1894. In 1895 and 1896 the U.B.C. won the Rowing Association
+Eight-oar Championship.
+
+There is an annual race in eights between Ormond and Trinity Colleges of
+the Melbourne University, besides a few other less important events, but
+the rowing spirit is not in such evidence as in Sydney and Adelaide. The
+latter is simply a teaching and examining University, with members so
+few that it is rather a matter of finding eight men to put in a boat
+than of picking or selecting a crew from a number of aspirants. Its
+success and enterprise are the more remarkable.
+
+Speaking generally of University form in Australia, it is far inferior
+to that of a good college eight. Nor is the reason far to seek. There is
+no such recruiting ground as, for instance, Eton or Radley, not to
+mention other rowing schools, nor are there the opportunities for making
+oars such as the college clubs at the two great Universities present,
+with the successive stages of the Torpids and Lent races, the May and
+Summer Eights, Henley, and the Trial Eights. Coaching, as in England,
+from the tow path or a fast steam-launch, is practically impossible, and
+the number of those who have a scientific knowledge of oarsmanship, and,
+what is rarer still, the gift of imparting it to a crew, individually
+and collectively, is small indeed. Coaching in Australia is done from
+the stern, or from another boat, or by an occasional view from the bank,
+sometimes from a launch seldom fast enough to keep up, or range abeam.
+Pair-oar tubbing is of course utilized. Sydney University rowing is,
+however, far superior to non-University oarsmanship. The men sit up, use
+their backs and legs well, understand the knee work at the end of the
+slide, and do not rush their recovery. They are somewhat deficient in
+fore and aft swing, have a tendency to sky the feather, and rarely
+catch their water at the first. Melbourne rowing is wanting in body
+work, and conspicuous for absence of length. The men apparently are
+taught to discard on slides every approach to fixed-seat form, instead
+of to retain as much as possible. Thanks to a strong Oxford inspiration
+in Adelaide, and a belief in fixed-seat form as the foundation of good
+rowing on slides, an Adelaide school or University crew is conspicuous
+for length, reach, and swing. The pace of the eights is far behind
+English standard.
+
+
+_Boatbuilding in Australia._
+
+It was the opinion of Hanlan that in the matter of boats and sculls he
+had never been so well served as by Donnelly and Sullivan of Sydney, a
+judgment as regards sculls endorsed by Beach and Searle. Chris. Nielsen,
+the sculler, has brought out a boat which he claims to be faster than
+the ordinary wager boat, with, against, or without tide, in rough water
+or smooth. The dimensions for an 11-1/2 stone man are--length, 23 ft.;
+beam, 16 ins.; depth, 7 ins.; for'ard, 6 ins.; aft, 5-1/2 ins.; full
+lines throughout; height of seat from heel plates, 7 ins.; height of
+work from seat, 5-3/4 ins.; needs no fin, steers well, very light off
+hand; weight without fittings, 14 lbs. Riggers are bicycle tubing
+fittings, ordinary Davis gate; Colonial cedar, pine, and hickory
+timbers. The Australian-built boats are probably, so far as lines,
+general design, and workmanship, quite equal to the best English craft.
+For pairs, fours, and eights the Melbourne builders, Fuller, Edwards,
+and Greenland, are of the first class. They use a skeleton frame for the
+slides, built with angle pieces. This has all the rigidity of Clasper's
+more solid style, is lighter and stronger, and when the boat is being
+emptied allows the free escape of water. A Colonial eight is certainly
+lighter than those sent to Australia by Clasper or Rough. Probably the
+English builders have overestimated the weight of Australian eight-oar
+crews, which do not scale anything approaching a 'Varsity eight. Seating
+down the middle is generally preferred, which the present writer thinks
+has everything in its favour. The great drawback from which local
+builders suffer is the want of seasoned cedar. From this cause their
+boats do not last as long as English ones.
+
+
+_Times._
+
+I am not disposed to place much reliance on time as a test of a crew or
+a sculler, as conditions can never be so identical as to make comparison
+a safe guide. Still a certain interest attaches to records. It is
+contended that the Parramatta is a fifth slower than the Thames. The
+best trial with the tide that I know of is for a mile, 5 mins. 20 secs.
+with a four; 4 mins. 47 secs. with an eight. Over the whole course, 3
+miles 330 yards, an eight has put up 17 mins. 12 secs., one mile of
+which was compassed in 4 mins. 52 secs. On the Yarra the Victorian Eight
+of 1889 is said to have rowed two measured miles in 10 mins. 2 secs. At
+Brisbane, in 1895, the Sydney International Eight, with a strong stream,
+compassed three miles in 15 mins., but the distance is doubted. On the
+Nepean course, 3 miles 440 yards, Sullivan beat Bubear in 19 mins. 15
+secs., no current.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ROWING IN AMERICA.
+
+
+The sport of rowing, as I gather from Mr. Caspar Whitney's well-known
+book,[14] was in its infancy in America when it had already taken a
+prominent place amongst our amateur athletic exercises in England. The
+Detroit Boat Club, established in 1839, was the first rowing
+organization in America. Next came Yale University, which established a
+Boat Club in 1843, and was followed by Harvard University in 1846. The
+first boat-race between Harvard and Yale took place in 1852 on Lake
+Winipiseogee, New Hampshire, in eight-oared boats with coxswains. Other
+meetings between these two followed at intervals until 1859, when a
+College Union Regatta was instituted. This took place at Worcester
+(Mass.), on Lake Quinsigamond, in six-oared boats without coxswains, the
+bow oar invariably steering, and was continued, with an interruption of
+three years during the Rebellion, until 1870, when the course was
+changed to the Connecticut River. Up to this time two Universities only
+had competed besides Yale and Harvard; but in 1872 the number increased
+considerably, and in 1875 no less than twelve different Universities
+were represented in one race. These were, in the order in which they
+finished, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth (Hanover, N.H.),
+Wesleyan (Middletown, Conn.), Yale, Amherst (Mass.), Brown (Providence,
+R.I.), Williams (Williamstown, Mass.), Bowdoin (Brunswick, Maine),
+Hamilton (Clinton, N.Y.), and Union (Schenectady, N.Y.). The most
+eventful of these big regattas was that of 1874 at Saratoga, when nine
+boats entered. Harvard and Yale, having adjoining stations,
+unfortunately became engaged in a dispute as to "water," and were left
+disputing by several boats. Harvard got away from the entanglement
+first, leaving Yale with her rudder and one oar broken, and went in
+pursuit of the others; but in spite of the most heroic efforts, were
+beaten by Columbia and Wesleyan, who finished respectively first and
+second. In 1876 Harvard and Yale decided to withdraw from these crowded
+meetings, and in this and the following year they rowed a private match
+at Springfield in Eights with coxswains, and in 1878 on the Thames at
+New London, where they continued their annual contest up to and
+including 1895.[15] In that year there took place a break in the
+athletic relations between these two Universities, and in 1896 Harvard
+took part in a "quadrangular" race with Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania Universities. This was won by Cornell, Harvard being
+second, and was rowed on a perfectly straight four-mile course at
+Poughkeepsie on the River Hudson, where Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania had decided some previous contests. In the present year,
+however, the differences between Harvard and Yale were happily adjusted,
+and a race was rowed at Poughkeepsie between them and Cornell, in which
+Cornell came in first, Yale defeating Harvard for second place. Harvard,
+Yale, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell possess at the present day
+the most important University rowing organizations, and at all of them
+the sport is practised with that intense keenness which characterizes
+the young American in everything that he undertakes. Especially is this
+the case with Harvard and Yale. Their rivalry has continued for many
+years, and a meeting between them in rowing, or in any other sport,
+evokes among their members an eagerness and an enthusiasm of which an
+Englishman can have little conception. Most of the Universities that
+took part in the contests of the seventies seem to have dropped
+altogether out of the rowing world. Last year saw a new arrival in the
+shape of the University of Wisconsin. These Westerners, in spite of
+their difficulties of climate, were able to form a very good freshman
+crew, which defeated the Yale freshmen in a two-mile race. This year the
+Wisconsin University Eight rowed a two-mile race against the Yale
+University Eight, but were unable to make much of a show against them.
+The United States Naval Academy at Minneapolis can also put a very fair
+crew on the water, though the course of their studies allows them but
+little leisure for practice. This year they were defeated by Cornell in
+a two-mile race. The chief rowing school of America is undoubtedly St.
+Paul's, at Concord, New Hampshire. It is divided into two boat-clubs,
+the Halcyon and the Shattuck, and the teaching and training of the boys
+are looked after by Mr. Dole, a man of great knowledge and experience in
+rowing matters. They practise on a large lake situated close to the
+school buildings, and show on the whole very fair form, though in this
+respect they cannot equal an Eton crew. Rowing recruits from this school
+are eagerly sought after by Harvard and Yale, in whose contests old St.
+Paul's boys have a very brilliant record. At Groton School, in
+Massachusetts, the boys row in Fours on the river Nashua, their coach
+being Mr. Abbot, a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford. Rowing,
+however, at Groton has not yet assumed the importance it has at St.
+Paul's, baseball being considered of the first importance, and the
+captain of baseball having the right to claim rowing boys for his team.
+Not a few Groton wet-bobs have, however, done well in Harvard and Yale
+crews. Besides these two rowing-schools, there is also the High School
+of Worcester (Mass.), whose Eight this year--the first, I believe, in
+its rowing history--rowed a severe but unsuccessful race against the
+Harvard freshmen on Lake Quinsigamond, and later in the summer won the
+race for Intermediate Eights at the National Regatta held on the River
+Schuylkill at Philadelphia.
+
+  [14] "A Sporting Pilgrimage" (published in 1895 by Messrs. Osgood,
+  McIlvaine & Co.), one of the best all-round accounts of English sport
+  that it has ever been my good fortune to read.
+
+  [15] For many of these details I am indebted to an article by Mr. J. A.
+  Watson-Taylor in the _Granta_.
+
+[Illustration: A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON AT POUGHKEEPSIE.]
+
+To an English reader, with his experience of Henley Regatta, it will
+seem strange that the Universities in America should take little or no
+part in any rowing contests except their own private matches, and should
+have no voice, and apparently no wish to have any voice, in the general
+management of the sport outside the Universities. But such is the case.
+The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen of America has more than
+sixty clubs affiliated to it, but neither Harvard nor Yale nor Cornell
+is amongst the number. The National Association holds a successful
+regatta every year in August, but no really representative Eight from
+Harvard or Yale has ever, I believe, taken part in it. With that
+exception, this Association corresponds to our Amateur Rowing
+Association, and in its constitution states its object to be "the
+advancement and improvement of rowing amongst amateurs." By Article III.
+of the Association an amateur is defined as "one who does not enter in
+an open competition; or for either a stake, public or admission money,
+or entrance fee; or compete with or against a professional for any
+prize; who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the pursuit of
+athletic exercises as a means of livelihood; whose membership of any
+rowing or other athletic club was not brought about, or does not
+continue, because of any mutual agreement or understanding, expressed or
+implied, whereby his becoming or continuing a member of such club would
+be of any pecuniary benefit to him whatever, direct or indirect;[16] who
+has never been employed in any occupation involving any use of the oar
+or paddle; who rows for pleasure or recreation only, and during his
+leisure hours; who does not abandon or neglect his usual business or
+occupation for the purpose of training, and who shall otherwise conform
+to the rules and regulations of this Association (as adopted August 28,
+1872, amended January 20, 1876, and July 18, 1888)."
+
+  [16] This clause is intended especially to prevent any so-called amateur
+  oarsmen being surreptitiously compensated for rowing, as, for instance,
+  by being furnished lucrative employment in sinecure positions.
+
+"Any club which shall issue or accept a challenge for the purpose of
+holding a professional race, shall be for ever debarred from entering an
+individual or crew in the Regattas of the Association, and such club, if
+connected with the Association, shall be expelled."
+
+In point of strictness, it will be noticed this Rule does not suffer by
+comparison with that of our own Amateur Rowing Association.[17] Indeed,
+in some respects it is both fuller and stricter. Practically the only
+difference is that whereas we disqualify as an amateur one who has been
+employed in manual labour for money or wages, or who is or has been by
+trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artizan, or labourer, or
+engaged in any menial duty, this exclusion finds no place in the
+American Amateur definition. The Laws of Boat-racing adopted by the
+Association are practically the same as our own.
+
+  [17] See Appendix.
+
+It may be interesting to contrast the organization and management of
+rowing at an American University with the systems that a long tradition
+has consecrated at Oxford and Cambridge. In our Universities, in the
+first place, each particular sport is entirely independent of all
+others. Each has its own club, its own funds, derived from the
+subscriptions of its members, and each manages its own affairs and
+arranges its own contests, except occasionally in the matter of
+convenience of date, without any reference whatever to the others. A don
+is usually treasurer of these clubs, but he has no special authority or
+control merely because he is a don. His experience and greater knowledge
+are placed at the disposal of undergraduates in matters of finance; that
+is all. Certain general University rules as to time of residence, etc.,
+have to be observed, but beyond this the dons assume absolutely no
+authority at all in the sports of the undergraduates. The undergraduates
+themselves, through undergraduate officers, elected by themselves, make
+all their own arrangements as to dates, matches, and everything else
+connected with their competitions; and a don would as soon think of
+flirting with a barmaid as of interfering with these matters in virtue
+of his donship. This point is really of capital importance. The
+responsibility of everything connected with the sports of the University
+thus falls upon the proper shoulders--those, namely, of the
+undergraduates who take part in them. The full glory of the victory is
+theirs, and a defeat they must feel is due to them alone. They cannot
+shift the blame to any don or committee of dons, and, as they must
+acknowledge themselves responsible, so the necessity of taking steps to
+restore the fortunes of their club is the more strongly brought home to
+them. The captain of a Boat Club is its absolute autocrat as regards
+work and discipline and the selection of his crew. The coach whom he
+asks to instruct them may possibly be old enough to be his father, but
+the coach, none the less, defers with an almost filial respect to the
+captain, through whom all executive orders are issued. In practice, of
+course, the wise captain is guided in most matters by his coach, but,
+should a serious difference arise between them, it is the coach who must
+give way to the authority of the captain. This uncontrolled management
+of their sports by the undergraduates is, it seems to me, no unimportant
+part of a University education; and a man may learn from it even more
+valuable lessons in conduct, self-control, and the treatment of his
+fellow-men, than from all the books, papers, and examinations of his
+University curriculum.
+
+At an American University a very different situation exists. I will take
+the case of Harvard, not merely because it is more familiar to me, but
+because it is typical in its general features, though not, of course, in
+all its details, of the position taken up by the authorities at most
+American Universities with regard to the sports of the undergraduates.
+From the earliest days of athletic exercises the Faculty, or Governing
+Body, of the University has kept a very tight control over them. It has
+issued rules and ordinances, allowing or forbidding certain
+competitions, deciding not only the number, but the date and place of
+matches in which it was allowable to take part, and regulating and
+controlling the conduct of those undergraduates who took part in
+athletics. This system, no doubt, originated at a time when the numbers
+at Harvard were comparatively small, and when the men entered College at
+an age considerably younger than is usual in England. But the numbers at
+Harvard have increased by leaps and bounds, and the age of
+undergraduates is now on an average the same as at Oxford and Cambridge.
+
+In recent years, indeed, a slight change has been found advisable. The
+control of all athletics, whether rowing, baseball, football, or track
+athletics, is vested in what is called an Athletic Committee, composed
+of three professors (_Anglic�_, dons), three graduates of the
+University, and three undergraduates. These nine, who are not selected
+on any representative system, promulgate laws, conduct negotiations,
+settle dates, and generally perform those details of business which in
+England are left entirely to the undergraduates. For instance, the
+negotiations for a resumption of athletic relations with Yale University
+were on the Harvard side managed by and through the Athletic Committee.
+Moreover, the Athletic Committee has in its hands the appointment of
+coaches for the crew, and for the football, baseball, and athletic
+teams. The captain of a crew or a team is, to be sure, elected by the
+undergraduates themselves, the established system being that the crew
+should, before disbanding itself, elect the captain for the ensuing
+year. But no election of this kind is valid until it has been confirmed
+by the Athletic Committee. From the above account, in which I have
+confined myself to facts, and have not attempted to criticize, it will
+be seen how profound are the differences between athletic organizations
+at English and American Universities.
+
+But there are further differences which have nothing to do with the
+system of control and management. An English University is composed of
+many colleges, each entirely independent, so far as the management of
+its affairs are concerned. An English University Boat Club is organized
+on the same principle. It is made up of representatives of all the
+College Boat Clubs, and combines these autonomous institutions for what
+may be termed Imperial purposes. College rowing at Oxford and Cambridge
+foments a keen and healthy rivalry, and to no small extent helps to keep
+up the standard of University rowing. In America, on the contrary, the
+University is one, and apparently indivisible. There are no colleges,
+and, therefore, there is no aggregation of College Boat Clubs such as we
+have at home. The want of this element is, no doubt, a serious
+disadvantage to an American University Boat Club. The only element of
+rivalry comes from the competition of the four different classes (_i.e._
+years, as we should call them--freshmen; second-year men, or
+"sophomores;" third-year men, or "juniors;" and fourth-year men, or
+"seniors") against one another in an eight-oared race in the spring.
+Beyond this there has been hitherto no internal competition between
+members of the University Boat Club. Compare this single race with the
+long series of contests in which an English University oarsman takes
+part. He may begin in October with the Fours, row in the University
+Trial Eights in December, and in the University crew in the following
+March. Then come the College eight-oared races in May or June, followed
+by Henley Regatta in July, to say nothing of pair-oar races, and
+sculling races, and College Club races, or of the various Thames
+regattas, in which he may take part during what remains of the summer.
+He thus gains invaluable lessons, both in watermanship and in racing
+experience, which are not open to his American cousin.
+
+For this absence of competitions in an American University Boat Club,
+the severe American winter, which closes the rivers from about the
+middle of December until early in March, is only partly responsible.
+During October and November the rivers are open; but up to the present
+very little advantage has been taken of these valuable months. At
+Harvard there has hitherto been no race or series of races for Fours or
+Pairs or Scullers, and freshmen, during their first term, have been
+exercised on a rowing machine, when they might, with infinitely greater
+profit, have gained instruction on the water.
+
+Early in January, when the undergraduates have returned from their short
+Christmas vacation, a "squad" for the University crew has generally been
+formed and sent to the "training-table," and the men composing it have
+been put into regular exercise, consisting of running varied by
+occasional skating, and of rowing practice every day in the tank. When
+the ice breaks up in March an Eight appears upon the water, and
+practises regularly from that time until towards the end of June, when
+its race against the rival University takes place. This long period of
+combined practice has many obvious drawbacks, which will at once strike
+an experienced oarsman. I believe better results might be obtained by
+allowing members of the University "squad" to take part in the Class
+races, and then, after a period of rest, selecting the University crew.
+
+[Illustration: COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON.]
+
+Notwithstanding, however, all these disadvantages, rowing at American
+Universities has reached a high standard--a result due to the
+extraordinary earnestness and enthusiasm of those who take part in it.
+The American University oarsman is in every respect as strong and as
+well-developed in physique as the average Englishman. All he lacks is
+the prolonged racing experience, which makes the Englishman so
+formidable and robust an opponent. There are men amongst the old oars of
+Harvard, Yale, and Cornell, who have made skilled rowing their special
+study, and whose knowledge of all points of the game is fully as great
+as that of our English oars. Yale, in particular, has, during the last
+ten years, been able to turn out some wonderfully fine and powerful
+crews; but the tendency amongst the American University oarsmen, during
+recent years, has been to sacrifice body-swing to the mere piston action
+of the legs on a very long slide. There is now, however, a reaction, due
+to the visits paid by Cornell and Yale to Henley in 1895 and 1896, and
+the long body-swing and general steadiness, which are marked features of
+English rowing, are now being very successfully cultivated in America.
+
+At the five chief rowing Universities--Harvard, Yale, Columbia,
+Pennsylvania, and Cornell--it is also customary to train a freshman crew
+every year, not merely for the local class races, but for competition
+against one another, the races taking place a few days before those in
+which the University crews compete. This year Yale defeated Harvard by
+something more than a length, Harvard being about three-quarters of a
+length ahead of Cornell. The race--a two-mile one--was very severe, and
+the crews, considering their material, showed, on the whole, better form
+than that displayed by the University crews. A week later the Cornell
+freshmen defeated those from Pennsylvania and Columbia over the same
+course. It is surprising to see what good results can be obtained from
+these freshmen crews. The men composing them have, for the most part,
+not rowed before coming to the University; they have had no graduated
+system of instruction on fixed seats. Up to March, all their rowing has
+been done on hydraulic machines in the gymnasium. They then launch a
+sliding-seat Eight and practise for the Class races at the beginning of
+May. After that they are carefully taken in hand, and trained for their
+race in June against the other Universities. It is from this freshman
+crew, and from the older hands, who may have been rowing in the Class
+races, that the 'Varsity crew of the following year will be recruited.
+
+The number of students at American Universities is thus stated in Mr.
+Caspar Whitney's book: Harvard, 3100; Yale, 2400; Pennsylvania, 2500;
+Columbia, 1600; Cornell, 1800; as against about 2400 at Oxford, and 2800
+at Cambridge.
+
+I ought to add that the use of swivel rowlocks is almost universal in
+America, and that all their Eights are built with the seats directly in
+a line in the centre of the boat. Boats of _papier mach�_ have had a
+great vogue, their builder being Waters of Troy; but there is now a
+reaction in favour of cedar boats, as being stiffer and more durable.
+The Harvard and Yale boats this year were built by Davy of Cambridge
+(Mass.), and were beautiful specimens of the art. American boats,
+however, cost at least twice as much as English boats. T. Donoghue, of
+Newburgh, N.Y., makes most of the oars that are used in first-class
+racing. They are lighter by a full pound than our English oars, and are
+every bit as stiff. It is a real pleasure to row with them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+TRAINING OF OARSMEN.
+
+
+It would not be right, I think, to send forth a new book on rowing
+without referring to the controversy that has recently been carried on
+in the columns of the _St. James's Gazette_ under the general title of
+"Are Athletes Healthy?" The discussion, which concerned itself mainly
+with oarsmen, is naturally of very deep interest, not only to them, but
+to the fathers and mothers who are anxious about the welfare of their
+energetic sons, and who, if the charges alleged against rowing can be
+proved, will, of course, do their best to dissuade their offspring from
+indulging in this pernicious exercise. I should have preferred to
+discuss the matter in the earlier chapters of this book, but the
+printing was already so far advanced as to render this course out of
+the question, and I am therefore compelled to deal with it somewhat out
+of its place in this final chapter.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 1.]
+
+It would be idle to deny that there was some reason for beginning this
+discussion. Within the past two years three magnificent young oarsmen,
+Mr. H. B. Cotton, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, and Mr. E. R. Balfour, have
+died; the first after an illness of six months' duration, the other two
+after being ill for less than a fortnight. They were all Oxford men, had
+rowed in victorious races both at Putney and at Henley, and two of
+them--Mr. Cotton and Mr. Balfour--had been actually rowing and racing
+till within a short time of the attack that proved fatal to them. Mr.
+Stretch had not raced, except in scratch Eights at Putney, since the
+Henley Regatta of 1896, some ten months before he died.
+
+It has been asserted that these three untimely deaths were due directly
+to the severe strain undergone both in preparation for racing and in the
+actual races in which these oarsmen took part, and that had they been
+content with unathletic lives they might have lived on for many years.
+Can that be proved? I admit that I do not wish to think the allegation
+capable of proof, for these three were my familiar friends. I had
+coached and trained them all; with two of them I had rowed in several
+races; I had spent innumerable happy days in their society, and the
+sorrow I feel in having lost them would be terribly increased if I were
+forced to believe that our favourite sport had had any part in hastening
+their end. In these cases I will confine myself to stating facts within
+my own knowledge, and will leave those who read my statement to say
+whether on a fair view of the matter the exercise of rowing can be held
+blameworthy.
+
+I may begin by saying that it is the invariable rule at Oxford to send
+all men who may be required for the University Eight to undergo a
+preliminary medical examination. This examination is no perfunctory one.
+It is conducted by Mr. H. P. Symonds, a gentleman of very wide
+experience, especially amongst undergraduates, and I have known several
+instances in which, owing to his report, an oarsman has had to withdraw
+temporarily from the river, and has lost his chance of wearing the
+coveted blue. There has never been any question about yielding to Mr.
+Symonds's judgment. His verdict, if adverse, has always been accepted
+as final both by the oarsman concerned and by the president of the Boat
+Club. In all the three cases with which I am dealing, Mr. Symonds passed
+his men as perfectly sound in heart and lungs and in every other organ.
+
+I take the case of Mr. Stretch first, in order to eliminate it
+conclusively. The cause of his death was appendicitis, followed by
+severe blood-poisoning. It is quite impossible to connect this painful
+and malignant illness with rowing or with any other exercise. The
+_appendix vermiformis_, which is the seat of the disease, is an
+unaccountable relic in the internal organization of human beings; it is
+liable to be affected mysteriously and suddenly in the young and the
+old, and the only effective remedy, I believe, is by means of an
+operation which removes it altogether. Mr. Stretch had, as I said, not
+trained and raced for ten months, and up to the moment of his illness
+had been in the enjoyment of robust and almost exceptional health.
+
+Mr. Cotton, whose case I now proceed to consider, was an Eton boy, and
+had rowed a great deal during his school days, though he had not been
+included in the Eton crew at Henley. He was a man of small stature,
+beautifully built and proportioned, well-framed, muscular, strong, and
+active. On coming to Oxford he continued his rowing, and being a good
+waterman and a man of remarkable endurance and courage, he was in his
+second year placed at bow of the University crew. Altogether he rowed in
+four victorious Oxford crews, he won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley
+twice as bow of a Leander crew, he won the Stewards' Cup in a Magdalen
+College Four, rowed Head of the River three times, besides taking part
+in many other races more or less important. During his whole rowing
+career I knew him to be unwell only once, and that was in 1893, when he
+suffered from a sore throat at Putney. In 1895 he rowed bow of the
+Oxford Eight for the fourth time. The training of this crew was a very
+anxious one. Influenza was very prevalent, and one after another the
+Oxford men were affected by this illness. There were only two
+exceptions, and one of these was Mr. Cotton, who was never sick or sorry
+for a single day during the whole period of practice. Shortly after the
+race he came to stay with me. He was then perfectly strong, perfectly
+healthy, and in wonderfully good spirits, and showed not the least sign
+of being stale or exhausted. He told me himself, on my congratulating
+him on having escaped the influenza, that he had never felt better or
+stronger in his life than he did at that time. On the Easter Monday he
+bicycled from Bourne End to Oxford and back (a distance of nearly
+seventy miles as he rode it), and, as he had had to battle against a
+strong cold wind on the return journey, he was very tired on his
+arrival. On the following morning, however, he appeared perfectly well.
+Towards the end of that week he complained of feeling "very
+lackadaisical and having a bad headache," but he attached no importance
+to these symptoms, and soon after went back to Oxford with a view to
+rowing in the Magdalen Eight. The tired feeling and the headache,
+however, continued, and eventually got so bad that he had to take to his
+bed with a high temperature and all the other symptoms of violent
+influenza. This illness, neglected at the outset, almost immediately
+settled on his lungs, both of which were congested with pneumonia.
+Owing, as Mr. Symonds himself told me, to his good general condition and
+his great strength, he fought through this, but in the mean time signs
+of consumption had declared themselves, and of this he died at Davos
+Platz in the following October.
+
+With regard to Mr. Balfour, the facts are these: He was a man of
+Herculean build and strength. He played in the Oxford Rugby Union
+Football team for two years, 1894 and 1895. In 1896 and in this year he
+rowed in the University Eight, and last July he rowed at Henley in the
+Leander Eight, and won the pair-oared race with Mr. Guy Nickalls. I can
+answer for it that during all his races he was absolutely fit and well.
+I saw him daily at Henley, and, though I knew him to be strong and
+healthy, I was surprised not merely by his improvement in style, but by
+the great vigour he displayed in rowing. On the morning after the
+Regatta I saw him for the last time. He was then in splendid health and
+spirits. On the 12th of August he shot grouse; on the following day, in
+very cold wet weather, he went out fishing, and came home wet through,
+complaining of a chill. On the following day he took to his bed in a
+high fever, with both lungs congested. The illness next attacked his
+kidneys, and soon after his life was despaired of. However, he rallied
+in an extraordinary way until symptoms of blood-poisoning declared
+themselves, when he rapidly sank, and died on August 27th. Now, this
+illness was due either to an ordinary chill or to influenza, or, as I
+have since heard, primarily to blood-poisoning, caused by leaky and
+poisonous drains at a place where he had been staying before his
+shooting excursion. A subsequent examination of these drains revealed a
+very bad condition of affairs immediately underneath the room that Mr.
+Balfour had occupied. In any case it does not appear--and the strong
+testimony of the doctors who attended him confirms me in this--that Mr.
+Balfour's death was due to his rowing. But an objector may say, "It is
+true that neither in Mr. Cotton's nor in Mr. Balfour's case can death be
+_directly_ attributed to rowing; their exertions, however, so exhausted
+their strength, the soundness of their organs, and their powers of
+resistance to disease, that when they were attacked they became easy
+victims." To this I oppose (1) the report of Mr. H. P. Symonds, who
+examined both these oarsmen before they rowed in their University
+Eights; (2) my own observation of their health, condition, and spirits
+during practice, in their races, and afterwards when the races were
+over; and (3) the reports of the doctors who attended them during their
+last illnesses, and who declared (I speak at second hand with regard to
+Mr. Balfour, at first hand with regard to Mr. Cotton) that they were
+both, when struck down, in a surprising state of strength, due to the
+exercise in which they had taken part, and that in both cases their
+powers of resistance were far greater than are usually found. Do I go
+too far in asserting that any doctor in large practice could find in his
+own experience for each of these two cases at least twenty cases in
+which non-rowing and non-athletic men have been suddenly carried off by
+the same sort of illness? I am not concerned to prove that rowing
+confers an immunity from fatal illness: my point is that in the two
+cases I have considered, and in all cases where it is pursued under
+proper conditions of training and medical advice, rowing does not in any
+way promote a condition favourable to disease.
+
+I pass from these particular cases, the discussion of which has been
+painful to me, to the general question of health amongst the great mass
+of those who have been, or are, active rowing men. It may be remembered
+that some twenty-five years ago Dr. J. H. Morgan, of Oxford, moved to
+his task by a controversy similar to that which has recently taken
+place, instituted a very careful inquiry into the health of those who
+had taken part in the University Boat-race from 1829 to 1869. Their
+number amounted, if I remember rightly, to 294, of whom 255 were alive
+at the date of the inquiry. Of these 115 were benefited by rowing, 162
+were uninjured, and only in 17 cases was any injury stated to have
+resulted. And it must be remembered that this inquiry covered a period
+during which far less care, as a general rule, was exercised both as to
+the selection and the training of men than is the case at the present
+day. I may add my own experience. Since I began to row, in 1874, I have
+rowed and raced with or against hundreds of men in college races and at
+regattas, and I have watched closely the rowing of very many others in
+University and in Henley crews. I have kept in touch with rowing men,
+both my contemporaries and my successors, and amongst them all I could
+not point to one (putting aside for the moment the three special cases I
+have just discussed) who has been injured by the exercise, or would
+state himself to have been injured. On the contrary, I can point to
+scores and scores of men who have been strengthened in limb and
+health--I say nothing here of any moral effect--by their early races
+and the training they had to undergo for them. I could at this moment
+pick a crew composed of men all more than thirty years old who are
+still, or have been till quite recently, in active rowing, and, though
+some of them are married men, I would back them to render a good account
+of themselves in Eight or Four or Pair against any selection of men that
+could be made. Nay more, in any other contests of strength or endurance
+I believe they would more than hold their own against younger athletes,
+and would overwhelm any similar number of non-athletes of the same or
+any other age. As contests I should select a hard day's shooting over
+dogs, cross-country riding, tug-of-war, boxing, long-distance rowing,
+or, in fact, any contest in which the special element of racing in light
+ships has no part. For such contests I could pick, not eight, but eighty
+men well over thirty years old, and if the limit were extended to
+twenty-four years of age I could secure an army. Is there any one who
+doubts that my rowing men would knock the non-athletes into a cocked
+hat? For it must be remembered that the bulk of rowing men are not
+exclusively devoted to oarsmanship. A very large proportion of those
+that I have known have been good all-round sportsmen.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 2.]
+
+As to the general effect of rowing on strength and health I may perhaps
+be pardoned if I cite my own case, not because there is anything
+specially remarkable in it, but because it bears on some of the
+questions that have been raised, and I can speak about it with
+certainty. In early childhood I had a serious illness which considerably
+retarded my physical development. At school, however, I took my part in
+all sports, played three years in the Cricket XI. and in the Football
+XV., and won several prizes at the athletic sports. I went to Cambridge
+in 1874, when I was three months short of nineteen, and immediately took
+to rowing. I was certainly not a particularly strong boy then, though I
+had a fair share of activity. I rowed persistently in Eights, Fours and
+Pairs, at first with labour and distress, but gradually, as time went
+on, with ease and pleasure, and I found that the oftener I rowed the
+greater became my powers of endurance. I ought to add that I never rowed
+in the University Race, but I have borne my share in thirty-six bumping
+races, as well as in numerous other races ranging in distance from
+three-quarters of a mile to three miles. I believe that the six
+consecutive races of a May Term call for endurance at least as great as
+the single race from Putney to Mortlake. My actual muscular strength,
+too, increased very largely, and has ever since maintained itself
+unimpaired. I have found that this exercise has, in fact, strengthened
+and consolidated me all round; and I can think of no other exercise that
+could have had upon me the same salutary effect that I am justified in
+attributing mainly to rowing--an effect which has enabled me to endure
+great exertion, sometimes in extremes of heat or of cold, without the
+smallest ill result, and has brought me to middle age with sound organs,
+a strong constitution, active limbs, and a good digestion. There are
+hundreds of other men who could, I doubt not, give a similar account of
+themselves.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 3.]
+
+Out of this main discussion on the health of athletes there sprang a
+subsidiary one, which proved of even greater interest to rowing men. It
+was started by Mr. Sandow, the eminent weight-lifter and modern
+representative of Hercules. Mr. Sandow, stimulated by a disinterested
+love for his fellow-men in general, and for those of Cambridge
+University in particular, wrote an article in the _St. James's
+Gazette_ in which he put forward his own peculiar views on the proper
+system for the training of athletes. He ended by declaring that if he
+were allowed to train a Cambridge crew according to his system (it being
+understood that rowing instruction was at the same time to be imparted
+to them by a properly qualified teacher), he would guarantee to turn out
+a crew the like of which had never before sat in a boat. We were to
+infer, though this was at first sight not obvious, that this crew would
+easily defeat an Oxford crew trained on a system which Mr. Sandow
+evidently considered to be absurd and obsolete.
+
+According to Mr. Sandow's system, as he subsequently developed it, the
+members of this crew were to have complete license in all things. They
+were to eat what they liked, drink what they liked, smoke as much as
+they liked, and, in fact, make their own good pleasure the supreme law
+of their existence. All that Mr. Sandow stipulated was that for some two
+hours a day during a period of several months these men were to put
+themselves in Mr. Sandow's hands for the purpose of muscular development
+all round according to the methods usually employed by him. Any spare
+energy that might then remain to them might be devoted to the work of
+rowing in the boat.
+
+Now, in the first place, there are certain elementary difficulties which
+would go far to prevent the adoption of this experiment. The crew is not
+selected several months before the race; and even if it were, it would
+be practically impossible for the men composing it to spare the time
+required by Mr. Sandow. After all, even the most brilliant of us have to
+get through a certain amount of work for our degrees. There are lectures
+to be attended, there is private reading, not to speak of the time which
+has to be devoted to the ordinary social amenities of life at a
+University. Sport has its proper place in the life of an undergraduate;
+but it does not, and cannot, absorb the whole of that life. Yet if a man
+is to spend two hours with Mr. Sandow, and about two hours and a half (I
+calculate from the moment he leaves his rooms until he returns from the
+river) on the exercise of rowing, it is not easy to see how he will have
+sufficient vigour left to him to tackle the work required even for the
+easiest of pass examinations. I can foresee that not only the man
+himself, but his tutors and his parents might offer some rather serious
+objections.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 4.]
+
+But I am not going to content myself with pointing out these preliminary
+difficulties. I go further, and say that the whole proposal is based
+upon a fallacy. The method of training and development that may fit a
+man admirably for the purpose of weight-lifting, or of excelling his
+fellow-creatures in the measurement of his chest and his muscles, is
+utterly unsuited for a contest that requires great quickness of
+movement, highly developed lung-power, and general endurance spread over
+a period of some twenty minutes. It does not follow that because a man
+measures forty-two inches round the chest, and has all his muscles
+developed in proportion, he will therefore be better fitted for the
+propulsion of a racing-boat than a man who in all points of development
+is his inferior. If I produced Mr. C. W. Kent _incognito_ before Mr.
+Sandow and asked whether it would be feasible to include this gentleman
+in an eight-oared crew, Mr. Sandow would probably laugh me to scorn. Mr.
+Sandow could doubtless hold out Mr. Kent at arm's length with the
+greatest possible ease. I am perfectly certain that Mr. Kent--if he will
+pardon me for thus making free with his name--could do nothing of the
+kind to Mr. Sandow. Yet I am perfectly certain, too, that, in a severely
+contested race, Mr. Kent--admittedly one of the finest strokes that ever
+rowed--would, to put it mildly, be more useful than Mr. Sandow. All
+gymnasium work, and even the modified form of it patented by Mr. Sandow,
+must tend to make men muscle-bound, and therefore slow. Skilled rowing
+consists of a series of movements which have to be gone through with a
+peculiar quickness, precision, and neatness. To be able to go through
+Mr. Sandow's eight weight exercises, to lift weights, to carry horses on
+your chest, may indicate great muscular strength, but it has absolutely
+nothing to do with being able to row. If a rowing man requires some
+exercise subsidiary to rowing, he would, in my opinion, be far better
+advised if he devoted some of his spare time to boxing and to fencing,
+exercises which necessitate immense quickness and perfect combination
+between brain, hand, and eye, than if he were to spend time in building
+up his body with such exercises as are included in the Sandow
+curriculum. But, in the main, rowing must develop for itself the muscles
+it requires. It is an exercise which, when all is said and done, can
+only be learnt effectively in a boat on the water. It is thus, and thus
+only, that a man can acquire the necessary movements, and perfect
+himself in that sense of balance and of rhythm which is as necessary to
+a rowing man as muscular strength. My experience leads me to the
+conclusion that men who, though naturally well-framed and proportioned,
+are not afflicted with excessive muscle, are more likely to be useful in
+rowing than the pet of a gymnasium or the muscle-bound prodigies made in
+the image of Mr. Sandow. I may cite as examples such men as Mr. R. P. P.
+Rowe, Mr. R. O. Kerrison, Mr. W. Burton Stewart, Mr. W. E. Crum, Mr. J.
+A. Ford, and Mr. C. W. Kent.[18] All these men acquired their
+unquestionable excellence as oarsmen by the only possible method--that
+is, by long practice of rowing in boats. Even an exercise so nearly
+resembling actual rowing as the tank work practised in the winter by
+American crews has very serious disadvantages. It might be supposed that
+it would exercise and keep in trim the muscles required for actual
+rowing; but its effect is to make men slow and heavy, faults which they
+have to correct when they once more take to the river.
+
+  [18] The photographs reproduced in this chapter are those of active
+  rowing men. No. 4, whose muscular development is the slightest, is one
+  of the most brilliant oarsmen of the day. See also photographs of Mr.
+  Kent and Mr. Gold in Chapter V.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 5.]
+
+With regard to Mr. Sandow's revolutionary proposals about diet, smoking,
+and hours, I have only this to say. We rowing men have shown time after
+time that by adhering to what I do not hesitate to call our common-sense
+system of rules tempered with indulgences we can bring our men to the
+post in the most perfect health and condition, absolutely fit, so far as
+their wind and powers of endurance are concerned, to take part in the
+severest contests. What has Mr. Sandow shown that should avail, with
+these results before our eyes, to make us exchange our disciplined
+liberty for his unfettered license? In the mean time we shall very
+properly hesitate to take the leap in the dark that he suggests.
+
+I trust that the President of the C.U.B.C. will, in future, conduct the
+practice of his crew according to the methods that have proved their
+efficacy over and over again, and that he will not listen to the voice
+of Mr. Sandow, charm he never so unwisely. _Non tali auxilio_ are
+boat-races to be won.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA.
+
+_Secretary_: J. F. COOPER.
+
+QUALIFICATION RULES.
+
+
+THE GRAND CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any University or public school,
+or who are officers of Her Majesty's army or navy, or any amateur club
+established at least one year previous to the day of entry, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize.
+
+
+THE STEWARDS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Grand Challenge Cup.
+
+
+THE LADIES' CHALLENGE PLATE, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any of the boat clubs of
+colleges, or non-collegiate boat clubs of the Universities, or boat
+clubs of any of the public schools, in the United Kingdom only, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize; but no member of any college or
+non-collegiate crew shall be allowed to row for it who has exceeded four
+years from the date of his first commencing residence at the
+University; and each member of a public school crew shall, at the time
+of entering, be _bon� fide_ a member "_in statu pupillari_" of such
+school.
+
+
+THE VISITORS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Ladies' Challenge Plate.
+
+
+THE THAMES CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Grand
+Challenge Cup; but no one (coxswains excepted) may enter for this cup
+who has ever rowed in a winning crew for the Grand Challenge Cup or
+Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes as per Rule II
+excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cup and for the
+Grand Challenge Cup, or Stewards' Challenge Cup, at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Stewards'
+Challenge Cup; but no one shall enter for this cup who has ever rowed in
+a winning crew for the Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes
+as per Rule II excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cap
+and for the Stewards' Challenge Cup at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE SILVER GOBLETS, FOR PAIR OARS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+THE DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS, FOR SCULLS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+_Revised December 1st, 1894._
+
+
+_Definition._
+
+I.--No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler or
+coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or
+    entrance-fee.[19]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+    professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+    athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+    labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages, a mechanic,
+    artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [19] This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any otherwise
+  duly qualified amateur who previously to June 23, 1894, has rowed or
+  steered for a stake, money, or entrance-fee, in a race confined to
+  members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+
+_Eligibility._
+
+II.--No one shall be eligible to row or steer for a club unless he has
+been a member of that club for at least two months preceding the
+regatta, but this Rule shall not apply to colleges, schools, or crews
+composed of officers of Her Majesty's army or navy.
+
+
+_Entries._
+
+III.--The entry of any amateur club, crew, or sculler, in the United
+Kingdom, must be made ten clear days before the regatta, and the names
+of the captain or secretary of each club or crew must accompany the
+entry. A copy of the list of entries shall be forwarded by the secretary
+of the regatta to the captain or secretary of each club or crew duly
+entered.
+
+IV.--The entry of any crew or sculler, out of the United Kingdom, other
+than a crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the Union des
+Soci�t�s Fran�aises de Sports Athl�tiques, or of the Deutscher Ruder
+Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must be
+made on or before the 31st of March, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration made before a notary public, with regard to
+the profession of each person so entering, to the effect that he has
+never rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee;
+has never knowingly rowed or steered with or against a professional for
+any prize; has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+athletic exercises of any kind for profit; has never been employed in or
+about boats, or in manual labour for money or wages; is not, and never
+has been, by trade or employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or
+labourer, or engaged in any menial duty; and is not disqualified as an
+amateur in any other branch of sport; and in cases of the entry of a
+crew, that such crew represents a club which has been duly established
+at least one year previous to the day of entry: and such declaration
+must be certified by the British Consul or the mayor, or the chief
+authority of the locality.
+
+The entry of any crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the
+Union des Soci�t�s Fran�aises de Sports Athl�tiques, or of the Deutscher
+Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must
+be made on or before the 1st of June, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration in writing by the secretary of such Union,
+or Verband, or by the Council of the club from time to time appointed by
+the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, with regard to the
+profession of each person so entering, to the effect that he has never
+since the institution of the Union des Soci�t�s Fran�aises de Sports
+Athl�tiques, or the Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden
+Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, as the case may be, either rowed or
+steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee; or knowingly
+rowed or steered with or against a professional for any prize; has never
+taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises of
+any kind for profit; has never been employed in or about boats, or in
+manual labour for money or wages; is not, and never has been by trade or
+employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged in
+any menial duty; and is not disqualified as an amateur in any other
+branch of sport; and in cases of the entry of a crew, that each member
+thereof is and has been for two months a member of such club, and that
+such club has been duly established at least one year previous to the
+day of entry.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary unless accompanied
+by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--Entrance money for each boat shall be paid to the secretary at
+the time of entering, as follows:--
+
+                                          �   _s._  _d._
+  For the Grand Challenge Cup             6   6   0
+     "    Ladies' Challenge Plate         5   5   0
+     "    Thames Challenge Cup            5   5   0
+     "    Stewards'    "                  4   4   0
+     "    Visitors'    "                  3   3   0
+     "    Wyfold       "                  3   3   0
+     "    Silver Goblets                  2   2   0
+     "    Diamond Challenge Sculls        1   1   0
+
+IX.--The Committee shall investigate any questionable entry,
+irrespective of protest.
+
+X.--The Committee shall have power to refuse or return any entry up to
+the time of starting, without being bound to assign a reason.
+
+XI.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered shall, seven
+clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of the regatta a
+list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to compete, to
+which list the names of not more than four other members for an
+eight-oar and two for a four-oar may be added as substitutes.
+
+XII.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XIII.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the
+crews entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a
+copy of the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or
+secretary of each club or crew entered, and in the case of pairs or
+scullers to each competitor entered.
+
+
+_Objections._
+
+XIV.--Objections to the entry of any club or crew must be made in
+writing to the secretary at least four clear days before the regatta,
+when the committee shall investigate the grounds of objection, and
+decide thereon without delay.
+
+XV.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary at the earliest moment practicable. No protest
+shall be entertained unless lodged before the prizes are distributed.
+
+
+_Course._
+
+XVI.--The races shall commence below the Island, and terminate at the
+upper end of Phyllis Court. Length of course, about 1 mile and 550
+yards.
+
+XVII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+
+_Stations._
+
+XVIII.--Stations shall be drawn by the Committee.
+
+
+_Row over._
+
+XIX.--In the event of there being but one boat, entered for any prize,
+or if more than one enter, and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+
+_Heats._
+
+XX.--If there shall be more than two competitors, they shall row a trial
+heat or heats; but no more than two boats shall contend in any heat for
+any of the prizes above mentioned.
+
+XXI.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, the same crews shall
+contend again, after such interval as the Committee may appoint, or the
+crew refusing shall be adjudged to have lost the heat.
+
+
+_Clothing._
+
+XXII.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders
+to the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+
+_Coxswains._
+
+XXIII.--Every eight-oared boat shall carry a coxswain; such coxswain
+must be an amateur, and shall not steer for more than one club for the
+same prize.
+
+    The minimum weight for coxswains shall be 7 stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 10-1/2 stone and under 11 stone to carry not less
+      than 7-1/2 stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 11 stone or more, to carry not less than 8 stone.
+
+    Deficiencies must be made up by dead weight carried on the
+      coxswain's thwart.
+
+    The dead weight shall be provided by the Committee, and shall be
+      placed in the boat and removed from it by a person appointed for
+      that purpose.
+
+    Each competitor (including the coxswain) in eight and four-oared
+      races shall attend to be weighed (in rowing costume) at the time
+      and place appointed by the Committee: and his weight then
+      registered by the secretary shall be considered his racing weight
+      during the regatta.
+
+    Any member of a crew omitting to register his weight shall be
+      disqualified.
+
+
+_Flag._
+
+XXIV.--Every boat shall, at starting, carry a flag showing its colour at
+the bow. Boats not conforming to this Rule are liable to be disqualified
+at the discretion of the umpire.
+
+
+_Umpire._
+
+XXV.--The Committee shall appoint one or more umpires to act under the
+laws of boat-racing.
+
+
+_Judge._
+
+XXVI.--The Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose decision as
+to the order in which the boats pass the post shall be final.
+
+
+_Prizes._
+
+XXVII.--The prizes shall be delivered at the conclusion of the regatta
+to the respective winners, who on receipt of a challenge prize shall
+subscribe a document of the following effect:--
+
+"I/We A (B C D, etc.) (members of the club), having been this day
+declared to be the winners of the Henley Royal Regatta Challenge Cup (or
+diamond sculls), and the same having been delivered to us on behalf of
+the stewards of the said regatta, do (jointly and severally) agree to
+return in good order and condition as now received the said cup (or
+diamond sculls), to the stewards on or before June 1st next, and I/we do
+also (jointly and severally) agree that if the said cup (or sculls) be
+accidentally lost or destroyed, or in any way permanently defaced, I/we
+will on or before the date aforesaid, or as near thereto as may be
+conveniently possible, place in the hands of the said stewards a cup (or
+diamond sculls) of similar design and value, and engraved with the names
+of the previous winners (their officers) (and crews) as now engraved on
+the present cup and base./case. In witness of which agreement I/we have
+hereunto subscribed my/our (respective) name./names."
+
+_Committee._
+
+XXVIII.--All questions of eligibility, qualification, interpretation of
+the Rules, or other matters not specially provided for, shall be
+referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
+
+XXIX.--The laws of boat-racing to be observed at the regatta are as
+follows:--
+
+                    (_The same as the A.R.A. Laws._)
+
+
+
+
+THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.
+
+_Hon. Sec._: R. C. LEHMANN, 30, Bury Street, St. James's, S.W.
+
+_Revised, April 23rd, 1894._
+
+
+CONSTITUTION.
+
+I.--This Association shall be called "The Amateur Rowing Association,"
+and its objects shall be--
+
+    1. To maintain the standard of amateur oarsmanship as recognized by
+      the Universities and principal boat clubs of the United Kingdom;
+
+    2. To promote the interests of boat-racing generally.
+
+II.--The Association shall consist of clubs which adopt the following
+definition of an amateur, viz.:
+
+No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler, or coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money or
+      entrance-fee.[20]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+      professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+      athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+      labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic,
+      artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [20] N.B.--This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any
+  otherwise duly qualified amateur who previously to April 23rd, 1894, has
+  rowed or steered for a stake, money or entrance-fee, in a race confined
+  to members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+III.--Any amateur club willing to bind itself to observe the rules of
+the Association may become affiliated upon making application to the
+Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A., and being elected by a majority of two-thirds
+of the meeting of the Committee.
+
+Every affiliated club shall have at least one vote at General Meetings.
+Any club having more than two hundred full members shall have in
+addition one vote for every hundred or part of a hundred members in
+excess of two hundred; but no club shall have more than six votes.
+
+Every affiliated club shall, when required, send to the Hon. Sec. of the
+A.R.A. a list of its members and a copy of its last balance-sheet.
+
+The Committee shall not consider an application for affiliation from any
+club previously refused, until after the expiration of twelve calendar
+months from the date of such refusal.
+
+IV.--Each club shall pay to the expenses of the Association an annual
+subscription to be fixed by the Committee; such subscription not to
+exceed one guinea.
+
+V.--The government and management of the Association shall be vested in
+a Committee of twenty-five members, who shall meet once at least in
+every six months, or as often as may be required. At the first meeting
+of the Committee in each year a chairman shall be elected, who shall
+remain in office until the next General Meeting. At all meetings of the
+committee the chairman shall preside, and in his absence a chairman
+shall be elected for the occasion; seven members shall form a quorum,
+and the chairman shall have a casting vote.
+
+VI.--For the purpose of electing the members of the Committee a General
+Meeting of the representatives of the affiliated clubs shall be held
+once a year at a date to be fixed by the Committee. Ten days' notice of
+this meeting shall be given.
+
+Each club shall notify to the Secretary in writing, not less than three
+days prior to the Annual General Meeting, the names of its authorized
+representatives, the number of whom must not exceed the number of votes
+to which such club is entitled; but should a club nominate one
+representative only such representative can record the number of votes
+to which his club is entitled.
+
+VII.--Five members of the Committee shall be elected at each Annual
+General Meeting, and shall remain in office for three years. The
+Committees of the Cambridge University Boat Club, the Royal Chester
+Rowing Club, the Kingston Rowing Club, the Leander Club, the London
+Rowing Club, the Molesey Boat Club, the Oxford University Boat Club, the
+Thames Rowing Club, and the Twickenham Rowing Cub shall each nominate
+annually a member of the Committee, and such nomination shall be sent to
+the Secretary prior to the General Meeting. The Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A.
+shall be an _ex officio_ member of the Committee of the A.R.A. In the
+year 1894, in order to complete the number of twenty-five, the fifteen
+members of the Committee elected and nominated as hereinbefore provided
+shall meet and co-opt the remaining ten members, and the business of
+that meeting shall be confined to this object alone. Five members of the
+Committee shall retire annually by rotation, but shall be eligible for
+re-election. Five of the co-opted members shall retire in 1895, the
+remaining five in 1896. The Committee shall have power to fill up any
+vacancy that may occur during the year amongst the elected members, but
+any vacancy amongst the nominated members shall be filled up by the club
+affected.
+
+VIII.--The Committee shall have power to affiliate clubs to the
+Association, to appoint officers, to make or alter rules, to suspend,
+disqualify, and reinstate amateurs, and generally to determine and
+settle all questions and disputes relating to boat-racing which may be
+referred to them for decision. And further, the Committee shall take
+such other steps as they may consider necessary or expedient for
+carrying into effect the objects of the Association.
+
+IX.--The Committee shall have power on due cause being shown to suspend
+any affiliated club or to remove it from the list of affiliated clubs.
+
+No motion for the suspension or removal of a club shall be considered
+except at a Committee Meeting specially called at not less than seven
+days' notice for the purpose. Such a motion shall not be deemed carried
+except by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee present.
+
+A resolution for the removal of a club must be confirmed at a subsequent
+meeting of the Committee specially summoned at not less than seven days'
+notice for the purpose.
+
+X.--The hon. sec. shall be elected by the Committee; he shall keep a
+proper record of the proceedings of the Committee and of General
+Meetings, and shall be responsible for the books, accounts, and funds of
+the Association.
+
+XI.--No member of any club affiliated to the Association shall compete
+in any regatta in England which is not held in accordance with the rules
+of the Association.
+
+XII.--No addition to or alteration in these rules shall be made except
+by the vote of a majority of two-thirds of a meeting of the Committee
+specially summoned at not less than seven days' notice for the purpose.
+Such notice shall state the alteration or addition proposed.
+
+
+LIST OF AFFILIATED CLUBS.
+
+N.B.--The figures denote the number of votes to which each of the clubs
+is entitled.
+
+  (1) Albion Rowing Club.
+  (1) Anglian Boat Club.
+  (1) Ariel Rowing Club.
+  (1) Avon Rowing Club.
+  (1) Barry Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bedford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bewdley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Birmingham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bradford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bridgnorth Rowing Club.
+  (1) Broxbourne Rowing Club.
+  (1) Burton Rowing Club.
+  (6) Cambridge University Boat Club.
+  (1) Cardiff Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cecilian Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cooper's Hill Boat Club.
+  (1) Gloucester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Henley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Irex Rowing Club.
+  (1) Iris Rowing Club.
+  (1) Ironbridge Rowing Club.
+  (1) Kensington Rowing Club.
+  (2) Kingston Rowing Club.
+  (6) Leander Club.
+  (1) Leicester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Liverpool Rowing Club.
+  (6) London Rowing Club.
+  (1) Marlow Rowing Club.
+  (1) Medway Rowing Club.
+  (1) Mersey Rowing Club.
+  (1) Molesey Boat Club.
+  (1) North London Boat Club.
+  (1) Nottingham Rowing Club.
+  (6) Oxford University Boat Club.
+  (1) Pembroke Rowing Club.
+  (2) Pengwern Boat Club.
+  (1) Reading Rowing Club.
+  (1) Redcliffe Rowing Club.
+  (2) Royal Chester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Royal Savoy Club.
+  (1) Staines Boat Club.
+  (1) Stourport Boat Club.
+  (5) Thames Rowing Club.
+  (1) Twickenham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Vesta Rowing Club.
+  (1) Warwick Boat Club.
+  (1) Worcester Rowing Club.
+
+
+RULES FOR REGATTAS.
+
+I.--The laws of boat-racing adopted by the Association shall be
+observed, and the Association's definition of an amateur shall govern
+the qualifications of each competitor.
+
+II.--The Regatta Committee shall state on their programmes, and all
+other official notices and advertisements, that their regatta is held in
+accordance with the rules of the A.R.A.
+
+III.--No money or "value prize" (_i.e._ a cheque on a tradesman) shall
+be offered for competition, nor shall a prize and money be offered as
+alternatives.
+
+IV.--Entries shall close at least three clear days before the date of
+the regatta.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary of the regatta
+unless accompanied by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--The Regatta Committee shall investigate any questionable entry
+irrespective of protest, and shall have power to refuse or return any
+entry up to the time of starting, without being bound to assign a
+reason.
+
+IX.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered, shall, at
+least three clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of
+the regatta a list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to
+compete, to which list the names of not more than four other members for
+an eight-oar, and two for a four-oar, may be added as substitutes.
+
+X.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XI.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the crews
+entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a copy of
+the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or secretary
+of each club or crew entered, and, in the case of pairs or scullers, to
+each competitor entered.
+
+XII.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary of the regatta at the earliest moment
+practicable. No protest shall be entertained unless lodged before the
+prizes are distributed.
+
+XIII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+XIV.--In the event of there being but one boat entered for any prize, or
+if more than one enter and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+XV.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, any competitor refusing
+to row again, as may be directed by the Regatta Committee, shall be
+adjudged to have lost.
+
+XVI.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders to
+the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+XVII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more umpires.
+
+XVIII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose
+decision as to the order in which the boats pass the posts shall be
+final.
+
+XIX.--A maiden oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta; (B) who has never been a competitor in any
+International or Inter-University Rowing Match.
+
+A maiden sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta; (B) who has never competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or
+for the Amateur Championship of any country.
+
+XX.--A junior oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta other than a school race; a race in which the
+construction of the boats was restricted; or a race limited to members
+of one club; (B) who has never been a competitor in any International or
+Inter-University match. No oarsman who has won a race at a regatta in
+which the construction of the boats was restricted, shall compete as a
+junior in any such race after the end of the current year.
+
+A junior sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta other than a race in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted; or a race limited to members of one club; (B) who has never
+competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or for the Amateur
+Championship of any country.
+
+N.B.--The qualification shall in every case relate to the day of the
+regatta.
+
+XXI.--All questions not specially provided for shall be decided by the
+Regatta Committee.
+
+
+LAWS OF BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--All boat races shall be started in the following manner:--The
+starter on being satisfied that the competitors are ready, shall give
+the signal to start.
+
+II.--A boat not at its post at the time specified, shall be liable to be
+disqualified by the umpire.
+
+III.--The umpire may act as starter, or not, as he thinks fit; when he
+does not so act, the starter shall be subject to the control of the
+umpire.
+
+IV.--If the starter considers the start false, he shall at once recall
+the boats to their stations, and any boat refusing to start again shall
+be disqualified.
+
+V.--Each boat shall keep its own water throughout a race. A boat
+departing from its own water will do so at its peril.
+
+VI.--A boat's own water is its due course, parallel with the course of
+the other competing boat or boats, from the station assigned to it at
+starting, to the finish.
+
+VII.--No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat or boats committing
+a foul shall be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--It shall be considered a foul when, after a race has been
+started, any competitor, by his oar, boat, or person, comes into contact
+with the oar, boat, or person of another competitor; unless, in the
+opinion of the umpire, such contact is so slight as not to influence the
+race.
+
+IX.--A claim of foul must be made to the umpire or the judge by the
+competitor himself before getting out of his boat.
+
+X.--In case of a foul the umpire shall have power--
+
+    (_a_) To place the boats not disqualified in the order in which they
+      come in.
+
+    (_b_) To order the boats not disqualified to row again on the same
+      or another day.
+
+    (_c_) To re-start the boats not disqualified according to his
+      discretion.
+
+XI.--The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat's own water and due course
+during a race, and he may caution any competitor when in danger of
+committing a foul.
+
+XII.--The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all questions as to a
+foul.
+
+XIII.--Every boat shall abide by its accidents, but if during a race a
+boat shall be interfered with by any outside boat, the umpire shall have
+power, if he thinks fit, to re-start the boats according to his
+discretion, or to order them to row again on the same or another day.
+
+XIV.--No boat shall be allowed to accompany or follow any race for the
+purpose of directing the course of any of the competitors. Any
+competitor receiving any extraneous assistance may be disqualified, at
+the discretion of the umpire.
+
+XV.--Boats shall be held to have completed the course when their bows
+reach the winning post.
+
+XVI.--Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision of the umpire, or
+to follow his directions, shall be disqualified.
+
+XVII.--The umpire, if he thinks proper, may reserve his decision,
+provided that in every case such decision be given on the day of the
+race.
+
+XVIII.--The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over a race and all
+matters connected with it, from the time the race is specified to start
+until its termination, and his decision in all cases shall be final and
+without appeal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A brief explanation of some points arising out of the Rules and
+Regulations of the A.R.A. may be useful.
+
+
+"PROFESSIONAL."
+
+Up to 1894 the A.R.A. gave a very wide interpretation to the term
+"professional," which was held to include "any person not qualified as
+an amateur under A.R.A. Rules." Mechanics, artisans, labourers, men
+engaged in menial duty, or employed in manual labour for money or wages,
+were, therefore, not merely disqualified as amateurs, but were
+considered to be professionals, and competition against them for a prize
+involved disqualification to the amateur so competing. In 1894, however,
+the whole code of A.R.A. was submitted to the revision of a
+sub-committee, and their report, subsequently adopted by the full
+committee, laid it down that from this time on the word "professional"
+must be interpreted "in its primary and literal sense," _i.e._ one who
+makes money by rowing, sculling, or steering. An amateur rowing, or
+sculling, or steering with or against a professional for a prize is
+still disqualified, but the amateur status of one who rows or steers
+with or against mechanics, artisans, etc. (provided, of course, the
+race is not for a stake, money, or entrance fee), is not affected. At
+the same time it must be remembered (Rule I of Rules for Regattas) that
+at regattas held in accordance with A.R.A. rules no mechanic, artisan,
+etc., can be admitted to compete, and by Clause XI. of the Constitution
+no member of any club affiliated to the A.R.A. is permitted to compete
+at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules. The result would
+seem to be, therefore, that whereas an amateur who is not a member of a
+club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against mechanics, artisans,
+etc., at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules without
+incurring any penalty, a member of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can
+compete against this class only in a private match. Any member of an
+affiliated club transgressing Clause XI. would unquestionably render
+himself liable to suspension under Clause VIII. of the Constitution.
+There are now, therefore, three classes of oarsmen, viz. amateurs,
+non-amateurs, and professionals.
+
+
+NON-AMATEURS.
+
+The A.R.A. holds that "apprenticeship is no disqualification." Nobody,
+therefore, is to be disqualified for serving an apprenticeship, even if
+it involves (as in the case of engineers or nurserymen) manual labour
+for a money payment. But such manual labour on the part of one who has
+passed through his ordinary apprenticeship and still continues at the
+work for a year or two would disqualify.
+
+The committee has held that disqualification attaches, for instance,
+to--
+
+(1) A watchmaker's assistant who works, or has worked, at the bench.
+
+(2) A baker's assistant who not only helps to make bread, but also
+delivers it.
+
+(3) Engravers and etchers.
+
+(4) A man having an interest in a boat-letting business, _and_ taking in
+or starting boats at a raft.
+
+But not to--
+
+(5) A 3rd engineer, sea-going, who goes to sea and works for money,
+where such sea-service it necessary to qualify him for passing his
+examinations for the position of chief engineer.
+
+(6) A draughtsman in an engineering firm, though working for wages.
+
+Decisions 3 and 6 are not easily to be reconciled.
+
+
+REGATTA. JUNIOR OARSMEN AND SCULLERS.
+
+Doubts have occasionally arisen as to what is the correct meaning of the
+word "Regatta" in Clause XI. of the Constitution, and in Rules 19 and 20
+of the Rules for Regattas. The committee has held that any meeting,
+whether or not called open, at which more than one club, or members of
+more than one club, compete, is a regatta. This decision does not cover
+a private match, but does cover a regatta where, for instance, the
+competition is limited to certain clubs, specially invited by the club
+or committee who arrange and manage the regatta. Thus, if a junior
+competed and won, either as an oarsman or sculler, at a regatta limited,
+say, to members of the London, Kingston, and Thames Rowing Clubs, he
+would by so winning cease to be a junior, provided the race was neither
+a school race nor one in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted.
+
+The committee has decided that a man who rows over for a junior sculls
+race, even though he receive no prize (the committee not awarding one in
+any race in which there was only one starter), ceases to be a junior
+sculler.
+
+A junior sculler may be a senior oarsman, and _vice vers�_.
+
+
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE CLUB.
+
+I.--That the CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT CLUB consist of the members of
+the several boat clubs in the University.
+
+II.--That the affairs of the club be under the management of a
+president, a vice-president (who shall also be hon. secretary), a
+treasurer, the captains of all boats rowing in the regular University
+races, and all those who have been members of the University crew. The
+president and vice-president shall be elected at the first meeting in
+each term, and those only to be eligible who shall have been members of
+a University crew. The treasurer shall be a resident graduate of the
+University, to be elected annually at the first meeting of the Easter
+Term.
+
+III.--That to assist the officers in case of extraordinary and pressing
+business, a small committee be formed, consisting of the president,
+vice-president, treasurer, and three extra committee-men, who shall be
+elected at the last meeting of the C.U.B.C. in each term. That members
+of the Committee shall have the right of attending meetings of the
+C.U.B.C. and voting at the same. That at meetings of the committee all
+except the treasurer must be present in person or by deputy. The
+treasurer must attend all meetings of the committee on financial
+questions.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VIII.--That all cases of dispute be referred to the president or his
+deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs in
+their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute: whose
+decision shall be final. That representatives of the clubs concerned be
+present at the meeting.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XVIII.--That the secretary of each boat club do send in to the
+assistant-secretary of the C.U.B.C. a balance-sheet of the receipts and
+expenditure of his club for the past year, within three weeks of the
+beginning of the October Term. That the penalty for neglecting this Rule
+be one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That every club do pay to the C.U.B.C. a subscription in
+proportion to its receipts for the previous year.
+
+XX.--That the rate per cent. of this tax be fixed by the treasurer of
+the C.U.B.C., and, when confirmed by the Finance Committee, levied in
+three equal instalments.
+
+XXI.--That all moneys, however obtained, be included in the receipts of
+a College boat club, except such as are specially subscribed towards the
+expenses of a crew going to Henley.
+
+XXII.--That any club neglecting to pay the subscriptions or arrears due
+to the C.U.B.C. within six weeks of the beginning of full term be fined
+one guinea; and that no captain be allowed to vote whose club is in
+arrear.
+
+XXIII.--That medals be given by the C.U.B.C. to each member of such
+University crews as shall be winners of the University match with
+Oxford. Also to each member of those College crews which shall be head
+of the river at the end of the Lent and Easter Term races; and to each
+member of the Trial Eights.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all boats, except tub-pairs, used for coaching purposes be
+obliged to carry an india-rubber ball fixed to the nose of the boat.
+That the penalty for neglecting this Rule be one guinea.
+
+
+REGULATIONS FOR BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--That none but members of the C.U.B.C. be allowed to row or steer in
+the C.U.B.C. races.
+
+II.--That there be regular eight-oared races in the Easter and Lent
+Terms, and that the days on which they shall take place and the number
+of races be appointed and declared at the last general meeting of the
+preceding term respectively. That in these races two umpires be
+appointed by the president or his deputy; that in all other C.U.B.C.
+races one umpire be appointed.
+
+III.--That the number of boats be limited in the Easter Term to thirty,
+rowing in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen respectively, including
+the sandwich boat, and in the Lent Term to thirty-one, rowing in two
+divisions of sixteen each, including the sandwich boat.
+
+IV.--(1) That in the Lent and Easter Terms the two divisions be named
+respectively first and second division. That in the Lent Term both
+divisions shall row in clinker-built boats not more than 57 feet long,
+with not less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed
+4-1/2 inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. before they can be used in the
+races. That in the Easter Term the first division shall row in racing
+ships on sliding seats, and the second division in clinker-built boats,
+as above, and sliding seats.
+
+(2) That every college boat club have the right to be represented by at
+least one boat in the Lent races; and by at least one, and not more than
+three, in the May races.
+
+V.--That during the races no person shall row or steer in both divisions
+(the crews of the last boats in a division excepted), except under
+peculiar circumstances, to be decided by the president or his deputy and
+the four senior captains in residence who are not concerned, which
+decision must be obtained before the crew or crews in question be
+allowed to start.
+
+VI.--In the races in the Lent Term no one be allowed to row or steer who
+rowed or steered respectively in any race of the previous Easter Term.
+
+VII.--That no one be allowed to row in the Lent or May races, or Fours
+or Pairs, after more than four years have elapsed from the first term he
+came up, unless he keep in residence three-fourths of the term in which
+he desires to row.
+
+VIII.--That each crew be chosen from one club and college in the case of
+Trinity and St. John's, and from not more than two clubs or two colleges
+in the case of other colleges; and that the crew of the two colleges
+joining be considered as a fresh one, and start from the bottom.
+
+IX.--That in order to take a boat off the river the captain must give
+notice to the hon. secretary of the C.U.B.C., who shall place lists of
+the boats entered for the races, arranged according to their order, in
+the different University boat-houses, at least a week before the
+commencement of races in each term, and on every race day during the
+term.
+
+X.--(1) That in the Easter Term any club desirous of putting on a second
+or third boat shall have the right to challenge the lowest
+non-representative boat to a bumping-race, but if successful shall start
+at the bottom of the river. That if there be more challenging crews than
+one, they shall row a time race amongst themselves, and the winner shall
+row the challenged boat. That the entrance fee for such races be five
+guineas; that the date for them be fixed at the first general meeting
+of the term, and that at least ten clear days' notice be given to the
+secretary of the C.U.B.C. by the captains of crews desirous to compete.
+
+(2) That no man who has rowed in the successful challenging boat shall
+row in a higher boat during the following May races, except as in
+Chapter III., rule 7.
+
+XI.--That the boats row down to their stations in reversed order, the
+last boat of each division starting first.
+
+XII.--That on racing days in the Lent Term a gun be fired at the Railway
+Bridge, at 3 p.m., as a signal for the last boat of the second division
+to row down; at 3.15 p.m. for the first boat of the division; and a
+third at 4 p.m. for the first boat of the first division. That in the
+Easter Term corresponding signals be fired for the second and first
+division boats at 5, 5.15, and 6.15 p.m. respectively. That boats
+starting late be fined one guinea.
+
+That at the close of each race of the second division in the Lent Term,
+and of the second division in the Easter Term, a gun be fired at the
+Bridge; and that until this gun be fired no boat of the other racing
+division shall pass below the Ash Plantation under penalty of one
+guinea. That the umpire be responsible for the punctual firing of these
+guns. That any racing boat, leaving so late as to be obliged to pass the
+first boat of its division below Ditton Corner, be fined one guinea by
+the captain of the latter on behalf of the C.U.B.C. That the captain of
+the first boat starting late, or neglecting to act as this rule directs,
+be fined one guinea.
+
+XIII.--That the races be bumping races, and the starting posts be 175
+feet apart. That the last post be at Baitsbite-lock, and the
+winning-posts at the Big Horse-grind and the first ditch above the
+Railway Bridge.
+
+XIV.--That the first seven boats in all divisions be obliged to go up to
+the further post at the Big Horse-grind, and the other boats be obliged
+to stop at the nearer post at the first ditch above the Railway Bridge;
+also that the eighth boats have the option of stopping at the nearer or
+going on to the further post.
+
+XV.--That each boat start with the coxswain holding a line 36 feet in
+length attached to its post (or, if he by chance lose the line, with No.
+7's rowlock opposite the post); that otherwise it cannot make a bump,
+but is subject to be bumped and to be fined one guinea.
+
+XVI.--That if a boat miss a race, the boat behind it shall row past its
+post and be allowed the bump, and that the boat missing the race be
+fined one guinea.
+
+XVII.--That the boats be started by three guns: the first gun shall be
+fired when the head boat shall have arrived at its post, the order being
+given by the captain of that boat; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last gun one minute after the second.
+
+XVIII.--That a boat be considered fairly bumped when it is touched by
+any part of the boat behind it, before its stern is past the
+winning-post; passing a boat being equivalent to a bump, providing the
+passing boat draw its whole length in advance. (The word boat includes
+the ship, crew, and oars, if in rowlock). That the coxswain of a boat so
+bumped shall immediately acknowledge the bump by holding up his hand,
+and that the crew making the bump immediately cease rowing; that any
+crew neglecting this rule be fined one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That when one boat bumps another, both shall immediately draw
+aside till the racing boats have passed; that the last boat carry a
+white flag in the bows; that any boat neglecting this rule be fined one
+guinea.
+
+XX.--That if one boat bumps another they exchange places, whatever may
+have been their position before starting. That any boat making a bump
+may row up after the race with its flag hoisted; as also the boat rowing
+head.
+
+XXI.--That in order to claim a bump, the captain, on arriving at the
+Goldie Boat-house, must bracket the bump, state where it took place, and
+sign his name on the secretary's list; if the bump be not bracketed he
+shall be fined one guinea, but that the bumps shall, on sufficient
+evidence, be allowed; and that no bumps can be claimed after six o'clock
+in the Lent Term, or after nine in the Easter Term, or disputed after
+nine on the following morning.
+
+XXII.--That all cases of disputed bumps be referred to the president, or
+his deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs
+in their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute, whose
+decision shall be final; and who shall have the power, in all doubtful
+cases, of causing the boats concerned to row the race again, starting
+from their original posts; and that there be representatives at the
+meeting of the clubs interested in the dispute.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That watermen be allowed to coach members of College boats in
+tub-pairs only till within a fortnight of the first day of the races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVII.--That breaches of Regulations issued by the officers of the
+C.U.B.C. be liable to a fine of one guinea.
+
+
+LENT TERM RACES AND TIME RACES.
+
+I.--That all clubs wishing to put another boat on the river must enter
+such boat with the secretary of the C.U.B.C. on or before a date to be
+appointed by him at the beginning of the Lent Term.
+
+Entrance fee, three guineas, to be paid at the time of entry.
+
+II.--That the Rules for these races be the same as those for the
+"Getting-on" races in the Easter Term, and that the races be under the
+management of the C.U.B.C. or their deputies [see chapter II., rule 10
+(1)].
+
+III.--That no first boat of a club be obliged to row for its place.
+
+IV.--That these races be rowed on days preceding the Lent races.
+
+V.--That no man shall row in these time races (1) who has rowed on any
+night of the previous May races, or (2) who does not comply with Chapter
+II., rule 7.
+
+VI.--That no man who has rowed in the successful boat or boats during
+these trial time-races shall row in a higher boat in the following Lent
+races, except under peculiar circumstances, to be decided upon by the
+president, or his deputy, and the four senior captains in residence who
+are not concerned.
+
+VII.--That when more than two boats start in a heat to race for getting
+on the river, such heat be started by three guns: the first gun to be
+fired when the last boat to come down shall have arrived at its post,
+the order being given by the umpire; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last one minute after the second. That chains 36 feet
+in length be provided 100 yards apart. That each boat start with the
+coxswain holding the chain allotted to it (or, if he by chance lose the
+chain, with No. 7's rowlock opposite the post), that otherwise it is
+liable to be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--That in time races, under the management of the C.U.B.C., the
+pistols at the winning-posts be fired by University men, who shall be
+called on to do so in the following order:--
+
+The president, secretary, and committee of the C.U.B.C.; then the first
+captain of the boats in their order on the river, or deputies from their
+own clubs; provided that no one of the same club as any of the
+competitors shall fire a pistol in any race in which such competitor of
+his own club is rowing; and that no one need, by reason of this rule,
+refuse to umpire. And that to prevent all difficulties of a pistol
+missing fire, a second person be appointed by the President or his
+deputy to stand at each winning-post and hold up a white flag, which
+shall be dropped the moment that the nose of the boat passes the post.
+
+IX.--That in time races no boat draw more than one bye.
+
+X.--That if in any time race any boat touch any part of, or pass on the
+course, or be in any way inconvenienced by any boat in front of it, and
+the boat so touching, passing, or being inconvenienced, shall not come
+to its post first in order, such boat shall be allowed to start in the
+following day's race, whether the same would otherwise have been a final
+or a trial heat, and shall start on the same footing as regards drawing
+for stations, etc., as the other boats left in.
+
+Or the boat so impeded shall row again with the boat coming in first.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY CLINKER FOURS.
+
+I.--That the University Clinker-built Fours be rowed as time races over
+the Colquhoun course.
+
+II.--That the race be open to crews from any club, such crews to be
+composed solely of men who did not row in the first division of the
+previous May races.
+
+III.--That no "Blue" be allowed to compete.
+
+IV.--That the coxswains must be members of the clubs they steer, and
+must weigh not less than 7st. 7lbs.
+
+V.--The definition of a clinker boat is as follows:--That no boat have
+less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed 4-1/2
+inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. at least one week before the
+commencement of the races.
+
+VI.--That the entrance money for each boat be one guinea.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE MAGDALENE SILVER PAIR-OARS AND UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION CUPS.
+
+I.--That watermen be allowed to coach and steer for these races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+IV.--That any member qualified to pull in the C.U.B.C. races be
+qualified to start for these oars.
+
+V.--That the crews need not consist of members of one club.
+
+VI.--That no winning pair be allowed to enter together a second time.
+
+
+REGULATIONS OF THE "COLQUHOUN SILVER SCULLS."
+
+III. That only those members of the C.U.B.C. who have not exceeded five
+years from the date of their first commencing residence be allowed to
+start, on complying with the terms herein specified.
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+I.--That the club be open to all members of the University on the
+following conditions:--
+
+II.--That any graduate of the University by paying two pounds, or any
+undergraduate by paying three pounds ten shillings, may become a life
+member.
+
+III.--That any member of the University by paying one pound may become a
+member for one term, not being thereby qualified to row or steer in any
+of the University races unless he has paid four such terminal
+subscriptions.
+
+IV.--That the subscription must be paid before the admission to the
+club.
+
+V.--That this club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association, and
+that members are therefore bound to observe the A.R.A. rules.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That the officers of the club consist of president, secretary, and
+treasurer; who, with two other members of the club, shall form a
+committee.
+
+VIII.--That no member who is not strictly residing be on the committee.
+
+IX.--That the president, secretary, treasurer, and committee be elected
+by the captains of College boat clubs, or their representatives.
+
+X.--That the election of the president and secretary take place at the
+first captains' meeting in the Summer Term, that of the treasurer and
+the other members of the committee at the first meeting in the October
+Term.
+
+XI.--That the president have the entire supervision of the property of
+the club; that he preside over all captains' meetings; have the sole
+selection and management of all University crews, and that he have
+absolute authority and entire responsibility in all matters immediately
+concerning the University boat; that he have charge of the president's
+book, and make such records in it as shall be interesting and useful to
+the future of the club; and that he keep the official records of all
+University races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That if Henley Regatta do not take place at such a date in
+relation to Commemoration Day as is convenient to the O.U.B.C., the club
+reserves to itself the right of withdrawing its subscription.
+
+XXVI.--That the racing boat last purchased be not let or sold under any
+circumstances whatever.
+
+
+RULES FOR RACES.
+
+I.--That all future members of the O.U.B.C. shall show a certificate of
+having passed a satisfactory swimming test before being allowed to row
+in University races.
+
+II.--That such certificate be either (1) that of some public school
+approved by the committee, or (2) a certificate from Dolley's Baths,
+signed by the bathman, and countersigned by the captain of the College
+boat club.
+
+III.--That any College boat club rowing a member who has obtained a
+certificate unfairly shall be fined five pounds, and lose one place on
+the river for each night on which he has rowed.
+
+IV.--That each college shall have its own punt and waterman during the
+races.
+
+V.--That the captain of each boat club shall, so far as possible, fix
+upon the maximum number which his punt is able to carry, and that this
+number shall in no case exceed twelve, and that the fine for
+overcrowding be five shillings.
+
+VI.--That each barge shall be furnished with two lifebuoys.
+
+VII.--That the bows of all racing Eights and Fours, both keel-less and
+clinker-built, and of all racing pair-oars and sculling boats be
+protected by an india-rubber ball, and the penalty for violation of this
+rule be, in the case of Eights and Fours, one pound; in the case of all
+other boats, ten shillings.
+
+VIII.--That all Challenge Cups which are the property of the O.U.B.C.
+shall either be taken home by the captain of the boat club which holds
+them, or be deposited at Rowell and Harris's during the vacation.
+
+
+THE EIGHTS AND TORPIDS.
+
+I.--That all gentlemen rowing or steering in the races must be life
+members of the O.U.B.C.
+
+II.--That no boat be allowed to start in the races with more or less
+than eight oars.
+
+III.--That all boats starting in the races carry a coxswain over the
+whole course.
+
+IV.--That the names of the crews be sent to the treasurer at least one
+day before the races begin, and that afterwards no change can be made,
+unless notice is given to the president at least one hour before the
+races begin, under a penalty of one pound.
+
+V.--That every club neglecting to send in the names of its crew to the
+treasurer, and pay the entrance money, five pounds, into the Old Bank,
+on or before the day previous to the first race in which they intend to
+row, shall forfeit five shillings; and that every club entering a boat
+after the races have begun shall pay one pound for every night of the
+races on which it has not had a boat on.
+
+VI.--That no club start a boat in the races till all its arrears are
+paid, whether of fines, entrance money, or annual subscription.
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start in the races which shall have
+employed any waterman in capacity of coach or trainer within three weeks
+of the first race.
+
+VIII.--That no college be allowed to enter more than one boat for the
+Eights, unless it has had on a Torpid in the same year.
+
+IX.--That each boat start from a rope held by the steerer, and fastened
+to a post on the Berkshire shore; the rope to be 50 feet in length.
+
+X.--That the last boat be stationed above Iffley Lasher; and that 130
+feet be the distance between the posts.
+
+XI.--That the boats entered for the races be divided as equally as
+possible, and row in two divisions; that the second division row first,
+and never contain fewer boats than the first division; that the head
+boat of the second division may row again with first division; and that
+the last boat of the first division start head of the second division on
+the following day.
+
+XII.--That the president provide a starter, who shall fire a signal gun
+for the boats to take their places; after four minutes another gun; and
+after the interval of one minute another gun for the start; after the
+third gun the race be always held to have begun.
+
+XIII.--That any boat starting before the gun goes off do lose a place
+forthwith.
+
+XIV.--That when a boat touches the boat or any part of the boat before
+it, or its oars or rudder, it be considered a bump; and also if a boat
+rows clean by another it be equivalent to a bump.
+
+XV.--That both the boat which bumps and the boat which is bumped
+immediately row out of the course of the other racing boats; and in case
+any obstruction be caused by culpable neglect of this, the offending
+boat be fined five pounds.
+
+XVI.--That after every bump the boat bumping change places with the boat
+bumped, whatever be their orders before starting; also in a bumping race
+no boat can make more than one bump, but of four boats, A, B, C, D,
+should B bump C, then A may bump D, and the next race A and D change
+places with each other.
+
+XVII.--That in the case of any boat not starting, the boat immediately
+behind them do row past their starting-post and be considered to have
+bumped the other boat.
+
+XVIII.--That all boats stand by their accidents; and that, in case of
+dispute, boats must take the place assigned them by the committee.
+
+XIX.--That an umpire be appointed by the first six colleges of each
+division in rotation, who shall sit and vote on the committee to decide
+disputes on the day on which he is in authority.
+
+XX.--That the races finish at the lower of the white posts to which
+Salter's barge is moored, on which a flag is to be hoisted, and that a
+boat is liable to be bumped till every part of it has passed that post,
+and that a judge be appointed by the president.
+
+XXI.--That if any boat after passing the post impedes another which has
+not passed the post, it be fined five pounds.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all disputes concerning bumps, etc., arising out of the
+races, be referred to the committee on the day of the race, who shall
+decide the point before the next race.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVIII.--That the College races take place in Easter or Act Term, and be
+six in number.
+
+XXIX.--That no non-resident member of the University may either row or
+steer in the races, unless he has resided in Oxford at least ten
+consecutive days before the races commence. That this rule apply to all
+University races, viz. Eights, Torpids, Fours, Pairs, and Sculls.
+
+XXX.--That no one may be allowed to row or steer in the races for a
+college or hall of which he is not a _bon� fide_ member.
+
+XXXI.--That a man may be held to have rowed or steered in the Eights or
+Torpids when he has so officiated for three days.
+
+
+TORPID RACES--SPECIAL RULES.
+
+That the Torpid races be regulated by the above rules as far as they are
+applicable: but
+
+(1) That the races take place in the Lent Term, and be six in number.
+
+(2) That no one who has rowed or steered in the Eights may officiate in
+the same capacity in the next Torpid races.
+
+(3) That no one be allowed to row in his Torpid who has exceeded sixteen
+terms from his Matriculation.
+
+(4) That unless a college has had an Eight on the river more than three
+nights during the previous year, it be not permitted to start a Torpid,
+unless it engage to put on a distinct Eight in the ensuing Eights.
+
+That in this case the distinct Eight
+
+    (_a_) do contain five men, at least, who have not rowed in the
+      Torpids.
+
+    (_b_) be compelled to row more than three nights, under penalty of
+      �10.
+
+(5) That the committee have power to relax this rule at their discretion
+in the case of boats in the second division.
+
+(6) That these races be rowed in gig boats, of the specified mould,
+measuring inside at the gunwale not less than 2ft. 2in., clinker-built
+of not less than 5 streaks.
+
+(7) That the distance between the starting-posts be 160 feet.
+
+(8) That no Torpid be allowed to use sliding seats.
+
+(9) That if more than twenty-five Torpids enter, the races shall be in
+three divisions; the boats to be divided as equally as possible, so that
+a higher division shall not contain more boats than a lower one.
+
+
+FOUR-OAR CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+I.--That the Cup be open for competition to members of any one college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually, in the Michaelmas Term.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer within three weeks of the first race.
+
+
+CLINKER FOURS RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "Clinker Fours" race.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually in the Lent Term.
+
+III.--That it should be open for competition to members of any college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation,
+and who have not rowed either in the University Race at Putney, or the
+Trials, or rowed in a College Eight which finished in the upper division
+of the summer races in the previous year, sandwich boat reckoning as
+Second Division.
+
+IV.--That the race shall be rowed in keeled clinker-built boats with
+slides of not more than 12 inches, having not less than 5 streaks in
+each side, exclusive of saxe-board. The streaks shall not be more than
+4-1/4 inches in breadth. The maximum inside width of each boat shall not
+be less than 24 inches, measured on the top of the gunwale. No
+batswings, false outriggers, splayed-boards, or other device will be
+allowed to take the place of saxe-boards, and the committee of the
+O.U.B.C. reserve the right of determining in each instance whether these
+conditions have been fairly carried out or not.
+
+V.--That no boat be allowed to start with more or less than four oars
+and a coxswain.
+
+VI.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY TRIAL EIGHT RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "University Trial Eight Race."
+
+II.--That the race take place in Michaelmas Term, and subsequent to that
+for the Four-Oared Challenge Cup.
+
+III.--That the crews be selected by the president.
+
+IV.--That the crews be in practice not less than twelve days.
+
+V.--That each member of the two crews pay ten shillings entrance money.
+
+VI.--That a silver medal be presented to each of the winning crew.
+
+VII.--That any member of the two crews who refuses to row in the
+University Eight if called upon to do so, be suspended by the committee
+from rowing in any University race till the end of the Summer Term,
+unless he shows reasonable grounds for refusal.
+
+
+PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  _November, 1897._
+
+  NEW & RECENT
+  BOOKS PUBLISHED
+  BY
+  A. D. INNES
+  & COMPANY
+  BEDFORD ST.
+  MDCCCXCVII.
+
+
+                    DRAWING-ROOM PLAYS FOR CHILDREN.
+
+
+_Just Ready._
+
+  Cinderella. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper wrapper, 6_d._
+
+  Beauty and the Beast. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper Wrapper, 6_d._
+
+
+HALF-HOUR PLAYS. By AMABEL JENNER.
+
+  Rumpelstilskin.
+  Tommy Trout and the Owl.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Silverlocks and the Three Bears; and the Snow Queen.
+  Little Prit.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
+    Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d._
+
+
+TERRA-COTTA PLAYS. By C. M. PREVOST.
+
+  The Sleeping Beauty.
+  The White Cat.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
+    Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d._
+
+
+LONDON: A. D. INNES & CO., 31 and 32 Bedford Street, Strand.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+                                31 & 32, BEDFORD STREET,
+                                      STRAND, W.C.,
+                                            _November, 1897_.
+
+                              NEW BOOKS
+                             PUBLISHED BY
+                          A. D. INNES & CO.
+
+
+                       HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, ETC.
+
+    By F. H. S. MEREWETHER.
+
+Through the Famine Districts of India.
+
+    Being an Account, by Reuter's Special Correspondent, of his
+      experiences in travelling through the Famine Districts of India.
+      Profusely illustrated. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._
+
+    By Sir JOSEPH FAYRER, Bart., K.C.S.I., M.D.
+
+The Life of Sir Ranald Martin, C.B.
+
+    A Brief Account of the Life and Work of the great Sanitary Reformer
+      in India. Crown 8vo, cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    From the Letters of Major W. P. JOHNSON.
+
+Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life.
+
+    Edited by his Widow. Being an Account of the experiences of a Major
+      in the Native Irregular Cavalry in India and elsewhere. Crown 8vo,
+      cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    By Professor W. C. LAWTON.
+
+The Successors of Homer.
+
+    Being an Account of the Greek Poets who followed from Homer down to
+      the time of Aeschylus. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, price 5_s._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B.
+
+The Coldstream Guards in the Crimea.
+
+    Being a Sketch of the Crimean War, treating in detail of the
+      operations in which the Coldstream took part. With numerous Maps.
+      Crown 8vo, cloth, price 6_s._
+
+                       SECOND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+The Sepoy Revolt.
+
+    A Critical Narrative, covering the whole field of the Indian Mutiny,
+      its causes and course, till the final suppression. With numerous
+      Maps and Plans. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s.
+
+_The picturesque aspects of the Indian Mutiny have been frequently
+treated. The purpose of this volume is to convey in a clear and
+compendious form the underlying causes as well as the immediate
+circumstances which led up to the Revolt; and the true relation and
+importance of the various phases._
+
+    By General Sir CHARLES GOUGH, V.C., G.C.B., and ARTHUR D. INNES,
+      M.A.
+
+The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars.
+
+    With 13 Maps and Plans. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16s.
+
+_An account of the rise of the Sikh State; of the struggle with the
+British, the most stubborn in our Indian record; and of the subsequent
+Annexation. With especial reference to current misapprehensions as to
+Lord Gough._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B., late Coldstream
+      Guards.
+
+             Dedicated, by permission, to H.M. the Queen.
+
+A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1885.
+
+    With numerous Coloured Plates, Drawings, and Maps by Lieutenant
+      NEVILE R. WILKINSON. Crown 4to, cloth, gilt top, two guineas net.
+
+_An account of the famous regiment since Waterloo; with the history of
+the political events and the campaigns with which it has been
+associated._
+
+    By A. HILLIARD ATTERIDGE, Special Correspondent of the _Daily
+      Chronicle_ with the Dongola Expeditionary Force.
+
+Towards Khartoum.
+
+    The Story of the Soudan War of 1896. With numerous Maps and
+      Illustrations from Photographs taken by the Author. Demy 8vo,
+      buckram, price 16s.
+
+_Mr. Atteridge's letters to the "Daily Chronicle" contained no more than
+the skeleton of the present work, which is in no sense a reprint of
+them._
+
+    By C. R. B. BARRETT.
+
+Dedicated, by permission, to General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.
+
+Battles and Battlefields in England.
+
+    With an Introduction by H. D. TRAILL, and profusely Illustrated by
+      the Author. Super royal 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 18s.
+
+_Compiled from a thorough examination of the authorities, and personal
+inspection of the ground._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         RECENT WORKS OF HISTORY, ETC.
+
+    By G. BOISSIER (de l'Acad�mie Fran�aise).
+
+Cicero and his Friends.
+
+    Translated by A. D. JONES. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+_M. Boissier's work in the French is familiar to historical students;
+but it has been felt that a translation would make it available for many
+more readers. The addition of an index and analytical contents increase
+its advantages for reference._
+
+    By J. S. RISLEY, M.A., B.C.L.
+
+The Law of War.
+
+    A Study of the Legal Obligations and Conditions applying to
+      Belligerents or Neutrals in Times of War. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
+_Compiled primarily for the use of the ordinary reader rather than the
+technical student._
+
+First Review.--"The book ... is admirably done. It avoids technicalities
+and ... is admirably suited to serve as a guide and first introduction
+to a most instructive subject."--_Scotsman._
+
+                       NEW AND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+Lucknow and Oude in the Mutiny.
+
+    A Narrative and a Study. With Numerous Maps, Plans, etc., and an
+      Index. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._ net.
+
+_A critical narrative of the causes and course of the Mutiny, with a
+full account of the operations in Oude and the siege of Lucknow, from
+personal knowledge._
+
+"A most valuable contribution to the history of the great
+crisis."--_Times._
+
+"Recent literature concerning the Indian Mutiny has brought us nothing
+so valuable.... His knowledge of India and her people is accurate and
+profound.... The facts are marshalled with consummate skill. In this
+book General Innes has rendered invaluable service in regard to the
+military history of the Mutiny and the Indian Empire."--_Army and Navy
+Gazette._
+
+    By Dr. WILHELM BUSCH, Professor at the University of Freiburg, in
+      Baden.
+
+England under the Tudors.
+
+    Vol. I. Henry VII. (1485-1509). Translated from the German by Miss
+      ALICE M. TODD and the Rev. A. H. JOHNSON, some-time Fellow of All
+      Souls College, Oxford, under the supervision of, and with an
+      Introduction by, Mr. JAMES GAIRDNER, Editor of the "Paston
+      Letters." Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._ net.
+
+"Since a body of Oxford Tutors published a translation of Ranke's
+English History just twenty years ago, no more important step has been
+taken to give English readers access to recent German work on English
+History than in the book now before us.... The general value of what we
+hope will ultimately be the best general text-book of Tudor History is
+too well known to scholars to make it worth while to dwell upon it
+here."--_Speaker._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A., Author of "Seers and Singers," etc.
+
+Britain and her Rivals.
+
+    1713-1789. A Study dealing chiefly with the Contests between the
+      Naval Powers for Supremacy in America and India. With numerous
+      Plans, Maps, etc. Large crown, buckram, 7_s_. 6_d_.
+
+The _Pall Mall Gazette_, in a review headed, "History as it Should be
+Written," says: "The book is indeed just what was most wanted: ... a
+great deal more than a popular work in the usual sense of the term,
+seeing that it is accurate and thoughtful, besides being eminently
+readable."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         NEW AND RECENT BELLES LETTRES.
+
+Eighteenth Century Letters.
+
+    Edited by R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON, with Introductions by eminent
+      scholars. Illustrated with Photogravure Portraits of the writers.
+      Crown 8vo, half-parchment, gilt top, price 6_s._ each volume.
+
+    VOL. I.--SWIFT, ADDISON, STEELE. With an Introduction by STANLEY
+      LANE POOLE.
+
+    VOL. II.--JOHNSON AND CHESTERFIELD. With an Introduction by GEORGE
+      BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.
+
+    By MAIDIE DICKSON.
+
+The Saga of the Sea Swallow.
+
+    Illustrated by J. D. BATTEN and HILDA FAIRBAIRN. Fcap. 4to, cloth,
+      gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The narrative is told with the most engaging circumstantial vividness,
+and it held us as we read."--_Academy._
+
+    By COSMO MONKHOUSE.
+
+In the National Gallery.
+
+    The Italian Schools from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century.
+      Illustrated with numerous examples specially prepared for this
+      work. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+"One of the most popular handbooks yet issued on the development of
+Italian art as exemplified by the works in our National Collection. The
+author's name is a guarantee of the precision of the facts he produces,
+and of the excellence of the writing by which they are connected. The
+book is illustrated by a good number of excellent reproductions of the
+principal pictures."--_Magazine of Art._
+
+    By A. J. BUTLER.
+
+Dante: his Times and his Work.
+
+    A Popular Treatise dealing with the great Poet. Crown 8vo, cloth,
+      gilt top, 3_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The work should be interesting and profitable both to every Dante
+student and to every general reader who wishes to acquire a knowledge of
+a most interesting epoch of modern history, and one of the most
+interesting figures of any epoch."--_Illustrated London News._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A.
+
+Seers and Singers.
+
+    A Study of Five English Poets (BROWNING, TENNYSON, WORDSWORTH,
+      MATTHEW ARNOLD, and MRS. BROWNING). Cloth antique, extra gilt top,
+      5_s._
+
+"Never were great poets and their gifts to us dealt with in a more
+reverential and yet discriminating fashion. Comments and criticism are
+alike delicate and suggestive. All followers of the great five should
+posses this little book, whose dainty get-up is still its least
+charm."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+    By CLIFFORD HARRISON.
+
+The Lute of Apollo.
+
+    An Essay on Music. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 5_s._ net.
+
+"No real lover of music will fail to give an easily accessible and
+honoured corner on his or her favourite bookshelf to this little volume.
+It has a unique charm which no words of mine can properly define or
+describe."--_Ladies' Pictorial._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                       RECENT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
+
+    By GWENDOLEN TRENCH GASCOIGNE.
+
+Among Pagodas and Fair Ladies.
+
+    Being an Account of a Tour through Burma. With numerous
+      Illustrations from Photographs. Medium 8vo, buckram, 12_s._
+
+
+    By G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, F.S.S., F.R.G.S.
+
+A Naturalist in Mid Africa.
+
+    Being an Account of a Journey to the Mountains of the Moon and
+      Tanganyika. With numerous Illustrations from Photographs and
+      Sketches by the Author, and Three Coloured Maps. Medium 8vo,
+      buckram, 16_s._
+
+
+    By ROBERT K. DOUGLAS.
+
+Society in China.
+
+    An Account of the Everyday Life of the Chinese People, Social,
+      Political, and Religious. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._ (Library
+      Edition, with 22 Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                  Theological and Devotional Works.
+
+
+    By Rev. W. F. COBB, D.D.
+
+Origines Judaic�.
+
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+      Judaism. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
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+to interpret the Old Testament religion and history, and by his
+conception of 'Menotheism,' if not by the coining of the word, he has
+brought a welcome illumination to the obscure subject of the primitive
+Hebrew religion."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+    With an Introduction by the Very Reverend F. W. FARRAR, D.D., Dean
+      of Canterbury.
+
+The New Life in Christ Jesus.
+
+    Essays on Subjects relating to Spiritual Life. Edited by JULIAN
+      FIELD. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, 5_s._
+
+
+Prayers, Penitence, and Holy Communion.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. Bound together in one volume. Royal 16mo, cloth
+      extra, bevelled boards, with red edges and silk book-markers,
+      4_s._ 6_d._
+
+     _The three parts may be had separately, price 1s. 6d. each._
+
+Daily Text-Book.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. With Preface by the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF
+      LINCOLN. Square 16mo, cloth, 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+On the Catholic Faith. Notes and Questions.
+
+    Compiled from the Works of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. With
+      Preface by the Rev. Canon CARTER. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._;
+      or in paper wrapper, 1_s._
+
+The Spiritual Combat; with the Path of Paradise; and the Supplement; or,
+the Peace of the Soul.
+
+    By SCUPOLI. (From the Italian.) Edited by the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY,
+      D.D. Post 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Sufferings of Jesus.
+
+    Composed by FRA THOM� DE JESU, of the Order of Hermits of S.
+      Augustine. Translated for the first time from the original
+      Portuguese. In two parts. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 5_s._; or separately,
+      each 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Soul's Hour Glass.
+
+    Translated from the Horologium of Drexelius. Edited by the Rev.
+      Canon ATKINSON; being a Book of Devotions for the Twenty-four
+      Hours. Printed in red and black. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 3_s._
+      6_d._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         NEW AND RECENT VERSE.
+
+
+    By GEORGE COOKSON.
+
+Poems.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By A. E. HILLS.
+
+Elfinn's Luck, and Other Poems.
+
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+
+
+    By MOSTYN T. PIGGOTT.
+
+Songs of a Session.
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+
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+      post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
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+Rowing.
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+
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+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
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+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+Lying Prophets.
+
+    _Third Edition._ Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+
+    By ISABEL CLARKE.
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+The Episode of Alethea.
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+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+The Sport of the Gods.
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+
+Limitations.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+
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+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
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+The Lower Life.
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+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+Tomalyn's Quest.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+
+The Mystery of Elias G. Roebuck.
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+
+Ravenstone.
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+
+The Limb.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+MR. GLADSTONE writes: "Pray accept my thanks.... I was so imprudent as
+to read it at once, and since that act have found great difficulty in
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+
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+season."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
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+A Stolen Mask.
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+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
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+
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+    By G. B. BURGIN.
+
+The Judge of the Four Corners.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+imagination."--_Spectator._
+
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+can get a good laugh."--_Scotsman._
+
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+    By LESLIE KEITH, Author of "The Chilcotes," "'Lisbeth," etc.
+
+For Love of Prue.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
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+
+
+    By DOROTHEA GERARD.
+
+Lot 13.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
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+derived from the scenery and the society, black and white, of a West
+Indian plantation."--_Times._
+
+
+    By the late Mrs. J. K. SPENDER, Author of "Thirteen Doctors," etc.
+
+The Wooing of Doris.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Has much to commend it to novel-readers. A clever plot: well-drawn
+characters--such are the leading features of a novel by which the
+reputation of its much-regretted writer is fully sustained to the
+last."--_World._
+
+
+    By J. C. SNAITH.
+
+Mistress Dorothy Marvin.
+
+    A Romance of the Glorious Revolution.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The author has succeeded in making his story intensely interesting....
+One of the very best adventure stories we have had for a long time
+past."--_Speaker._
+
+"'Mistress Dorothy Marvin,' most delightful and winsome of women, and
+one of the freshest and most unhackneyed heroines whose acquaintance we
+have had the pleasure of making for a very considerable period.... Mr.
+Snaith has a great gift of observation, and his book is a remarkable
+picture of the age it is intended to depict."--_World._
+
+
+    By STANLEY WEYMAN.
+
+My Lady Rotha.
+
+    A Romance of the Thirty Years' War.
+
+    Illustrated by JOHN WILLIAMSON. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"No one who begins it will lay it down before the end, it is so
+extremely well carried on from adventure to adventure."--_Saturday
+Review._
+
+
+    By FRANK BARRETT, Author of "The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane."
+
+A Set of Rogues.
+
+    A Romance of the Seventeenth Century.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
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+tongue and in such attractive fashion that it impossible for mere flesh
+and blood to resist them. His set of rogues have won our entire
+sympathy, and his narrative our hearty approval."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+"Another capital story.... Strongly recommended. Stirring tale this,
+without a dull chapter in it, and just enough human sentiment in it to
+soften down the roguery.... Let the honest reader procure the
+book."--_Punch._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
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+     A SERIES OF POPULAR NOVELS BY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS.
+  _Crown 8vo, uniform scarlet cloth, 3s. 6d. each Volume._
+
+
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+
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+rollicking. An admirable example of what we mean by gaiety in fictional
+literature."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+Half a Hero.
+
+"The book is delightful to read, and an excellent piece of
+work."--_Standard._
+
+
+Mr. Witt's Widow.
+
+"A brilliant little tale.... Exhibits unborrowed ingenuity,
+plausibility, and fertility in surprises."--_Times._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
+
+A Gentleman's Gentleman.
+
+"This is very much the best book that Mr. Max Pemberton has so far given
+us."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+
+    By RICHARD PRYCE.
+
+The Burden of a Woman.
+
+"The conception and execution of this interesting story are excellent. A
+book to read and remember with pleasure."--_Lady's Pictorial._
+
+
+    By C. R. COLERIDGE.
+
+Amethyst.
+
+"Extremely amusing, interesting, and brightly written."--_Guardian._
+
+
+    By F. FRANKFORT MOORE.
+
+Two in the Bush and Others Elsewhere.
+
+"Carry the reader on from page to page till criticism is forgotten in
+enjoyment."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
+
+Punchinello's Romance.
+
+"We give Roma White the warmest of welcomes into the world of
+fiction.... Admirably and irresistibly comic, without anything in the
+nature of force or even of apparent exaggeration, ready at the least
+moment to run into equally true pathos."--_Graphic._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+There is some text missing between Page 64 and Page 65: the beginning of
+paragraph (4) with an opening quotation mark is missing, as shown by
+'[(4) "...]'. ([(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move,
+and mould yourself on their movement.")
+
+
+Factual errors were noted as follows:
+
+Page 273: Reference to "Minneapolis" instead of "Annapolis" (The United
+States Naval Academy at Minneapolis ...)
+
+
+Changes to the text are as follows:
+
+Title page: added comma after "C. M. PITMAN" ( ... C. M. PITMAN, W. E.
+CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE)
+
+Page xii: added missing line in the List of Illustrations (LENT RACES IN
+THE PLOUGH REACH 200)
+
+Plate "Henley Regatta" originally facing page 157: changed "Heart fo" to
+"Heat for" (A Heat for the Diamonds.)
+
+Page 258: changed "Warnambool" to "Warrnambool" (Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, ...)
+
+Page 339: changed "captain's" to "captains'" ( ... at the first
+captains' meeting ...)
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Rowing
+
+Author: Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+Contributor: Guy Nickalls
+             G. L. Davies
+             C. M. Pitman
+             W. E. Crum
+             E. G. Blackmore.
+
+Editor: B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34950]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Simon Gardner, Chris Curnow and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="trans-note">
+<h4>Transcriber's Notes</h4>
+
+<p>Sequences of plates are grouped together at the end of the
+relevant chapter or major section.</p>
+
+<p>Detailed notes on the text (listing any changes made for correction of
+typographical errors) are found at <a href="#Transcribers_Notes">the end of the book</a>.</p>
+
+<p>
+<a href="#PLATE_Frontispiece">Frontispiece</a><br />
+<a href="#Page_v">Title Page</a><br />
+<a href="#CONTENTS"><b>CONTENTS.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#LIST_OF_PLATES"><b>LIST OF PLATES.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#Page_ci">Publisher's catalogue (advertisements).</a>
+</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 236px;">
+<a href="images/i_cover.jpg"><img src="images/i_cover_tn.jpg" width="236" height="400" alt="" title="[Linked to a larger image of the cover.]" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p><!-- Page ii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p>
+<div class="box-advert">
+<p><b>THE ISTHMIAN LIBRARY</b>: A Series of Volumes
+dealing popularly with the whole range of Field Sports
+and Athletics.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Edited by <span class="smcap">B. Fletcher Robinson</span>, and Illustrated by
+numerous Sketches and Instantaneous Photographs.
+Post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i> each.</p>
+
+<p>Vol. I. <b>Rugby Football.</b> By <span class="smcap">B. Fletcher
+Robinson</span>, with chapters by <span class="smcap">Frank Mitchell</span>,
+<span class="smcap">R. H. Cattell</span>, <span class="smcap">C. J. N. Fleming</span>, <span class="smcap">Gregor
+MacGregor</span>, and <span class="smcap">H. B. Tristram</span>, and dedicated
+by permission to Mr. <span class="smcap">Rowland Hill</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Vol. II. <b>The Complete Cyclist.</b> By <span class="smcap">A. C. Pemberton</span>,
+Mrs. <span class="smcap">Harcourt Williamson</span>, and <span class="smcap">C. J.
+Sisley</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Vol. IV. <b>Rowing.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. C. Lehmann</span>, with
+chapters by <span class="smcap">Guy Nickalls</span> and <span class="smcap">C. M. Pitman</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Vol. V. <b>Boxing.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. Allanson Winn</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Other volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced.</i></p></div>
+<p><!-- Page iii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h1>ROWING</h1>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Frontispiece" id="PLATE_Frontispiece"></a>
+<a href="images/i_006.jpg"><img src="images/i_006_tn.jpg" width="400" height="263"
+alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Frontispiece.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE, 1894.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page v --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<p class="center"><b>The Isthmian Library</b><br />
+Edited by B. Fletcher Robinson</p>
+
+<p class="center">No. 4</p>
+
+<p class="center" style="font-size:x-large;">ROWING</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span style="font-size:small;">BY</span><br />
+R. C. LEHMANN</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span style="font-size:small;">WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY</span><br />
+GUY NICKALLS, G. L. DAVIS, C. M. PITMAN,<br />
+W. E. CRUM, <span class="smcap">and</span> E. G. BLACKMORE</p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p>
+
+<p class="center">LONDON<br />
+A. D. INNES &amp; COMPANY<br />
+LIMITED<br />
+1898</p>
+
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page vii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span style="font-size:small;">AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP</span><br /><br />
+I DEDICATE THIS BOOK<br /><br />
+<span style="font-size:small;">TO</span><br /><br />
+MR. HERBERT THOMAS STEWARD,<br /><br />
+<span style="font-size:small;">CHAIRMAN OF THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION;<br />
+CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, HENLEY REGATTA;<br />
+AND PRESIDENT OF THE LEANDER CLUB.</span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p><!-- Page ix --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p>
+<h2>AUTHOR'S PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>My thanks are due to the proprietors of the
+<i>Daily News</i> and of the <i>English Illustrated Magazine</i>
+for permission to include in this book the substance
+of articles originally contributed to their columns.
+I have not added to the Appendix any lists of
+winning crews, as these are to be found very fully
+and accurately set out in the Rowing Almanack,
+published every year at the office of the <i>Field</i>.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, I have endeavoured to make the
+rowing instructions which will be found in this
+book as concise as was compatible with perfect
+clearness, assuming at all times that I was addressing
+myself first of all to the novice. No
+doubt other oarsmen will differ here and there from
+my conclusions. Absolute unanimity on every
+detail of rowing is not to be expected.</p>
+
+<p>All I can do is to assure my readers that nothing
+has been set down here the truth and accuracy of
+which I have not proved&mdash;at least, to my own
+satisfaction.<!-- Page x --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>The illustrations are reproduced from photographs
+by Messrs. Stearn, of Cambridge; Messrs. Gillman,
+of Oxford; Messrs. Marsh, of Henley-on-Thames;
+Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton; Messrs.
+Pach Brothers, of Cambridge (Mass.); and Mr.
+J. G. Williams, of East Molesey.</i></p>
+
+<p>
+R. C. L.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p><i>October, 1897.</i></p>
+<p><!-- Page xi --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER</td><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">I.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Introductory</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">II.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">First Lessons on Fixed Seats</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">III.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">First Lessons on Sliding Seats</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">IV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Combined Oarsmanship in Eights</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">V.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Combined Oarsmanship in Eights</span> (<i>continued</i>)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">VI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Combined Oarsmanship in Eights</span> (<i>continued</i>)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">VII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Of Ailments&mdash;Of Training and Diet&mdash;Of Staleness&mdash;Of Discipline&mdash;Of Coaching</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">VIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Of the Race-day&mdash;Of the Race&mdash;Of the Necessity of having a Butt&mdash;Of Leisure Time&mdash;Of Aquatic Axioms</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">IX.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Four-oars and Pair-oars&mdash;Swivel Rowlocks</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">X.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sculling.</span> <i>By</i> <span class="smcap">Guy Nickalls</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Steering.</span> <i>By</i> <span class="smcap">G. L. Davis</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">College Rowing at Oxford.</span> <i>By</i> <span class="smcap">C. M. Pitman</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">College Rowing at Cambridge</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XIV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rowing at Eton College.</span> <i>By</i> <span class="smcap">W. E. Crum</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_234">234</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Australian Rowing.</span> <i>By</i> <span class="smcap">E. G. Blackmore</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XVI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Rowing in America</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_270">270</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">XVII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Recent Controversy: Are Athletes Healthy?&mdash;Mr. Sandow's Views on the Training of Oarsmen</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Appendix&mdash;Henley Regatta Rules; Rules of the A.R.A.; Rules of the C.U.B.C. and O.U.B.C.</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_307">307</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page xii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="LIST_OF_PLATES" id="LIST_OF_PLATES"></a>LIST OF PLATES.</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#PLATE_Frontispiece"><span class="smcap">The Oxford and Cambridge Boat-race</span>, 1894</a></td><td align="right"><i>Frontispiece.</i></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Programme">First Henley Regatta Programme</a></span></td><td align="right"><i>To face</i> &nbsp;6</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Fixed_1">Fixed Seats. Number 1</a></span></td><td align="right">20</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Fixed_2">Fixed Seats. Number 2</a></span></td><td align="right">22</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Fixed_3">Fixed Seats. Number 3</a></span></td><td align="right">24</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Fixed_4">Fixed Seats. Number 4</a></span></td><td align="right">26</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Fixed_5">Fixed Seats. Number 5</a></span></td><td align="right">30</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_1">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;1</a></span></td><td align="right">38</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_2">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;2</a></span></td><td align="right">40</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_3">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;3</a></span></td><td align="right">41</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_4">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;4</a></span></td><td align="right">42</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_5">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;5</a></span></td><td align="right">44</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_6">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;6</a></span></td><td align="right">45</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_7">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;7</a></span></td><td align="right">47</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_8">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;8</a></span></td><td align="right">48</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_9">Sliding Seats. Number &nbsp;9</a></span></td><td align="right">50</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_10">Sliding Seats. Number 10</a></span></td><td align="right">52</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Sliding_11">Sliding Seats. Number 11</a></span></td><td align="right">54</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Crew_1_and_2">Snap-shots&mdash;Crew in Motion. Numbers 1 and 2</a></span></td><td align="right">56</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Crew_3_and_4">Snap-shots&mdash;Crew in Motion. Numbers 3 and 4</a></span></td><td align="right">58</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Crew_5_and_6">Snap-shots&mdash;Crew in Motion. Numbers 5 and 6</a></span></td><td align="right">61</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Crew_7_and_8">Snap-shots&mdash;Crew in Motion. Numbers 7 and 8</a></span></td><td align="right">64</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Mr_Kent">Mr. C. W. Kent</a></span></td><td align="right">78</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Mr_Gold">Mr. H. G. Gold</a></span></td><td align="right">81</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Henley_1897">Henley Regatta, 1897</a></span></td><td align="right">130</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Henley_Diamonds">Henley Regatta: A Heat for the Diamonds</a></span></td><td align="right">157</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_bump">A Bump in the Eights</a></span></td><td align="right">194</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Lent">Lent Races In The Plough Reach.</a></span></td><td align="right">200</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_start">A Start in the Eights</a></span></td><td align="right">202</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Goldie_boathouse">The Goldie Boat-house</a></span></td><td align="right">211</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_Harvard_eight">A Harvard Eight on the River Hudson, at Poughkeepsie</a></span></td><td align="right">272</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_coaching_Hudson">Coaching on the River Hudson</a></span></td><td align="right">284</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_rowing_type_1">Rowing Types. Number 1</a></span></td><td align="right">289</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_rowing_type_2">Rowing Types. Number 2</a></span></td><td align="right">298</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_rowing_type_3">Rowing Types. Number 3</a></span></td><td align="right">301</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_rowing_type_4">Rowing Types. Number 4</a></span></td><td align="right">303</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PLATE_rowing_type_5">Rowing Types. Number 5</a></span></td><td align="right">305</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p><!-- Page 1 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<h1><a name="ROWING" id="ROWING"></a>ROWING.</h1>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.
+<br />
+INTRODUCTORY.</h2>
+
+
+<p>My object in the following pages will be not
+merely to give such hints to the novice
+as may enable him, so far as book-learning
+can effect the purpose, to master the
+rudiments of oarsmanship, but also to commend
+to him the sport of rowing from the point of
+view of those enthusiasts who regard it as a
+noble open-air exercise, fruitful in lessons of
+strength, courage, discipline, and endurance, and
+as an art which requires on the part of its
+votaries a sense of rhythm, a perfect balance
+and symmetry of bodily effort, and the graceful
+control and repose which lend an appearance
+of ease to the application of the highest
+muscular energy. Much has to be suffered and<!-- Page 2 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>
+many difficulties have to be overcome before the
+raw tiro, whose fantastic contortions in a tub-pair
+excite the derision of the spectators, can approach
+to the power, effectiveness and grace of a Crum or a
+Gold; but, given a healthy frame and sound organs
+inured to fatigue by the sports of English boyhood,
+given also an alert intelligence, there is no reason
+in the nature of things why oarsmanship should
+not eventually become both an exercise and a
+pleasure. And when I speak of oarsmanship, I
+mean the combined form of it in pairs, in fours,
+and in eight-oared racing boats.</p>
+
+<p>Of sculling I do not presume to speak, but those
+who are curious on this point may be referred to
+the remarks of Mr. Guy Nickalls in a later chapter.
+But of rowing I can speak, if not with authority, at
+any rate with experience, for during twenty-three
+years of my life I have not only rowed in a constant
+succession of boat-races, amounting now to
+about two hundred, but I have watched rowing
+wherever it was to be seen, and have, year after
+year, been privileged to utter words of instruction
+to innumerable crews on the Cam, the Isis, and the
+Thames. If, then, the novice will commit himself
+for a time to my guidance, I will endeavour to<!-- Page 3 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>
+initiate him into the art and mystery of rowing.
+If he decides afterwards to join the fraternity of its
+votaries, I can promise him that his reward will
+not be small. He may not win fame, and he will
+certainly not increase his store of wealth, but when
+his time of action is past and he joins the great
+army of "have-beens," he will find, as he looks
+back upon his career, that his hours of leisure have
+been spent in an exercise which has enlarged his
+frame and strengthened his limbs, that he has
+drunk delight of battle with his peers in many a
+hard-fought race, that he has learnt what it means
+to be in perfect health and condition, with every
+sinew strung, and all his manly energies braced for
+contests of strength and endurance, and that he
+has bound to himself by the strongest possible ties
+a body of staunch and loyal friends whose worth
+has been proved under all sorts of conditions,
+through many days of united effort.</p>
+
+<p>It has often been objected to rowing, either by
+those who have never rowed, or by those who
+having rowed have allowed themselves to sink
+prematurely into sloth and decay, that the sport in
+the case of most men can last only for a very few
+years, and that having warred, not without glory,<!-- Page 4 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>
+up to the age of about twenty-five, they must then
+hang their oars upon the wall and pass the
+remainder of their lives in an envious contemplation
+of the exploits of old but unwearied
+cricketers. Judging merely by my own personal
+experience, I am entitled to pronounce these
+lamentations baseless and misleading, for I have
+been able to row with pleasure even in racing
+boats during the whole period of nineteen years
+that has elapsed since I took my degree at
+Cambridge. But I can refer to higher examples,
+for I have seen the Grand Challenge Cup and the
+Stewards' Cup at Henley Regatta either rowed for
+with credit, or won by men whose age cannot have
+been far, if at all, short of forty years, and of men
+who won big races when they were thirty years
+old the examples are innumerable. But putting
+actual racing aside, there is in skilled rowing a
+peculiar pleasure (even though the craft rowed in
+be merely a fixed seat gig) which, as it seems to
+me, puts it on a higher plane than most other
+exercises. The watermanship which enables a
+party of veterans to steer their boat deftly in and
+out of a lock, to swing her easily along the reaches,
+while unskilled youths are toiling and panting<!-- Page 5 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>
+astern, is, after all, no mean accomplishment.
+And in recent years rowing has taken a leaf out of
+the book of cricket. Scattered up and down the
+banks of the Thames are many pleasant houses in
+which, during the summer, men who can row are
+favoured guests, either with a view to their forming
+crews to take part in local regattas, or merely for
+the purpose of pleasure-rowing in scenes remote
+from the dust and turmoil of the city. Let no one,
+therefore, be repelled from oarsmanship because he
+thinks that the sport will last him through only a
+few years of his life. If he marries and settles
+down and becomes a busy man, he will enjoy his
+holiday on the Thames fully as much as his
+cricketing brothers enjoy theirs on some country
+cricket field.</p>
+
+<p>Of the early history of boats and boat-racing
+it is not necessary to say very much. It is enough
+to know that the written Cambridge records date
+back to 1827, though it is certain that racing
+must have begun some years previously; that
+Oxford can point to 1822 as one of the earliest
+years of their College races; that the two Universities
+raced against one another for the first time in
+1829; and that Henley Regatta was established<!-- Page 6 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>
+in 1839, when the Grand Challenge Cup was won
+by First Trinity, Cambridge. Opposite is a facsimile
+copy of the programme of this memorable
+regatta.</p>
+
+<p>Those who desire to go still further back, have
+the authority of Virgil for stating that the Trojans
+under �neas could organize and carry through
+what Professor Conington, in his version of the
+"�neid," calls "a rivalry of naval speed." The
+account of this famous regatta is given with a spirit
+and a richness of detail that put to shame even the
+most modern historians of aquatic prowess. After
+reading how Gyas, the captain and coach of the
+<i>Chim�ra</i>&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Huge bulk, a city scarce so large,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With Dardan rowers in triple bank,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The tiers ascending rank o'er rank"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>&mdash;how Gyas, as I say, justly indignant at the
+ineptitude and cowardice of his coxswain, hurled
+him from the vessel, and himself assumed the
+helm at a critical point of the race, it is a mere
+paltering with the emotions to be told, for
+instance, that "Mr. Pechell, who owes much
+to the teaching of Goosey Driver, steered a
+very good course," or that he "began to make<!-- Page 7 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>
+the shoot for Barnes Bridge a trifle too soon."
+How, too, can the statement that "both crews
+started simultaneously, Cambridge, if anything,
+striking the water first," compare with the passage
+which tells us (I quote again from Professor
+Conington) how</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i4">"at the trumpet's piercing sound,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">All from their barriers onward bound,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Upsoars to heaven the oarsman's shout,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The upturned billows froth and spout;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">In level lines they plough the deep&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">All ocean yawns as on they sweep."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>It may be noted in passing that no one else seems
+to have felt in the least inclined to yawn, for</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"With plaudits loud and clamorous zeal<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Echoes the woodland round;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The pent shores roll the thunder peal&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">The stricken rocks rebound;"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>which seems, if the criticism may be permitted,
+a curious proceeding even for a stricken rock
+during the progress of a boat-race. Finally, a touch
+of religious romance is added when we learn that
+the final result was due, not to the unaided efforts
+of the straining crew, but to the intervention of
+Portunus, the Harbour God, who, moved by the
+prayer of Cloanthus, captain of the <i>Scylla</i>, pushed
+that barque along and carried her triumphantly<!-- Page 8 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>
+first into the haven&mdash;invidious conduct which
+does not appear to have caused the least complaint
+amongst the defeated crews, or to have prevented
+Cloanthus from being proclaimed the victor of the
+day. Only on one occasion (in 1859) has Father
+Thames similarly exerted himself to the advantage
+of one of the University crews, for during the boat-race
+of that year he swamped the Cambridge ship
+beneath his mighty waves, and sped Oxford safely
+to Mortlake. Lord Justice A. L. Smith, amongst
+others, still lives, though he was unable to swim,
+to tell the exciting tale.</p>
+
+<p>Before I take leave of this Virgilian race, I may
+perhaps, even at this late date, be permitted as a
+brother coach to commiserate the impulsive but
+unfortunate Gyas on the difficulties he must have
+encountered in coaching the crew of a trireme.
+Not less do I pity his oarsmen, of whom the two
+lower ranks must have suffered seriously as to their
+backs from the feet of those placed above them,
+while the length and weight of the oars used by
+the top rank must have made good form and
+accurate time almost impossible. A Cambridge
+poet, Mr. R. H. Forster, has sung the woes of the
+Athenian triremists and their instructor<!-- Page 9 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Just imagine a crew of a hundred or two<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Shoved three deep in a kind of a barge,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Like a cargo of kegs, with no room for their legs,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">And oars inconveniently large.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Quoth he, '&#960;&#945;&#957;&#964;&#949;&#962; &#960;&#961;&#959;&#963;&#969;' and they try to do so.<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">At the sight the poor coach's brains addle;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">So muttering '&#959;&#953;&#956;&#959;&#953;,' he shouts out '&#7953;&#964;&#959;&#953;&#956;&#959;&#953;,'<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">And whatever the Greek is for 'paddle.'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Now do look alive, number ninety and five,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">You're 'sugaring,' work seems to bore you;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">You are late, you are late, number twenty and eight,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Keep your eyes on the man that's before you."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>So much for the trireme. But neither the Greeks
+nor any other race thought of adapting their boats
+merely to purposes of racing until the English,
+with their inveterate passion for open-air exercise,
+took the matter in hand. African war-canoes
+have been known to race, but their primary object
+is still the destruction of rival canoes together
+with their dusky freight. In Venice the gondoliers
+are matched annually against one another, but
+both the gondola and the sandolo remain what
+they always have been&mdash;mere vessels for the
+conveyance of passengers and goods. The man
+who would make war in a racing ship would
+justly be relegated to Hanwell, and to carry
+passengers, or even one "passenger," in such a
+boat is generally looked upon as a certain presage<!-- Page 10 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>
+of defeat. Consider for a moment. The modern
+racing ship (eight, four, pair, or single) is a frail,
+elongated, graceful piece of cabinet work, held
+together by thin stays, small bolts, and copper
+nails, and separating you from the water in which
+it floats by an eighth of an inch of Mexican cedar.
+The whole weight of the sculling-boat, built by
+Jack Clasper, in which Harding won the Searle
+Memorial Cup, was only nineteen pounds, <i>i.e.</i>
+about 112 pounds lighter than the man it carried.
+Considering the amount of labour and trained
+skill that go towards the construction of these
+beautiful machines, the price cannot be said to
+be heavy. Most builders will turn you out a
+sculling-boat for from �12 to �15, a pair for about
+�20, a four for �33, and an eight for �55. But
+the development of the racing type to its present
+perfection has taken many years. Little did the
+undergraduates who, in 1829, drove their ponderous
+man-of-war's galleys from Hambledon
+Lock to Henley Bridge, while the stricken hills
+of the Thames Valley rebounded to the shouts
+of the spectators&mdash;little did they imagine that
+their successors, rowing on movable seats and
+with rowlocks projecting far beyond the side<!-- Page 11 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>
+would speed in delicate barques, of arrowy shape
+and almost arrowy swiftness, from Putney to
+Mortlake&mdash;in barques so light and "crank" that,
+built as they are without a keel, they would
+overturn in a moment if the balance of the oars
+were removed. The improvements were very
+gradual. In 1846 the University race was rowed
+for the first time in boats with outriggers. That
+innovation had, however, been creeping in for
+some years before that. Mr. Hugh Hammersley,
+who rowed in the Oriel boat which started head
+of the river at Oxford in 1843, has told me that
+in that year the University College boat, stroked
+by the famous Fletcher Menzies, was fitted with
+outriggers at stroke and bow; and the bump
+by which University displaced Oriel was generally
+ascribed to the new invention.</p>
+
+<p>In 1857 the University race was rowed in boats
+without a keel, and oars with a round loom were
+used for the first time by both crews. At the Henley
+Regatta of the preceding year the Royal Chester
+Rowing Club had entered a crew rowing in this
+novel style of keelless boat for the Grand Challenge
+and the Ladies' Cups. Her length was only
+fifty-four feet, and her builder was Mat Taylor,<!-- Page 12 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>
+a name celebrated in the annals of boat-building,
+for it is to him, in the first instance, that our
+present type of racing-boat owes its existence.
+"The Chester men," Mr. W. B. Woodgate tells
+us in his Badminton book on boating, "could
+not sit their boat in the least; they flopped their
+blades along the water on the recovery in a
+manner which few junior crews at minor regattas
+would now be guilty of; but they rowed well
+away from their opponents, who were only College
+crews." They won, as a matter of fact, both the
+events for which they entered.</p>
+
+<p>One might have thought that with this invention
+improvements would have ceased. But in course
+of time the practical experience of rowing men
+suggested to them that if they slid on their seats,
+both the length and power of their stroke through
+the water would be increased. At first they
+greased their fixed seats, and slid on those. But
+it was found that the strain caused by this method
+exhausted a crew. In 1871 a crew of professionals
+used a seat that slid on the thwarts, and beat a
+crew that was generally held to be superior, and
+from that moment slides, as we now know them,
+came into general use. In 1873 the University<!-- Page 13 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>
+crews rowed on sliding seats for the first time.
+Since then the length of the slide has been increased
+from about nine inches to fifteen inches,
+or even more, a change which has made the task
+of the boat-builder in providing floating capacity
+more difficult; but in all essentials the type of
+boat remains the same. It ought to be added
+that the Americans, to a large extent, use boats
+moulded out of <i>papier mach�</i>, but this variation
+has never obtained favour in England, though
+boats built in this manner by the well-known
+Waters of Troy (U.S.A.) have been seen on
+English rivers. The Columbia College crew won
+the Visitors' Cup at Henley in 1878 in a paper
+boat, and she was afterwards bought by First
+Trinity, Cambridge, but she never won a race
+again.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Programme" id="PLATE_Programme"></a>
+<a href="images/i_021.jpg"><img src="images/i_021_tn.jpg" width="400" height="282"
+alt=""
+longdesc="#Henley_Regatta_text"
+title="[Linked to larger image of the programme for the first Henley Regatta.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">THE FIRST HENLEY REGATTA.
+<br />
+[<a href="#Henley_Regatta_text">see textual representation of this plate</a>]
+</span>
+</div>
+
+<div class="trans-note">
+<h4>[Text representation of the Plate originally facing page 6.]</h4>
+<p class="center"><a name="Henley_Regatta_text" id="Henley_Regatta_text"></a>
+HENLEY REGATTA<br />
+<i>June 14th</i>, 1839.<br />
+<br />
+[royal crest]<br />
+<br />
+<i>Entrances for the</i><br />
+GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+</p>
+
+<ul>
+<li>OXFORD.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Brasen Nose College</span>,&mdash;Blue Cap,
+with Gold Tassel; Rosette, yellow, purple,
+and crimson.</li>
+
+<li>CAMBRIDGE.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Trinity Boat Club</span>,&mdash;Blue stripe
+Jersey and Trowsers; Rosette, French blue.</li>
+
+<li>OXFORD.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Etonian Club</span>,&mdash;White Jersey, with
+pale blue facings; Rosette, sky blue.</li>
+
+<li>OXFORD.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Wadham College</span>,&mdash;White Jersey,
+with narrow blue stripes, dark blue cap, with
+light blue velvet band, and light blue scarf.</li>
+</ul>
+<p class="center">
+<i>Entrances for the</i><br />
+TOWN CHALLENGE CUP.</p>
+<ul>
+<li>WAVE.&mdash;White Jersey, pale blue facings.</li>
+
+<li>DREADNOUGHT.&mdash;Blue Striped Shirt, blue Cap</li>
+
+<li>ALBION.&mdash;Blue Striped Jersey, crimson scarf.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>TURN OVER.</p>
+<hr  />
+
+
+<p class="center">ORDER OF THE RACES.</p>
+<p class="center">GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The first trial heat will commence at <span class="smcap">FOUR</span>
+o'clock precisely.</p>
+
+<p>The second trial heat will follow immediately.</p>
+
+<p>The final heat will take place at <span class="smcap">SEVEN</span> o'clock
+precisely.</p></div>
+
+<p class="center">
+The Race for the<br />
+
+TOWN CUP,<br />
+
+Will take place at SIX o'clock precisely.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Previous to each Race, a Signal Gun will be fired
+at the Bridge to clear the course, another when
+the course is clear, a third at the Island when
+the Boats start, and a fourth at the Bridge to
+announce that the race is ended.</p></div>
+
+<p class="center">
+Lithographic Drawings of the Cups,<br />
+<br />
+<i>Two Shillings per pair</i>,<br />
+<br />
+And the Henley Guide, Two Shillings,<br />
+<br />
+May be had of <span class="smcap">Hickman &amp; Kinch</span>, Post-Office.<br />
+<br />
+Hickman &amp; Kinch, Typ. Henley.<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 14 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.
+<br />
+FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>If the tiro who aspires to be an oarsman has
+ever seen a really good eight-oared crew in
+motion on the water, he will probably have
+been impressed not so much by the power and the
+pace of it as by the remarkable ease with which the
+whole complicated series of movements that go to
+make up a stroke is performed. The eight blades
+grip the water at the same moment with a perfect
+precision, making a deep white swirl as they sweep
+through; the bodies swing back with a free and
+springy motion; the slides move steadily; and
+almost before one has realized that a stroke has
+been begun, the hands have come squarely home
+to the chest and have been shot out again to the
+full extent of the arms, the blades leaving the
+water without a splash. Then with a balanced
+swing the bodies move forward again, the oar-<!-- Page 15 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>blades
+all in a level line on either side, and,
+<i>presto!</i> another stroke has been started. Nothing
+in these movements is violent or jerky; there are
+no contortions&mdash;at least the tiro can see none,
+though the coach may be shouting instructions
+as to backs and shoulders and elbows&mdash;and the
+boat glides on her way without a pause or
+check.</p>
+
+<p>What sort of spectacle, on the other hand, is
+afforded by a thoroughly bad eight? The men
+composing it have chests and backs together with
+the usual complement of limbs that make up a
+human being; they are provided with oars; their
+ship is built of cedar and fitted with slides and
+outriggers&mdash;in short, as they sit at ease in their
+boat, they resemble in all outward details the crew
+we have just been considering. But watch them
+when they begin to row. Where now are the
+balance, the rhythm, the level flash of blades on
+the feather, the crisp beginning, the dashing and
+almost contemptuous freedom of bodies and hands
+in motion, the even and unsplashing progress of
+the ship herself? All these have vanished, and
+in their place we see a boat rolling like an Atlantic
+liner, oars dribbling feebly along the water or<!-- Page 16 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>
+soaring wildly above it, each striking for the
+beginning at the sweet will of the man who wields
+it, without regard to anybody else; eight bodies,
+cramped and contorted almost out of the semblance
+of humanity, shuffling, tumbling, and screwing,
+while on eight faces a look of agony bears witness
+to such tortures as few except Englishmen can
+continue to suffer without mutiny or complaint.
+It is not a noble or an inspiring sight; but it may
+be seen at Oxford or at Cambridge, on tidal
+waters, and even at Henley Regatta.</p>
+
+<p>What, then, is the main cause of the difference
+between these two crews? It lies in good "style"&mdash;style
+which is present in the one crew and absent
+from the other. And this style in the rowing sense
+merely sums up the result, whether to individuals
+or to a crew, of long and patient teaching founded
+upon principles the correctness of which has been
+established ever since rowing became not merely
+an exercise, but a science in keelless racing ships.
+And here one comment may be added. It is the
+habit of every generation of rowing men to imagine
+that they have invented rowing all over again, and
+have at last, by their own intelligence and energy,
+established its principles on a firm foundation.<!-- Page 17 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>
+Within my own experience, five at least of these
+generations believed that for the first time the
+virtues of leg-work had been revealed to them,
+four thought they had made out a patent in the
+matter of body-swing, and six were convinced that
+they had discovered length of stroke and firmness
+of beginning. In the eyes of these young gentlemen,
+the veterans whom they occasionally condescended
+to invite to their practice were harmless
+and well-meaning enthusiasts, who might have
+made a figure in their day, but who were, of
+course, utterly unable to appreciate the niceties
+of rowing as developed by their brilliant and
+skilful successors.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Amiable presumption of
+youth and innocence! The fact is, of course,
+that the main principles of good rowing are the
+same now as they have always been, on long
+slides or on short slides, or even on fixed seats.
+And, personally, I have always found that the
+hints I gathered from such men as Dr. Warre,
+Mr. W. B. Woodgate, Mr. J. C. Tinne, or Sir John
+Edwards-Moss, whose active rowing days were<!-- Page 18 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>
+over before sliding seats came into use, were
+invaluable to me in the coaching of crews.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I shall never forget the tone of kindly patronage in which the
+stroke of my college crew once observed to his coach, a man about
+fifteen years older than himself: "Ah, I suppose, now, they all used
+to row in top-hats in your day!"</p></div>
+
+<p>How is a novice to be taught so that he may
+some day take his seat with credit in a good
+crew? I answer that there is no royal road; he
+must pass through a long period of practice, often
+so dull that all his patience will be required to
+carry him through it. His progress will be so
+slow, that he will sometimes feel he is making no
+headway at all; but it will be sure none the less,
+and some day, if he has in him the makings of
+an oar, he will realize, to his delight, that his joints
+move freely, that his muscles are supple, that his
+limbs obey his brain immediately&mdash;that, in short,
+the various movements he has been striving so
+hard to acquire have become easy and natural
+to him, and that he can go through them without
+the painful exercise of deliberate thought at every
+moment of their recurrence.</p>
+
+<p>Every oarsman must begin on fixed seats.
+This statement is to an English public school or
+University oar a mere platitude; but in America,
+and even in some of our English clubs outside
+the Universities, its force and necessity have been
+lost sight of. Here and there may be found a<!-- Page 19 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>
+born oar, whose limbs and body do not require
+an arduous discipline; but in the case of ordinary
+average men like the immense majority of us, it
+is impossible, I believe, to acquire correct body
+movement without a stage, more or less prolonged,
+of practice in fixed-seat rowing. For it is on fixed
+seats alone that a man can learn that free and
+solid swing which is essential to good oarsmanship
+on slides.</p>
+
+<p>I will, therefore, ask my novice reader to imagine
+that he is seated on one of the thwarts of a fixed-seat
+tub-pair, while I deceive myself into the belief
+that I am coaching him from its stern. My first
+duty will be to see that all his implements are
+sound and true and correct, since it is probable
+that faults are often due as much to the use of
+weak or defective materials as to any other cause.
+I must satisfy myself that his oar is stiff and of
+a proper length; that when pressed against the
+thole in a natural position it can grip the water
+firmly and come through it squarely;<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> that the
+stretcher is properly set, and that the straps pass<!-- Page 20 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>
+tightly over the root of the toes. I must also see
+that he is properly dressed, and not constricted
+about the waist by impeding buttons. A belt is
+never permissible. Now for instruction.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The breadth of beam of an ordinary in-rigged fixed-seat gig
+for the use of novices may be stated at 3 ft. 10 in. A line drawn
+horizontally across the boat, at right angles from the rowing thole,
+would be from 11&frac12; in. to 12 in. distant from the aft, or sitting edge
+of the thwart. Oars should measure 12 ft. over all, with an in-board
+length of 3 ft. 5 in. to 3 ft. 5&frac12; in. Breadth of blades 5&frac12; in.
+to 5&frac34;, not more.</p></div>
+
+<p><a name="Instruction_1" id="Instruction_1"></a>(1) Sit erect on the aft edge of your seat, exactly
+opposite the point at which your heels touch the
+stretcher. The feet must be placed firm and flat
+upon the stretcher, the heels touching one another,
+and forming an angle of about forty-five degrees.
+The knees must be bent to about one-third of
+their scope, and set a shoulder's breadth apart.
+Shoulders must be well set back, the chest open,
+and the stomach well set out.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Instruction_2" id="Instruction_2"></a>(2) Now swing your body slowly forward as
+far as you are able <i>from the hips</i>, without bending
+the back, being careful to let your head swing with
+your body. Repeat this movement several times
+without holding the oar.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>Note.</i>&mdash;The ideal swing is that which takes the
+whole unbending body full forward till it is down
+between the knees. This, to a novice, is impossible,
+and the coach must therefore be content to see the<!-- Page 21 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>
+first efforts at swing very short. It is better that
+this should be so than that a man should prematurely
+attain length by bending his back,
+doubling in his stomach, and over-reaching with
+his shoulders, faults that, once acquired, it is extremely
+difficult to eradicate.)</p>
+
+<p>The swing must be slow and balanced, for "the
+time occupied in coming forward should be the
+body's rest, when the easy, measured swing, erect
+head, braced shoulders, and open chest, enable
+heart and lungs to work freely and easily, in preparation
+for a defined beginning of the next stroke."<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> From an article by Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith.</p></div>
+
+<p>(3) Take hold of your oar, the fingers passing
+round it, thumbs underneath, and the hands one
+hand's-breadth apart. The grip on the oar should
+be a finger-grip, not the vice-like hold that cramps
+all the muscles of the arm. It is important, too, to
+remember that, while the arms are presumably of
+the same length, the outside hand (<i>i.e.</i> the hand at
+the end of the oar) has, during stroke and swing
+forward, to pass through a larger arc than the
+inside hand. The inside wrist should, therefore,
+be slightly arched even at the beginning of the
+stroke, thus shortening the inside arm, but without<!-- Page 22 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>
+impairing its use during the stroke. This arch, too,
+will give the inside hand a greater leverage and
+ease for performing the work of feathering, which
+devolves mainly upon it.</p>
+
+<p>(4) Draw your oar-handle slowly in till the roots
+of the thumbs touch the chest, the elbows passing
+close to the sides, and the body maintaining the
+erect position described above in <a href="#Instruction_1">instruction (1)</a>,
+but slightly inclined beyond the perpendicular. I
+assume that the blade of the oar is covered in the
+water in the position it would have at the finish of
+a stroke.</p>
+
+<p>(5) Drop your hands; in fact, not merely the
+hands, but the forearms and hands together. This
+movement will take the oar clean and square out
+of the water.</p>
+
+<p>(6) Turn your wrists, more particularly the inside
+wrist, with a quick sharp turn. This movement
+will feather the oar.</p>
+
+<p>(7) Without attempting to move your body,
+shoot your hands sharply out to the full extent of
+your arms, taking care to keep the blade of the
+oar well clear of the water. Repeat these last
+three movements several times, at first separately,
+then in combination.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 23 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>
+(<i>Note.</i>&mdash;These three movements are sometimes
+spoken of incorrectly as the finish of the stroke.
+Properly speaking, however, the finish, as distinguished
+from the beginning, is that part of the
+stroke which is rowed through the water from the
+moment the arms begin to bend until the hands
+come in to the chest. The movements I have
+described are in reality part of the recovery, <i>i.e.</i>
+they are the movements necessary to enable the
+oarsman's body to recover itself after the strain of
+one stroke, and to prepare for the next. Smartly
+performed, as they ought to be, they have all the
+appearance of one quick motion. As to the dropping
+of the hands, the novice must practise this so
+as to get his oar square and clean out of the water.
+It is, however, necessary to guard against exaggerating
+it into the pump-handle or coffee-grinding
+style, which merely wastes energy and time. Later
+on, when an oarsman is rowing in a light racing
+ship, a very slight pressure will enable him to
+release his oar, the movement and elasticity of the
+boat helping him.)</p>
+
+<p>(8) You have now taken the blade out of the
+water, feathered it, and have shot your hands away,
+the blade still on the feather, to a point beyond the<!-- Page 24 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>
+knees. In so doing you will have released your
+body, which you must now swing forward slowly
+and at a perfectly even pace, in a solid column
+from the hips, as described in <a href="#Instruction_2">instruction 2</a>.</p>
+
+<p>(9) Obviously, if you keep your arms stiff in the
+shoulder-sockets, you will eventually, as your body
+swings down, force your hands against the stretcher,
+or into the bottom of the boat, with the blade of
+the oar soaring to the level of your head. To
+avoid this windmill performance let your hands,
+especially the inside hand, rest lightly on the oar-handle,
+and as the body swings down let the hands
+gradually rise, <i>i.e.</i> let the angle that the arms make
+with the body increase. You will thus, by the time
+you have finished your swing, have brought the
+blade close to the water, in readiness to grip the
+beginning without the loss of a fraction of a second.</p>
+
+<p>(10) During the foregoing man&#339;uvre keep your
+arms absolutely straight from shoulder to wrist.
+Many oarsmen, knowing that they have to get hold
+of the beginning, cramp their arm-muscles and
+bend their elbows as they swing forward, the strain
+giving them a fictitious feeling of strength. But
+this is a pure delusion, and can only result in waste,
+both of energy and of time.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 25 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>
+(11) As you swing, use the inside arm and hand
+to shove against the oar. You will thus keep
+the button of the oar pressed up against the rowlock,
+a position it ought never even for a moment
+to lose; you will help to steady your swing, and
+you will go far towards keeping both shoulders
+square. Most novices and many veterans over-reach
+badly with the outside shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>(12) While you are carrying out the last four instructions,
+your feet, save for a slight pressure
+against the straps during the very first part of the
+recovery (<a href="#Instruction_23">see instruction 23</a>), must remain firmly
+planted, heel and toe, against your stretcher.
+During your swing you should have a distinct
+sense of balancing with the ball of your foot
+against the stretcher. This resistance of the feet
+on the stretcher helps to prevent you from tumbling
+forward in a helpless, huddled mass as you reach
+the limit of your forward swing.</p>
+
+<p>(13) As to taking the oar off the feather. Good
+oars vary considerably on this point. Some carry
+the blade back feathered the whole way, and only
+turn it square just in time to get the beginning of
+the stroke. Others turn it off the feather about
+half-way through, just before the hands come over<!-- Page 26 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>
+the stretcher. For a novice, I certainly recommend
+the latter method. Turn your wrists up and
+square your blade very soon after the hands have
+cleared the knees. It will thus be easier for you
+to keep your button pressed against the rowlock;
+your hands can balance the oar better, and you
+will not run the risk, to which the former method
+renders you liable, of skying or cocking your blade
+just when it ought to be nearest the water, so as
+to catch the beginning. A good and experienced
+waterman, however, ought certainly to be able to
+keep his oar on the feather against a high wind
+until the last available moment. The movement
+of returning the blade to the square position ought
+to be firm and clean.</p>
+
+<p>(14) As the body swings, your hands ought to
+be at the same time stretching and reaching out as
+if constantly striving to touch something which is
+as constantly evading them.</p>
+
+<p>(15) When you are full forward, the blade of
+your oar should not be quite at a right angle to
+the water, but the top of it ought to be very
+slightly inclined over, <i>i.e.</i> towards the stern of the
+boat. A blade thus held will grip the water
+cleaner, firmer, and with far less back-splash than<!-- Page 27 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>
+a blade held absolutely at right angles. Besides,
+you will obviate the danger of "slicing" into
+the water and rowing too deep. At the same
+time, I am bound to admit that I know only a
+few oars who adopt this plan. One of them,
+however, is the present President of the Oxford
+University Boat Club, Mr. C. K. Philips, as good
+a waterman as ever sat in a boat. I am quite
+firmly convinced that the plan is a sound one, and
+I believe if it were more generally followed, we
+should see far less of that uncomfortable and
+unsightly habit of back-splashing, which is too
+often seen even in good crews.</p>
+
+<p>(16) I have now brought you forward to the full
+extent of your swing and reach. Your back is (or
+ought to be) straight, your shoulders are firm and
+braced, your chest and stomach still open, though
+your body is down somewhere between your open
+knees. Your hands have been gradually rising,
+and your oar-blade is, therefore, close to the water.
+Now raise your hands a little more, not so as to
+splash the blade helplessly to the bottom of the
+river, but with a quick movement as though they
+were passing round a cylinder. When they get to
+the top of the cylinder the blade will be covered<!-- Page 28 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>
+in the water. At the same moment, and without
+the loss of a fraction of a second, swing the body
+and shoulders back as though they were released
+from a spring, the arms remaining perfectly straight,
+and the feet helping by a sharp and vigorous pressure
+(from the ball of the foot, and the toes
+especially) against the stretcher. The result of
+these rapid combined movements will be that the
+blade, as it immerses itself in the water, will strike
+it with an irresistible force (a sort of crunch, as
+when you grind your heel into gravel), created by
+the whole weight-power of the body applied
+through the straight lines of the arms, and aided
+by all the strength of which the legs are capable.
+This, technically speaking, is the beginning of the
+stroke. The outside hand should have a good
+grip of the oar.</p>
+
+<p>(17) Swing back, as I said, with arms straight.
+The novice must, especially if he has muscular
+arms, root in his head the idea that the arms are
+during a great part of the stroke connecting rods,
+and that it is futile to endeavour to use them
+independently of the body-weight, which is the
+real driving power.</p>
+
+<p>(18) Just before the body attains the limit of its<!-- Page 29 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>
+back-swing, which should be at a point a little
+beyond the perpendicular, begin to bend your arms
+for the finish of the stroke, and bring the hands
+square home until the roots of the thumbs touch
+the chest about three inches below the separation
+of the ribs. Here you must be careful not to raise
+or depress the hands. They should sweep in to
+the chest in an even plane, the outside hand drawing
+the handle firmly home without lugging or
+jerking. As the hands come in, the body finishes
+its swing, the elbows pass close to the sides, pointing
+downwards, and the shoulders are rowed back
+and kept down. The chest must be open, but not
+unduly inflated at the expense of the stomach, the
+head erect, and the whole body carrying itself
+easily, gracefully, and without unnecessary stiffness.</p>
+
+<p>(19) Do not meet your oar, <i>i.e.</i> keep your body
+back until the hands have come in. If you pull
+yourself forward to meet your oar, you will certainly
+shorten the stroke, tire yourself prematurely,
+and will probably fail to get the oar clean out of
+the water or to clear your knees on the recovery.</p>
+
+<p>(20) Do not try to force down your legs and
+flatten the knees as if you were rowing on a sliding
+seat. The mere movement of the body on the<!-- Page 30 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>
+back swing and the kick off the stretcher will
+cause a certain alteration in the bend of the
+knees, but this tendency should not be consciously
+increased. Remember that fixed-seat rowing is
+not now an end in itself. It is a stage towards
+skilled rowing on sliding seats, and its chief
+object is to give the novice practice in certain
+essential elements of the stroke, and particularly
+in body-swing, which could not be so easily taught,
+if at all, if he were to begin at once on sliding
+seats. Swing is still, as it always has been, all
+important in good rowing, and if a novice attempts
+to slide (for that is what it comes to) on fixed seats
+he will begin to shuffle and lose swing entirely.</p>
+
+<p>(21) Do not let your body settle down or fall
+away from your oar at the finish. Sit erect on
+your bones, and do not sink back on to your tail.
+The bones are the pivot on which you should
+swing.</p>
+
+<p>(22) The blade of the oar, having been fully
+covered at the very beginning of the stroke, must
+remain fully covered up to the moment that the
+hands are dropped. If the oarsman, when he bends
+his arms during the stroke, begins to depress his
+hands, he will row light, <i>i.e.</i> the blade will be<!-- Page 31 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>
+partially uncovered, and will naturally lose power.
+On the other hand, if he raises his hands unduly,
+he will cover more than the blade, and will find
+great difficulty in extracting it from the water
+properly. The outside hand should control the
+balance of the oar, and keep it at its proper level.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Instruction_23" id="Instruction_23"></a>(23) As to the use of the stretcher-straps.
+Many coaches imagine that when they have said,
+"Do not pull yourself forward by your toes against
+the straps," they have exhausted all that is to be
+said on the matter. I venture, with all deference,
+to differ from them. I agree that in the earlier
+stages of instruction it is very useful to make men
+occasionally row in tub-pairs without any straps,
+so as to force them to develop and strengthen the
+muscles of stomach and legs, which ought to do
+the main work of the recovery. But later on,
+when a man is rowing in an eight, and is striving,
+according to the instructions of his coach, to swing
+his body well and freely back, he can no more
+recover properly without a slight toe-pressure
+against the straps&mdash;the heels, however, remaining
+firm&mdash;than he could make bricks without straw.
+The straps, in fact, are a most valuable aid to the
+recovery. Take them away from a crew and you<!-- Page 32 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>
+will see one of two things: either the men will
+never swing nearly even to the upright position,
+and will recover with toil and trouble, or, if they
+swing back properly, they will all fall over backwards
+with their feet in the air. This slight strap-pressure
+just helps them over the difficult part of
+the recovery; as the body swings forward the
+feet immediately resume their balance against
+the stretcher. Indeed, if these movements are
+properly performed, you get a very pretty play
+of the toes and the ball of the foot against the
+stretcher, you counteract the tendency of the body
+to tumble forward, and you materially help the
+beginning from that part of the foot in which the
+spring resides. Totally to forbid men to use their
+straps seems to me a piece of pedantry. On this
+point I may fortify myself with the opinion of
+Mr. W. B. Woodgate, as given in his "Badminton
+Book on Boating." I am glad, too, to find that
+Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith, of the London Rowing
+Club, a most finished and beautiful oarsman, whose
+record of victories at Henley is a sufficient testimony
+to his knowledge and skill, agrees with me.
+In an article published during a recent rowing
+controversy, he remarks, "I think Mr. &mdash;&mdash; will<!-- Page 33 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>
+find that all men, consciously or unconsciously,
+use the foot-strap more or less, to aid them in
+the first inch or two of recovery. If he doubts
+this, let him remove the strap and watch results,
+be the oarsman who he may." I need only add
+that this pressure should never be greater than
+will just suffice to help the body-recovery. If
+exaggerated, its result on slides will be to spoil
+swing by pulling the slide forward in advance of
+the body.</p>
+
+<p>I have now, I think, taken you through all the
+complicated movements of the stroke, and there
+for the present I must leave you to carry out as
+best you can instructions which I have endeavoured
+to make as clear on paper as the difficulties of the
+subject permit. But I may be allowed to add a
+warning. Book-reading may be a help; but
+rowing, like any other exercise, can only be
+properly learnt by constant and patient practice
+in boats under the eyes of competent instructors.
+Do not be discouraged because your improvement
+is slow, and because you are continually being
+rated for the same faults. With a slight amount
+of intelligence and a large amount of perseverance
+and good temper, these faults will gradually<!-- Page 34 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>
+disappear, and as your limbs and muscles accustom
+themselves to the work, you will be moulded into
+the form of a skilled oarsman. Even the dread
+being who may be coaching you&mdash;winner of the
+Grand Challenge Cup or stroke-oar of his University
+though he be&mdash;had his crude and shapeless
+beginnings. He has passed through the mill, and
+now is great and glorious. But if you imagine
+that even he is faultless, just watch him as he
+rows, and listen to the remarks that a fearless and
+uncompromising coach permits himself to address
+to him. And to show you that others have
+suffered and misunderstood and have been misunderstood
+like yourself, I will wind up this
+chapter with "The Wail of the Tubbed," the
+lyrical complaint of some Cambridge rowing
+Freshmen.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Sir,&mdash;We feel we are intruding, but we deprecate your blame,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We may plead our youth and innocence as giving us a claim;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We should blindly grope unaided in our efforts to do right,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">So we look to you with confidence to make our darkness light.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"We are Freshmen&mdash;rowing Freshmen; we have joined our college club,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And are getting quite accustomed to our daily dose of tub;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We have all of us bought uniforms, white, brown, or blue, or red,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We talk rowing shop the livelong day, and dream of it in bed.<!-- Page 35 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"We sit upon our lexicons as 'Happy as a King'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">(We refer you to the picture), and we practise how to swing;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We go every day to chapel, we are never, never late,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And we exercise our backs when there, and always keep them straight.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"We shoot our hands away&mdash;on land&mdash;as quick as any ball:<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Balls always shoot, they tell us, when rebounding from a wall.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We decline the noun 'a bucket,' and should deem it&mdash;well, a bore,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If we 'met,' when mainly occupied in oarsmanship, our oar.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But still there are a few things that our verdant little band,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Though we use our best endeavours, cannot fully understand.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">So forgive us if we ask you, sir&mdash;we're dull, perhaps, but keen&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To explain these solemn mysteries and tell us what they mean.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"For instance, we have heard a coach say, "Five, you're very rank;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Mind those eyes of yours, they're straying, always straying, on the bank.'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We are not prone to wonder, but we looked with some surprise<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">At the owner of those strangely circumambulating eyes.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"There's a stroke who 'slices awfully,' and learns without remorse<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">That his crew are all to pieces at the finish of the course;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">There's A., who 'chucks his head about,' and B., who 'twists and screws,'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Like an animated gimlet in a pair of shorts and shoes.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"And C. is 'all beginning,' so remark his candid friends;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">It must wear him out in time, we think, this stroke that never ends.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And though D. has no beginning, yet his finish is A1;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">How can that possess a finish which has never been begun?<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"And E. apparently would be an oar beyond compare,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If the air were only water and the water only air.<!-- Page 36 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span><br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And F., whose style is lofty, doubtless has his reasons why<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He should wish to scrape the judgment seat, when rowing, from the sky.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Then G. is far too neat for work, and H. is far too rough;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">There's J., who lugs, they say, too much, and K. not half enough;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">There's L., who's never fairly done, and M., who's done too brown,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And N., who can't stand training, and poor O., who can't sit down.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"And P. is much too limp to last; there's Q. too stiffly starched;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And R., poor fool, whose inside wrist is never 'nicely arched.'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And, oh, sir, if you pity us, pray tell us, if you please,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">What is meant by 'keep your button up,' and 'flatten down your knees.'<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"If an oar may be described as 'he,' there's no death half so grim<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">As the death like which we hang on with our outside hands to 'him;'<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But in spite of all our efforts, we have never grasped, have you?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">How <i>not</i> to use 'those arms' of ours, and yet to pull it through.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"S. 'never pulled his shoestrings.' If a man must pull at all,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Why uselessly pull shoestrings? Such a task would surely pall.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But T.'s offence is worse than that, he'll never get his Blue,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He thinks rowing is a pastime&mdash;well, we own we thought so too.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Then V.'s 'a shocking sugarer,' how bitter to be that!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">X. flourishes his oar about as if it were a bat;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And Y. should be provided, we imagine, with a spade,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Since he always 'digs,' instead of 'merely covering his blade.'<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Lastly, Z.'s a 'real old corker,' who will never learn to work,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For he puts his oar in gently and extracts it with a jerk.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Oh! never has there been, we trow, since wickedness began,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Such a mass of imperfections as the perfect rowing man.<br /></span>
+<!-- Page 37 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></div></div>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">P.S. by Two Cynics.</span></p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"So they coach us and reproach us (like a flock of silly jays<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Taught by parrots how to feather) through these dull October days.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We shall never understand them, so we shouldn't care a dam<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a><br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If they all were sunk in silence at the bottom of the Cam."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Dam&mdash;an Oriental coin of small value.</p></div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Fixed_1" id="PLATE_Fixed_1"></a>
+<a href="images/i_037.jpg"><img src="images/i_037_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Fixed seats No. 1]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">FIXED SEATS.
+<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 1.&mdash;position at beginning of stroke.</span>
+<br />
+(<i>This is a stationary photograph. In the movement of the swing the body will
+come still further down.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Fixed_2" id="PLATE_Fixed_2"></a>
+<a href="images/i_041.jpg"><img src="images/i_041_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Fixed seats N0. 2]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">FIXED SEATS.
+<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 2.&mdash;position just after catching, beginning.</span>
+<br />
+(<i>Instantaneous Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Fixed_3" id="PLATE_Fixed_3"></a>
+<a href="images/i_045.jpg"><img src="images/i_045_tn.jpg" width="400" height="276" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Fixed seats No. 3]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">FIXED SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 3.&mdash;position half-way through stroke.</span><br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Fixed_4" id="PLATE_Fixed_4"></a>
+<a href="images/i_049.jpg"><img src="images/i_049_tn.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Fixed seats No. 4]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">FIXED SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 4.&mdash;position as arms are bending for finish.</span><br />
+(<i>Instantaneous Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Fixed_5" id="PLATE_Fixed_5"></a>
+<a href="images/i_055.jpg"><img src="images/i_055_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Fixed seats No. 5]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">FIXED SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 5.&mdash;THE FINISH.</span><br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph. In movement the body would go a little further back.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 38 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.
+<br />
+FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Let me assume (I am still addressing my
+imaginary novice) that you have passed
+through the first few stages of your
+novitiate. If you are an Oxford or a Cambridge
+freshman you will have been carefully drilled in
+a tub-pair, promoted later to a freshmen's four
+or eight, and during the next term may have
+been included in the Torpid or Lent-Boat of your
+College. At any rate, I am assuming that you
+have by now rowed in a race or a series of races
+for eight-oared crews on fixed seats. But I prefer
+to leave the general subject of combined rowing,
+whether in eights or fours, to a later chapter, while
+I attempt to explain the mysteries and difficulties
+of the sliding seat.</p>
+
+<p>The slide may be described as a contrivance for
+increasing the length of the stroke (<i>i.e.</i> of the period
+during which, the oar-blade remaining covered in<!-- Page 39 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>
+the water, power is applied to the propulsion of the
+boat), and for giving greater effect to the driving
+force of the oarsman's legs. Long before the actual
+sliding seat had been invented professional oarsmen
+and scullers had discovered that if they slid
+on their fixed thwarts they increased the pace of
+their boats, and even amongst amateurs this practice
+was not unknown. Mr. R. H. Labat has told
+me that so far back as 1870 he and his colleagues
+fitted their rowing trousers with leather, greased
+their thwarts, and so slid on them. In 1872 slides
+were used at Henley Regatta, and in 1873 the
+Oxford and Cambridge crews for the first time
+rowed their race on slides, Cambridge winning in
+19 mins. 35 secs., which remained as record time
+until 1892. This performance, though it was
+undoubtedly helped by good conditions of tide
+and wind, served to establish slides firmly in
+popular favour, and from that time onwards fixed
+seats were practically retained only for the coaching
+of novices and, in eights, for the Torpids
+and Lent Races at Oxford and Cambridge. Now,
+proceeding on the principle that rowing is meant
+to be an exercise of grace, symmetry, and skill,
+as well as of strength and endurance, I think I<!-- Page 40 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>
+may lay it down as an essential rule that it is
+necessary on slides to observe those instructions
+which made fixed-seat rowing in the old days
+a pleasure to the eye. In the very early days of
+slides, while men were still groping for correct
+principles, this important axiom was too often
+neglected. It was imagined that swing was no
+longer necessary, and accordingly the rivers
+were filled with contorted oarsmen shuffling and
+tumbling and screwing on their slides. Veteran
+oars and coaches, to whom "form" was as the
+apple of their eye, were horror-struck, and gave
+vent to loud lamentations, utterly condemning this
+horrible innovation, which, as they thought, had
+reduced oarsmanship to the level of a rough and
+tumble fight. "If both Universities," wrote the
+Rev. A. T. W. Shadwell in his "Notes on Boat-building,"
+published in the "Record of the
+University Boat Race" in 1881, "would condescend
+to ask Dr. Warre to construct for them,
+and if their crews would also either learn to use the
+sliding apparatus effectively, or to discard it as
+pernicious and as an enemy to real oarsmanship
+when not thoroughly mastered, then we should be
+treated again to the welcome spectacle of boats<!-- Page 41 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>
+travelling instead of dragging, riding over the water
+instead of the water washing over the canvas, combined
+with that still more-to-be-desired spectacle
+of faultless form and faultless time&mdash;eight men
+ground into one perfect machine. Nothing short
+of that result will satisfy those who know what
+eight-oared rowing ought to be, and lament its
+decadence." Yet Cambridge had produced the
+1876 crew, Oxford the 1878 crew, both of them
+models of style, unison and strength, and Leander
+both in 1875 and in 1880 had won the Grand
+Challenge Cup with admirable crews composed
+exclusively of University men. It would seem,
+therefore, as if Mr. Shadwell's strictures were undeserved,
+at least by the better class of University
+oars. The fact is that by that time, and for some
+years before that time, the true principles of sliding
+had been acquired, and the more serious defects
+of form had once more become the cherished
+possession of inferior college crews. But then,
+even in the glorious old fixed-seat days, College
+crews were not always remarkable for the beauty
+and correctness of their form. I am not going to
+deny that the difficulty of teaching good style has
+been increased by the addition of the sliding seat;<!-- Page 42 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>
+but there have been innumerable examples during
+the last quarter of a century to prove that this
+difficulty can be faced and entirely overcome. Four
+crews I have already mentioned. I may add to
+them, not as exhausting the list of good crews, but
+as being splendid examples of combined style and
+power, the London Rowing Club crew of 1881,
+which won the final of the Grand from the outside
+station against Leander and Twickenham; the
+Oxford crews of 1892, 1896 and 1897; the crews of
+Trinity Hall, the Oxford Etonians, and the Thames
+Rowing Club in 1886 and 1887; the Cambridge
+crew and the Thames Rowing Club crew of 1888;
+the London Rowing Club crew of 1890; the Leander
+crews of 1891, 1893, 1894 and 1896; and the New
+College and Leander crews of the present year. It
+is fortunate that this should be so, for, the proof of
+the pudding being in the eating, it is hardly likely
+that crews will abandon a device which, while it
+has actually increased pace over the Henley course
+by close on half a minute, has rendered skill and
+watermanship of higher value, and has given an
+additional effect to physical strength.</p>
+
+<p>During my undergraduate days at Cambridge,
+and for some years afterwards (say, up to about<!-- Page 43 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>
+1884), the slide-tracks in racing boats were sixteen
+inches long.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> This, allowing seven inches as the
+breadth of the seat itself, would give the slide a
+"play," or movement, of nine inches. The front-stop,
+which forms the limit of the forward movement
+of the slide, was fixed so as to bring the
+front edge of the slide to a point five inches from
+the "work," <i>i.e.</i> from a line drawn straight across
+the boat from the back, or rowing, thole. At the
+finish of the stroke, therefore, when the slide had
+been driven full back, its front edge was fourteen
+inches away from the work. To put it in technical
+language, we slid up to five inches from our
+work and finished fourteen inches away from it.
+Since that time slides have become longer, and
+there are but few racing boats in which the slide-tracks
+are less than twenty-two or even twenty-three
+inches long, giving the slide a play of fifteen
+or sixteen inches. The front edge of the slide
+now moves forward (when I say "forward" I speak
+in relation to the movement of the body and not
+in relation to the ends of the boat) to a point which
+is level with the work. In other words, we now
+slide up to our work and finish fifteen or sixteen<!-- Page 44 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>
+inches from it. On these long slides, when the
+body has attained the full reach, the flanks are
+closed in upon the thighs, the knees are bent until
+the thighs come fairly close to the calves, and, <i>ex
+necessario</i>, the ankle-joints are very much bent. It
+is plain that great flexibility of hip-joints, knees,
+and ankles must be attained in order that the slide
+may be used fully up to the last fraction of an
+inch in coming forward. This flexibility very few
+novices, and not all old stagers, possess. The
+muscles and joints at first absolutely refuse to
+accommodate themselves to this new strain, and
+you will see a man as he slides forward, taking his
+heels well off the stretcher in order to ease the
+strain upon his ankles, and moving his shoulders
+back long before his oar has gripped the water in
+order to relieve his hip-joints. This results in his
+missing the whole of his beginning, striking the
+water at right-angles to his rigger instead of well
+behind it, and having absolutely no firmness of
+drive when it becomes necessary for him to use
+his legs. In order, therefore, that matters may be
+made easier for novices, and that they may be
+brought on gradually, I strongly advise coaches
+to start them on slides much shorter than those<!-- Page 45 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>
+now in vogue. A slide with a play of eight inches,
+coming to a point six inches from the work, is
+ample. A few days will make a wonderful difference,
+and later on, when the first stiffness has
+worn off and the movements have become easier,
+the slide can be gradually increased. At Oxford
+and Cambridge the proper seasons for such preliminary
+practice would be the Lent Term, when
+Torpids and Lent Races are over, and the beginning
+of the October term, when many College
+clubs&mdash;at any rate at Cambridge&mdash;organize Sliding-seat
+Trial Eights in clinker-built boats.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The Metropolitan rowing clubs had, I believe, lengthened their
+sliding some time before this.</p></div>
+
+<p>Two further points remain to be noticed. On
+fixed seats the ankles hardly bend up as the body
+swings forward, and it is possible, therefore, to use
+a stretcher fixed almost erect in the boat, the seat
+being placed eleven or twelve inches from the
+work. But with slides, as I have explained, the
+seat moves to a point which in racing boats is now
+level with the work, and few ankles are capable of
+submitting to the strain which would be involved
+if the stretchers were set up as erect ("proud" is
+the technical term) as they are with fixed seats.
+It is necessary, therefore, to set the stretchers more
+off on an incline (technically, to "rake" them). It<!-- Page 46 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>
+will be found, I think, that, assuming a stretcher to
+be one foot in height, a set-off of nine inches will be
+amply sufficient for most novices, even on full slides.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>
+I have myself never found any difficulty in maintaining
+my feet firm on a stretcher of this rake or
+even of less, and I have known some very supple-jointed
+men, <i>e.g.</i> Mr. H. Willis, of the Leander
+Crews of 1896 and 1897, who preferred to row with
+a stretcher set up a good deal prouder. But the
+average oar is not very supple-jointed, though his
+facility in this respect can be greatly improved by
+practice. To make things easier&mdash;and after all our
+object should be to smooth away all the oarsman's
+external difficulties&mdash;I consider it advisable to
+fix heel-traps to the stretcher. This simple device,
+by the pressure which it exercises against the back
+of the heels, counteracts their tendency to come
+away from the stretcher; but even with heel-traps,
+I have seen stiff-jointed oarsmen make the most
+superbly successful efforts to bring their heels away.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The angle made by the back of the stretcher and the kelson
+may vary from 43� to 53�. Personally, I prefer 50�. The prouder
+(up to a certain point) you set the stretcher the firmer will your
+leg-power be at the finish of the stroke.</p></div>
+
+<p>The second point is this: With sliding seats
+you require an oar of longer leverage (<i>i.e.</i> inboard<!-- Page 47 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>
+measurement from rowing-face of button to end of
+handle) than with fixed seats. For a fixed seat
+an oar with a leverage of 3 ft. 5&frac12; ins. should suffice.
+With long slides the leverage of an oar should not
+be less than 3 ft. 8 ins., nor more than 3 ft. 8&frac12; ins.
+For this I assume that the distance of the centre
+of the seat from the sill of the row-lock is 2 ft. 7 ins.
+With regard to leverage, there is a practical unanimity
+of opinion amongst modern oarsmen. With
+regard to the outboard measurement of oars and
+the proper width of blade, they differ somewhat,
+but I can reserve this matter for the next chapter,
+merely premising that in any case it is not advisable
+to start your novices in gigs with oar-blades
+broader than 5&frac34; ins.</p>
+
+<p>Let me imagine, then, that my pupil is seated in
+the gig, his stretcher having been fixed at a point
+that will enable him, when his slide is full back,
+and he is sitting on it easily without pressing,
+to have his knees <i>slightly</i> bent.</p>
+
+<p>And now to the business of instruction.</p>
+
+<p>1. Remember and endeavour to apply all the
+lessons you have learnt on fixed seats. Slides add
+another element to the stroke. They do not alter
+the elements you have previously been taught.<!-- Page 48 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>2. <span class="smcap">Beginning.</span>&mdash;Get hold of this just as you
+would on a fixed seat, with a sharp spring of the
+whole body, which thus begins its swing-back
+without the loss of a fraction of time.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) The natural tendency of a tiro will be to
+drive his slide away before his shoulders
+have begun to move. This must at all costs
+be avoided. In order to secure the effectual
+combination of body-swing and leg-work, it
+is essential that the swing should start first.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>b</i>) It is equally reprehensible to swing the
+body full back before starting the slide;
+you thus cut the stroke into two distinct
+parts, one composed of mere body-swing,
+the other of mere leg-work. Therefore:</p></div>
+
+<p>(2) When the body-swing backwards has started,
+but only the smallest fractional part of a second
+afterwards&mdash;so quickly, indeed, as to appear to
+the eye of a spectator almost a simultaneous
+movement&mdash;let the slide begin to travel back,
+the swing meanwhile continuing.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) Remember what was said in fixed-seat
+instructions as to the use of the toes
+and the ball of the foot at the beginning
+of the stroke. On slides this is even
+more important.</p></div>
+
+<p><!-- Page 49 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>
+(3) Body and slide are now moving back in
+unison, the feet pressing with firm and steady
+pressure against the stretcher, <i>and the arms perfectly
+straight</i>. As the slide moves, the leg-power
+applied must on no account diminish. If anything
+it ought to increase, for the body is beginning
+to lose its impetus, and the main part of the
+resistance is transferred to the legs, the blade all
+the time moving at an even pace through the water.</p>
+
+<p>(4) The body must swing a little further back
+than on a fixed seat.</p>
+
+<p>(5) Body-swing and slide-back should end at
+the same moment.</p>
+
+<p>(6) As they end, the knees should be pressed
+firmly down so as to enable you to secure the
+last ounce of leg-power from the stretcher. Simultaneously
+with this depression of the legs, the
+hands (and particularly the outside hand, which
+has been doing the main share of the work of
+the stroke all through) must bring the oar-handle
+firmly home to the chest, sweeping it in and thus
+obtaining what is called a firm hard finish. As the
+knees come finally down, the elbows pass the sides,
+and the shoulders move back and downwards.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 50 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) Mr. W. B. Woodgate, in the Badminton
+book on "Boating," says: "Many good
+oarsmen slide until the knees are quite
+straight. In the writer's opinion this is
+waste of power: the knees should never
+quite straighten; the recovery is, for
+anatomical reasons, much stronger if the
+joint is slightly bent when the reversal
+of the machinery commences. The
+extra half-inch of kick gained by quite
+straightening the knees hardly compensates
+for the extra strain of recovery;
+also leg-work to the last fraction of a
+second of swing is better preserved by
+this retention of a slight bend, and an
+open chest and clean finish are thereby
+better attained."</p>
+
+<p>If Mr. Woodgate means that the legs
+are <i>not</i> to be pressed down as the stroke
+finishes, but are to remain loosely bent, I
+differ from him, though, considering his
+high authority, with hesitation and regret.
+As a matter of fact, the front edge of the
+thwart catches the calves of the legs at
+the finish, when the legs are pressed
+down, and prevents the knees from<!-- Page 51 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>
+being <i>absolutely</i> straightened. But I am
+certain that unless an oarsman assures
+his legs in the firm position that I have
+explained, he will lose most valuable
+power at the end of the stroke, and will
+materially increase his difficulty in taking
+his oar clean out of the water and
+generally in getting a smart recovery.
+This final leg-pressure not only supports
+the body in a somewhat trying position,
+but enables the hands to come home to
+the chest without faltering. As on fixed
+seats, it is essential that the body should
+not be pulled forward to meet the oar.
+And it is equally essential that it should
+not sink down or fall away from the
+hands, thus rendering an elastic recovery
+impossible.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>b</i>) The blade, as on fixed seats, must be kept
+fully covered to the finish, and there
+must be power on it to the last fraction
+of an inch. If a man takes his oar out
+of the water before he has fairly ended
+his stroke, and rows his finish in the air,
+or if he partially uncovers his blade and<!-- Page 52 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>
+rows "light," he commits in either case
+a serious fault. In the former case his
+whole body-weight, which ought to be
+propelling the boat, not only ceases to
+have any good effect, but becomes so
+much dead lumber, and actually impedes
+her progress. In the latter he can only
+exert half, or, it may be, one quarter of
+his proper power during an appreciable
+part of the stroke.</p></div>
+
+<p>(7) The drop of the hands, the turn of the
+wrists, the shoot-out of the hands, and the
+straightening of the arms must be performed
+precisely as on a fixed seat, but the legs, meanwhile,
+are to remain braced, so that knees may
+not hamper hands. As soon as ever the hands
+have been shot out, and <i>immediately</i> after the start
+of the forward swing, the slide comes into play,
+and the knees consequently begin to bend outwards
+and upwards. It is very important not to
+pause or "hang" on the recovery.</p>
+
+<p>(8) The recovery movements ought to release
+the body smartly, but care must be taken not to
+hustle the body forward with a rush before the
+arms are straightened. The body <i>begins</i> to swing<!-- Page 53 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>
+<i>from the hips</i> as soon as the hands release it, but
+the swing is to be a slow one.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) Do not begin to slide forward before you
+swing. Let your swing just have the
+precedence, and let it then carry your
+slide with it.</p></div>
+
+<p>(9) The pace of the swing forward must be
+slow and unvarying, and the slide, therefore, must
+also move slowly. The time occupied by the
+swing should be the body's rest.</p>
+
+<p>(10) Remember the fixed-seat instructions as to
+balance against the stretcher with the feet during
+the swing forward, and especially during the latter
+part of it. The fault of tumbling forward over the
+stretcher is far too common, and can only be
+avoided or corrected by maintaining the pressure
+on the stretcher. In fact, never let your body get
+out of control. You ought to feel and to look as
+if at any moment during the swing forward you
+could stop dead at the word of command. Swing
+and slide should practically end together, the
+body "snaking out," as I have heard it expressed,
+in the final part of the swing, but without "pecking"
+over the front-stop. There must be no over-reach
+with the shoulders.<!-- Page 54 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(11) When the body is full forward the knees
+should be opened to about the breadth of the
+arm-pits, the flanks closed in against the thighs.
+The knees should bend steadily and gradually
+into this position, and at the moment of beginning
+they must maintain themselves there and not fall
+loosely apart. Such a movement entails a great
+loss of power at the beginning of the next stroke.
+Nor, on the other hand, ought the knees to be
+clipped together as the stroke begins.</p>
+
+<p>(12) Remember, finally, that grace, erectness,
+straightness of back and arms, and a clean precision,
+balance and elasticity of all movements
+are as important now as they were on fixed seats.
+A man who on slides rounds his back, humps
+up his shoulders, and hollows his chest <i>may</i> do
+good work, but it will be in spite of and not
+because of these serious disfigurements. Only
+by carefully observing fixed rules and by prolonged
+practice will you be able to attain to the
+harmonious ease and elegance by which a comparatively
+weak man can so economize his strength
+as to outrow and outlast some brawny giant who
+wastes his power in useless contortions.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_1" id="PLATE_Sliding_1"></a>
+<a href="images/i_065.jpg"><img src="images/i_065_tn.jpg" width="400" height="276" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Sliding seats No. 1]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 1.&mdash;position at finish of stroke.</span><br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_2" id="PLATE_Sliding_2"></a>
+<a href="images/i_069.jpg"><img src="images/i_069_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 2]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 2.&mdash;position just after finish of stroke.</span>
+<br />
+(<i>As the recovery movements begin, the hands have been dropped and the wrists have begun
+to turn over for feather. Instantaneous Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_3" id="PLATE_Sliding_3"></a>
+<a href="images/i_072.jpg"><img src="images/i_072_tn.jpg" width="400" height="273" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 3]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 3.&mdash;the recovery.</span><br />
+(<i>Arms have been sharply straightened out and the body has been released for the swing.</i>)<br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_4" id="PLATE_Sliding_4"></a>
+<a href="images/i_075.jpg"><img src="images/i_075_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 4]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 4.&mdash;forward position on 16 inch slide level with "work."</span><br />
+(<i>In movement the body would swing a little further forward, the chest pressing against left knee.</i>)<br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_5" id="PLATE_Sliding_5"></a>
+<a href="images/i_079.jpg"><img src="images/i_079_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 5]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 5.&mdash;beginning of stroke.</span><br />
+(<i>Instantaneous Photograph. N.B.&mdash;Head inserted by engraver.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_6" id="PLATE_Sliding_6"></a>
+<a href="images/i_082.jpg"><img src="images/i_082_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 6]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 6.&mdash;position of body about half through stroke.</span><br />
+(<i>Stationary Photograph.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_7" id="PLATE_Sliding_7"></a>
+<a href="images/i_086.jpg"><img src="images/i_086_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 7]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 7.&mdash;position just before finish of stroke.</span><br />
+(<i>The hands have still to come in to chest and a few inches of slide remain for final
+leg-pressure.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_8" id="PLATE_Sliding_8"></a>
+<a href="images/i_089.jpg"><img src="images/i_089_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 8]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 8.&mdash;bad position full forward.</span><br />
+(<i>Overreach with shoulders, head left behind.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_9" id="PLATE_Sliding_9"></a>
+<a href="images/i_093.jpg"><img src="images/i_093_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 9]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 9.&mdash;thoroughly bad position full forward.</span><br />
+(<i>Overreach with shoulders, back doubled over, arms bent, hands heavy on handle. A position
+entailing great labour and resulting in a short weak stroke.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_10" id="PLATE_Sliding_10"></a>
+<a href="images/i_097.jpg"><img src="images/i_097_tn.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 10]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 10.&mdash;a thoroughly bad and very common position at finish.</span><br />
+(<i>Body lying much too far back, elbows sticking out. From such a position a smart and elastic
+recovery is impossible.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Sliding_11" id="PLATE_Sliding_11"></a>
+<a href="images/i_101.jpg"><img src="images/i_101_tn.jpg" width="400" height="277" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Slideing seats No. 11]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">SLIDING SEATS.<br />
+<span class="smcap">No. 11.&mdash;another bad position at finish.</span><br />
+(<i>Body doubled up over handle of oar, elbows sticking out. With the body in this position heart
+and lungs get no chance of working properly.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 55 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.
+<br />
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The novice, having passed successfully
+through his period of apprenticeship, is
+by this time ready, let us suppose, to
+be included in an eight-oared, sliding-seat crew,
+either for his college or for the rowing club to
+which he may happen to belong. He will marvel
+at first at the fragile and delicate fabric of the
+craft in which he is asked to take his place.
+One-eighth of an inch of cedar divides him from
+the waters that are to be the scene of his prowess.
+In stepping into the boat he must exercise the
+greatest care. The waterman and the coxswain
+are firmly holding the riggers, while the oarsman,
+placing a hand on each gunwale to support himself,
+steps cautiously with one foot on to the
+kelson, or backbone of the ship. Then he seats
+himself upon his slide, fits his feet into the stretcher-straps,
+and inserts his oar in the rowlock, finally<!-- Page 56 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>
+getting the button into its proper place by raising
+the handle, and so working at it until the button
+comes in under the string that passes from thole
+to thole, and keeps the oar from flying out of the
+rowlock. His seven companions having performed
+the same feats, the boat is now shoved out from
+the bank, and the work of the day begins.</p>
+
+<p>The oarsman who thus takes his first voyage in
+a racing-ship, built, as all racing-ships are, without
+a keel, must remember that her stability, when
+she contains her crew, is obtained merely by the
+balance of the oars. Remove the oars, and the
+boat would immediately roll over to one side or
+the other, and immerse her crew in the water.
+With eight bodies and oars in a constant state of
+movement, the problem of keeping the boat upon
+an even keel is not an easy one. It can only be
+solved satisfactorily in one way: There must be
+absolute harmony in every movement. The hands
+must come in and out at the same moment and
+at the same level, and the oar-blades must necessarily
+be maintained, on the feather and throughout
+the swing, at the uniform level prescribed for
+them by the harmonious movement of eight pairs
+of hands. The bodies must begin, continue, and<!-- Page 57 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>
+end the swing together; the blades must strike the
+water at precisely the same moment; all the bodies
+must swing back as if released from one spring;
+the slides must move together; the arms bend as
+by one simultaneous impulse; and the eight oar-blades,
+having swept through the water in a uniform
+plane, must leave it as though they were part of
+a single machine, and not moved by eight independent
+wills. When this unison of movements
+has been attained by long and persevering practice,
+marred by frequent periods of disappointment, by
+knuckles barked as the boat rolls and the hands
+scrape along the gunwale, and by douches of cold
+water as the oars splash, then, and not till then,
+may it be said that a crew has got together.</p>
+
+<p>The above details concern the harmony and
+unison of the crew. It is obvious, however, that
+the eight men who compose it may be harmonized
+into almost any kind of style, and it is important,
+therefore, to settle what is the best style&mdash;the style,
+that is, which will secure the greatest possible pace
+at the smallest cost of effort. In the first place,
+then, you must remember and endeavour to apply
+all the instructions I have laid down in the two
+previous chapters. These were framed upon the<!-- Page 58 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>
+supposition that you were trying to qualify yourself
+to row eventually in a light racing-ship. Summing
+these up generally, and without insisting
+again upon details, I may say that you are required
+to have a long, steady, and far-reaching body-swing;
+you must grip the beginning of the stroke well
+behind the rigger at the full reach forward without
+the loss of a fraction of a second, with a vigorous
+spring back of the whole body, so as to apply the
+body-weight immediately to the blade of the oar.
+As your body swings back, your feet are to press
+against the stretcher and drive the slide back, in
+order that, by the combination of body-swing and
+leg-drive, you may retain the power which you
+have applied at the beginning evenly throughout
+the whole of the stroke. It is essential that the
+body should not fall away at the finish, but maintain
+an easy, graceful position, so that, with a final
+pressure of the legs, the swing of the elbows past
+the sides, and a rowing back of the shoulders
+which opens the chest, the hands may be swept
+fair and square home, the oar-blade being meanwhile
+covered, but not more than covered, from the
+moment it enters the water until it is taken clean
+out. The hands must then leave the chest as a<!-- Page 59 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>
+billiard-ball rebounds from the cushion, in order
+that you may have a smart and elastic recovery.
+This swift motion of the hands straightens the
+arms, and releases the body for its forward swing.
+The body-swing forward, as I cannot too often
+repeat, must be slow, especially during its latter
+part; in fact, during that swing, a perfect balance
+must be maintained, the feet being well planted
+against the stretcher. When a man rows in this
+style with seven other men, in absolute time and
+harmony with them, he will find a rhythmical
+pleasure and a delightful ease in movements which
+at the outset were cramped and difficult. Then,
+as he swings his body, grips the water and drives
+his swirling oar-blade through, he will feel that
+every ounce of strength he puts forth has its direct
+and appreciable influence upon the pace of the
+boat. Not for him then will it be to envy the
+bird in its flight, as, with all his muscles braced,
+his lungs clear, and his heart beating soundly, he
+helps to make his craft move like a thing of life
+over the water.</p>
+
+<p>That is the ideal. Let us come down to the
+actual. I will imagine myself to be coaching an
+average crew in a racing-ship.<!-- Page 60 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I must first of all assure myself that the boat is
+properly rigged, and that the men have a fair
+chance of rowing with comfort. The thole-pins
+should stand absolutely straight from the sill of the
+rowlock. If the rowing-pin is bent outwards towards
+the water in the slightest degree, the oar
+will have a tendency to "slice," and a feather
+under water will be the result. The actual wood
+of the rowing-pin, however, should be slightly filed
+away at the bottom, so as to incline a very, very
+little towards the stern of the boat. Care must
+be taken also to have a sufficient width between
+the thole-pins to prevent the oar from locking on
+the full reach. The rowlock-strings must be taut.
+They must have a sufficient pressure on the oar to
+prevent the button being forced out of the rowlock.
+For these and other details, the table of measurements
+given at the end of this chapter should be
+consulted.</p>
+
+<p>In this crew I will suppose that five of the
+members have already had experience in lightship
+rowing. The three others&mdash;bow, No. 3, and
+No. 4&mdash;are quite new to the game. I point out
+to these three, to begin with, the importance of
+balancing the boat by having their arms rigidly<!-- Page 61 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>
+straight as they swing forward, so as to be able,
+by the slightest amount of give and take from the
+shoulders, to counteract any tendency to roll, by
+sitting firmly on their seats, and not shifting about
+to right or to left, and by keeping their feet well
+on the stretchers. That done, the words of command
+will come from the cox. "Get ready all!"
+(At this command, the oarsmen divest themselves
+of all unnecessary clothing.) "Forward all!"
+(The oarsmen swing and slide forward to within
+about two-thirds of the full-reach position, the
+backs of the blades lying flat upon the water.)
+"Are you ready?" (This is merely a call to
+attention.) "Paddle!" (At this the blades are
+turned over square, and immediately grip the water,
+and the boat starts.) During the progress of this
+imaginary crew, I propose to invest them individually
+and collectively with certain faults, and to offer
+suggestions for their improvement, just as if I were
+coaching them from the bank or from a steam-launch.</p>
+
+<p>(1) "Stroke, you're tumbling forward over your
+stretcher. Keep the last part of your swing very
+slow by balancing against the stretcher with your
+feet as you swing forward. That's better. You
+got a beginning twice as hard that time."<!-- Page 62 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(2) "Seven, you're feathering under water.
+Keep pressure on to the very finish of the stroke,
+and drop your hands a little more, so as to get the
+oar out square and clean. Use the legs well at the
+finish."</p>
+
+<p>(3) "Six, you're very slow with your hands.
+Consequently, your body rushes forward to make
+up for lost time. Shoot the hands away quickly,
+with a sharp turn of the inside wrist. Then let the
+body follow slowly."</p>
+
+<p>(4) "Five, you slide too soon and fall away from
+your oar at the finish. Get your shoulders and the
+whole of your body-weight well on to the beginning,
+so as to start swinging back before you drive your
+slide away. At the finish keep your shoulders
+down and sit up well upon your bones."</p>
+
+<p>(5) "Four and three, your blades are coming
+out of the water long before any of the others.
+This is because you are afraid of reaching properly
+forward. You therefore get your oars in scarcely
+if at all behind the rigger, and consequently there
+is not enough resistance to your oar in the water
+to enable you to hold out the stroke fully to the
+finish. Swing, and reach well forward, and let
+your oars strike the beginning at the point to<!-- Page 63 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>
+which your reach has brought it. You may splash
+at first, but with a little confidence you will soon
+get over that. Three, you're late. As you come
+forward you press heavily on the handle of your
+oar, the blade soars up, and is coming down
+through the air when the rest have struck the
+water. Keep your hands, especially the inside one,
+light on the handle of the oar, and let them come
+up as the body swings forward."</p>
+
+<p>(6) "Two, your arms are bending too soon. Try
+to swing back with perfectly straight arms. Don't
+imagine that you can row your stroke merely by
+the power of your arms. Also try and keep your
+shoulders down at the finish and on the recovery."</p>
+
+<p>(7) "Bow, swing back straight. Your body is
+falling out of the boat at the finish. Use the outside
+leg and hand more firmly through the stroke,
+and row the hands a little higher in to the chest;
+also arch the inside of the wrist a little more to
+help you in turning the oar on the feather."</p>
+
+<p>So much for individuals. Now for the crew.</p>
+
+<p>(1) "The finish and recovery are not a bit together.
+I can almost hear eight distinct sounds
+as the oars turn in the rowlocks. Try and lock
+it up absolutely together. There ought to be a<!-- Page 64 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>
+sound like the turning of a key in a well-oiled lock&mdash;sharp,
+single, and definite."</p>
+
+<p>(<i>Note.</i>&mdash;This is a very important point. On
+the unison with which the wrists turn and the
+hands shoot away depends the unison of the next
+stroke. When once, in coaching, you have locked
+your crew together on this point, you will greatly
+decrease the difficulty of the rest of your task.)</p>
+
+<p>(2) "Don't let the boat roll down on the bow
+oars. Stroke side, catch the beginning a little
+sharper. Bow side, when the roll of the boat
+begins, do not give in to it by still further lowering
+your hands. Keep your hands up." (The same
+instruction applies, <i>mutatis mutandis</i>, when the boat
+rolls on the stroke oars. Apart from individual
+eccentricities, a boat is often brought down on the
+one bank of oars by the fact that the opposite side,
+or one or two of them, grip the water a little too
+late.)</p>
+
+<p>(3) "You are all of you slow with your hands.
+Rattle them out sharply, and make your recovery
+much more lively. Steady now! don't rush forward.
+Keep the swing slow and long. You are
+all much too short on the swing, and consequently
+get no length in the water."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 65 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>
+[(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move,
+and mould yourself on their movement."</p>
+
+<p>(5) "You have fallen to pieces again. Use your
+ears as well as your eyes, and listen for the rattle
+of the oars in the rowlocks. Whenever you fall to
+pieces, try to rally on that point. Also plant your
+feet firmly on the stretchers, and use your legs
+more when the boat rolls."</p>
+
+<p>These, I think, are a fair sample of the faults
+that may be found in almost any crew, and to their
+eradication coach and oarsmen have patiently to
+devote themselves.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="PLATE_Crew_1_and_2" id="PLATE_Crew_1_and_2"></a>
+<b>SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.</b>
+</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_105a.jpg"><img src="images/i_105a_tn.jpg" width="400" height="317" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 1]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 1.&mdash;just before full reach.</span><br /></span>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_105b.jpg"><img src="images/i_105b_tn.jpg" width="400" height="319" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 2]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 2.&mdash;full reach.</span><br />
+("<i>Reach out and row!</i>")</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center"><a name="PLATE_Crew_3_and_4" id="PLATE_Crew_3_and_4"></a>
+<b>SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.</b>
+</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_109a.jpg"><img src="images/i_109a_tn.jpg" width="400" height="318" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 3]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 3.&mdash;just after beginning of stroke.<br /></span></span>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_109b.jpg"><img src="images/i_109b_tn.jpg" width="400" height="315" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 4]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 4.&mdash;slides beginning to move.</span></span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center"><a name="PLATE_Crew_5_and_6" id="PLATE_Crew_5_and_6"></a>
+<b>SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.</b>
+</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_114a.jpg"><img src="images/i_114a_tn.jpg" width="400" height="317" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 5]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 5.&mdash;arms about to bend for finish of stroke.</span></span>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_114b.jpg"><img src="images/i_114b_tn.jpg" width="400" height="317" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 6]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 6.&mdash;arms bent for finish of stroke.</span><br />
+("<i>Sit Up No. 3!</i>")</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center"><a name="PLATE_Crew_7_and_8" id="PLATE_Crew_7_and_8"></a>
+<b>SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.</b>
+</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_119a.jpg"><img src="images/i_119a_tn.jpg" width="400" height="315" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 7]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 7.&mdash;a bad lurch on to stroke-side.</span></span>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a href="images/i_119b.jpg"><img src="images/i_119b_tn.jpg" width="400" height="336" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Snapshots of a crew in motion No. 8]" /></a>
+<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">No. 8.&mdash;a lurch on to bow-side.</span></span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Measurements of an Eight-oared
+Racing-Boat.</span></h3>
+
+<p>For purposes of convenience, I have taken the
+following measurements from a boat built by
+Rough for Leander, in 1891. In that year she
+carried a very heavy crew, who won the Grand
+Challenge Cup at Henley in record time. She
+repeated her Grand Challenge victory in 1892 and
+1893, with crews very differently constituted from
+the first one:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Measurements of a boat built by Rough for Leander in 1891.">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="3">ft.</th><th align="right">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(1)</td><td align="left">Length over all</td><td align="right">60</td><td align="right" class="in1">3</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(2)</td><td align="left">Beam amidships, under gunwale</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right" class="in1">11</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right"><!-- Page 66 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>
+(3)</td><td align="left">Depth amidships, under gunwale</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right" class="in1">1</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(4)</td><td align="left">Height of thwarts above skin of boat</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">7&#8539;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(5)</td><td align="left">Height of seats above skin of boat</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">9&#8539;</td><td align="left"><a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(6)</td><td align="left">Height of rowlock sills above seat</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">6&#8542;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(7)</td><td align="left">Height of heels above skin of boat</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">1&frac14;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(8)</td><td align="left">Position of front edge of slide in relation to rowing-pin when well forward</td><td align="center" colspan="2">level</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(9)</td><td align="left">Length of movement of slide</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right" class="in1">4</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(10)</td><td align="left">Distance from rowing-pin, measured horizontally and at right angles to boat, to centre of seat</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="right" class="in1">7</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(11)</td><td align="left">Distance from wood of one thole-pin to wood of the other</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">4&#8542;</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>This boat, like nearly all English Eights, was
+"side-seated," <i>i.e.</i> the centre of the seat, instead of
+being over the kelson, was set away from it, and
+from the outrigger. Bow's and stroke's seats were
+2&frac12; ins. from centre, No. 5's 3&frac12; ins. Nearly all
+Fours and Pairs in England are now centre-seated,
+as are Eights in America. Of course, with centre-seating,
+assuming that you want the same leverage,
+you require a longer outrigger. Otherwise, the
+only difference between the two systems would
+seem to be that with centre-seating you naturally
+align the bodies better.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> A few very short-bodied men have to be "built-up," <i>i.e.</i> their
+seats have to be raised even higher than this to enable them to
+clear their knees and to swing. This, however, should not be done
+unless absolutely necessary, as it tends to make the boat unsteady.<!-- Page 67 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<p>Since 1891 boat-builders have somewhat increased
+the length of the boats they build, and
+it is not uncommon now to find boats with
+a measurement of 63 feet and a few inches
+over all. The boat whose measurements I have
+given had, if I remember rightly, a slightly wider
+beam at No. 3 stretcher than she had amidships. I
+have noticed, and my experience in this respect
+confirms that of Mr. W. B. Woodgate, though it
+is entirely opposed to the Rev. A. T. Shadwell's
+theories, that a boat with a full beam somewhere
+between No. 4 and No. 3 is always a fast one. A
+boat should never dip her head, but should always
+maintain it free.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Measurement of Oars.</span></h3>
+
+<p>On this matter there is now a great divergence
+of opinion amongst rowing men. From 1891
+inclusive up to the present year, the Leander
+crews have, with trifling divergences, rowed with
+oars built on the following measurements:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Measurement of oars of the Leander crew from 1891 onwards.">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="3">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(1)</td><td align="left">Length over all</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(2)</td><td align="left">Length in-board, <i>i.e.</i> measured from rowing face of bottom to end of handle</td><td align="right">3</td><td align="left">8</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">[<i>Note.</i>&mdash;In some cases an extra half-inch was added, which would make the length over all</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left">0&frac12;]</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right"><!-- Page 68 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>
+(3)</td><td align="left">Length of button from top to bottom, measuredin a straight line</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">3&frac14;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(4)</td><td align="left">Length of blade measured over the arc of the scoop</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">7</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">(5)</td><td align="left">Breadth of blade</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">6</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>[<i>Note.</i>&mdash;These are what are called square blades, <i>i.e.</i> the
+widest part came at the end. Barrel blades are those in
+which the widest part comes about the middle. In 1893 an
+extra half-inch was added out-board. In 1896 the length of
+the Leander oars over all was only 11 ft. 11&#8539; ins., the in-board
+measurement being 3 ft. 8 ins. With these oars the Leander
+crew defeated Yale, and in the next heat, after a very severe
+struggle, rowed down and defeated New College, who were
+rowing with oars three inches longer out-board. Here are
+the measurements of the oars with which the Eton crew
+won the Ladies' Plate in 1885&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Measurements of Eton blades in 1885.">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="2">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Over all</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left">6</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">In-board</td><td align="right">3</td><td align="left">7&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length of blade</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">5</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Breadth of blade near shank</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">6&#8540;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Breadth of blade at end</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">5</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>(These blades were "coffin"-shaped on a pattern invented
+by Dr. Warre.)]</p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Measurement of Oars of Oxford Crew, 1890.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="2">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Over all</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left">3&#8539;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">In-board</td><td align="right">3</td><td align="left">8&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length of blade</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">7</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Greatest breadth</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">6&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">(These were barrel blades.)</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+<p>In 1896 the Oxford crew rowed with oars
+measuring 12 ft. 2 ins. over all, with a leverage<!-- Page 69 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>
+of 3 ft. 8&frac14; ins., and blade 6 ins. broad. With these,
+it will be remembered, they rowed down and
+defeated Cambridge, after a magnificent struggle,
+by two-fifths of a length, Cambridge using oars
+measuring some 3 ins. longer out-board. It will
+thus be seen that short oars have a very good
+record to support them&mdash;especially over the
+Henley course. This year, however, a reaction
+took place at Oxford in favour of longer oars
+with narrower blades. The Oxford Eight of
+this year rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 6 ins.
+over all, the extra length being, of course,
+out-board, and their blades were cut down
+to a breadth of 5&frac12; ins. They were, by common
+consent, a very fine crew, but were unable to
+command a fast rate of stroke, and in the race
+against an inferior crew they hardly did themselves
+or their reputation justice. This pattern
+of oar was used by New College at Henley, the
+blades, however, being further cut down to 5&frac14; ins.
+In the final heat of the Grand Challenge Cup, they
+met Leander, who were rowing with 12-ft. oars.
+Leander, rowing a considerably faster stroke, at
+once jumped ahead, and led by a length in three
+minutes. New College, however, came up to<!-- Page 70 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>
+them, still rowing a slower stroke, then picked
+their stroke up, and, after rowing level with
+Leander for about 250 yards, finally defeated them
+by 2 ft. The result of this race cannot be said
+to have settled the question as between long oars
+and short. In the Stewards' Fours, on the other
+hand, Leander, rowing with oars measuring 12 ft.
+&frac12; in. over all, and blades 5&frac34; ins. in breadth, defeated
+New College, rowing with 12 ft. 6 ins. oars, and
+blades of 5&frac12; ins., the leverage in both cases being
+3 ft. 8&frac12; ins. The advocates of the long oar maintain
+that they secure a longer stride, and are thus
+able to economize strength by using a slower rate
+of stroke. Those who favour the shorter ones
+believe that the extra lightness of their implement
+enables them to row a faster stroke without
+unduly tiring themselves. Personally, I found, after
+trying the experiment several times, that Leander
+crews I have coached invariably rowed better and
+commanded more speed in practice with 12 ft. to
+12 ft. 1 in. oars than with oars 3 ins. or 4 ins.
+longer.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Mr. S. Le B. Smith informs me that, to the best of his recollection,
+the oars used by the London Rowing Club, up to 1878,
+measured&mdash;for Eights, 12 ft. 2 ins. all over, and for Fours, 12 ft., the
+inboard measurement being 3 ft. 6&frac12; ins. My impression is that they
+used riggers shorter by 2 ins. than those now in use. Their blades
+were not quite 6 ins. broad.<!-- Page 71 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<p>It must be remembered, finally, that men, as well
+as measurements, have something to do with the
+pace of a crew, and that style and uniformity
+count for a good deal. The advocates of long or
+short oars will always be able to explain a defeat
+sustained by one of their crews by alleging causes
+that are totally unconnected with the measurement
+of the oars. On the other hand, such is
+their enthusiasm, they will attribute the victory
+of their crew entirely to their favourite pattern
+of oar.<!-- Page 72 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.
+<br />
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (<i>continued</i>).</h2>
+
+
+<p>Now that the novice has been safely launched
+in his racing-ship, we may hark back for
+a space and consider some important
+points connected with the organization and
+management of an eight-oared crew. And first
+as to its selection and arrangement.</p>
+
+<p>As a general rule, it may be laid down that
+two middle-weights (men ranging from 11 st. 5 lbs.
+to 11 st. 10 lbs. or even to 12 st.) will be best at
+stroke and No. 7; three heavy-weights (12 st. 4 lbs.
+and upwards) will suit for No. 6, No. 5, and No. 4;
+then with two more middle-weights at No. 3 and
+No. 2, and a light-weight (10 st. to 11 st. 3 lbs.
+or so) at bow, your crew will be complete. This
+sounds easy enough, but in practice the matter
+is complicated by a hundred difficulties, such as
+(<i>a</i>) a superfluity or (<i>b</i>) a total absence of good<!-- Page 73 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>
+heavy-weights; (<i>c</i>) the absence of any good
+middle-weights possessing the peculiar qualities
+necessary for stroke and No. 7; and (<i>d</i>) the inability
+of good oars to row on one side or the other
+of the boat, for you may find that of six valuable
+oars whom you may want to include in a crew,
+every one will tell you that he can only row on
+the stroke side or the bow side, as the case may
+be. In theory, of course, every man ought to be
+able to row equally well on both sides. In practice
+it will be found that most men, apart from
+any conscious preference on their own part, do
+better work on one side than on the other, while
+some are absolutely useless if shifted from the
+side they prefer. This last class is, however, not
+nearly so numerous as it used to be; and if, for
+instance, you consult the list of victorious Oxford
+crews from 1890 up to the present year, and compare
+it further with lists of Leander crews and
+Oxford College crews, you will see that a very
+large number of men have rowed and won races
+on both sides of the boat. I may mention
+specially Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. C. W. Kent,
+Mr. W. A. L. Fletcher, Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, Mr.
+W. F. C. Holland, Mr. H. B. Cotton, Mr. M. C.<!-- Page 74 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>
+Pilkington, Mr. C. D. Burnell, Mr. T. H. E.
+Stretch, Mr. C. K. Philips, Mr. C. M. Pitman, and
+Mr. H. G. Gold. On the other hand, I cannot
+remember&mdash;to take only two instances of excellent
+heavies&mdash;that Mr. E. G. Tew or Mr. W. Burton
+Stewart ever rowed except on the bow side.</p>
+
+<p>All such difficulties the captain and coach of
+a crew must overcome as best they can. In any
+case they will find it advisable to put their lighter
+men in the stern and the bows, dumping down
+their heavies in the waist of the boat, where they
+will have more room, and where it will be easier
+to correct the clumsiness which is often associated
+with great weight.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Stroke.</span></h3>
+
+<p>For stroke I like a man of not more than twelve
+stone. A few good strokes, <i>e.g.</i> the late Mr. J.
+H. D. Goldie, have topped this weight by a few
+pounds. But a real heavy-weight is almost invariably
+slow and lacking in initiative when placed
+at stroke, although, in the middle of the boat, with
+another man acting as fugleman for him, he may
+be able to row perfectly well at any rate of stroke
+that may be set to him. A long-backed, supple-<!-- Page 75 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>jointed
+man is of course best, for the short-backed,
+long-legged man invariably has trouble in clearing
+his knees, and consequently develops faults of
+style which it is hard to eradicate or even to
+reduce when he has no model in front of him.
+These faults will therefore exercise a very deleterious
+influence on the rest of the crew. As to
+temperament, I should select a good fighter, a
+man, that is, who would rather die than abandon
+the struggle, and whose fiery determined nature
+does not exclude perfect coolness and mastery
+over himself when a crisis calls for resource. Let
+me cite some examples.</p>
+
+<p>I may begin my list with Mr. H. P. Marriott and
+Mr. C. D. Shafto, the Oxford and Cambridge strokes
+of 1877, the dead-heat year. It is rare indeed
+to find two such splendid performers matched
+against one another. Mr. L. R. West, the Oxford
+stroke of 1880, 1881, and 1883, was as good a
+stroke as ever came to the University from Eton.
+He only weighed eleven stone, but his style was
+simply perfect. The finest demonstration of his
+racing judgment was given when he took his crew
+off at the start in 1883, and left Cambridge, on
+whom odds of three to one had been laid, struggling<!-- Page 76 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>
+hopelessly in the rear. More familiarly known to
+me was the rowing of Mr. F. I. Pitman. In the
+University Boat Race of 1886 both crews started
+at a very fast rate, and rowed little under thirty-eight
+to the minute all the way to Hammersmith
+Bridge, which was passed by Cambridge with a
+trifling lead. Immediately afterwards a strong
+head-wind and a rough sea were encountered; the
+rate of stroke in both boats dropped to about
+thirty-two, and Oxford began to forge steadily
+ahead, until at Barnes Bridge they led by nearly
+two lengths. Here the water was again smooth,
+and Mr. F. I. Pitman, the Cambridge stroke,
+nerved himself for a supreme effort. With a
+wonderful spurt he picked it up, and in the first
+half-minute after Barnes, actually rowed twenty-one
+strokes, and in the full minute forty. The
+result of the race in favour of Cambridge is a
+matter of history; but, even had Cambridge lost,
+the merits of that wonderful spurt would have
+remained as striking.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 275px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Mr_Kent" id="PLATE_Mr_Kent"></a>
+<a href="images/i_135.jpg"><img src="images/i_135_tn.jpg" width="275" height="400" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Mr. Kent.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">MR. C. W. KENT.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Mr. C. W. Kent, of Oxford and Leander fame,
+is another remarkable instance of a born stroke.
+He rarely rowed as much as eleven stone, and his
+general appearance outside a boat hardly gave<!-- Page 77 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>
+promise of his marvellous vigour and endurance in
+a race. He is a loose-limbed, long-armed man,
+with no superfluous flesh, and with very little
+muscle. In any purely gymnastic competition he
+would stand no chance whatever. Yet it is not
+too much to say that as stroke of an Eight or a
+Four no man has ever been of greater value, none
+has a more brilliant record of victories secured by
+his own courage and resource after desperate
+struggles. He was not a very easy man to follow
+in the early stages of practice, but when once he
+had got his crew together behind him, he had the
+most absolute control over them, and could always
+get the last possible ounce of work out of them,
+and yet leave himself with sufficient vigour to
+wind them up to a final extra spurt if the necessity
+arose. His crew behind him became a single
+living entity, on which he could play as a musician
+plays on an instrument over which he has perfect
+command. He seemed to have a sort of intuitive
+knowledge, not merely of the capacity of his own
+crew, but also of the capacity of his opponents, at
+any given moment in a race. And he had, moreover,
+the gift&mdash;inestimably valuable in a stroke&mdash;of
+taking his men along at their best pace while<!-- Page 78 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>
+economizing his own strength, thus always leaving
+himself with a margin to put in extra work and
+pace when a close finish required them. For there
+is no crew, however hard the men may have worked,
+and however greatly they may be exhausted, that
+cannot screw itself up to follow if only their stroke
+will give them a lead. Mr. Kent's record of
+brilliant achievements begins in 1889, when, as
+stroke of the Brasenose crew, with Mr. W. F.
+C. Holland at No. 7, he maintained his boat at the
+head of the river against the repeated attacks of a
+considerably stronger and faster New College crew.
+In 1890 he was stroke of a Brasenose four at
+Henley. In one of the preliminary heats of the
+Stewards' Cup, this crew defeated a strong Leander
+Four by two feet. In the final heat they had to
+meet the Thames Rowing Club. At Fawley
+Court, the halfway point, Thames had secured a
+lead of two lengths, and were apparently rowing
+well within themselves. From here, however, Mr.
+Kent began an extraordinary series of spurts.
+With a relentless persistence, his crew rowing as
+one man behind him, he drove his boat inch by
+inch up to the Thames boat, drew level with
+them about 300 yards from the finish, and then,<!-- Page 79 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>
+reinvigorated by the sight of his rivals, sailed past
+them and won the race by something more than a
+length. In 1891, as stroke of the Leander Eight
+he still further distinguished himself. Rowing
+from the unsheltered station against a strong
+"Bushes" wind, he just managed by a final effort
+to avert defeat at the hands of the Thames Rowing
+Club, and made a dead heat of it. On the following
+day, there being no wind, Leander beat Thames
+by two lengths, and in the final heat beat the
+London Rowing Club by a length. Again, in the
+final heat of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1894, he
+won another terrible race from the worse station
+by half a length against the Thames Rowing Club.
+No one who saw that extraordinary race can
+forget the wonderful succession of efforts put forth
+both by Mr. Kent and by the Thames stroke,
+Mr. J. C. Gardner, a very fine and powerful oar,
+who had stroked Cambridge to victory in '88
+and '89. Time after time did Mr. Gardner force
+his boat almost level with Leander, and time
+after time Mr. Kent just stalled him off and
+reasserted his crew's lead, until at the last he
+went in with horse, foot, and artillery, and won
+the furious contest. I cannot forbear citing<!-- Page 80 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>
+another instance which shows merit as great,
+though of a different order, in this remarkable
+stroke. In 1891 he stroked the Oxford Eight, a
+crew of very heavy metal, but not well arranged,
+and containing one welter-weight, who, in consequence
+of a severe attack of influenza during the
+earlier stages of training, could not be depended
+upon to last at top pressure over the whole of a
+course of four miles and a quarter. In fact,
+Oxford, considering their material, were unaccountably
+slow, and Cambridge, admirably
+stroked by Mr. G. E. Elin, were as unaccountably
+fast. The race, it will be remembered, was a very
+close one, and was won by Oxford by only half
+a length. During its progress there were many
+temptations to Mr. Kent, a man whose favourite
+rate of stroke was as a rule not less than forty, to
+increase the pace. He saw the Cambridge crew
+hanging doggedly on to him, and there were not
+wanting voices from his own crew to urge him to
+pick it up. But Mr. Kent knew the capacity of his
+crew, and knew that, though a fast spurt might
+give him a temporary advantage, it would leave
+him in all probability with a completely exhausted
+heavy-weight on his hands to struggle hopelessly<!-- Page 81 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>
+against Cambridge's next effort. So he resolutely
+kept the stroke slow until he got to Chiswick, where
+he made his only effort, a slight one, it is true, but
+just sufficient to give him a margin on which he
+could win the race.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Mr_Gold" id="PLATE_Mr_Gold"></a>
+<a href="images/i_140.jpg"><img src="images/i_140_tn.jpg" width="321" height="400" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Mr. Gold.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">MR. H. G. GOLD.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>I have dwelt at some length on Mr. Kent's
+performances, because I think that he showed in
+the highest degree all the qualities that make a
+man a good stroke in spite of the absence of mere
+brute strength. Mr. C. M. Pitman, who as a
+freshman stroked Oxford in 1892, was a worthy
+successor to Mr. Kent. The three Oxford crews
+stroked by him won with comparative ease, a
+result of which the credit in a very large share
+must go to Mr. Pitman, who proved his judgment
+and coolness, not only in the races, but during
+practice against scratch Eights. Mr. H. G. Gold's
+remarkable victories are too recent to require any
+comment beyond the statement that they stamp
+him as one of the company of really great strokes.</p>
+
+<p>Of non-University strokes, the best I have seen
+have been Mr. J. Hastie, of the Thames R.C.; Mr.
+F. L. Playford, of the London R.C.; Mr. J. A.
+Drake-Smith, of the Thames R.C.; and Mr. G. B.
+James, of the London R.C. The three last of<!-- Page 82 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>
+these possessed, in addition to considerable natural
+strength and endurance, a rhythmical ease and
+finished elegance which made their rowing a
+pleasure to the eye, and rendered it easy for a crew
+to shake together behind them. Mr. Hastie had
+enormous power and perfect judgment, and no man
+ever knew better exactly how and when to crack
+up an opposing crew.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">No. 7.</span></h3>
+
+<p>This position is every whit as important as that
+of stroke. Indeed, I have known many crews that
+were made by a good No. 7, in spite of an inferior
+or an inexperienced stroke. Of the converse
+I cannot at this moment remember any instances.
+No. 7 is the keystone of the crew. If he fits perfectly
+into his place, the whole fabric remains firm;
+if he fits badly, it will crumble to pieces at the first
+shock.</p>
+
+<p>It is the duty of No. 7 to weld the two sides of
+the crew into harmony, to transmit to the rest
+of the crew the initiative of the stroke-oar, to be
+ever on the watch to make stroke's task an easy
+one by following him implicitly and immediately.
+But, more than this, a good No. 7 can control and<!-- Page 83 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>
+manage an inexperienced stroke, can check him
+when he attempts to hurry unduly, can inspirit him
+and renew his energies when he shows signs of
+flagging. The style and elegance of a crew depend
+even more upon No. 7 than they do upon stroke.
+Therefore select for this position a man whose
+movements are graceful, rhythmical and easy, who
+can show style in his own rowing, and thus instil
+it into the rest of the crew. It is important for
+No. 7 that he too should be able to economize his
+power in a race. I do not mean that he is to be
+a "sugarer" (a word we use to indicate a man who
+may show style, but who never works honestly),
+but he must row with judgment. I have seen
+many very big men row well at No. 7, but I should
+always prefer a man of the stamp of the late Mr.
+H. E. Rhodes, the late Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss,
+Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, and Mr. W. E. Crum. These
+were all born No. 7's, though the reputation of the
+first was chiefly gained at stroke. Still, I consider
+that his best rowing was shown in 1876, when he
+rowed No. 7 of the Cambridge crew behind Mr.
+C. D. Shafto. Those who can recall the marvellous
+flexibility and adaptable ease of Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss,
+and who have seen similar qualities exhibited<!-- Page 84 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>
+by Mr. Rowe and Mr. Crum, will realize what
+I mean when I insist upon the importance of grace,
+rhythm, and elegance, in a word, of style in a
+No. 7. You can rarely, of course, count upon such
+a paragon for your No. 7, but at any rate get a
+man who approaches more nearly than the rest to
+this ideal.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">No. 6.</span></h3>
+
+<p>This, again, is a very important place; for your
+No. 6 must back up stroke, and must, by genuine
+hard work, take as much as possible of the burden
+off stroke's shoulders. Choose for the position
+a man who combines great weight and power and
+endurance with a large share of experience, a man
+who can row every stroke hard, and by his swing
+can help to keep it long. Mr. S. D. Muttlebury,
+in the Cambridge crews of 1886 and 1887, was such
+a No. 6. Such, too, was Mr. W. A. L. Fletcher, in
+the Oxford and Leander crews of a later date, and
+such is the veteran Mr. Guy Nickalls at the present
+time. It must be an inspiration to the rest of the
+crew to have the broad back of this iron oarsman
+swinging up and down with an untiring vehemence,
+and slogging at every stroke as if he had no<!-- Page 85 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>
+thought whatever of the strokes that had to come
+after. But then Mr. Nickalls is equally at home
+at No. 5 in an Eight; and as stroke-oar of a Four or
+pair&mdash;a position from which he invariably steers
+the boat&mdash;he is to my mind unapproachable. He
+would not himself assert that he was a model of
+elegance, but for power and endurance, and for the
+knack of infusing these qualities into the rest of
+the crew, no man has ever, in my experience, surpassed,
+and very few indeed have equalled, him.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">No. 5 and No. 4.</span></h3>
+
+<p>These two are places which require weight and
+power. The details of elegance and polish are
+not here so important, though it is, of course, well
+to secure them if you can. A No. 5 who swings
+long and steadily is of the utmost value, and the
+same may be said of No. 4. For instance, no
+small part of the merit of the Oxford and Leander
+crews in which he rowed was due to Mr. W. B,
+Stewart, their No. 5. A very tall, well-built, and
+extremely powerful man, he rowed, I think, with
+the longest swing I have ever seen. It was for
+this quality that we picked him out of his college
+crew, when he was a comparative novice, and<!-- Page 86 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>
+gave him No. 5's seat in the Leander crew of 1893,
+and his rowing in that crew and in others subsequently
+proved the correctness of our judgment.
+The late Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, too, was a remarkable
+No. 5, a position in which, however, he only
+rowed once, viz. in the Leander crew of 1896.
+He was then certainly, for style and power
+combined, the best heavy-weight oar at Henley
+Regatta. Mr. Broughton, of the Thames Rowing
+Club, was another fine example of what a No. 5
+ought to be&mdash;a really slashing oar of wonderful
+power. I might use the same words to describe
+Mr. R. S. Kindersley, of the Oxford crews of 1880,
+1881, and 1882. Amongst good No. 4's, I should
+specially select Mr. S. Swann, in the Cambridge
+crew of 1884; Mr. C. B. P. Bell, of the Cambridge
+crews of 1888 and 1889; and Mr. F. E. Robeson,
+of the splendid Oxford crew of 1892.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">No. 3 and No. 2.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Of these positions little need be said. Weight
+here ceases to be of great importance compared
+with briskness and liveliness of movement. Yet
+instances are not wanting of genuine heavy-weights
+who rowed at No. 3 in fast crews. Mr. E. F.<!-- Page 87 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>
+Henley, in the Oxford crew of 1866, rowed at
+12 st. 13 lbs.; Mr. P. W. Taylor, in the Oxford
+crew of 1885, and Mr. W. B. Stewart, in the Oxford
+crew of 1894, were placed at No. 3 in spite of
+their weighing well over 13 st.; and Mr. Vivian
+Nickalls, in the Leander crew of 1891, was little
+short of this weight. But where these cases have
+occurred, they were generally due to the fact that
+the authorities had at their disposal a great
+number of really good heavy-weights, and, rather
+than lose one of them, they placed him at No. 3.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Bow.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Bow should be light, alert, compact, springy
+and cat-like, and a good waterman. Such discomforts
+as may exist in a boat seem to concentrate
+themselves at bow's seat. He has less
+room than any other man in the boat, and any
+unsteadiness affects him more. I can recall a
+long list of good bows, but none better than
+Mr. W. A. Ellison of Oxford, Mr. R. G. Gridley
+of Cambridge, Mr. C. W. Hughes of the Thames
+R.C., Mr. W. F. C. Holland and the late Mr.
+H. B. Cotton of Oxford, and Mr. C. W. N. Graham<!-- Page 88 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>
+of Leander fame. The last two rarely rowed as
+much as ten stone, but their work was remarkable.
+In their respective college crews, they
+proved that they could row at stroke just as well
+as at the other end of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, a captain of a crew must remember,
+if with these great examples before his eyes he
+feels inclined, as he runs over his list of available
+oars, to despair of getting together a good crew,
+that wonderful results have been achieved by
+college captains who had to draw their men from
+a comparatively narrow field, and were often
+forced by the exigencies of the case to fill places
+in their boats with men who were far removed
+from ideal perfection.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 89 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.
+<br />
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (<i>continued</i>).</h2>
+
+
+<p>From the hints given in the preceding chapter
+it will have been gathered that good oarsmen
+are of all sizes and weights. But it
+must not be forgotten that no small part of the
+motive-power of a crew comes from heavy men.
+By weight I do not, of course, mean that which
+results from mere adipose deposit; but weight,
+as it is usually found amongst young men, that
+depends on the size of the frame and the limbs,
+and on their due covering of muscle and sinew. I
+cannot, therefore, too strongly advise a captain or
+a coach to spare no labour and no patience in
+endeavouring to teach big men how to row. There
+will be disappointments. Every one who has experience
+of rowing must remember at least one
+massive and magnificent giant who failed to learn,
+in spite of infinite pains on his own part and on<!-- Page 90 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>
+the part of those who had to teach him. Out of a
+boat he may have looked the very model of what
+a heavy-weight oarsman should be&mdash;erect, strong,
+well-proportioned, supple, and active. But put
+him in a boat, and at once he suffered a river
+change. His muscles turned into pulp, his chest
+became hollow, his arms and legs were mere
+nerveless attachments, and his whole body
+assumed the shapelessness of a sack of potatoes.
+In the end, after many days, the hopeless effort
+had to be sadly abandoned, and the would-be
+oarsman returned to the rough untutored struggles
+of the football field, or the intoxicating delights
+of lawn-tennis and golf. But, on the other hand,
+there are innumerable instances to prove that a
+big man who has never touched an oar before
+he came to Oxford or Cambridge, or joined one
+of the Metropolitan clubs, may, by care and perseverance,
+be turned into the pride and mainstay
+of his crew. Therefore, I say, persist with big
+and heavy men, in spite of occasional discouragements;
+for there is more advantage to a crew
+in one rough thirteen-stoner who really works and
+swings than in two light-weights polished <i>ad
+unguem</i>.<!-- Page 91 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In the shapes of oarsmen, again, every kind
+of variety may be found, not merely in minor
+details, but in the whole physical characteristics
+of their bodies. Bob Coombes, the professional
+champion of 1846, 1847, and 1851, has recorded
+his opinion that the best physical type of oarsman
+is the man who is, amongst other things, deep-chested
+and straight and full in the flanks; who,
+in other words, has no waist to speak of. To this
+type Mr. S. D. Muttlebury and Mr. Guy Nickalls
+conform, and there can be no doubt that it is the
+best. But I have known oarsmen who varied
+from it in every detail, and yet did magnificent
+work in a crew. I have already mentioned Mr.
+C. W. Kent, and I may add another example
+in Mr. H. Willis, of the Leander Club, a very
+finished and valuable oar, who has given his proofs
+not only in an Eight, but also as No. 3 of the
+winning Stewards' Four at Henley Regatta this
+year. Mr. Willis is tall and loose-jointed. He
+is not furnished with any great quantity of muscle,
+and his modesty will not resent my adding that,
+though he has a well-framed chest, he also possesses
+a very distinct waist. I might multiply
+such instances; but they may all be summed up<!-- Page 92 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>
+in the statement that a really good oarsman is
+never of a bad shape&mdash;for rowing. The ultimate
+test is to be found not in the examination of his
+muscle or the measurement of his frame, but in
+the careful and patient observation of his work
+while he is actually engaged in rowing. A mere
+weed, of course, cannot row to advantage; but
+I have seen more than one instance of so-called
+weeds who eventually developed under the influence
+of the exercise into solid and capable oars.
+And, as a rule, there is more promise in the
+comparative weakling than in the gymnast whose
+tight binding of muscles impedes the freedom and
+alertness of his limbs.</p>
+
+<p>We may now consider how the practice of an
+ordinary eight-oared crew should be conducted.
+There is a certain amount of difference of opinion
+as to how long a crew should remain in their tub&mdash;that
+is, in their clinker-built boat&mdash;before taking
+to the racing-ship. Most college captains, I think,
+keep their men in the heavy boat too long. Four
+or five days are, I think, an amply sufficient period.
+Experienced oars are none the better for rowing
+in a heavy boat, and novices who have much to
+learn in watermanship, and want a long period for<!-- Page 93 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>
+the learning, can be taught the requisite lessons
+only in a light ship. The difficulties of sitting
+such a ship are, as a rule, much exaggerated;
+and the young oar who watches the scratch crews
+rowing against a University crew, or sees a
+Leander Eight setting out for the first time, is
+apt to be surprised when he notes how eight men,
+who have never rowed together before, can move
+along with uniformity and steadiness. There are,
+no doubt, difficulties of balance and quickness
+in light ship rowing; but the sooner these are
+faced the better for all concerned. I am assuming,
+of course, that the novice has been already drilled
+in the manner described in previous chapters.</p>
+
+<p>As to the total length of the period of practice
+from the start to the day of the race, that must,
+and does, vary according to circumstances. A
+University crew practising for a long race will
+be at work generally from about the middle of
+January until towards the end of March, some ten
+weeks in all. Cambridge college crews have six
+weeks, Oxford college crews only about four, for
+the college races. A London, Thames, or Kingston
+crew can command at least seven weeks for the
+practice of its Henley crew. On the other hand,<!-- Page 94 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>
+no winning Leander crew that I have known has
+ever practised for more than three weeks as a
+combination; though individual members of it,
+who had not been at work since the previous year,
+may have been taking rowing exercise on their
+own account for some little time before the eight
+got to work. As a typical example, I may take
+the remarkable Leander crew of 1896. Five
+members of this crew&mdash;Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. J.
+A. Ford, Mr. C. W. N. Graham, Mr. T. H. E.
+Stretch, and Mr. H. Willis&mdash;had had no rowing
+exercise for a year; one, Mr. W. F. C. Holland,
+had not worked, except for a casual regatta in
+Portugal, since the final of the Grand Challenge
+Cup in 1893; the other two, Mr. H. Gold and
+Mr. R. Carr, had been in regular practice at
+Oxford or at Putney since the previous October.
+Two weeks before practice in the Eight began,
+Messrs. Holland, Ford, Stretch, and Graham
+began work in a Four, with Mr. Graham, the
+eventual bow of the Eight, at stroke. Mr. Willis
+had half this period of preliminary practice in
+a pair. Mr. Nickalls had for some weeks been
+working at Putney in a Four and a pair. Just
+three clear weeks before the first day of Henley<!-- Page 95 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>
+Regatta the Eight was launched; but it was not
+until three days after this that Mr. Nickalls was
+able to come into the boat, and the crew for the
+first time rowed in its final order, the advent of
+Mr. Nickalls resulting in four changes in its
+arrangement. And yet this crew defeated Yale
+University, who had been practising for months,
+and other crews, composed of good material, that
+had been together for six or seven weeks. I have
+in my mind, too, another crew, a combination
+of three Oxonians, two Cantabs, two Etonians,
+and one Radleian, who, on one week's practice,
+managed to beat over a one-mile course the
+Eights of the London and Thames clubs, in spite
+of their ten or eleven weeks of practice.</p>
+
+<p>I do not wish to have it inferred from the foregoing
+facts that in my opinion those crews are likely
+to turn out best which practise together for a very
+short time. Still, the qualities of skill, keenness of
+enthusiasm, strength, condition, and racing ability,
+are factors in success even more important than
+length of practice. It ought, of course, to be true
+that if you could get two crews equally matched as
+regards these qualities that which had had the
+longer period of practice should win because of its<!-- Page 96 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>
+greater uniformity. Moreover, in most cases extra
+length of practice <i>up to a certain point</i> ought to
+imply superiority of condition. Beyond that point
+a crew, though it maintains its outward uniformity
+and style, will fall off in pace, because overwork
+will have dulled the edge of its energies, and robbed
+it of the brisk animation that marks the rowing of
+men trained to the very needle-point of perfect
+condition. And on the whole, taking condition
+and the risks of staleness into account, I should
+prefer to take my chances for an ordinary race with
+a crew that had practised from four to five weeks,
+rather than with one that had been at it for ten or
+eleven. I leave out of account the Oxford and
+Cambridge boat-race, both because of the length
+of the course over which it is rowed, and on account
+of the frequent changes to which the authorities
+generally find themselves compelled to resort.
+And even for this race, if a president could at the
+outset be absolutely certain as to the general composition
+of the crew, he would find, I think, that a
+period of seven weeks at the outside would be
+fully sufficient for him and his men. The whole
+matter amounts to this, that a captain or a coach
+must consider carefully all the circumstances of his<!-- Page 97 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>
+case&mdash;the skill, the condition, the experience and
+the strength of his men, and the distance over
+which they have to race, and must decide on the
+period of practice accordingly. I cannot on paper
+lay down any fixed general rule for his guidance,
+but can only bring before him a few detached considerations
+which may be useful to him as food for
+reflection. For my own part, I may add that I
+have never found the least difficulty, even after a
+year's rest from rowing, in getting into very good
+racing condition on three or four weeks of work.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">How to arrange the Daily Work of
+an Eight.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Let the real hard work be done in the earlier
+stages of practice. You thus accustom your men
+to one another, and you grind them into a uniformity
+which makes all their subsequent work
+easier. This plan has been very successfully
+followed by Oxford crews. Before they get to
+Putney they will have rowed over the long course
+of four miles some ten times. As a result,
+the men are hard and row well together; and
+during their stay at Putney it is found possible<!-- Page 98 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>
+to ease them in their work, so as to bring them
+fresh and vigorous to the post on the day of the
+race. Supposing you have five weeks for practice,
+you ought, I think, during the first fortnight to
+row your crew over the racing course at least four
+times. During the next ten days one full course
+will be sufficient. The work of the last ten days
+must vary according to the condition of the men,
+but two half courses and one full course at a racing
+stroke will probably be found sufficient. Save for
+the rare case of an exceptionally long row, a
+practice of about an hour and a half every day is
+enough. At Henley all crews practise twice a
+day, but I do not think they spend more than two
+hours, if so much, on the water every day.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Rate of Stroke.</span></h3>
+
+<p>The practice rate for paddling ought not in the
+early stages to be less than twenty-eight to the
+minute, which you may raise two points when
+rowing hard. Later on, when your men are doing
+their rowing work at thirty-six or more, and when
+they are, or ought to be, well together, you may
+drop the rate of paddling to twenty-six or twenty-five,
+in order to give them periods of rest, and to<!-- Page 99 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>
+instil into them that steadiness of swing which
+they are apt to neglect when engaged in the effort
+of working up the stroke to racing pace. For a
+course of a mile to a mile and a half, a crew should
+be able to start at forty, continue at thirty-eight,
+and, if necessary, finish at forty in the race. Even
+for the Putney to Mortlake course a crew ought to
+be able to command forty at a pinch. As a rule,
+however, over a four-mile course a crew will go
+quite fast enough if it starts for not more than a
+minute at thirty-seven to thirty-eight, and continues,
+in the absence of a head-wind at an average
+of thirty-five.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> At Henley most crews will start off
+at forty-one to forty-two for the first minute, and
+continue at thirty-nine. Anything higher than
+this is dangerous, though on a course of two-thirds
+of a mile I have known a Four to row forty-six
+in the first minute with advantage.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Against a head-wind the rate of stroke must be slower. A
+coach's instructions would be, "Swing down and reach out well,
+and swing hard back against the wind." A following wind makes
+a crew very unsteady, unless they remember that, since the pace of
+the boat is increased by the wind, they must catch the beginning
+sharper, to prevent the boat running away from them, and take their
+oars out even quicker and cleaner than before, in order to prevent
+the boat catching them up, as it were. Above all, they must keep
+the swing slow when they have a following wind.<!-- Page 100 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<p>These instructions are intended to apply to light
+racing ships. For the clinker-built fixed-seat boats
+that are used at Oxford and Cambridge for the
+Torpids and Lent races, a racing rate of thirty-seven
+ought to be high enough, seeing that the
+crews are mainly composed of young oars. The
+second division crews of the Cambridge "May"
+races row with slides, but in heavy, clinker-built
+boats. The advantages of this arrangement are
+not obvious. Still, these crews ought to be able to
+race at thirty-six to thirty-seven. As a rule, however,
+when I have seen them practising a minute's
+spurt, nearly all of them seem to have imagined
+that thirty-two strokes were amply sufficient for
+racing purposes.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Paddling.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Paddling should be to rowing what an easy
+trot is to racing speed on the cinder-path. A
+crew when paddling is not intended to exert
+itself unduly, but to move at a comfortable pace
+which excludes any sense of fatigue, and enables
+the men to give their best attention to perfecting
+themselves in style, and to harmonizing their
+individual movements with those of the rest.<!-- Page 101 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>
+In paddling men do not slash at the beginning
+so hard, nor do they grind the rest of the stroke
+through with the same power as when rowing.
+Less violent energy is put into the work, and
+the stroke consequently does not come through
+so fast. The rate of paddling must therefore be
+slower than that of rowing, since each stroke
+takes a longer time for its completion. As a
+rule, too, the blade is in paddling not quite
+so deeply covered, and cannot make the same
+rushing swirl under water. During the earlier
+stages of practice paddling is merely easier
+rowing; it is not so sharply distinguished from
+hard rowing as it becomes later on. At the
+outset it is necessary to make your crew both
+paddle and row with a full swing, in order to
+get length ineradicably fixed in their style. But
+later on a coach may tell his men, when he
+asks them to paddle, not only to use the easier
+movements prescribed above, but also to rest
+themselves additionally by using a somewhat
+shortened swing. Then, when they are to row,
+he must call on them to swing forward and reach
+out longer; to swing back harder and longer,
+with a more vigorous beginning; and to put<!-- Page 102 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>
+more force into their leg-drive. A very useful plan,
+especially for the purpose of getting a crew finally
+together, is to make them do long stretches of
+paddling varied here and there by about a dozen
+or twenty strokes of rowing, care being taken,
+however, not to allow the paddling to get dead and
+dull, and a special point being made of getting the
+rowing not only hard, but very long.</p>
+
+<p>Paddling is a difficult art to learn, and only
+the very best crews paddle really well with
+balance, rhythm, and ease. Many a time I have
+seen a good crew and an inferior one paddling
+along the course together, and almost invariably
+the good crew, which had mastered the trick of
+paddling at a slow stroke and with perfect ease,
+was distanced. Yet a moment afterwards, when
+they ranged up alongside, and started together
+for a two minutes' burst of rowing, the good crew
+would leave its opponents as though they were
+standing still.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">How to work the Stroke up to Racing Pace.</span></h3>
+
+<p>There comes a time in the history of every crew
+when, having been plodding along comfortably at<!-- Page 103 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>
+thirty-four, they suddenly realize that the race
+is barely a week off, that if they are to have any
+chance of success they must raise the stroke, and
+that they don't know how on earth it is to be
+done, seeing that they have usually felt pretty
+well cleaned out after rowing even a half course
+at their present rate. However, they generally do
+manage <i>tant bien que mal</i> to get it done, and find
+in the end that thirty-eight is not really much more
+difficult for men in good training than thirty-four.</p>
+
+<p>The best plan, I think, is to devote the greater
+part of an afternoon's practice to short rows of
+half a minute and a minute at, say, thirty-seven,
+and to wind up with three minutes of this. On
+that day there will probably be at first a
+terrible amount of rushing and splashing. On
+the following day you will find that things have
+settled down, and you will be able to row for
+five minutes at the faster rate. On the third day
+practise short pieces again at thirty-eight, thirty-nine,
+forty; and on the fourth day row your full
+course at as fast a rate as you can command.
+A coach should impress upon his crew that a
+fast stroke is to be secured not by rushing forward
+with the bodies, but by rattling away the hands<!-- Page 104 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>
+quicker and by increasing the force employed in
+forcing the oar through the water. The pace of
+the bodies on the forward swing, though, of course,
+it does increase, should feel as if it were slower.
+<i>Relatively to the rate of stroke used</i>, it is, in fact,
+slower at a fast than at a slow stroke. The best
+stroke-oars have been men who fully realized this,
+and who, either in breaking from a paddle into
+a row, or in spurting during a hard piece of rowing,
+gave their crew a delightful sense of steadiness
+and balance, which enabled them to put their
+utmost energies into every stroke.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Practice in Starting.</span></h3>
+
+<p>During the week preceding the race a coach
+should devote a great part of his attention to the
+task of getting his crew quick off the mark. If a
+crew starts in a brisk and lively manner, and gets
+pace on its boat immediately, it is far more likely
+to continue well, so long as its strength and condition
+last, than a crew that ponderously drags its
+boat off, with the notion that it can put pace on
+later. At the end of half a minute the lively crew
+would be well ahead&mdash;no small moral advantage
+where two crews are evenly matched. The best<!-- Page 105 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>
+position for the first stroke is a little more than
+half forward with the body and three parts forward
+with the slide. The mind, as well as the muscles,
+must be intent on the effort. At the word "Go"
+at once cover the blade deeply, spring the body on
+to the work, use the arms vigorously on this occasion
+only, and, above all, drive, drive, drive with
+the legs, wrenching the stroke fully home with
+outside hand.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> Then make a special point of
+rattling hands out like lightning, and get hold of
+the second stroke when the hands are over the
+stretcher. Again a lightning rattle, followed by a
+longer swing. The fourth stroke should be a full
+one. During the first two strokes the crew should
+watch stroke's blade, and take their time from that.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The simplest and easiest plan is to have the back of the blades
+flat on the water while you are waiting for the word. In rowing
+<i>with</i> a strong tide it may sometimes be advisable to have the top of
+the blades turned over towards the stern and to square blades at
+the "Are you ready?" But this requires a lot of practice, and
+even then generally causes unsteadiness.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Necessity of being Exhausted.</span></h3>
+
+<p>I hold it to be absolutely necessary that during
+practice men should learn thoroughly to row
+themselves out. If they do not, they need never<!-- Page 106 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>
+expect to become properly fit for the hard strain
+involved in a race. If men will only consent to
+put their best and hardest work into a practice
+course, so that they may feel at the end of it
+that they have neither wind nor strength left,
+I will guarantee that all the subsequent work
+will become infinitely easier for them, and the race
+itself will be a pleasure instead of a pain. I hate
+to see a crew finish a practice row, no matter
+how short it may be, in perfectly fresh trim.
+That is a sign that they must have shirked their
+work. Yet I have often read in newspaper
+reports of the practice of crews some statement
+like the following:&mdash;"The boat travelled well all
+through, and the time accomplished was fast;
+but when it was over most of the men were much
+distressed"&mdash;as if this were a reproach instead
+of a compliment. Such "distress" is one of the
+necessary stages through which crews must pass
+on their way to good physical condition and
+perfect racing power. If a crew never tires itself
+in practice, it will never row fast in a race.<!-- Page 107 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">How to Judge a Man's Work in a Boat.</span></h3>
+
+<p>This can only be done properly by watching
+both the movements of the body and the action
+of the blade in the water. It may be assumed
+that if the blade strikes the water fairly at the
+full reach, is covered at once, produces a deep
+boiling swirl <i>under</i> the water, and remains covered
+to the end of the stroke, the oarsman who wields
+it must be working, in spite of many possible
+faults of form. Again, if the body moves well, and
+with a vigorous briskness through the stroke, it may
+be found that the swirl of the blade through the
+water does not show properly, because the blade
+is put in too deep. This, of course, is a fault,
+for the oarsman is giving himself too much work,
+and the effect on the propulsion of the boat is
+smaller; but, at any rate, there is honesty of
+intention. On the other hand, a man may make
+a great show of form with his body, and a great
+splash in the water, by merely covering half his
+blade through the stroke, or by missing his beginning
+and rowing light at the finish; or he may
+seem to be swinging his body on to his work,
+and yet by some subtly contrived disconnection<!-- Page 108 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>
+between body and arms and legs, produce no
+effect on the water. For all this a coach must
+be on the look out. If he has once done hard
+rowing himself, and watched it in others, he will
+never mistake the sham article (the "sugarer") for
+the genuine, though possibly clumsy, worker.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Value of Tub-pair Practice.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Practice in the tub-pair is one of the greatest
+possible aids towards the consolidation of an eight-oared
+crew. A coach or captain should never
+omit during the early stages of work to take out
+his men two by two in a tub. Sitting at ease in
+the stern, he can lecture them to his heart's
+content, and can devote himself with far better
+effect than when his crew are in the Eight to
+eradicating individual faults and drilling the men
+into one uniform style. During the latter part
+of training, however, the tub-pair is, with rare
+exceptions, an unnecessary burden. The crew
+then require all their energies for the work of the
+Eight, in which they ought to be learning the last
+important lessons of watermanship and uniformity
+every day. To drag them into tub-pairs at such
+a time can only weary them.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 109 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.
+<br />
+OF AILMENTS&mdash;OF TRAINING AND DIET&mdash;OF
+STALENESS&mdash;OF DISCIPLINE&mdash;OF COACHING.</h2>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Ailments.</span></h3>
+
+<p>I may preface what I have to say about ailments
+by stating, as emphatically as it can be
+stated, that every man who proposes to take
+part in a race ought, before he begins practice, to
+be thoroughly overhauled by a medical man. I do
+not believe that any man whose heart and lungs
+and general constitution are sound can be injured
+by rowing. On the contrary, I have seen scores
+and scores of instances in which sound but imperfectly
+developed youngsters were formed and
+solidified and made into robust men by the
+exercise. But if a doctor reports of an apparently
+powerful man that his heart is weak and his
+circulation defective, or that the state of his lungs
+is unsatisfactory, no power on earth would induce<!-- Page 110 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>
+me to include him in my crew. Race-rowing is
+one of the severest strains to which a man can
+submit himself, and only a perfectly sound man
+can go through it without taking harm.</p>
+
+<p>Coaches are sometimes ridiculed for the excessive
+care they take of their men; and there are
+not wanting those who draw the inference that
+rowing men are peculiarly liable to illness, and
+suffer, when attacked by it, more than others.
+Nothing can be further from the truth. If we are
+anxious, it is because we know that for the special
+strain involved in racing a man must be in specially
+good condition, and we desire, above all things, to
+avoid anything that may keep him back in his
+training and his work. Moreover, even a slight
+illness may entail temporary retirement from the
+crew, and thus necessitate changes in its order
+which will prevent the men from getting together.</p>
+
+<p>In rowing hard a man should keep a good colour.
+If you see him turning green and yellow, you may
+be sure that something is wrong with him, and you
+must pack him off to the doctor at once. It may
+turn out that his digestion is in fault, and that a
+careful attention to diet is all that is necessary
+to cure him. I have seen only two men actually<!-- Page 111 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>
+faint during a race. One of them was a distinguished
+Oxford Blue, who collapsed during a
+heat of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley; the
+other was a college oar rowing in the Cambridge
+Fours. With regard to him, we discovered afterwards
+that he had overtaxed his strength by
+working in the Cambridge engineering workshop
+for about six hours every day. Both these cases
+took place a good many years ago, and in neither
+has any permanent injury resulted. I have, of
+course, seen hundreds of men absolutely rowed out
+at the end of a race; but, with hardly an exception,
+they were perfectly fit a few minutes afterwards
+and, possibly, in the course of a few hours they
+might be seen rowing in another severe race with
+unimpaired strength and vitality.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to ailments generally, I cannot
+do better than quote Mr. Woodgate in the Badminton
+book: "A crew should be under strict
+orders to report <i>all</i> ailments, if only a blister,
+<i>instantly</i> to the coach. It is better to leave <i>no</i>
+discretion in this matter to the oarsman, even
+at the risk of troubling the mentor with trifles.
+If a man is once allowed to decide for himself
+whether he will report some petty and incipient<!-- Page 112 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>
+ailment, he is likely to hush it up, lest it should
+militate against his coach's selection of him. The
+effect of this is that mischief which might otherwise
+have been checked in the bud, is allowed to
+assume dangerous proportions for want of a stitch
+in time. An oarsman should be impressed that
+nothing is more likely to militate against his
+dream of being selected than disobedience to this
+or any other standing order. The smallest pimple
+should be shown forthwith to the coach"&mdash;verily
+the coach is not only &#948;&#953;&#959;&#962;, but &#960;&#959;&#955;&#965;&#964;&#955;&#945;&#962;&#960;&#959;&#955;&#965;&#964;&#955;&#945;&#962;&mdash;"the
+slightest hoarseness or tendency to snuffle reported,
+any tenderness of joint or sinew instantly
+made known."</p>
+
+<p>To these golden words I would merely add
+that in all more serious cases, such as boils, colds,
+coughs, severe diarrh&#339;a, or strains, it is best for
+the coach not to attempt any amateur doctoring,
+but to send his oarsman at once to a qualified
+doctor. In nearly every large rowing club, and
+at the Universities, there are to be found doctors
+who have either rowed themselves, or have
+had long experience of treating the ailments
+of rowing men; and it is far better to take
+their advice, which, as a rule, does not incline to<!-- Page 113 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>
+molly-coddling, than to run the risk of losing a
+valuable oar out of the crew through one's own
+quackery.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Blisters.</i></h4>
+
+<p>Blisters are a common accompaniment of the
+early days of practice. They are ordinarily innocuous
+enough if well treated; but a neglected
+blister may result in a raw hand, and lead to
+blood-poisoning. The best plan is to prick a
+blister at its side with a clean needle before going
+to bed, and on the following day or two to row
+with a glove and a pad of cotton-wool over the
+blister. The skin very soon hardens into a
+callosity.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Boils.</i></h4>
+
+<p>These are a sure sign that the blood is in a
+bad condition, due probably to over-eating. They
+afflict novices much more often than old oars, who
+have learnt by experience to diet themselves. A
+mild dose of Eno's Fruit Salt before breakfast
+may be recommended. The quantity of beef and
+mutton eaten must be largely reduced. Fish and
+the dark meat of poultry should be the staple
+articles of diet, and not too much of those. Nor<!-- Page 114 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>
+must the mistake be made of making up for the
+decrease of meat by over-loading the stomach with
+immense masses of vegetables, though in moderation
+vegetables are excellent. Having thus done
+his best for the patient's inside, the coach must
+send him to a doctor to have the boil treated
+externally.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Diarrh&#339;a.</i></h4>
+
+<p>Cut off fruits of all kinds; reduce meat; give
+an extra glass of port, and if the complaint continues,
+send the afflicted to a doctor.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Strains.</i></h4>
+
+<p>Ordinary muscular strains generally yield to a
+good rubbing with an embrocation. For wrist-strains
+a leather band may be recommended.
+Abdominal strains must be seen to by a doctor.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Colds.</i></h4>
+
+<p>The best remedy for a severe cold is to give
+your man at least one day's complete rest, and
+make him keep his room. Indeed, with most
+ailments a day's rest will work wonders; and it
+is far better for a coach to make up his reluctant<!-- Page 115 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>
+mind to grant it, than to run the risk of losing
+a valuable man altogether by keeping him chained
+to his oar when he is unfit to work. However, no
+man who takes proper care of himself, and always
+makes a point of wrapping up when his crew
+easies, ought to catch a cold.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Training and Diet.</span></h3>
+
+<p>The rules of training and diet should be the
+rules of common sense, applied to cases in which
+the body has to prepare itself, by severe work and
+perfectly simple, healthy living, for an exceptional
+effort or series of efforts. Rules there must be,
+if only on account of the advantage that comes
+of being able to make exceptions to them. But
+the chief points must be regularity and simplicity&mdash;a
+regularity, that is, which shall not entail an
+unvarying and wearisome monotony, and simplicity
+which shall not exclude occasional little
+luxuries that act as a stimulus to a man's jaded
+energies.</p>
+
+<p>I shall give here two tables showing the hours
+and the dietary of an Oxford crew training during
+a little more than five weeks for the race against<!-- Page 116 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>
+Cambridge, and of a Leander crew training for
+nearly three weeks for the Grand Challenge race
+at Henley Regatta.</p>
+
+<p class="center">I. <i>Oxford Crew.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Timetable of training for the Oxford crew preparing to race against Cambridge">
+<tr><td align="left">7</td><td align="center"><span class="smcap">a.m.</span></td><td align="left">Out of bed, and without bathing or washing dress immediately in flannels. A cup of milk and a biscuit.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">7.15</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Out of the house. A brisk walk with one sharp run of 150 yards.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">7.50</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Back to the house. Bath, etc.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">8.30</td>  <td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Breakfast.&mdash;Fish, plainly cooked, without sauce. Soles, whiting, and smelts are best. Salmon
+is not allowed. Cutlets or beefsteaks, or grilled
+chicken. Eggs, boiled, or poached, or fried,
+sometimes scrambled. Mustard and cress, or
+water-cress. Toast. Limited amount of butter.
+Marmalade is allowed only during the last
+fortnight of training. Not more than a cup
+and a half of tea.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">11</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">At Putney, when the state of the tide permits it,
+exercise in the boat. It should be noted that
+the tide sometimes makes it necessary for the
+crew to do its rowing in the morning, sometimes
+in the afternoon. Occasionally work can be
+done both in the morning and afternoon.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">1</td>
+<td valign="top"><span class="smcap">p.m.</span></td>
+<td align="left">Lunch.&mdash;Cold meat. Tomatoes plainly made into
+a salad with oil and vinegar. Toast. Small
+quantity of butter. Oatmeal biscuits. One
+glass of draught beer, or claret and water.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">3&nbsp;or&nbsp;4</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">(according to tide). Work in the boat.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">6.30</td>  <td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Dinner.&mdash;Fish, as at breakfast. An <i>entr�e</i> of
+<!-- Page 117 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>
+pigeons, or sweetbread, or spinach and poached
+eggs. Roast joint (not pork or veal), or else
+chicken, with potatoes, mashed or boiled, and
+boiled vegetables. Stewed fruit with rice puddings.
+Sometimes jelly. Two glasses of draught
+beer, or claret and water. For dessert, figs,
+prunes, oranges, dry biscuits, and one glass of
+port wine.</td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">9.50</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">A glass of lemon and water, or a cup of water-gruel.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left">10</td>     <td>"</td>   <td align="left">Bed.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>Note.</i>&mdash;Once or twice during training there is a "champagne
+night," when champagne is substituted for beer or
+claret and water; but this only occurs when the crew have
+been doing very hard work, or when they show evident signs
+of being over-fatigued, and require a fillip.)</p></div>
+
+<p class="center">II. <i>Leander Training at Henley.</i></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Timetable of Leander training at Henley.">
+<tr>
+<td align="left" valign="top">7&nbsp;to&nbsp;8.30</td>
+<td valign="top"><span class="smcap">a.m.</span></td>
+<td align="left">Same as in previous table.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">8.30</td>
+<td valign="top"><span class="smcap">a.m.</span></td>
+<td align="left">Breakfast.&mdash;Same as in previous table, save for
+the frequent absence of meat. Marmalade
+allowed. Strawberries or peaches without
+sugar; no cream.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">10.30&nbsp;or&nbsp;11,&nbsp;or&nbsp;12</td>
+<td valign="top"><span class="smcap">p.m.</span></td>
+<td align="left">Out on the water.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">1.30</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Lunch.&mdash;Same as in previous table.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">4.45</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Cup of tea with a slice of bread and butter, or a biscuit.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">5.30&nbsp;or&nbsp;6</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Out on the water.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">7.30&nbsp;or&nbsp;8&nbsp;</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Dinner.&mdash;Same as in previous table.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">9.50</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Same as in previous table.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left" valign="top">10.15</td>
+<td valign="top">"</td>
+<td align="left">Bed.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>Note.</i>&mdash;With most Leander crews, which are composed of
+experienced oarsmen, it has been found possible to abolish
+restrictions on the amount of liquor, and to allow the men to
+take what they want to satisfy their thirst, which at Henley<!-- Page 118 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>
+time is naturally more severe than it is in the early spring at
+Putney. With a college crew of younger and less experienced
+oars such liberty of action is not to be recommended; but a
+trainer ought, during hot weather, to tell his men that if they
+really want an extra half-glass or so, they are not to hesitate
+to ask for it. Men in training will, however, generally find
+that if they exercise a little self-control during the first few
+days of training, when the restriction on their drink seems
+specially painful, their desire for drink will gradually diminish,
+until at last they are quite content with their limited allowance.
+If, on the contrary, they perpetually indulge themselves,
+they will always be wanting more. On this point I
+may cite the authority of the following remarks extracted
+from a recent article in the <i>British Medical Journal</i>:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Among the various discomforts entailed upon us by the
+hot weather is thirst, which leads to many accidents. First
+and most especially is the danger arising from the ingestion
+of ices and cold drinks, which so many people fly to directly
+they feel hot. Difficult as it may be to explain in precise
+physiological terms the evil consequences which so often
+follow the sudden application of cold to the mucous membrane
+of the stomach when the body is over-heated, there
+is no doubt about the fact, and people would do well to
+remember the risk they run when they follow their instinct,
+and endeavour to assuage their thirst by huge draughts of
+cold fluids. There can be but little doubt that the profuse
+perspiration which is the cause of so many dangers is greatly
+aggravated by drinking, and especially by drinking alcoholic
+fluids. No one can watch a tennis match without noticing
+how the men perspire, while the girls hardly turn a hair.
+Some, perhaps, will say that the girls play the feebler game;
+but, game or no game, they exert themselves. The same
+also may be seen at any dance. The secret is that the men
+follow their instinct and slake their thirst, while the girls<!-- Page 119 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>
+simply bear it. It should be remembered that thirst is the
+result of want of fluid in the blood, not want of fluid in the
+stomach, and that a pint or more may be drunk before a
+single ounce is absorbed. Any attempt, then, to assuage
+thirst by rapid drinking must of necessity lead to far more
+being taken than is wanted, the moral of which is that if we
+must drink, at least let us drink slowly."</p>
+
+<p>Besides asking his men to drink slowly, a coach will do
+well to see that they take no drink at all before they have
+eaten a certain amount of food. Between meals, except as
+set out in the tables given above, no drink of any kind should
+be allowed.</p>
+
+<p>Over-eating, too, is a very common danger, especially in
+the case of youngsters, and a coach must warn his crew
+severely against it.)</p></div>
+
+<p>A captain ought to be specially strict in insisting
+on getting his men out of their beds at a fixed
+time, and in seeing that they do not stay up too
+late at night. Absolute punctuality all round
+ought to be rigidly enforced. If, however, anybody
+should resent the severities entailed by this dietary,
+and pine for freedom, he may be recommended to
+try what I may call the Ouida system. It is fully set
+out in "Under Two Flags," from which, in a spirit of
+humble admiration, I venture to give an extract:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Beauty don't believe in training. No more
+do I. Never would train for anything,' said the
+Seraph, now pulling the long blonde moustaches<!-- Page 120 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>
+that were not altogether in character with his
+seraphic cognomen. 'If a man can ride, let him.
+If he's born to the pig-skin he'll be in at the
+distance safe enough, whether he smoke or don't
+smoke, drink or don't drink. As for training on
+raw chops, giving up wine, living like the very
+deuce, and all as if you were in a monastery, and
+changing yourself into a mere bag of bones&mdash;it's
+utter bosh. You might as well be in purgatory;
+besides, it's no more credit to win then than if you
+were a professional.'</p>
+
+<p>"'But you must have trained at Christ Church,
+Rock, for the Eight?' asked another Guardsman,
+Sir Vere Bellingham&mdash;'Severe,' as he was christened,
+chiefly because he was the easiest-going
+giant in existence.</p>
+
+<p>"'Did I! Men came to me; wanted me to join
+the Eight. Coxswain came, awful strict little
+fellow, docked his men of all their fun&mdash;took
+plenty himself, though! Coxswain said I must
+begin to train, do as all his crew did. I threw up
+my sleeve and showed him my arm;' and the
+Seraph stretched out an arm magnificent enough
+for a statue of Milo. 'I said, There, sir, I'll help
+you thrash Cambridge, if you like, but train I<!-- Page 121 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>
+<i>won't</i> for you or for all the University. I've been
+captain of the Eton Eight; but I didn't keep my
+crew on tea and toast. I fattened 'em regularly
+three times a week on venison and champagne at
+Christopher's. Very happy to feed yours, too, if
+you like&mdash;game comes down to me every Friday
+from the Duke's moors; they look uncommonly
+as if they wanted it! You should have seen his
+face! Fatten the Eight! He didn't let me do
+that, of course; but he was very glad of my oar in
+his rowlocks, and I helped him beat Cambridge
+without training an hour myself, except so far as
+rowing hard went.'</p>
+
+<p>"And the Marquis of Rockingham, made thirsty
+by the recollection, dipped his fair moustaches
+into a foaming seltzer.</p>
+
+<p>"'Quite right, Seraph!' said Cecil. 'When a
+man comes up to the weights, looking like a
+homonunculus after he's been getting every atom
+of flesh off him like a jockey, he ought to be
+struck out for the stakes, to my mind.'"</p>
+
+<p>The obvious inference from this is that if we
+want to avoid looking like "homonunculi" we
+must acquire dukes as fathers, and get fattened on
+venison and champagne.<!-- Page 122 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Smoking.</span></h3>
+
+<p>There are no smokes in training.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Staleness.</span></h3>
+
+<p>In the practice of almost every crew there comes
+a period, generally about half way through training,
+when they begin to show the effects of hard
+work by a certain lassitude and loss of vigour.
+This, in fact, is not genuine staleness, but is the
+half-way house to perfect condition. An experienced
+coach can always detect the signs of it
+amongst his men. Their tempers will be short,
+they will begin to mope about the room, and their
+general manner will betray languor and listlessness,
+instead of that brisk cheerfulness that one
+has a right to expect. Their appetite will decrease,
+and at meals they will dally with their food
+instead of consuming it with a hearty zest. If a
+coach is blind to these signs, and pursues, in spite
+of them, the scheme of work and diet which he
+may have laid down at the first, he will probably
+bring to the post a crew as stale and lifeless as
+London shrimps. If, however, he grants certain
+indulgences to those who are most affected; if he
+lets them lie in bed of a morning, adds a basin<!-- Page 123 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>
+of soup to their lunch or dinner, gives them extra
+liquor, or champagne in place of their ordinary
+liquor, and eases the work of the crew all round,
+he will probably find that within three days they
+will be perfectly brisk and fit again. I remember
+the case of an Oxford crew which showed the
+worst symptoms of staleness on a Friday. Saturday
+to Monday they spent in Brighton, and returned
+so reinvigorated, that on the following Wednesday
+they were able in the race to row Cambridge down
+at Chiswick and win by a length. For extreme
+cases of what I call genuine staleness, I do not
+think there is any remedy except complete rest
+for a period more or less prolonged. I have seen
+instances of this at Henley amongst University
+oarsmen, who had had practically no rest since the
+previous October.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Discipline.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Not the least important point in the management
+of a crew lies in the preservation of strict
+discipline. While they are in the boat and engaged
+in rowing, no man, except the captain or
+the cox, should speak a word, unless he is appealed
+to by the coach. A wise captain, too, when he<!-- Page 124 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>
+has a coach in whom he trusts, will content himself
+with saying very little indeed. To be constantly
+cursing his crew, or to be shouting directions to
+them from the boat, not only irritates the other
+men, but increases all the difficulties of a coach.
+To "answer back" a coach is a capital offence,
+which ought to lead to immediate removal from
+the crew. I can only remember one instance of
+it in all my experience, and that was promptly
+followed by a humble apology. Silence, prompt
+obedience, absolute subordination of the individual
+self to the collective good of the crew, a quick and
+hearty willingness in endeavouring to carry out
+orders or instructions, a cheerful temper when
+things are going awry, and a constant keenness
+whether in rowing or paddling&mdash;these are model
+qualities which will go far to make a man a
+valuable oar. Nothing has so bad an effect upon
+a crew as the display of moroseness or sullenness
+on the part of one of its members. If that member
+should chance to be the captain, the baneful effects
+are increased tenfold. There are times of inattention
+and slackness when a coach does well to
+be angry, and to bring his men sharply back to a
+knowledge of their duty.<!-- Page 125 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Coach.</span></h3>
+
+<p>I cannot deal with this subject at any length,
+for good coaching is a matter of temperament,
+sympathy, tact, and intelligence&mdash;qualities that
+cannot be taught. The man who has these necessary
+qualities, and adds to them a wide experience
+of rowing, can never go very far wrong in coaching
+a crew. If a man can once establish between
+himself and his crew that subtle bond which comes
+of their conviction that their welfare and success
+are his chiefest desire, and that everything he says
+is absolutely right, the rest will be comparatively
+easy. A few simple hints may, however, be given.</p>
+
+<p>(1) Never nag at your crew, or at an individual.
+Point out his fault; explain to him as clearly as
+you can how he ought to correct it, and then leave
+him alone for a bit. Never weary your men with
+an incessant stream of talk. Periods of complete
+silence on your part are very valuable, to you and
+to the crew.</p>
+
+<p>(2) If you see signs of improvement in a man
+whom you have been correcting, never fail to tell
+him so. A little encouragement of this kind has
+more effect than heavy loads of objurgation.<!-- Page 126 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(3) Rebuke any carelessness very sharply, but
+always keep strong measures, such as taking a crew
+back to the start, for really serious emergencies.</p>
+
+<p>(4) Show no partiality, and make as little difference
+as you can between man and man. It is
+useful to begin by coaching old hands with some
+severity. New hands are encouraged by feeling
+that even a Blue or a Grand Challenge winner is
+liable to error, and that a coach is not afraid to
+tackle these eminent men.</p>
+
+<p>(5) Make a gallant effort never to lose your
+temper with an individual, though loss of temper
+with a crew as a whole need not always be avoided.
+When things go wrong in a crew, impress upon
+each and every man that he is individually responsible
+for the defects. Every man is probably doing
+something wrong, and in any case a determined
+and united attempt to row better can do no harm.</p>
+
+<p>(6) Never tell your men that they are rowing
+"well," or " better," when these statements are
+contrary to the truth. The men in the boat can
+generally feel what is happening as well as you
+can see it from the bank or the launch, and they
+are apt to lose confidence in a man who talks
+smooth things when everything is rough.<!-- Page 127 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(7) Never confuse a man by telling him more
+than one thing at a time while he is rowing.
+When the crew has easied you can lecture him
+and them more at length.</p>
+
+<p>(8) Remember Dr. Warre's rule, that general exhortations,
+such as "Time," "Beginning," "Smite,"
+"Keep it long," and the like, are to be given at
+the right moment, not used as mere parrot cries.</p>
+
+<p>(9) Vary the tone of your voice as much as
+possible.</p>
+
+<p>(10) Vary, if possible, the expressions you use in
+pointing out and correcting faults.</p>
+
+<p>(11) Always insist on your crew putting on
+their wraps when they easy after rowing hard.</p>
+
+<p>(12) Never allow men during summer training
+to stand, sit, or lie about in the full blaze of the sun.</p>
+
+<p>(13) Teach by example as well as by precept.
+The coach should be able to take his seat in a gig
+pair, and to show his men practically the style he
+wishes them to row in, and how their faults may
+be corrected.</p>
+
+<p>(14) Always remember, while paying attention
+to the form of individuals, that your main object
+is to secure uniformity in the crew. Never fail,
+therefore, to correct faults of time instantly.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 128 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.
+<br />
+OF THE RACE-DAY&mdash;OF THE RACE&mdash;OF THE
+NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT&mdash;OF LEISURE
+TIME&mdash;OF AQUATIC AXIOMS.</h2>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Day of the Race.</span></h3>
+
+<p>On this tremendous day, towards which
+all their efforts for weeks past have
+been directed, the coach will find that
+all his crew are suffering from that peculiar nervousness
+to which rowing men have given the
+name of "the needle." It is a complaint against
+which no length of experience can harden a man,
+and the veteran of a hundred races will feel it
+as acutely as the boy who is engaged in his first
+struggle. A sort of forced cheerfulness pervades
+the air. Men make irrelevant remarks about their
+oars, their stretchers, or the notorious incapacity
+of their rivals, while they are reading the newspapers
+or discussing the politics of the day. Even
+a coach is seized with the universal affection,<!-- Page 129 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>
+however gallantly he may strive against it, and
+endeavour to entertain the crew with all his best
+stories of triumphant victories, of defeats averted
+by brilliant spurts, or of the last sayings of some
+well-known aquatic humourist. Old oars drop in,
+and for a few moments divert the conversation,
+only to flow back with it into the one absorbing
+topic that occupies all men's minds. The feeling
+goes on increasing until at last, oh joy! the time
+comes for getting into the boat. With his faithful
+oar in his hand, and his feet fixed to the
+stretcher, a man regains his confidence, and when
+the word is given he will find that the only
+effect that the needle has had upon him has
+been to brace his energies to their highest pitch.
+The duty of a coach on such an occasion is
+clear. He must try to keep his men cheerful,
+and prevent them from brooding over the race
+that is to come. Visits from old oars should be
+encouraged, for it is often a relief and an amusement
+to a youngster to find that some solid oar of
+the past is even more agitated than he is himself.
+One thing must not be omitted, and that is the
+preliminary spin, which should take place about
+two hours before the race, and should consist of<!-- Page 130 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>
+two sharp starts of ten strokes each and one hard
+row of a minute. This has an invaluable effect in
+clearing the wind. I have always felt, when I have
+rowed more than one race in a day, and I think
+my experience will be confirmed by most other
+oarsmen, that I have been able to row better,
+harder, and with less distress, in the second race
+than in the first. An hour and a half before the
+race a man will be all the better for a biscuit and
+a hot cup of strong meat soup, with perhaps a
+dash of brandy to flavour it, but this must depend
+upon the hour at which the race is rowed, for if
+you have lunched at one and have to race at half-past
+three you will want nothing between times to
+stay your stomach. The early morning sprint
+should be taken as usual.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Henley_1897" id="PLATE_Henley_1897"></a>
+<a href="images/i_191.jpg"><img src="images/i_191_tn.jpg" width="400" height="269" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Henley Regatta 1897.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">HENLEY REGATTA, 1897.<br />
+(<i>New College</i> v. <i>Leander</i>. <i>Won by New College by 2ft.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Race.</span></h3>
+
+<p>"I shall say, 'Are you ready?' once; if I
+receive no answer, I shall say, 'Go!'" It is the
+voice of the umpire addressing us from the steam-launch
+in which he will follow the race. He
+must be a man dead to all feeling, incapable of
+sympathy, for he actually turns to one of his
+fellow-passengers and makes a jesting remark,<!-- Page 131 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>
+while our hearts are palpitating and our minds are
+strung up to face the stern actualities of the race.
+The other crew look very big and strong, and
+fit and determined. We shall have to row our
+hardest, and we all know it. "Get the top of your
+shorts properly tucked in," says our captain,
+"so as not to catch your thumbs; and mind, all
+of you, eyes in the boat, and when cox shouts for
+ten strokes let her have it. Come forward all."</p>
+
+<p>"Touch her gently, bow" (it is the cox who
+speaks, and his voice sounds thin and far away
+and dream-like). "One more. That'll do. Easy,
+bow. Now we're straight."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you ready?" from the umpire. Great
+heaven! will he never say&mdash;&mdash;"Go!" he shouts.
+There is a swish, a leap, a strain, a rattle of oars,
+a sense of something moving very swiftly alongside,
+a turmoil of water, a confused roar from the
+bank: we are off!</p>
+
+<p>We started splendidly. For half a minute I
+am a mere machine; thoughts, feelings, energies&mdash;all
+are concentrated into one desire to work my
+hardest and to keep in time. Then my mind
+clears, and I become conscious once more of
+myself and my surroundings. Have we gained?<!-- Page 132 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>
+I <i>must</i> steal a look. By Jupiter, they're leaving
+us! "Eyes in the boat, four," screams the cox;
+"you're late!" Be hanged to cox! he's got eyes
+like a lynx. Yes; there's no doubt of it&mdash;I can
+see, without looking out of the boat, out of the
+corner of my eye. They're gaining still. Now
+their stroke is level with me; now he has disappeared,
+and for a few strokes I am conscious
+of a little demon cox bobbing and screeching
+alongside of me. Then he, too, draws away, and
+their rudder is all I can see. At last that also
+vanishes, and a sense of desolation descends on
+us. Nearly two minutes must have gone; I
+know that by the landmarks we have passed.
+Surely we ought to spurt. What can stroke be
+up to? Is he going to let us be beaten without
+an effort. Ugh! what a shower-bath that was.
+It's six splashing, as usual. Well, if we're beaten,
+we must just grin and bear it. We shall have
+to congratulate the other ruffians. Hateful!
+Somebody must get beaten. But we're not
+beaten yet, hang it all! Three minutes. What's
+this? Cox is shouting. "Now, ten hard strokes
+together; swing out, and use your legs!" He
+counts them out for us at the top of his voice.<!-- Page 133 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>
+Grand! We're simply flying. That's something
+like it. And I'm not a bit done yet. We're
+none of us done. The boat's going like smoke.
+"Nine!" yells the cox. "Ten! Now, don't
+slack off, but keep her going. You're gaining,
+you're gaining! On to it, all of you." He is
+purple in the face, and foaming at the mouth.
+Glorious! Their rudder comes back to me; I
+see their cox. We <i>are</i> catching them. Now for
+it! A few strokes more and the boats are running
+dead level, and so they continue for half a minute.
+Stroke has now, however, taken the measure of
+his foes. We are steadying down and swinging
+longer, and I am conscious that the other crew
+are rowing a faster stroke. It is now our turn
+to leave them. Foot by foot we creep past them;
+their bows come level with me, and then slowly
+recede. I can see the back of their bowman.
+His zephyr has come out from his shorts; the
+back of his neck is very pale. There can't be
+more than two minutes left now, and I'm still fit,
+and my wind is all right. We are winning; I'm
+sure of it. No; they're spurting again, and, by
+Jove! they're gaining! Spurt, stroke, spurt! We
+mustn't get beaten on the post. But stroke, that<!-- Page 134 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>
+wary old warrior, knows what he is about. Unmistakable
+signs prove to him that this effort is
+the last desperate rally of his enemies. He sees
+their boat lurch; their time is becoming erratic;
+two of them are rolling about in evident distress.
+His own crew he has well in hand; we are rowing
+as one man, and he feels that he has only to give
+a sign, and our restrained eagerness will blaze
+forth and carry us gloriously past the post. Let
+us wait, he seems to say, a very few seconds more,
+until the opposing spurt fades out to its inevitable
+end; so he rows on imperturbably. But isn't he
+running it too fine? Not he. He gives a quick
+word to cox, rattles his hands away, and swings
+as if he meant to strike his face against the kelson
+of the boat. "Pick her up all!" screams the cox.
+"Now then!" comes in a muffled gasp from the
+captain. We feel that our moment has come, and,
+with a unanimous impulse, we take up the spurt
+and spin the ship along. In a flash we leap
+ahead; we leave the other crew as if it was standing
+still. We are a length ahead; now we are
+clear; half a length of open water divides us
+from them. To all intents and purposes the race
+is over. The crowd grows thicker; the shouts<!-- Page 135 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>
+from the bank become a deafening din. Enthusiasts
+scream futile encouragements to pursuer
+and pursued, and in another moment the flag
+is down, the cox cries, "Easy all!" and with
+triumph in our hearts we realize that we have
+won. The captain turns round to us&mdash;he is rowing
+No. 7&mdash;his face glowing with pleasure. "Well
+rowed indeed, you men!" he pants. "You all
+did thundering well! And as for you, stroke&mdash;&mdash;"
+but words fail him, and all he can do is to clap
+his delighted stroke on the back. Then, having
+duly exchanged the customary "Well rowed!"
+and its accompanying rattle of oars in rowlocks
+with our gallant enemy, we paddle home to the
+raft, where our exultant coach and our perspiring
+partisans receive us with hand-shakings and
+embraces and fervently epitomized stories of the
+struggle. "I knew you had got 'em all the way!"
+says the coach. "Did you hear me shout when
+you got to the half-way point?" "Hear you
+shout?" we reply in a chorus of joyful assent.
+"Of course we did. That's why we spurted." Of
+course, we had heard nothing; but at this moment
+we almost think we did hear him plainly, and
+in any case we are not going to be so churlish<!-- Page 136 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>
+as to detract from anybody's joy over our
+victory.</p>
+
+<p>And so the struggle is ended, and we have
+won. Pleasant though it is to know that training
+is over, there is not one of us who does not feel
+a sense of sorrow as he realizes that these days
+of toil and hardship and self-restraint, of glorious
+health and vigorous effort are past. All the little
+worries under which we chafed, the discipline that
+at times was irksome, the thirst, the fatigue, the
+exhaustion, the recurrent disappointments&mdash;all
+these become part of a delightful memory. Never
+again, it may be, shall these eight men strike the
+sounding furrows together. The victory that has
+crowned us with honour has at the same time broken
+up our companionship of labour and endurance;
+but its splendid memory, and the friendships it
+knit together&mdash;these remain with us, and are a
+part of our lives henceforth wherever we may be.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Necessity of Having a Butt.</span></h3>
+
+<p>Let me turn now to lighter matters, for there are
+lighter matters connected with rowing. And first
+let me insist on the necessity of having a butt in
+a crew. It appears strange at first sight that the<!-- Page 137 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>
+system of training&mdash;that is to say, of diet, of early
+hours, of healthy exercise, and of perfect regularity
+in all things, which has so admirable an effect upon
+the condition of the body, should sometimes impair
+the powers of the mind, and absolutely shatter the
+temper. I have seen eight healthy, happy, even-tempered
+young men go into training together for
+three weeks. They were all the best of friends.
+Tom had known Dick at school, and both had
+been inseparable from Harry ever since they had
+gone up to the University. With these three the
+other five were closely linked by a common pursuit
+and by common interests. Each one of them
+was a man of whom his friends could say, he was
+the easiest man to get on with you could possibly
+meet. Yet mark what happened. At the end of
+three weeks every man in that crew was the proud
+possessor of seven detested foes. They ate their
+food in morose silence; they took no delight in
+the labour of the oar, and each one confided to his
+outside friends his lamentable opinions about the
+seven other members of the crew. Even now,
+though years have passed away, no one who rowed
+in that crew can look back without horror on those
+three terrible weeks. Why was this so? The<!-- Page 138 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>
+simple answer is this, that the crew in question did
+not number among its members a butt. I doubt
+if the importance of a butt in modern boat-racing
+has been properly recognized. Speaking from an
+experience of many years, I should affirm unhesitatingly,
+if I did not remember what I have written
+in previous chapters, that in an ordinary crew,
+composed, as ordinary crews are, of men and not
+of angels, the position of butt is a far more important
+and responsible one than that of stroke or
+No. 7. If you can find a good, stout, willing butt&mdash;a
+butt who lends himself to nicknames, and has a
+temper as even as a billiard-table and as long as
+a tailor's bill&mdash;secure him at once and make him
+the nucleus of your crew. There may be difficulties,
+of course, if he should happen to be a
+heavy weight without a notion of oarsmanship, but
+these defects can easily be mitigated by good
+coaching, and in any case they cannot be allowed
+to count against the supreme merit of keeping the
+rest of the crew in good temper. Salient characteristics
+are apt to be a rock of offence to a training
+crew. To be a silent thinker does not give rise to
+happiness in the seven who watch you think. It is
+an even deadlier thing to be an eloquent gabbler<!-- Page 139 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>
+or a dreary drawler. There is nothing an ordinary
+rowing man detests so much as windy eloquence,
+unless it be perhaps the miserable indolence which
+is known as slackness. The butt must therefore
+be neither silent, nor slack, nor a drawler. Nature
+will probably have saved him from being a thinker
+or an orator. He must be simply good-natured
+without affectation, and ready to allow tempers
+made stormy by rowing and training to break upon
+his broad back without flinching. Your true butt
+is always spoken of as "old" So-and-so, and, as a
+rule, he is a man of much sharper wits, with a far
+keener insight into character, than most of those
+who buffet or tease him. Among eminent butts
+may be named Mr.&mdash;&mdash;, but on second thoughts
+I refrain.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Leisure Time.</span></h3>
+
+<p>It seems a mere platitude to say that a man who
+can occupy his spare moments in writing or reading
+is likely to be happier and more even-tempered
+than one who is never seen with a book or a pen in
+his hand. Yet it is a platitude of which not many
+oarsmen realize the force; and, indeed, it is not an
+uncommon sight to see most of the members of a<!-- Page 140 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>
+crew sitting about listlessly in armchairs or talking
+the stale futilities of rowing shop when they might
+with more solid advantage be engaged, let us say,
+in following Mr. Stanley Weyman's or Dr. Conan
+Doyle's latest hero through the mazes of his exciting
+adventures. At Oxford or Cambridge, of course, a
+man has his lectures to attend, his fixed tale of
+work to get through. But at Putney or at Henley
+this is not so. There a man is thrown back on his
+own resources, a companionship which he does not
+always seem to find particularly cheerful or
+attractive. A billiard table, of course, is a valuable
+adjunct to training quarters, but this is scarcely
+ever found at Henley, and not always at Putney.
+Besides, most of us, after a short time, cease to
+take any pleasure whatever in a game in which we
+are not qualified to shine. The joy of reading the
+sporting reporter's account of your doings, and of
+proving conclusively that he knows nothing about
+rowing, lasts but a short time every morning. I
+may, therefore, offer the oarsman a piece of advice
+which is, sound, in spite of its copybook flavour,
+and that is, that he shall cultivate a habit of
+reading, and, if possible, of reading good literature.
+Many moralists might recommend this habit on the<!-- Page 141 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>
+common ground that good literature tends to
+improve the tone of a man's mind; and even a
+coach who is not a moralist will find it useful in
+distracting the thoughts of his men. Besides, it is
+quite pleasant in after life to recognize a well-worn
+quotation in a newspaper article, and to remember,
+probably with complete inaccuracy, where it
+originated. A little attention to writing and
+spelling might also prove valuable. Oarsmen who
+had devoted themselves, say for ten minutes a day,
+to these simple tasks, would have been saved from
+perpetrating the following correspondence, which I
+quote <i>verbatim et literatim</i> from letters in my
+possession:&mdash;</p>
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear</span>&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"It has been reported to me that you
+broke training last night you were seen smoking
+not only a few wiffs but a whole pipe I have
+therefore decided to turn you out of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>
+"Yours, etc."<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+<p>Answer to the above&mdash;</p>
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear</span>&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I am in reciet of your letter it is true
+that I smoked two whifs (not "wiffs" as you say)<!-- Page 142 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>
+out of another man's pipe but that's all however
+I don't want to row in your beastly boat.</p>
+
+<p>
+"Yours, etc."<br />
+</p></div>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Aquatic Axioms.</span></h3>
+
+<p>I may add here some axioms which have been
+printed before,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> but which I may venture to repeat
+in a treatise on rowing. The years that have
+passed since they were first set down have not
+weakened my conviction that they are accurate.
+I still believe myself justified in stating&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(1) That if two crews row a course within ten
+minutes of one another, the wind is always more
+violent and the stream more powerful against the
+crew in which you yourself happen to be rowing.</p>
+
+<p>(2) That it is always right to take off at least
+five seconds from the time shown on your stop-watch
+in timing your own crew, and to add them,
+by way of compensation, to the time shown on the
+same watch when timing a rival crew.</p>
+
+<p>(3) That your own crew is absolutely the only
+one which ever rows the full course right out or
+starts at the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>(4) That if your crew is impeded while rowing<!-- Page 143 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>
+a course you must allow ten seconds; but if any
+other crew is impeded you must allow only two
+seconds.</p>
+
+<p>(5) That if you row a slow course, No. 5's
+stretcher gave way, or his slide came off.</p>
+
+<p>(6) That you could always knock a quarter of a
+minute off when you row a faster stroke, but
+that&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(7) You never do, as a matter of fact, row a
+faster stroke.</p>
+
+<p>(8) That your crew always rowed a slower stroke
+than the rest.</p>
+
+<p>(9) That you are sure to do a faster time
+to-morrow.</p>
+
+<p>(10) That your private opinion is, that if everybody
+in the crew did as much work as you do
+yourself your crew would be many lengths faster,
+and&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(11) (and last) That you always lose by the
+steering of your coxswain three lengths, which all
+other crews gain by the steering of theirs.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> In "In Cambridge Courts."</p></div>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 144 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.
+<br />
+FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS&mdash;SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>A good coxswainless four-oared crew represents
+skill and watermanship, as distinguished
+from mere brute strength, in their
+highest development. I may lay it down as an
+axiom that any man who can row well in a coxswainless
+Four will row equally well in an eight-oared
+crew. The converse of this is, however, by
+no means true. A man may do good work in an
+Eight, and yet be incapable of doing himself justice
+in a Four, or, indeed, of helping the pace of the boat
+in any way. Rowing of a more refined order is
+requisite for a Four. Greater power of balance is
+needed, and a more perfect sense of that rhythm
+which goes far to secure uniformity in rowing. You
+may have in your Eight a clumsy heavy-weight,
+who at No. 5 can use his strength to wonderful
+advantage, in spite of various aberrations from<!-- Page 145 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>
+correct form. But if you put this man at No. 3
+in a Four, the results are sure to be disastrous.
+An easier style of movement is required for a
+Four. A strenuous application of all the body-weight
+at the beginning of the stroke is still, no
+doubt, necessary. The beginning must, of course,
+be gripped, and that firmly; but the best four-oared
+rowing I have seen always gave me the
+impression that a sort of "oiling" method of
+progression, in which steady leg-pressure plays a
+prominent part, was best suited to a Four which
+is not encumbered with the weight of a coxswain.
+Over and over again have Eights been defeated
+at Henley for the Grand Challenge Cup, and yet
+Fours, selected from their members, have been
+able to beat all comers in the Stewards'. From
+1868 to 1878 the London Rowing Club won the
+Grand five times. In the same period of eleven
+years their Four was only once defeated for the
+Stewards', proving, if any proof were needed, that
+an inferior Eight (I use the term merely relatively)
+may contain a first-class victorious Four.
+On the other hand, from 1891 to 1897, a period
+during which Leander won the Grand five times,
+they were able to win the Stewards' only once,<!-- Page 146 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>
+and that was this year, when their Eight was
+defeated. Instances of this kind might be
+multiplied.</p>
+
+<p>But besides skill in oarsmanship, another element,
+which adds greatly both to the difficulties and
+pleasures of a Four, has to be considered. This
+is the necessity that one of the oarsmen should
+not only row, but also guide the course of the
+boat by steering with his foot. It is evident that
+watermanship of a very high order is needed for
+this feat. The steerer must know the course and
+all its points perfectly. The ordinary oar often
+finds it difficult to keep time when his eyes are
+glued on the back of the men in front of him,
+but the steerer in a Four has to keep time and
+regularity, even though he may be forced to look
+round in order to ascertain the true direction of
+his boat. An oarsman in an Eight has both his
+feet firmly fixed; a steerer of a Four must keep
+one foot constantly ready for movement. And
+all this he has to do without making the boat
+roll, or upsetting the harmony of his crew. These
+difficulties, no doubt, are great; but when once
+they have been overcome, and the crew has shaken
+absolutely together, there can be few pleasures in<!-- Page 147 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>
+the world of exercise comparable to that of rowing
+in a Four.</p>
+
+<p>During a long period the London Rowing Club
+had almost a monopoly of good Fours. Their crews
+showed a degree of watermanship which in those
+days University oarsmen despaired of attaining
+to. Gulston, Stout, A. de L. Long, Trower, and
+S. Le B. Smith were not only names to conjure
+with, but showed in their rowing that perfection
+of apparently simple ease which lies at the root
+of success in four-oared rowing. Who that ever
+witnessed it can forget the sight, once well-known
+at Henley, of Mr. F. S. Gulston as he rowed and
+steered his Four to victory? As a recent Cambridge
+versifier said of him&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"They can't recall, but ah, I can,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">How hard and strong you looked, sir;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Twelve stone, and every ounce a man,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Unbeatable, uncooked, sir.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Our French friends, had they seen your rude<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Vast strength had cried, '<i>Ah quel beau</i><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><i>Rameur, celui qui arque le coude</i>'&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">That is, protrudes his elbow.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Your ship could run like Charley's Aunt,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">And you, demure as Penley,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Knew all the wiles that might enchant<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">The river nymphs at Henley.<!-- Page 148 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span><br /></span>
+<span class="i1">No piles had yet marked out the way<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Forbidding men to try on<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">The tricks that found round every bay<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The short cuts to the 'Lion.'<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Each inch of bay you knew by heart,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">You knew the slackest water;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">All foes who faced you at the start,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">You beat, and beat with slaughter.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To 'form' a stranger, yet your style<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">The kind that much endures was.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">I never saw&mdash;forgive the smile&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">A rounder back than yours was.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"But round or straight, when all dismayed<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Your rivals lagged in trouble,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Still with a firm, unfaltering blade<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">You drove the swirling bubble.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With you to speed the hours along<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">No day was ere spent dully,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Our stalwart, cheerful, matchless, strong,<br /></span>
+<span class="i1">Our undefeated Gully."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>As a matter of record it may be stated that
+Mr. Gulston won five Grand Challenge Cup medals
+and ten Stewards' Cup medals, Mr. A. de L.
+Long five Grand Challenge Cup medals and eight
+Stewards' Cup medals, and Mr. S. Le B. Smith
+four Grand Challenge Cup medals, and seven
+Stewards' Cup medals. No oarsman of the present
+day can boast of anything like such a record in
+these two events.<!-- Page 149 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The art of four-oared rowing, then, was brought
+to perfection by the crews of the London Rowing
+Club many years ago; but there is no danger
+that it will be forgotten by oarsmen of the present
+day. Indeed, the rowing of the Leander Four
+that won the Stewards' Cup this year was about
+as good as four-oared rowing can be. They were
+absolutely together, they rowed with most perfect
+ease, and in the race they beat record time by
+seven seconds, and might have beaten it by still
+more, had they not easied a length or two from
+the finish. Their weights were as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Crew and weights of Leander Four.">
+<tr><td align="right">Bow.</td><td align="left">C. W. N. Graham</td><td align="right">10</td><td align="right">st.</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="right">lbs.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">2.</td><td align="left">J. A. Ford</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="right">st.</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right">lb.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">3.</td><td align="left">H. Willis</td><td align="right">11</td><td align="right">st.</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="right">lbs.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">Guy Nickalls (stroke, and steers)</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="right">st.</td><td align="right">7</td><td align="right">lbs.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>From the above remarks it will be gathered that
+the great points to be insisted upon in four-oared
+rowing are uniformity, and again uniformity, and
+always uniformity. A coach should insist, if
+possible even more strenuously than he insists in
+an Eight, on bodies and slides moving with a
+faultless precision and perfectly together. Let
+him devote his energies to getting the finish and
+recovery locked up all through the crew, and let<!-- Page 150 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>
+him see to it that the movements of their bodies
+shall be slow and balanced on the forward swing,
+and strong and not jerky on the back swing.
+More it would be difficult to add.</p>
+
+<p>When a Four is practising for a four-oared race
+alone&mdash;that is to say, when its members are not
+rowing in an eight-oared crew as well, their course
+of work should be similar to that laid down for an
+Eight. But when, as often happens at Henley, a
+Four is made up out of the members of an eight-oared
+crew, it will always be found better to allow
+its members to do the bulk of their work in the
+Eight, and to confine themselves in the Four
+principally to long and easy paddling, varied by
+short, sharp bursts of rowing. It may be necessary
+for such a Four to go over the full course once at
+top speed, but that ought to be enough. Their
+work in the Eight should get them into condition;
+all that they really need in the Four is to be able
+to row perfectly together. The Brasenose Four
+that won the Stewards' in 1890 had never rowed
+over the full course before the day of the race.
+Their longest piece of rowing, as distinguished from
+paddling, had been a burst of three minutes. Their
+men acquired fitness by working in the Eight, and<!-- Page 151 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>
+proved their condition by the two desperate races
+they rowed.</p>
+
+<p>As to steering, it used to be said that anybody
+might steer in a Four except stroke, but Mr. Guy
+Nickalls has proved that a stroke can steer as well
+as row. He has won four Stewards' Cup medals,
+has stroked and steered in every race, and his boat
+has always been kept on a faultless course.</p>
+
+<p>In the case of the ordinary oar, however, the old
+saying, I think, holds good. Bow naturally is the
+best place to steer from, not only because in turning
+his head he can obtain a clear view of the course,
+but also because he has a considerable advantage
+in leverage, and ought to be able to control the
+direction of his boat merely by relaxing or increasing
+the power applied to his oar. The best
+part of the stroke for looking round is, I consider,
+towards the finish. A turn of the head, accompanied
+by an outward movement of the outside
+elbow to suit the slightly altered position of the
+body, while keeping pressure on the oar, is all that
+is necessary. Yet I have seen Mr. Guy Nickalls
+look round in the middle of his forward swing
+without apparently disturbing the equilibrium of
+the boat. In any case, the best thing a steerer can<!-- Page 152 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>
+do is to learn his course by heart, so that he may
+be able to steer for the most part without looking
+round at all, judging the direction she is taking by
+her stern and by well-known objects on the bank
+as he passes them. Personally I prefer, and I
+think most men prefer, to steer with the outside
+foot. The captain of a Four should always look
+carefully to his steering-gear to see that the wires
+and strings are taut, and that they move properly
+and without jamming over the wheels. I have
+seen more than one race lost by accidents to the
+steering-gear that might have been avoided by a
+little preliminary attention.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Pair Oars.</span></h3>
+
+<p>This, too, is a very pleasant form of rowing, both
+with a view to racing and merely for casual amusement.
+The main elements for success are similar
+to those laid down in the case of Fours. In pair-oared
+rowing, however, there is one important point
+which distinguishes it from all other forms of
+rowing. It is absolutely essential that the two men
+composing a Pair should not row "jealous," <i>i.e.</i>
+neither of them must attempt to row the other
+round in order to prove his own superior strength<!-- Page 153 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>
+and ability. Such a course of action not only
+makes progress circuitous and slow, but also ends
+by entirely destroying the tempers of both oarsmen.
+In a Pair, even more than in a Four, the
+bow oar has a considerable advantage in leverage,
+whence it comes that a lighter and less powerful
+man can often row bow in a Pair with a strong
+and heavy stroke. The most surprising instance of
+this occurred in the Oxford University Pairs of
+1891, which were won by the late Mr. H. B. Cotton,
+rowing bow at 9 st. 12 lbs., to the stroke of Mr.
+Vivian Nickalls, who weighed close on 13 st.
+An instance to the contrary was afforded by the
+winners of the Goblets at Henley in 1878. These
+were Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, bow, 12 st. 3 lbs.,
+and Mr. W. A. Ellison, stroke, 10 st. 13 lbs. The
+Goblets at Henley have been won six times by Mr.
+Guy Nickalls, and five times by his brother Vivian.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Swivel Rowlocks.</span></h3>
+
+<p>There has been, during the past year, a movement
+in favour of using swivel rowlocks, not only in
+sculling-boats, but also in Pairs, Fours, and Eights,
+though the majority of English oarsmen, even
+when inclined to use them in Pairs and Fours, set<!-- Page 154 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>
+their faces against them for Eights. The advocates
+of swivels contend that by their use the hands are
+eased on the recovery, and the jar that takes place
+when the oar turns on a fixed rowlock is absolutely
+abolished. These advantages seem to me to be
+exaggerated, for, though I have carefully watched
+for it, I have never seen an Eight or a Four retarded
+in her place for even a fraction of a second by the
+supposed jar due to the turning of the oar on the
+feather in fixed rowlocks. On the other hand, I
+am convinced that for an ordinary eight-oared
+crew the fixed rowlock is best, and for the following
+reasons:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>The combined rattle of the oars as they turn
+constitutes a most valuable rallying-point. The
+ears are brought into action as well as the eyes.
+This advantage is lost with swivels. In modern
+sculling-boats a man must use swivels, for the
+reach of the sculler extends to a point which he
+could not reach with fixed rowlocks, as his sculls
+would lock before he got there. As he moves
+forward he is constantly opening up, his arms extending
+on either side of his body; but in rowing,
+one arm swings across the body, and unless you
+are going to screw the body round towards the<!-- Page 155 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>
+rigger, and thus sacrifice all strength of beginning,
+you cannot fairly reach beyond a certain point,
+which is just as easily and comfortably attained
+with fixed rowlocks as with swivels. Moreover&mdash;and
+here is the great advantage&mdash;you have in the
+thole-pin of a fixed rowlock an absolutely immovable
+surface, and the point of application of
+your power is always the same throughout the
+stroke. With a swivel this is not so, for the back
+of the swivel, against which your oar rests, is constantly
+moving. To put it in other words, it is far
+easier with a fixed rowlock to get a square, firm,
+clean grip of the beginning, and for the same reason
+it is easier to bring your oar square and clean out
+at the end of the stroke. A really good waterman
+can, of course, adapt himself to swivels, as he can
+to almost anything else in a boat, but his task will
+not be rendered any easier by them. For average
+oars, and even for most good oars, the difficulties
+of rowing properly will be largely increased, without
+any compensating advantage, so far as I am
+able to judge. In the case of novices, I am convinced
+that it would be quite disastrous to attempt
+to make them row with swivel rowlocks.<!-- Page 156 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Measurements of Racing Four built by J. H. Clasper.</i></h4>
+
+<p class="center">(In this boat Leander won the Stewards' Cup, 1897.)</p>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Measurements of Racing Four.">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="2">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length over all</td><td align="right">42</td><td align="left">3</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Greatest breadth of beam, exactly amidship</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="left">8&#8540;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">From centre of seat to sill of rowlock</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">8&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length of play of slides</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="left">3&#8542;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Height of sliding-seat above skin of boat</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">8&#8542;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Height of heel-traps above skin of boat</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">1&#8541;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left" class="in2">(This would make the heels about one inch above skin of boat.)</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Height of sill of rowlock above seat</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">6&frac34;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Depth forward</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">6&#8539;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Depth aft</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">5</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<h4><i>Measurements of Oars used.</i></h4>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="2">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length over all</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left">0&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length in-board</td><td align="right">3</td><td align="left">8&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length of blade</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">8</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Breadth of blade</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">5&frac34;</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<p>This boat is some three feet shorter than the average of
+Fours nowadays.</p>
+
+<p>The oars used by the New College Four measured over
+all 12 ft. 6 ins.; in-board, 3 ft. 8&frac12; ins.; breadth of blades,
+5&frac12; ins.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Measurement of a Pair Oar built by Sims, of Putney.</i></h4>
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>(In this Pair Mr. H. G. Gold, and Mr. R. Carr won the
+University Pairs at Oxford, their weights being 11 st.
+10 lbs. and 12 st. 8 lbs. respectively.)</p></div>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Measurements of a Pair Oar boat.">
+<tr><th align="right" colspan="2">ft.</th><th align="left">ins.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length over all</td><td align="right">37</td><td align="left">1</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Greatest breadth</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="left">3&frac34;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length of slide play</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="left">4</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Distance from sill of rowlock to centre of seat</td><td align="right">2</td><td align="left">8&frac12;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Height of seat above skin of boat</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">8&#8539;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Height of heels above skin of boat</td><td align="right">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">1&frac14;</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Henley_Diamonds" id="PLATE_Henley_Diamonds"></a>
+<a href="images/i_220.jpg"><img src="images/i_220_tn.jpg" width="400" height="266" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Henley Regatta (a heat for the Diamonds)]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">HENLEY REGATTA.<br />
+(<i>A Heat for the Diamonds.</i>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 157 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.
+<br />
+SCULLING.</h2>
+
+<h3><i>By Guy Nickalls.</i></h3>
+
+
+<p>In writing an article on sculling, a sculler must
+of necessity be egotistical. He can only speak
+of what he himself feels to be the correct way
+of doing things, and cannot judge of how a different
+man feels under the same circumstances. I therefore
+put in a preliminary plea for forgiveness if
+in the course of these remarks the letter "I"
+should occur with excessive frequency. Sculling
+is so entirely an art by itself, that a man might
+just as well ask a painter how he produces an
+impression on a canvas as ask a sculler why he
+can scull, or how it comes that so many good
+oarsmen cannot scull. Ask an ordinary portrait-painter
+why he cannot sketch a landscape, and
+ask an ordinary oarsman to explain why he cannot
+scull, and to the uninitiated the answer of both<!-- Page 158 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>
+will have the same sort of vagueness. Sculling
+differs so vastly from rowing that no man who
+has not tried his hand at both can appreciate how
+really wide apart they stand; and the fact that
+sculling depends to such a great extent on one's
+innate sense of touch and balance, makes it extremely
+hard for a man who has tried his hand
+with some success at both sculling and rowing
+to explain to the novice, or even to the veteran
+oarsman, wherein the difference lies. There is as
+much difference between sculling and rowing as
+there is between a single cyclist racing without
+pacemakers, steering and balancing himself and
+making his own pace, and a man in the middle
+of a quintette merely pedalling away like a
+machine at another man's pace, and not having
+the balance or anything else solely under his control.
+The difference in "feel" is so great that
+one might liken it to the difference between riding
+a light, springy, and eager thoroughbred which
+answers quickly to every touch, and pounding uncomfortably
+along on a heavy, coarse-bred horse,
+responding slowly to an extra stimulus, and
+deficient in life and action.</p>
+
+<p>To scull successfully one must possess pluck,<!-- Page 159 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>
+stamina, and a cool head, and must, above all, be
+a waterman. A man may <i>row</i> well and successfully,
+and yet possess none of these qualities.
+Nothing depresses a man more when he is sculling
+than his sense of utter isolation. If a spurt is
+required, he alone has to initiate it and carry it
+through; there is no cheering prospect of another
+strong back aiding one, no strenuous efforts of
+others to which one can rally, no cox to urge
+one to further effort. You feel this even more in
+practice than in actual racing, especially when
+going against the clock. You are your own stroke,
+captain, crew, and cox, and success or failure
+depends entirely and absolutely upon yourself.
+No one else (worse luck) is to blame if things go
+wrong.</p>
+
+<p>The pace of a sculling-boat is strictly proportionate
+to the quality of its occupant. A good
+man will go fast and win his race; a bad man
+cannot. A good man in an Eight cannot make
+his crew win; and a bad man in an Eight may mar
+a crew, but he can also very often win a race
+against a crew containing better men than himself.</p>
+
+<p>People have often asked me why a first-class
+oar should not of necessity be a good sculler.<!-- Page 160 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>
+This, although a hard matter to explain, is partly
+accounted for by what I have said above, in that
+sculling is so greatly a matter of delicate touch
+and handling. Even good oars are as often as
+not clumsy and wanting in a quick light touch.
+Very few really big men have ever been fine
+scullers. This is partly accounted for by the fact
+that so few boats are built large enough to carry
+big weights, and consequently they are under-boated
+when practising. Many big weights, <i>e.g.</i>
+S. D. Muttlebury and F. E. Churchill, have been
+good and fast scullers at Eton, but two or three
+years afterwards are slow, and get slower and
+slower the longer they continue. This, I think,
+is a good deal owing to the muscle which a big
+man generally accumulates, especially on the
+shoulders and arms, and he therefore lacks the
+essential qualities of elasticity, lissomeness, and
+quickness with the hands.</p>
+
+<p>Big, strong men also generally grip with great
+ferocity the handles of their sculls, and these
+being small, the forearm becomes cramped, and
+gives out. Many good oarsmen have never tried
+to scull, and those who have generally give it up
+after a first failure, which is more often than not<!-- Page 161 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>
+due to want of attention to detail. What passes
+for good watermanship in an Eight is mere clumsiness
+in a sculling-boat, and, as a matter of fact,
+there are far fewer really good watermen than
+the casual observer imagines.</p>
+
+<p>I asked three of our best modern heavy-weight
+oarsmen to tell me the reason why they could
+not scull. The Thames R.C. man said the only
+reason why he had never won the Diamonds was
+because he had never gone in for them. This
+was straightforward, but unconvincing to any one
+who had watched this gentleman gambolling in
+a sculling-boat. The Cambridge heavy-weight
+affirmed solemnly that he could scull, and was
+at one time very fast. He subsequently admitted
+that he could never get a boat big enough, and,
+secondly, his arms always gave. The Oxford
+heavy-weight replied much to the same purpose,
+without the preliminary affirmation.</p>
+
+<p>Many men can scull well and slowly, but few
+can really go fast, and this, I think, is due to the
+fact that they do not practise enough with faster
+men than themselves, and so do not learn by
+experience what action of theirs will best propel
+a boat at its fastest pace. Nothing is more<!-- Page 162 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>
+deceptive than pace; when a man thinks he is going
+fastest he is generally going slowest. He gets
+the idea that he is going fast because his boat is
+jumping under him, and creating a large amount
+of side-wash; but an observer from the bank will
+notice that although the sculls are applying great
+power, that power is not being applied properly,
+and his boat will be seen to be up by the head
+and dragging at the stern, and bouncing up and
+down instead of travelling.</p>
+
+<p>The first and foremost thing, then, to be attended
+to for pace is balance, <i>i.e.</i> an even keel, and to
+obtain this your feet should be very firm in your
+clogs. As those supplied by the trade are of a very
+rough and rudimentary character, they will nearly
+always require padding in different places. You
+should be able to feel your back-stop just so much
+that when leaning back well past the perpendicular
+you can push hard against it with a straight leg.
+You are then quite firm, and can control your body
+in the event of your boat rolling. Although when
+a man has become a waterman he will find the
+back-stop unnecessary, it is safest for the novice
+to have it, so as to be able to press against it;
+otherwise, having nothing to press against at the<!-- Page 163 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>
+finish of his stroke, he may acquire the bad
+habit of relying entirely on his toes to pull him
+forward. In such a position he is unstable, and
+if his boat rolls he has no control over his body.</p>
+
+<p>Having got your balance, the next thing to be
+thought of is the stroke. Reach forward until the
+knees touch either armpit; put the sculls in quite
+square, and take the water firmly (be most careful
+not to rush or jerk the beginning); at the same time
+drive with the legs, sending the slide, body and all,
+back; the loins must be absolutely firm, so that the
+seat does not get driven away from underneath the
+body. If you allow the loins to be loose and weak
+you will acquire that caterpillar action which was
+to be seen in several aspirants to Diamond Sculls
+honours last year, and which ruined whatever poor
+chance they ever possessed. This diabolical habit
+of driving the slide away, although common to
+many professionals, cannot be too severely condemned,
+as it relieves the sculler from doing any
+work at all except with the arms, which, if thus
+used, without swing and leg-work to help them,
+cannot, unless a man is enormously muscular in
+them, hold out for any great length of time.
+The firm drive will start the swing of the body,<!-- Page 164 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>
+which may be continued a fraction of time after
+the slide has finished. You will find that when
+you have driven your slide back your body will
+have swung well past the perpendicular (and in
+sculling you may swing further back than you are
+allowed to in rowing). When in that position a
+sculler is allowed to do that which an oarsman
+must not, viz. he may help to start his recovery
+by moving his body slightly up to meet his sculls
+as they finish the stroke. Thus by keeping his
+weight on the blades in the water as long as
+possible, instead of in his boat, he strengthens the
+finish and prevents his boat burying itself by the
+bows. The stroke from the beginning should go
+on increasing in strength to the finish, which
+should be firm and strong, but, like the beginning,
+not jerked or snapped. Strength applied to the
+finish keeps a boat travelling in between the
+strokes.</p>
+
+<p>The finish is by far the hardest part of the
+stroke, and is most difficult to get clean and
+smart. The position is naturally a far weaker
+one than that of the oarsman, as the hands are
+eight inches or so further back, and at the same
+time six inches or so clear of the ribs. In this<!-- Page 165 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>
+position nine out of ten scullers fail to get a really
+quick recovery with the sculls clean out and clear
+of the water, the hands away like lightning and
+clear of the knees, and the body at the same time
+swinging forward. As soon as the hands have
+cleared the knees they should begin to turn the
+blade off the feather, so that by the time you are
+full forward the blades are square and ready to
+take the water. Professionals recommend staying
+on the feather until just before the water is taken,
+but this is apt to make the novice grip his handles
+tightly, and press on them almost unconsciously
+when he should be very light. He will thus make
+his blade fly up and miss the beginning. In order
+to ensure both hands working perfectly level and
+taking and leaving the water exactly together,
+a man should watch his stern, and by the turn
+given either way he can easily detect which hand
+is not doing its right amount of work. Which
+hand you scull over or which under makes little
+or no difference. Personally, I scull with the
+right hand under. In holding a scull the thumb
+should "cap" the handle; this prevents you from
+pulling your button away from the thowl even the
+slightest bit, and makes your grip firmer and<!-- Page 166 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>
+steadier. If in steering you must look right
+round, do so shortly before you are full forward,
+as soon as the hands have cleared the knees, but
+generally steer by the stern, if you can, without
+looking round, and almost unconsciously by what
+you notice out of the corner of either eye as
+you pass.</p>
+
+<p>Modern professionals, with very few exceptions,
+scull in disgracefully bad form. W. Haines,
+Wag Harding, and W. East, at his best, are
+perhaps the only exceptions I know to this rule.
+English professionals, owing to the manual labour
+with which most of them start life, become
+abnormally strong in the arms, and trust almost
+entirely to those muscles. Their want of swing,
+their rounded backs, and "hoicked" finish they
+carry with them into a rowing-boat. Nothing
+shows up their bad form in rowing so much as
+sandwiching a few pros. in a goodish amateur
+crew&mdash;"by their style ye shall know them."
+They have acquired a style which does not answer,
+and which they cannot get rid of, and they consider
+an Eight can be propelled in the same
+manner as a sculling-boat. Nothing is more
+erroneous. They cannot assimilate their style to<!-- Page 167 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>
+the correct one. Two pros. sometimes make a fair
+pair, because they may happen to "hoick" along
+in the same style. Professional Fours are a little
+worse than Pairs, and their Eights disgraceful. I
+am of opinion (and I fancy most men who know
+anything about rowing will agree with me) that
+England's eight best amateurs in a rowing-boat
+would simply lose England's eight best pros. over
+any course from a mile upwards. This inability
+to assimilate one's style to that of another man,
+or body of men, may be the reason why some
+excellent amateur scullers proved inferior oars, or
+it may be that they can go at their own pace
+and not at another man's. I myself have often
+felt on getting out of a sculling-boat into an
+Eight great difficulty and much weariness at being
+compelled to go on at another man's pace, and
+only to easy at another's order. If you are
+practising for sculling as well as rowing there is
+nothing like being <i>captain</i> of an Eight or stroke
+of a Pair or Four.</p>
+
+<p>The novice, if he has toiled so far as this, is no
+doubt by now saying to himself that I am only
+repeating what he knows already, and that what
+he especially requires are hints as to rigging his<!-- Page 168 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>
+boat, size and shape of sculls, and various measurements,
+the pace of stroke he ought to go, etc.,
+Of course, the smaller the blade the quicker the
+stroke, and <i>vice vers�</i>. It should be remembered
+that even 1/16 of an inch extra in the breadth of a
+blade makes a lot of difference. Blades, I think,
+should vary according to the liveliness of water
+rowed on, and according to the strength of the
+individual. For myself, I am rather in favour
+of smaller blades than are generally used. My
+experience leads me to believe that racing sculls
+should be from 9 ft. 8&frac12; ins. to 9 ft. 9&frac12; ins. in length
+all over; in-board measurement from 2 ft. 8&frac14; ins.
+to 2 ft. 9 ins., but, of course, this entirely depends
+on how much you like your sculls to overlap.
+When they are at right angles to the boat, my
+sculls overlap so much that there is a hand's-breadth
+of space in between my crossed hands.
+The length of blade should be about 2 ft.; breadth
+of blade, from 5&frac34; ins. to 6&frac14; ins. Even on the tideway
+sculls should be as light as a good scull-maker
+can turn them out, so long as they retain their
+stiffness. Do not, however, sacrifice stiffness to
+lightness. It is rather interesting to compare these
+measurements with those of a pair of sculls hanging<!-- Page 169 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>
+over my head as I write; these were used in a
+championship race eighty years ago, and have a
+heavy square loom to counteract their length and
+consequent weight out-board. The measurements
+are&mdash;8 ft. 8 ins. in length over all, 1 ft. 9 ins. in-board;
+length of blade, 2 ft. 5 ins.; breadth of blade,
+3&#8539; ins. I give below roughly what should be the
+measurements of a boat according to the weight of
+the sculler. For a man of&mdash;</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Boat measurements according to weight of sculler.">
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><th>9 stone.</th>   <th>12 stone.</th>  <th>13 stone.</th></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Length</td><td>30 ft.</td><td>31 ft.</td><td>31 ft. 3 ins.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Width</td><td>9 ins.</td><td>10&frac12; ins.</td><td>11&frac12; ins.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Depth</td><td>5&frac14; ins.</td><td>5&frac12; ins.</td><td>5&frac34; ins.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Depth forward</td><td>3&frac14; ins.</td><td>3&frac12; ins.</td><td>3&#8541; ins.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Depth aft</td><td>2&frac12; ins.</td><td>2&frac12; ins.</td><td>2&#8541; ins.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Weight</td><td>24 lbs.</td><td>28 lbs.</td><td>34 lbs.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<p>As to slide, I hold that a man should slide to a
+point level with his rowing-pin&mdash;never past it, lest
+the boat should be pinched instead of being driven
+at the beginning of the stroke. The clogs should
+be fixed at an angle of 55� to the keel (<i>i.e.</i> an
+angle measured along the back of the clogs). If
+the angle is much smaller, the feet and legs lose
+power when the sculler is full back, and the drive
+at the finish is weakened. If the angle is greater,
+the difficulty of bending the ankle-joints sufficiently<!-- Page 170 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>
+as the slide moves forward becomes very serious.
+The distance of fifteen inches from the heel of
+the clogs to the edge of slide when full forward
+may be slightly reduced, but only slightly. For
+instance, if reduced, as is sometimes done, to ten
+inches, the body comes too close to the heels in the
+forward position to enable the sculler to get a
+strong, direct, and immediate drive, and the boat is
+pinched.</p>
+
+<p>A very old sculling-boat of mine&mdash;and perhaps
+the best that Clasper ever built&mdash;was built for Mr.
+F. I. Pitman in 1886. She owed her pace to the
+fact that she was very long aft, and consequently
+never got up by the head; her cut-water was always
+in the water, even when her occupant was full forward;
+and the most marvellous thing was that, low
+as she was, she did not bury her nose, considering
+that she had to endure a weight of 170 lbs. or
+so, shifting its position fore and aft to the extent
+of sixteen inches. She is a marvel of the boat-builder's
+art, and was built of exceptionally close-framed
+cedar, which takes a long time to get
+water-soaked, and indeed should never do so if
+properly looked after. Her dimensions were:
+Length, 31 ft. 2 ins.; length from edge of sliding<!-- Page 171 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>
+seat when forward to stern-post, 14 ft. 6&frac12; ins.;
+width, 11&frac14; ins.; depth forward, 3&frac14; ins.; depth aft,
+2&#8541; ins.; depth amidships, 5&frac12; ins.; from heels to
+back edge of slide when back, 3 ft. 5&frac14; ins.; leverage,
+<i>i.e.</i> measurement from thowl to thowl across,
+4 ft. 9 ins.; from heels to edge of seat when
+forward, 15&frac14; inches. She won the Diamond Sculls
+in 1886, 1888, 1889, 1890; the amateur championship
+in 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890; besides
+the Metropolitan Sculls and several minor races.</p>
+
+<p>It is a great mistake to try and get a boat too
+light. The eagerness a man will display in cutting
+down everything to lessen the weight of his craft,
+until he is sitting on the water on a weak bit of
+nothing, is really astounding. Three or four extra
+pounds often make all the difference, whether a
+boat is stiff and keeps on travelling, or whether
+she jumps, cocks her head, and waggles about
+generally.</p>
+
+<p>As to the pace of stroke, from twenty-two to
+twenty-six strokes a minute is a fair practice
+paddle, twenty-four to twenty-eight for sculling
+hard, and in racing, even for a minute, never attempt
+anything over thirty-eight. I once sculled seventy-eight
+strokes in two minutes, and felt more dead<!-- Page 172 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>
+than alive at the end of it. It is harder work to
+scull thirty-eight strokes in a minute than it is to
+row forty-four in the same time. If you do start
+at thirty-eight, drop down as soon as possible to
+thirty-four, thirty-two, or even thirty, according
+to circumstances of wind and weather, etc. My
+best advice to the novice is to go just fast enough
+to clean out his opponent before the same thing
+happens to himself, or, even better still, to get his
+opponent beaten, and leave himself fresh. But
+always remember if you are at all evenly matched,
+that however bad you feel yourself, your opponent
+is probably in just as bad a plight. Talking of
+pace reminds me of how soon even the best scullers
+tire. In sculling a course against time at Henley,
+a good man may get to Fawley, the halfway point,
+in about the same time as a Pair, and yet will be
+half a minute slower from that point to the finish;
+and for the last quarter-mile the veriest tiro can
+out-scull a champion, provided the latter has gone
+at his best pace throughout. In scull-racing the
+advantage of the lead is greater than in rowing,
+as a sculler can help his own steering by watching
+the direction of the other's craft. Yet you
+should never sacrifice your wind to obtain the<!-- Page 173 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>
+advantage, for recollect that in sculling you can
+never take a blow or an easy for even a stroke. If
+you are behind, never turn round to look at your
+opponent, as by doing so you lose balance and
+pace, and many a good man has lost a race by so
+doing. Keep just so close up to your man as to
+prevent him giving you the disadvantage of his
+back wash.</p>
+
+<p>Training for sculling requires more time and
+practice than training for rowing. If it takes an
+Eight 6 weeks to get together and fit to race, it
+takes a Four 9 weeks, a Pair 12 weeks, and a Sculler
+15 weeks. If a man is training for both rowing
+and sculling at the same time, and racing in both
+on the same day, it takes lengths and lengths off
+his pace, for rowing upsets all that precision so
+necessary in sculling. If a man sculls and rows
+at Henley, and does both on the same day, and
+practises for the same daily for a month beforehand,
+I should think it would make him from
+six to eight lengths slower on the Henley course.
+Otherwise, train as you would for rowing, the only
+difference being that a little more time should be
+spent in the actual sculling than is spent in the
+actual rowing.<!-- Page 174 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Having attended Henley Regatta since 1883,
+and having raced there for twelve years in succession,
+I have met with various scullers. Mr. J.
+C. Gardner, taking him all round, was the finest I
+have ever seen of amateurs. He was quite the
+best stripped man I have ever seen, his muscles
+standing out like bars of steel all over his body;
+he was a very neat, finished sculler, the only
+fault I could find with him being a tendency to a
+weak finish. W. S. Unwin, a light weight, was
+extremely neat, but his style was rather spoilt by
+a roundish back. F. I. Pitman, his great rival,
+was perhaps a better stayer, and had a more elegant
+style. Vivian Nickalls, for a long man, was a fine
+sculler, handicapped by an awkward finish and
+handicapped also by the fact that he never entirely
+gave his time up to sculling only&mdash;his chief
+characteristic being a fine, healthy, long body
+swing. M. Bidault, a Frenchman, who rowed in
+the Metropolitan Regatta some years ago, was
+7 ft. 4&frac12; ins. high; he weighed 17 stone; his boat
+weighed 50 lbs., was 35 feet long, had a 5 ft.
+leverage; his sculls were 11 ft. 10 ins. long. Compare
+with him Wag Harding, with a boat 19&frac12; lbs.
+in weight, weighing 9 stone himself, and you will<!-- Page 175 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>
+see in what different forms and shapes men can
+scull. And M. Bidault was a fast man for a quarter
+of a mile. The fastest sculler for half a mile I
+have ever seen was Herr Doering, who sculled for
+the Diamonds in 1887. The slowest man I have
+ever seen was&mdash;&mdash; Well, I won't mention names,
+as he might go in for the Diamond Sculls again.
+Rupert Guinness, although not what I should call
+a born sculler, obtained his great proficiency in
+sculling by dint of a very long and careful preparation,
+by months and months of continual
+practice, and by not hampering his sculling by
+entering and practising for rowing events at the
+same time&mdash;in fact, by making a speciality of
+sculling.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 176 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.
+<br />
+STEERING.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Some Hints to Novice Coxswains.</span>)</p>
+
+<p class="center"><b><i>By G. L. Davis</i></b>,
+<br />
+Cox of the Cambridge Eight, 1875-79; Cox of Leander,
+1880-85.</p>
+
+
+<p>Many people think that any one, provided
+he be of the proper weight, is fitted to
+fill the post of coxswain.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody, however, knows better than the actual
+rowing man what an amount of useless labour and
+irritation a crew can be saved by possessing a
+good man in the stern, not to mention the assistance
+he can afford both directly and indirectly in
+getting a crew together. Certainly a mere tiro,
+having acquired the elementary knowledge that
+if he pulls the right rudder-line he will turn his
+boat to starboard, <i>i.e.</i> to the right, and that if he
+pulls his left line he will turn her to port, <i>i.e.</i> to the<!-- Page 177 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>
+left, may be able to guide a boat sufficiently well
+for ordinary purposes; but even in the period
+of training a crew, and still more so in the
+race, there is undoubtedly plenty of scope for a
+clever coxswain to distinguish himself. There is
+no royal road to good steering. Pains and perseverance
+are necessary, as in every other branch
+of athletics. The attainment of perfection in
+steering is not all that is requisite; there are
+many other qualities added to this skill which
+combine to make a coxswain worthy to be
+reckoned in the front rank&mdash;a position which all
+coxswains should aim for.</p>
+
+<p>In the days of Tom Egan the steerer had to act
+as coach to his crew, but nowadays he is no longer
+called upon to do so. He is, in the first place,
+chosen on account of his light weight; but eligible
+though he may be in this respect, he is too often
+quite incapable in other ways of performing his
+duties. Should this be the case, a crew would be
+well advised in carrying a few more pounds, or
+even a stone or two extra, if by so doing they
+manage to gain an able and experienced coxswain.
+There are certain qualities which are absolutely
+essential in the right sort. He should have light<!-- Page 178 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>
+hands, judgment, a cool head, and plenty of nerve
+to enable him to keep his presence of mind in
+the face of a sudden predicament or unforeseen
+danger. There are numberless occasions both in
+practice and during races when risks are run. A
+boat laden with pleasure-seekers may suddenly
+pop out from the bank into the course. The
+coolness of the coxswain may avert very much
+more serious consequences than the loss of a
+stroke or two, such as a broken rigger or an
+injury to an oarsman, by a touch of the rudder
+and a ready appeal to his crew to mind their oars.</p>
+
+<p>During a University Boat Race, in which I
+was steering the Cambridge Boat, a waterman's
+wherry, with two or three occupants, was suddenly
+pulled out from the Surrey shore at a short
+distance above Hammersmith Bridge. The course
+at this point lies somewhat near to the bank, and
+the Oxford Boat was nearly level with mine. The
+wherry was directly in my way, and, as far as I
+could make out, those who were in it seemed to
+be in doubt as to whether they should row still
+further out or make for the shore. If I went to
+the right, a foul was imminent with the Oxford
+Boat; if to the left, I should have got into slack<!-- Page 179 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>
+water and lost ground by the <i>d�tour</i>. There was
+no time for those in the wherry to waste in
+making up their minds, so I promptly made
+straight for them with the object of driving them
+out of my course. The desired effect followed.
+They got sufficient way on in the direction of the
+shore to enable me to steer straight on and clear
+them. My action involved the ticklish question
+of judgment of distance and of pace, namely,
+should I reach the spot before the wherry was
+clear; and this anecdote illustrates my point&mdash;that
+quickness in making up the mind, and, when
+it is made up, in acting, is <i>essential</i> to a coxswain.</p>
+
+<p>The duties of a coxswain consist of many and
+varied details. To make a smart crew, attention
+should be paid to discipline both in and out of
+the boat, and he can and ought to further this
+object to the utmost of his power, thereby saving
+the coach or captain a great deal of trouble. If
+the coxswain of a light eight-oared racing ship
+has been ordered to get her into the water, he
+ought to be there to superintend the order being
+carried out. He should bid his crew "stand by"
+their riggers, and see that each man is in readiness
+to lift and carry her to the water's edge. There<!-- Page 180 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>
+is generally a waterman at hand, but whether there
+is or not, the coxswain should be ready, if necessary,
+to remove any stool upon which the ship
+may have been resting, so as to prevent any
+stumbling on the part of his men. His place is
+near the rudder (unless she is launched stern foremost,
+when, of course, it would be impossible), to
+prevent any injury happening to it, until the boat
+is safely in the water. He will then get the oarsmen
+into her in an orderly manner. There is
+necessity for this, for otherwise the boat's back
+may be strained. This might occur by allowing
+stroke and bow to get in first, owing to a boat of
+such length and lightness of build being supported
+in the centre and at the same time weighted at
+each end. The best order for the men to take
+their places is, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7, bow, and then stroke.
+The coxswain should call out their numbers one
+by one, holding the boat firmly whilst they take
+their seats, and on no account allow more than
+one man to get in at the same time. In disembarking,
+it is part of his duty to see that the crew
+leave the ship in the reverse order. The coxswain
+seats himself in the aftermost thwart perfectly
+upright, with his legs crossed tailor-fashion, and<!-- Page 181 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>
+takes up the rudder-lines one in each hand; and,
+before he gives any command, should see that his
+steering gear is in proper order. It is a common
+and useful custom for the purpose of preventing
+the hand from slipping, to have attached to each
+line a piece of wood of about three to four inches
+in length, and one and a half in circumference,
+called a tug. These the coxswain clasps tightly,
+one in each hand. Some coxswains hold their
+rudder-lines in front of the body, others behind;
+but in my opinion the best place to hold them
+is by the side, with the hands resting one on
+each gunwale. The coxswain, by thus supporting
+himself, can better preserve a firm and steady
+seat. He should never slip about on his seat, but
+always keep his body as nearly as possible erect,
+and balanced from his hips. He must on no
+account roll with the boat, and should endeavour
+to prevent himself being moved to and fro by the
+action of the rowers. Often a narrow strip of
+wood is nailed to the seat the better to enable
+him to sit firm. The lines must be kept taut, and
+tied together in front of him, lest by any accident
+he should lose one or both overboard. After
+having shoved off and paddled into position, he<!-- Page 182 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>
+should see that the bows of his boat point straight
+for the course he wishes to steer. He will then
+start his crew by calling upon them to "get
+ready," when they will divest themselves of any
+superfluous clothing and make any other necessary
+preparations. He will then say "Forward!" or
+"Forward all!" for them to come forward in readiness
+for the first stroke. He should now take care
+that his boat is level, and should tell the oarsmen
+on the side to which she may list to raise their
+hands, or call upon the crew to get her level.
+After that he asks, "Are you ready?" as a final
+warning, and lastly cries, "Row!" or "Paddle!"
+as may be required. Some other forms are employed,
+but this is as good as any, and better
+than most, and the same words should always
+be used when once adopted. In the event of a
+crew making a bad start, they should be at
+once stopped and restarted. If the coxswain be
+desirous for his crew to stop rowing or paddling,
+"Easy all!" is the term to use, and this order
+should be given almost immediately after the
+commencement of a stroke, to prevent the rowers
+coming forward for the next one. In case it may
+be necessary to bring his boat up sharp, he will<!-- Page 183 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>
+say, "Hold her up all!"<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and if (at any time)
+there is any danger of the oars touching anything,
+he should cry, "Mind your oars, bow side," or
+"stroke side," as the case may be. The boat is
+ordinarily turned on the port (left) side by calling
+upon bow and No. 3 to paddle, and stroke and
+No. 6 to back water, or back, for brevity; and on
+the starboard (right) side by calling upon Nos. 2
+and 4 to paddle, and Nos. 5 and 7 to back. In
+each case the coxswain naturally assists with the
+rudder. When turning a racing ship, for fear of
+weakening her, the paddling and rowing should
+not take place simultaneously.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> This is the term used at Cambridge, where "Hold her" is
+also used with the same meaning. At Oxford, "Hold her up"
+means "Paddle on gently;" and "Hold her all," or "Stop her
+all," would be the order if a sudden stoppage were required. To
+carry out such an order the rowers turn the blades flat on the water,
+and raise their hands quickly, thus burying blades in the water.</p></div>
+
+<p>Whatever the coxswain addresses to his crew
+should be spoken clearly and distinctly, so that
+all may hear without difficulty. The preceding
+instructions comprise most of the everyday terms
+that a coxswain should know.</p>
+
+<p>Now let me turn to his functions of a semi-coaching
+character, of keeping his crew in time.<!-- Page 184 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>
+Whether the crew are rowing or paddling, he must
+carefully watch the time of the oars, both as they
+catch the water and leave it. If the oarsman
+catches the water too soon, he should be told not
+to hurry; if too late, he should be told, "You're
+late." If he leaves it too soon, or, as it is called,
+clips his stroke at the finish, he should be told to
+finish it out, etc. (but if an oarsman finishes it after
+the stroke, I cannot advise the coxswain to take
+notice of it). All these semi-coaching remarks, if
+I may so call them, should be prefaced with the
+number of the crew to whom they are addressed,
+for the purpose of calling his attention, and must
+be used with judgment and tact, for nothing can
+be more aggravating, not to say maddening, to an
+oarsman at any time, more especially when fagged
+in a race, to hear incessantly the possibly high-pitched
+and monotonous tones of a coxswain.
+There is only one fault that will excuse him
+shouting himself hoarse, if he be so disposed, and
+it is the fault, or rather vice, of one of the crew
+looking out of the boat; and he should at once
+cry, "Eyes in the boat!" and continue to do so
+until he is obeyed. There are certain acts of
+watermanship which an efficient coxswain will not<!-- Page 185 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>
+neglect to carry out, namely, when turning to
+come down-stream, to swing his boat round by
+pulling her head outwards into the current; and,
+on the other hand, when turning to proceed up-stream,
+to thrust her nose into the slack water inshore,
+and allow her stern to come round in the
+same manner; and always to bring his boat in to
+the raft or landing-stage with her head pointing
+up-stream.</p>
+
+<p>There is no need for me to set out the rules of
+the road for a coxswain to follow, as they can be
+read at any time in the Rowing Almanack, which
+comes out annually, and is published at the <i>Field</i>
+office.</p>
+
+<p>To steer a straight course, a coxswain should
+fix upon a high and conspicuous object some
+distance ahead, and endeavour to keep the nose
+of his boat dead on it; and when learning his
+course, he should remember to choose objects of
+a permanent nature, or in the race he will be in
+difficulties. Now, the keeping of a straight course
+is not so simple as it appears; in fact, it is a most
+difficult thing to do properly, and there is no case
+in which the advantage of a coxswain with light
+hands is better displayed. It will be noticed that<!-- Page 186 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>
+such a one leaves scarcely a ripple in his wake,
+whilst another will leave a considerable wash.
+The reason of it is this: that whilst the former
+uses practically no rudder, the latter, by first
+pulling one line and then the other, causes the
+stern of his boat to swing from side to side, until,
+as the sailors say, she becomes wild&mdash;that is to say,
+so unsteady that the further she travels the more
+rudder she will require to prevent her bows from
+yawing and to keep her course. He should never
+steer for a curve in the bank or for other projections&mdash;as,
+for instance, the buttress of a bridge&mdash;in
+such a manner as to be compelled to sheer
+out to clear them. He should approach a sharp
+corner as wide as possible, in order to reduce the
+acuteness of the angle at which he will have to
+take it, and should have the boat's head round by
+the time that the axis or pivot, if I may use the
+term, on which the boat swings, and which in the
+eight-oared boats I steered was usually trimmed to
+be somewhere between the seats of Nos. 4 and 5,
+is off the most prominent point.</p>
+
+<p>The difficulty of taking this sort of corner is
+increased when the course lies up-stream, according
+to the strength of the current; for not only<!-- Page 187 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>
+does the current acting on the bows tend to
+prevent the boat coming round, but also to drive
+her head towards the opposite bank. When the
+Cam at Cambridge is in flood, "Grassy" and
+Ditton are corners of this character, but usually
+that river runs sluggishly. But even then these
+corners present many difficulties. "Grassy" is on
+the right bank of the river, and therefore on the
+coxswain's left; Ditton is on his right. The
+former is the harder to manipulate properly, by
+reason of the river becoming a narrow neck shortly
+before the corner is reached.</p>
+
+<p>In taking "Grassy," the coxswain should keep
+close to the tow-path bank until he commences to
+make the turn. It is impossible to explain on
+paper the exact spot when he should do so. The
+common fault is to begin too soon. Practice and
+experience only can teach him when to time his
+action correctly; but having acquired this knowledge,
+he will get his boat round with but a
+moderate amount of rudder, especially if he call
+upon bow and No. 3 for a little extra assistance.</p>
+
+<p>Some years ago, during the Lent Term Bumping
+Races at Cambridge, the coxswain of one of
+the boats, with the intention of cutting off the<!-- Page 188 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>
+preceding one as it was being steered round in the
+correct way, took this very corner close to the
+inside bend at its very commencement, and in so
+doing acted contrary to the principle of giving a
+sharp corner a wide berth at the first part. The
+consequence was that, having failed to calculate
+the pace at which the other was travelling, and
+having missed his bump, he found it impossible to
+bring his boat round, ran high and dry on to the
+opposite bank, and was, of course, himself bumped.</p>
+
+<p>Ditton should be approached as wide as the
+coxswain can manage, by hugging the opposite
+bank until he begins to bring the boat's head
+round, which, as in the case of Grassy, should not
+be done until as late as possible. Here, too,
+Nos. 2 and 4 may be called upon to help her
+round. The rudder should be put on between the
+strokes as a rule, gradually, and not with a jerk,
+which has a tendency to cause the boat to roll.
+It should be used as lightly as possible, and never
+under ordinary circumstances put hard on. The
+effect of a cross wind is to drive the stern of a
+boat to leeward, and to bring her bows up into the
+wind. This should be counteracted by the coxswain
+steering to windward of his usual course,<!-- Page 189 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>
+and by lee rudder to meet her: how much can
+only be learnt by experience, and must be regulated
+by the strength of the wind. The fin, which
+is a thin plate of metal fixed slightly abaft the
+coxswain's seat on her keelson, is of great assistance
+in keeping the boat straight under such
+circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>The coxswain should pick up information relating
+to his course by observation, inquiries, and
+in every way he can, and, previous to a race, he
+should take careful stock of the direction and force
+of the wind, and shape his course accordingly. It
+is a good plan to be taken over the course either
+in a row-boat or launch, by some one acquainted
+with it, for the purposes of instruction. He can
+gain a general idea of the Putney to Mortlake
+course by watching the barges which float up and
+down the river with the tide, and are kept in
+mid-stream by long sweeps. But every coxswain
+should learn to scull; he can then not only get
+his weight down by exercise, if required, but
+familiarize himself with the set of the stream,
+flats, and other peculiarities of a course by actual
+experience. Training for the purpose of reducing
+the weight of the coxswain is a questionable<!-- Page 190 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>
+expedient; but if practised with moderation, and
+if natural means are employed, the object, if worth
+it&mdash;which I very much doubt&mdash;may be attained,
+and little harm done; but weakness, the result of
+excessive wasting, is not unfrequently accompanied
+with an impaired judgment and loss of
+nerve, the absence of which may lead to serious
+consequences. Moreover, a coxswain not only
+requires a certain amount of physical strength to
+manage a boat of the length of an eight-oar, but,
+to do himself justice, should come to the post
+feeling full of energy and determination. In level
+races the coxswain of the leading boat should
+never take his opponents' water, unless reasonably
+certain that he cannot be overtaken, for a sudden
+sheer out involving loss of pace and ground at a
+critical time has before now lost a race; and when
+alongside, and in close proximity, he should avoid
+watching the other boat, otherwise he will in all
+probability steer into it, such is the apparent force
+of attraction exercised over a coxswain by the
+opposing crew. One coxswain should not "bore"
+the other. Boring is the act of one coxswain
+steering closer and closer to another until he
+gradually succeeds in pushing him out of his own<!-- Page 191 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>
+water. This cannot take place when both coxswains
+engaged are equally skilful, and equally
+well acquainted with the course, for neither will
+give way. At the best it is not sportsmanlike,
+and there is no desire on the part of the majority
+of rowing men to win a race by the trickery of the
+coxswains. At the annual University Boat Race
+Dinner, when the old Blues and other friends
+assemble to do honour to the two crews, it is the
+time-honoured custom to drink the health of the
+coxswains. On one of these occasions, a well-known
+Oxford coxswain, who, in the fog that
+prevailed at the start of the race, had been pressed
+out of his course by the opposing crew, in returning
+thanks made a witty allusion to the subject
+in these words: "I have been," he said, "very
+much interested in this race, but I have also been
+very much bored." It was a speech meant for the
+occasion, and was received with the applause it
+deserved; but it was not meant seriously, nor was
+it taken so by his equally well-known Cambridge
+rival.</p>
+
+<p>I may at this point give a word of advice to
+a coxswain in a Bumping Race. He should,
+throughout the race, keep his true course, and not<!-- Page 192 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>
+follow any vagaries of the boat in front of him,
+except with the immediate object of making his
+bump; he must never shoot for his bump when
+going round a corner, and ought always to make
+sure of his position before making a shot, so as
+not to waste the energy of his men by missing
+time after time, and zigzagging across the river.
+When he has been bumped, or has made a bump,
+he should at once clear out of the way to make
+room for the boats following. In all races he
+should encourage his crew at intervals with such
+expressions as, "Now, you fellows! Well rowed!
+On to it!" etc. But an incessant flow of language
+not only sounds ridiculous, but must be a nuisance
+to the crew themselves. In a ding-dong race,
+however, when neither crew can get away from the
+other, he will naturally urge them more strenuously
+to further exertions. He should watch the
+time as carefully as in practice, and call upon his
+crew to "Reach out," or "Keep it long," if he
+notices that they are getting short and scratchy;
+and he may quietly keep the stroke posted up in
+the doings of the opponents, telling him how they
+are rowing, how far ahead they are, and so on.
+In training quarters, especially if the crew are<!-- Page 193 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>
+despondent, the more depressed they are, the more
+he should endeavour to cheer them up and inspire
+confidence in them.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, let me advise coxswains when steering
+to wear warm and waterproof clothing in cold and
+wet weather, and thus possibly save themselves
+much suffering from rheumatism and other complaints
+in after-life.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 194 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.
+<br />
+COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><i><b>By C. M. Pitman</b></i>,
+<br />
+New College; President O.U.B.C. 1895.</p>
+
+
+<p>If we try to examine the causes of success or
+failure, of a run of good crews or bad crews
+from one University or the other, it is impossible
+to overestimate the importance of good organization,
+good management, and friendly rivalry in
+the college boat clubs. In the long run, the success
+or failure of the University Crew depends in no
+small measure upon the amount of trouble taken
+and the amount of keenness shown by the various
+colleges in practising for their different races
+during the year. It is only by very careful coaching
+and assiduous practice in his college Torpid
+and Eight, that a man who has not rowed before
+going up to the University can ever hope to
+attain to a place in the University Crew; and<!-- Page 195 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>
+it is only by trying to apply his learning to
+advantage in college races during the year that
+one who has just gained his blue can hope to
+be of greater value to the University in the
+following spring.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_bump" id="PLATE_bump"></a>
+<a href="images/i_259.jpg"><img src="images/i_259_tn.jpg" width="400" height="271" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of A Bump in the Eights.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Only a small number of the men who take up
+rowing at the University attain to a seat in the
+Trial Eights, and fewer still, of course, get their
+blue. It is by rowing for their college, then, in Eight
+or Torpid, that the majority of University men
+gain their experience, and so it is but natural
+that even more interest is usually manifested in
+the practice of the Eights than in that of the
+University Crew itself.</p>
+
+<p>Most of the colleges at Oxford have now what
+is known as an "amalgamated club," which
+supplies the finances of all the various branches
+of athletics. That is to say, every undergraduate
+member of the college pays a fixed subscription
+to the amalgamated club fund, and the money
+thus collected is allotted proportionately to the
+different college clubs. The money thus allotted,
+with the addition in some cases of small sums
+received as entrance fees for college races, forms
+the income of the college boat club; and out<!-- Page 196 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>
+of this income is paid a capitation fee to the
+University Boat Club, which varies according to
+the number of undergraduates on the college
+books, the rest of the money being devoted to
+providing boats, oars, etc.&mdash;the ordinary expenses,
+in fact, for carrying on the college boat club.</p>
+
+<p>A freshman, when he first comes up to Oxford,
+has, as a rule, made up his mind to which particular
+branch of athletics he intends to devote
+himself. If he intends to play football, and does
+not happen to have come up with a great reputation
+from his public school, he finds it somewhat
+hard at first, however good he may be, to make
+himself known; but if he makes up his mind to
+row, he finds everything cut and dried for him.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of the October Term, a notice
+is put up for the benefit of freshmen and others,
+that those desirous of being coached must be at
+the barge on and after a certain day, at 2.30.
+The coaching is undertaken by any of the college
+Eight of the preceding term who are in residence,
+and any others whom the captain of the boat
+club may consider qualified. The men are taken
+out at first in tub-pairs or heavy fours; and
+grotesque, to say the least of it, are the movements<!-- Page 197 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>
+of the average freshmen during the first few
+days of his rowing career. The majority of men
+who get into a boat for the first time in their lives
+seem to imagine that it is necessary to twist their
+bodies into the most uncomfortable and unnatural
+it positions, and is hard at first to persuade them
+that the movements of a really good oar are easy,
+natural, and even graceful. It is not long, however,
+as a rule, before a considerable improvement
+becomes manifest, and, at the end of the first
+fortnight or so of the term, most of the novices
+have begun to get a grasp of the first principles
+of the art.</p>
+
+<p>About the end of the second week of the term
+the freshmen are picked up into Fours. These
+crews, which row in heavy tub-boats, practise for
+about three weeks for a race, which is rowed
+during the fifth or sixth week of the term. After
+a day or two of rest, the best men from these
+Fours are taken out in eights. No one who has
+not rowed in an eight with a crew composed
+almost entirely of beginners can imagine the discomfort,
+I might almost say the agony, of these
+first two or three rows. One of the chief causes
+of this is that the boats used on such occasions<!-- Page 198 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>
+are usually, from motives of economy, very old
+ones, the riggers being often twisted and bent by
+the crabs of former generations, and the boats
+themselves heavy and inclined to be waterlogged.</p>
+
+<p>During the last day or two of the term, the
+captain, with a view to making up his Torpids
+for the next term, generally tries to arrange one
+or two crews selected from the best of the freshmen
+and such of the old hands as are available;
+and justly proud is a freshman if, having got
+into a boat for the first time at the beginning of
+the term, he finds himself among the select few
+for the first Torpid at the end of it.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of the Lent Term the energies
+of the college boat clubs are entirely devoted
+to the selection and preparation of the crews
+for the Torpids. The smaller colleges have one
+crew and the larger ones two, and in some cases
+three, crews each. No one who has rowed in his
+college Eight in the races of the previous summer
+is permitted to row in the Torpid, so the crews
+are generally composed partly of men who rowed
+in the Torpid of the preceding year, but who
+were not quite good enough to get into the Eight,
+and partly of freshmen; the boats used must<!-- Page 199 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>
+be clinker built of five streaks, with a minimum
+beam measurement of 2 ft. 2 in. measured inside,
+and with fixed seats.</p>
+
+<p>Although I do not propose here to say anything
+about the general subject of training, I
+cannot refrain from making one remark. It is
+in practising for the Torpids that freshmen
+generally get their first experience of strict training,
+and for this reason there is no crew more
+difficult to train than a Torpid. Most of the
+men after their first experience of regular work
+have fine healthy appetites, and, as a rule, eat
+about twice as much as is good for them, with
+the result that, even if they escape violent indigestion,
+they are painfully short-winded, and find the
+greatest difficulty in rowing a fast stroke. The
+Torpids train for about three weeks before the
+races, which take place at the end of the fourth
+and the fifth weeks in term. They last for six
+nights, and are bumping races, the boats starting
+160 ft. apart. A hundred and sixty feet is a very
+considerable distance to make up in about three
+quarters of a mile, and at the head of a division
+a crew must be about fifteen seconds faster over
+the course to make certain of a bump.<!-- Page 200 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Of performances in the Torpids that of Brasenose
+stands by itself. They finished at the head
+of the river in 1885, and remained there for eleven
+years, until they were displaced by New College
+in 1896.</p>
+
+<p>The only other race in the Lent Term is the
+Clinker Fours. This race is rowed in sliding-seat
+clinker-built boats, and the crews consist of men
+who have not rowed in the Trial Eights or in
+the <i>first</i> division of the Eights in the previous
+Summer Term. For some occult reason there
+is never a large entry for the Clinker Fours,
+although the race affords an excellent opportunity
+of seeing how the best of the Torpid men row
+on slides, and should thus be a great help to
+the captain of a college boat club in making up
+his Eight for the next term. With so small an
+entry for the Clinker Fours, most of the college
+captains devote their time after the Torpids, for
+the rest of the term, to coaching their men in
+sliding-seat tubs, the time at the beginning of the
+Summer Term being so short that it is absolutely
+necessary to get the men who have been rowing
+on fixed seats in the Torpids thoroughly accustomed
+to slides by the end of the Lent Term,<!-- Page 201 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>
+and also to have the composition of the next
+term's Eight as nearly as possible settled.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Lent" id="PLATE_Lent"></a>
+<a href="images/i_267.jpg"><img src="images/i_267_tn.jpg" width="400" height="264" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Lent Races in the Plough Reach.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">LENT RACES IN THE PLOUGH REACH.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>At the beginning of the Summer Term, time,
+as I have said, is rather short, and consequently
+it is the custom at most colleges to make the Eight
+come into residence about a week before the end
+of the vacation. The <i>esprit de corps</i> and energy
+which are shown during the practice are, perhaps,
+the most noticeable features of college rowing
+at Oxford&mdash;a circumstance to which may be
+attributed the fact that the crews turned out by
+the colleges at the top of the river are often
+wonderfully good, considering the material out
+of which they are formed. The Eights are
+rowed at the end of the fourth week and at the
+beginning of the fifth week in term, six nights
+in all. They start 130 ft. apart&mdash;that is to say,
+30 ft. less than the Torpids. About the same
+number of boats row in a division in the former
+as in the latter, the bottom boat starting at the
+same place in each case; consequently the head
+boat in the Eights has a slightly longer course
+to row than the head Torpid.</p>
+
+<p>The start of a boat race is always rather nervous
+work for the crews, but the start of a bumping<!-- Page 202 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>
+race is worse in this respect than any. A spectator
+who cares to walk down the bank and look at
+the crews waiting at their posts for the start cannot
+fail to notice that even the most experienced
+men look extremely uncomfortable.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_start" id="PLATE_start"></a>
+<a href="images/i_271.jpg"><img src="images/i_271_tn.jpg" width="400" height="276" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of A Start in the Eights.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">A START IN THE EIGHTS.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>The start is managed thus: at the starting-point
+of each boat a short wooden post is driven firmly
+into the ground. These posts are exactly 130 ft.
+apart, and to each is attached a thin rope 60 ft.
+long with a bung at the end, while by each post
+a punt is moored. About twenty minutes or a
+quarter of an hour before the appointed time,
+the crews start from their barges and paddle
+gently down to their respective starting-places,
+where they take up their positions alongside of
+the punts. Five minutes before the starting-time
+the first gun is fired as a sort of warning. These
+guns are fired punctually to the second, and by
+the first gun the men who are going to start
+the different crews set their stop-watches. The
+duty of these "starters" is to keep the crews
+informed of the exact time, by calling out, "One
+minute gone," "Two minutes gone," etc. The
+second gun goes one minute before the start, and
+as soon as it is fired, the waterman slowly pushes<!-- Page 203 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>
+the boat out from the side of the punt by means
+of a long pole pressed against stroke's rigger, the
+coxswain holding the bung at arm's-length in his
+left hand, with the cord taut so as to counteract
+the pressure of the pole, and "bow" and "two"
+paddling very gently so as to keep the boat at
+the very furthest extension of the rope. "Thirty
+seconds more," calls the starter; "fifteen," "ten,"
+"five," "four," "three," "two," "look out"&mdash;Bang!
+and, except for those who are doomed to
+be bumped, the worst is over till the next night.
+Directly a bump is made both the boat which
+has made the bump and the boat which is bumped
+draw to one side, and on the next night the boat
+which has made the bump starts in front of its
+victim of the preceding evening. The Eights are
+the last event of the season in which the colleges
+compete against one another on the river, and
+the interest and excitement of the college in the
+doings of its crew generally find their final outlet,
+in the case of a college which has made five or
+six bumps or finished head of the river, in a bump
+supper&mdash;an entertainment of a nature peculiar to
+Oxford and Cambridge, which is, perhaps, better
+left to the imagination than described in detail.<!-- Page 204 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It is a curious fact that, although the ideal
+aimed at by each college is the same, different
+colleges seem to adhere, to a very considerable
+extent, year after year to the same merits and
+the same faults. One college gets the reputation
+of not being able to row a fast-enough stroke;
+another, of being ready to race a week before the
+races and of getting worse as the races proceed,
+and, try as hard as they like, they do not seem
+to be able to shake off the effect of the reputation
+of their predecessors. So, again, one college gets
+the reputation of rowing better in the races than
+could possibly be expected from their form in
+practice, or of always improving during the races.
+The most notable case of late years, perhaps, was
+the traditional pluck of Brasenose. For eleven
+years in the Torpids and for three years in the
+Eights their certain downfall was predicted, but
+year after year, sometimes by the skin of their
+teeth and sometimes with ease, they managed to
+get home. The best performances in the Eights,
+as a matter of mere paper record, are those of
+Trinity and Magdalen, who have each rowed head
+of the river for four years in succession, the former
+in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, and the latter in<!-- Page 205 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>
+1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. Magdalen can also
+boast of not having finished lower than third
+in the Eights for some fifteen years. Brasenose
+have finished head of the river fourteen times
+since the races were started in 1836; University
+nine times, and Magdalen seven times. The best
+performance in any one year is that of New
+College in the season 1895-96, when they completely
+swept the board, being head of the river
+in Eights and Torpids, and winning the University
+Fours, Pairs, and Sculls. The only other college
+race besides those I have described is the Fours.
+This race is rowed in coxswainless racing-ships
+during the fourth week of the October Term. It
+is a "time" race, the crews, which row two in
+a heat, starting eighty yards apart, the finishing-posts
+being, of course, divided by the same
+distance. A time race is a very unsatisfactory
+affair compared with an ordinary "breast" race,
+but it is rendered necessary by the narrow winding
+river, for there is not room between Iffley and
+Oxford for two boats to row abreast. Oxford
+College crews, undoubtedly excellent though they
+often are, have been singularly unsuccessful at
+Henley. The Grand Challenge Cup has only<!-- Page 206 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>
+been won by a college crew from Oxford twice
+within the memory of the present generation
+(<i>i.e.</i> by Exeter, in 1882, and by New College
+in the present year). Wadham, it is true,
+won it in almost prehistoric times (1849), and
+the tradition is handed down that they took
+the light blue in their colours from those of the
+crew which they defeated&mdash;a tradition which
+I need hardly say the members of the sister
+University always meet with a most emphatic
+denial.</p>
+
+<p>It may, perhaps, seem that so far I have
+described college rowing as if its organization
+were so perfect that there is little or no difficulty
+in managing a college boat club successfully.
+This is by no means the case. Uneasy lies the
+head that wears a crown, even though it be
+merely that of the captaincy of a college boat
+club.</p>
+
+<p>In the first place, it is not always as easy as
+might be imagined to get men to row. Men
+who cannot be induced to row when they come
+up to the University may be divided into two
+classes&mdash;those who refuse because they do not
+wish to take up any branch of athletics, and those<!-- Page 207 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>
+who will not row because they wish to do something
+else. The former class (<i>i.e.</i> those of them who, after
+a moderate amount of persuasion, will not come
+down to the river) are not, as a rule, worth bothering
+about. They are generally weak, soft creatures,
+whose highest ambition is to walk overdressed
+about the "High," and, if possible, to be considered
+"horsey" without riding&mdash;the class, in fact,
+generally known as "bloods." Or else they belong
+to that worthy class of beings who come up to
+the University to read and only to read, and
+imagine that it is therefore impossible for them
+to row. The "blood" is, or should be, beneath
+the contempt of the rowing authorities, and the
+"bookworm" is generally impervious to argument,
+in spite of the fact that he would be able to read
+much harder if he took regular exercise.</p>
+
+<p>With regard, however, to those men who refuse
+to row because they want to go in for something
+else, a little diplomacy and a little personal
+trouble on the part of the college captain, such
+as coaching men at odd hours, once or twice a
+week, when it suits their convenience, will often
+work wonders. Instances of this may be seen
+in the fact that many colleges have of late years<!-- Page 208 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>
+been materially assisted by a sturdy football player
+in the Torpid or Eight, and in the fact that
+Rugby football blues have rowed in the University
+Eight during the last three years. Another great
+difficulty which the captains of the smaller college
+boat clubs have to face is that of procuring good
+boats with very limited finances. The usual
+practice is to save up money for several years
+to buy a new eight, and to continue to row in
+her long after she has become practically useless,
+and, indeed, positively incompatible with good
+rowing. This is a difficulty which can to a great
+extent be got over by getting second-hand boats.
+These can be bought for about half price when
+they have only been used one or two seasons
+by the University, or by one of the larger (and
+therefore richer) college boat clubs, which can
+afford to get a new boat as often as they want
+one. By this means a college boat club, however
+poor, can always have a boat which, if not
+quite new, is at least comparatively modern,
+instead of being a water-logged hulk some eight
+or ten years old, such as one often sees wriggling
+along at the tail end of the Eights.</p>
+
+<p>Yet another obstacle is there which it is not<!-- Page 209 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>
+easy to overcome. It is often almost impossible to
+find a trustworthy coach. There is nearly always
+some one in residence who is considered capable
+of looking after the college Eight, but the ignorance
+of college coaches is often only too manifest
+from the arrant nonsense they may be heard
+shouting on the bank. There is only one remedy
+I can suggest. Let the college captain secure
+some member of the University Crew, or any one
+else who knows what he is talking about, to take
+the crew for a couple of days, and <i>make the College
+coach accompany him</i>. He will thus learn something
+of the rowing of the crew, and you will hear him
+the next day pointing out the <i>real</i> faults to which
+his attention has thus been called.</p>
+
+<p>In conclusion, I must add that, keen though
+the rivalry between the various colleges always
+is, it is a rivalry which, by the encouragement it
+gives to rowing, confers good and good only
+upon the interests of the O.U.B.C., and never
+degenerates into a jealousy which might be prejudicial
+to the success of the University as a
+whole. The college captains elect as president
+of the O.U.B.C. the man whom they consider to
+be best fitted for the post, to whatever college he<!-- Page 210 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>
+may belong, for they know that the president will
+select his crew absolutely impartially, will never
+think of unjustly preferring men who belong to
+his own college, but will always do his best to
+serve the interests of the University.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> For further details of college rowing at Oxford and Cambridge,
+the reader is referred to the extracts from the rules and regulations
+of the two University Boat Clubs printed in the appendix to this
+book.</p></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Goldie_boathouse" id="PLATE_Goldie_boathouse"></a>
+<a href="images/i_282.jpg"><img src="images/i_282_tn.jpg" width="400" height="293" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of The Goldie Boathouse.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">THE GOLDIE BOATHOUSE.</span>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 211 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.
+<br />
+COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The casual visitor would scarcely imagine
+that Cambridge resembled either Macedon
+or Monmouth in the possession of a river.
+He sees in The Backs what looks rather like a huge
+moat, designed to keep marauders from the sacred
+college courts, and filled with discoloured water,
+destitute seemingly of all stream. This he knows
+cannot be the racing river. The innumerable
+bridges forbid the notion, although Ouida has, in
+one of her novels, sprinkled it with a mixture
+of racing Eights and water-lilies. He wanders on
+from college to college, and nowhere does he come
+across the slightest sign of the river of which he
+has heard so much. Indeed, a man may stroll
+on Midsummer Common within about a hundred
+yards of the boat-houses without suspecting the
+existence of the Cam. I can well remember<!-- Page 212 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>
+convoying to the river an enthusiastic freshman
+who had just joined his college boat club. At
+every step I was asked whether we were yet
+approaching the noble stream. I answered
+evasively, and with an air of mystery which befits
+a third-year man in the presence of freshmen. At
+length we turned on to the common, which is
+bounded by the Cam; on the further bank stand
+the boat-houses. There were crowds of men busy
+in the yards, there were coaches riding on the
+nearer bank, but of the river itself there was no
+indication. We were still about two hundred
+yards away when a Lady Margaret Eight passed,
+the heads of the crew in their scarlet caps being
+just visible above the river-bank as they swung
+backwards and forwards in their boat. I felt my
+freshman's grip tightening on my arm. Suddenly
+he stood stock still and rubbed his eyes. "Good
+heavens!" he said in an awestruck voice, "what
+on earth are those little red animals I see running
+up and down there? Funniest thing I ever saw."
+I reassured him, and in a few moments more we
+arrived at the Cam, crossed it in a "grind," and
+solved the puzzle. Distance, therefore, can scarcely
+be said to lend enchantment to the view, since at<!-- Page 213 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>
+anything over one hundred yards it withdraws the
+Cam altogether from our sight. It is not easy,
+indeed, to see where the attractions of the Cam
+come in. It has been called with perfect justice
+a ditch, a canal, and a sewer, but not even the
+wildest enthusiasm would have supposed it to be
+a running stream, or ventured at first sight to call
+it a river. Yet this slow and muddy thread of
+water has been for more than seventy years the
+scene of excitements and triumphs and glories
+without end. Upon its shallow stream future
+judges and bishops and Parliament-men&mdash;not to
+speak of the great host of minor celebrities and
+the vaster army of future obscurities&mdash;have sought
+exercise and relaxation; to its unsightly banks
+their memory still fondly turns wherever their lot
+may chance to be cast, and still some thousand
+of the flower of our youth find health and strength
+in driving the labouring Eights and Fours along
+its narrow reaches and round its winding corners.
+It may well excite the wonder of the uninitiated
+that, with so many natural disadvantages to
+contend against, the oarsmen of Cambridge should
+have been able during all these years to maintain
+so high a standard of oarsmanship. Time<!-- Page 214 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>
+after time since the year when First Trinity
+secured the first race for the Grand Challenge
+have her college crews carried off the chief prizes
+at Henley against all competitors, until, in 1887,
+Trinity Hall swept the board by actually winning
+five out of the eight Henley races, other Cambridge
+men accounting for the remaining three. The
+record of Cambridge rowing is thus a very proud
+one; but those who know the Cambridge oarsman
+and his river will find no difficulty in accounting
+for it. The very disadvantages of the Cam all tend
+to imbue the man who rows upon it with a stern
+sense of duty, with the feeling that it is business
+and not pleasure, hard work and not a picnic,
+that summon him every day of the term to the
+boat-houses and urge him on his way to Baitsbite.
+We are forced to do without the natural charms
+that make the Isis beautiful. We console ourselves
+by a strict devotion to the labour of the oar.</p>
+
+<p>The man who first rowed upon the Cam was
+in all probability a lineal descendant of the
+daring spirit who first tasted an oyster. His
+name and fame have not been preserved, but
+I am entitled to assume that he flourished some
+time before 1826. In that year the records of<!-- Page 215 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>
+Cambridge boat clubs begin. There is in the
+possession of the First Trinity Boat Club an old
+book, at one end of which are to be found the
+"Laws of the Monarch Boat Club," with a list
+of members from 1826 to 1828, whilst at the other
+end are inscribed lists of members of the Trinity
+Boat Club, minutes of its meetings, and brief
+descriptions of the races in which it was engaged
+from the year 1829 to 1834. The Monarch Boat
+Club was by its laws limited to members of
+Trinity, and, I take it, that in 1828 the club had
+become sufficiently important to change its name
+definitely to that of Trinity Boat Club. At any
+rate, it must always have been considered the
+Trinity Club; for in the earliest chart of the
+Cambridge boat races&mdash;that, namely, of 1827&mdash;in
+the captains' room of the First Trinity Boat-house,
+"Trinity" stands head of the river, and no mention
+is made of a Monarch Club. These ancient laws
+form a somewhat Draconian code. They are
+twenty-five in number, and eight of them deal with
+fines or penalties to be inflicted upon a member
+who may "absent himself from his appointed crew
+and not provide a substitute for his oar," or who
+may "not arrive at the boat-house within a quarter<!-- Page 216 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>
+of an hour of the appointed time." There were
+fines ("by no means to be remitted, except in the
+case of any member having an <i>�grotat</i>, <i>exeat</i>, or
+<i>absit</i>, or having been prevented from attending
+by some laws of the college or University") for
+not appearing in the proper uniform, for "giving
+orders or speaking on a racing day, or on any
+other day, after silence has been called" (exception
+being made in favour of the captain and steerer),
+and for neglecting to give notice of an intended
+absence. To the twelfth law a clause was subsequently
+added enacting "that the treasurer be
+chastised twice a week for not keeping his books
+in proper order."</p>
+
+<p>From the minutes of the Trinity Boat Club I
+extract the following letter, dated Stangate,
+December, 1828, which shows that even at that
+early date the first and third persons carried on
+a civil war in the boat-builder's vocabulary:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Rawlinson &amp; Lyon's compliments to Mr.
+Greene wish to know if there is to be any alteration
+in the length of the set of oars they have
+to send down have been expecting to hear from
+the Club, therefore have not given orders for the<!-- Page 217 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>
+oars to be finished should feel obliged by a line
+from you with the necessary instructions and be
+kind enough to inform us of the success which
+we trust you have met with in the New Boat.</p>
+
+<p>
+we remain Sir<br />
+<span class="indent2">Your ob<sup>t</sup> Servts</span><br />
+<span class="indent4"><span class="smcap">Rawlinson &amp; Lyon</span>."</span><br />
+</p></div>
+
+<p>In 1833 it is curious to read, "towards the
+end of this Easter term six of the racing crew
+were ill of influenza, etc., when the boat was
+bumped by the Queens', which we bumped next
+race, but were bumped again by them, and next
+race owing to a bad start the Christ's boat bumped
+us immediately being nearly abreast of us at the
+bumping-post." Was this the <i>grippe</i>, I wonder?
+In the Lent Term, 1834, it is stated, "The second
+race we touched the Christ's after the pistol was
+fired the first stroke we pulled, and lost our place to
+the Second Trinity for making a foul bump." By
+the way, in the oldest minute-book belonging to the
+University Boating Club, extending from 1828 to
+1837, I find the Second Trinity boat occasionally
+entered on the list as "Reading Trinity." It
+continued to enjoy this bookish reputation up to<!-- Page 218 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>
+1876, when a debt which continued to increase
+while its list of members as constantly diminished,
+brought about its dissolution. Its members and
+its challenge-cups were then taken over by First
+Trinity.</p>
+
+<p>In an old book belonging to First Trinity
+is preserved a map of the racing river, which
+explains much that would be otherwise inexplicable
+in the various entries. In those days
+the races began in the short reach of water in
+which they now finish. A little below where
+Charon now plies his ferry were the Chesterton
+Locks, and in the reach above this starting-posts
+seem to have been fixed for the various boats.
+When the starting-pistol was fired the crews
+started rowing, but apparently no bump was
+allowed before the bumping-post, fixed some
+little way above the first bend where the big
+horse-grind now works. Any bump before this
+was foul, and the boat so fouling appears to have
+been disqualified. This post once passed, the
+racing proper began and continued past Barnwell
+up to the Jesus Locks. It must be remembered
+that the Jesus Locks were not where they are
+now, but were built just where the Caius boat<!-- Page 219 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>house
+now stands, there being a lock cut in the
+present bed of the river, and the main stream
+running quite a hundred yards south of its present
+course, and forming an island, on which stood
+Fort St. George. This was altered in 1837, when
+the Cam was diverted to its present course, and
+the old course from above Jesus Green Sluice to
+Fort St. George was filled up.</p>
+
+<p>A few more extracts relating to the first
+beginnings of college boat-races may be of
+interest. In 1827 there were six boats on the
+river&mdash;a ten-oar and an eight-oar from Trinity, an
+eight-oar from St. John's, and six-oars from Jesus,
+Caius, and Trinity, Westminster. In 1829 this
+number had dwindled to four at the beginning
+of the races on February 28; but in the seventh
+race, which took place on March 21, seven crews
+competed, St John's finishing head of the river,
+a place they maintained in the following May.
+Usually from seven to nine races appear to have
+been rowed during one month of the term, certain
+days in each week having been previously fixed.
+Crews were often known by the name of their
+ship rather than by that of their college. I find,
+for instance, a <i>Privateer</i>, which was made up, I<!-- Page 220 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>
+think, of men from private schools, a <i>Corsair</i>
+from St. John's, a <i>Dolphin</i> from Third Trinity
+(which was then, and is still, the Club of the Eton
+and Westminster men), <i>Black Prince</i> from First
+Trinity, and <i>Queen Bess</i> from the Second or
+"Reading" Trinity. The following regulations,
+passed by the University Boat Club on April 18,
+1831, will help to make the old system of boat-racing
+quite clear:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"1. That the distance between each post being
+twenty yards will allow eleven boats to start
+on the Chesterton side, the length of the ropes
+by which they are attached to the posts being ten
+yards.</p>
+
+<p>"2. That the remainder of the boats do start
+on the Barnwell side at similar distances, but with
+ropes fifteen yards in length.</p>
+
+<p>"3. That there also be a rope three yards long
+fixed to the head of the lock, which will be the
+station of the last boat, provided the number
+exceed twelve."</p>
+
+<p>These arrangements allowed thirteen boats to
+start at once, and special provision was made for
+any number beyond that. Obedience to the
+properly constituted authorities seems from an<!-- Page 221 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>
+early period to have characterized the rowing
+man. I find that in 1831 a race was arranged
+between the captains of racing crews and the rest
+of the University, to take place on Tuesday,
+November 29. On Monday, the 28th, however,
+there arrived "a request from the Vice-Chancellor,
+backed by the tutors of the several colleges,
+that we should refrain from racing on account of
+the cholera then prevailing in Sunderland. We
+accordingly gave up the match forthwith, and with
+it another which was to have been rowed the
+same day between the quondam Etonians and
+the private school men." The secretary, however,
+adds this caustic comment, "It is presumed that
+Dr. Haviland, at whose instigation the Vice-Chancellor
+put a stop to the race, confounded
+the terms (and pronunciations?) 'rowing' and
+'rowing,' and while he was anxious to stop any
+debauchery in the latter class of men, by a <i>slight</i>
+mistake was the means of preventing the healthy
+exercise of the former."</p>
+
+<p>The umpire for the college races seems never to
+have been properly appreciated. Indeed, in 1834,
+the U.B.C. solemnly resolved "that the umpire
+was no use, ... and accordingly that Bowtell<!-- Page 222 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>
+should be cashiered. In consequence of this resolution,
+it was proposed and carried that the same
+person who had the management of the posts,
+lines, and starting the boats should also place the
+flags on the bumping-post, and receive for his
+pay 4<i>s.</i> a week, with an addition of 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> at the
+end of the quarter in case the starting be well
+managed, but that each time the pistol misses
+fire 1s. should be deducted from his weekly pay."</p>
+
+<p>In 1835, in consequence of the removal of
+the Chesterton Lock, the U.B.C. transferred the
+starting-posts to the reach between Baitsbite and
+First Post Corner, and there they have remained
+ever since.</p>
+
+<p>Side by side with the college boat clubs, formed
+by the combination of their members for strictly
+imperial matters, regulating and controlling the
+inter-collegiate races, but never interfering with
+the internal arrangements and the individual
+liberty of the college clubs, the University Boat
+Club grew up. With two short but historical
+extracts from its early proceedings, I will conclude
+this cursory investigation into the records of the
+musty past. On February 20, 1829, at a meeting
+of the U.B.C. Committee, held in Mr. Gisborne's<!-- Page 223 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>
+rooms, it was resolved <i>inter alia</i> "That Mr. Snow,
+St. John's, be requested to write immediately to
+Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, proposing
+to make up a University match;" and on March
+12, on the receipt of a letter from Mr. Staniforth,
+Christ Church, Oxford, a meeting of the U.B.C.
+was called at Mr. Harman's rooms, Caius College,
+when the following resolution was passed:&mdash;"That
+Mr. Stephen Davies (the Oxford boat-builder)
+be requested to post the following challenge in
+some conspicuous part of his barge: 'That the
+University of Cambridge hereby challenge the
+University of Oxford to row a match at or near
+London, each in an eight-oared boat, during the
+ensuing Easter vacation.'"</p>
+
+<p>Thus was brought about the first race between
+the two Universities. Mr. Snow was appointed
+captain, and it was further decided that the
+University Boat Club should defray all expenses,
+and that the match be not made up for money.
+It is unnecessary for me to relate once again how
+the race was eventually rowed from Hambledon
+Lock to Henley Bridge, and how the Light Blues
+(who, by the way, were then the Pinks) suffered
+defeat by many lengths. The story has been<!-- Page 224 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>
+too well and too often told before. Each crew
+contained a future bishop&mdash;the late Bishop of
+St. Andrew's rowing No. 4 in the Oxford boat,
+whilst the late Bishop Selwyn, afterwards Bishop
+of New Zealand, and subsequently of Lichfield,
+occupied the important position of No. 7 for
+Cambridge. Of the remainder more than half
+were afterwards ordained.</p>
+
+<p>So much, then, for the origins of College and
+University racing. Thenceforward the friendly
+rivalry flourished with only slight intermissions;
+gradually the race became an event. The great
+public became interested in it, cabmen and 'bus-drivers
+decorated their whips in honour of the
+crews, sightseers flocked to the river-banks to
+catch a glimpse of them as they flashed past, and
+their prowess was celebrated by the press. It is
+not, however, too much to say that without the
+keen spirit of emulation which is fostered by the
+college races both at Oxford and Cambridge,
+the University boat-race would cease to exist.
+Truly a light blue cap is to the oarsman a glorious
+prize, but there are many hundreds of ardent
+enthusiasts who have to content themselves with
+a place in the college boats in the Lent or the<!-- Page 225 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>
+May Term. Want of form, or of weight, or of
+the necessary strength and stamina may hinder
+them from attaining to a place in the University
+Eight, but they should console themselves by
+reflecting that without their patient and earnest
+labours for the welfare of their several colleges it
+would be impossible to maintain a high standard
+of oarsmanship, or to form a representative
+University Eight. Let me, therefore, be for a page
+or two the apologist, nay, rather the panegyrist, of
+the college oarsman, with whom many of my
+happiest hours have been spent.</p>
+
+<p>Before entering upon the serious business of
+life as a freshman at Cambridge, the youth who is
+subsequently to become an oar will in all probability
+have fired his imagination by reading of
+the historical prowess of past generations of
+University oars in races at Henley or at Putney.
+Goldie who turned the tide of defeat, the Closes,
+Rhodes, Gurdon, Hockin, Pitman the pluckiest
+of strokes, and Muttlebury the mighty heavy-weight,
+are the heroes whom he worships,
+and to whose imitation he proposes to devote
+himself. A vision of a light blue coat and cap
+flits before his mind; he sees himself in fancy<!-- Page 226 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>
+wresting a fiercely contested victory from the
+clutches of Oxford, and cheered and f�ted by a
+countless throng of his admirers. With these
+ideas he becomes as a freshman a member of his
+college boat club, and adds his name to the
+"tubbing list." He purchases his rowing uniform,
+clothes himself in it in his rooms, and one fine
+afternoon in October finds himself one of a crowd
+of nervous novices in the yard of his college boathouse.
+One of the captains pounces on him,
+selects a co-victim for him, and orders him into
+a gig-pair, or, to speak more correctly, "a tub."
+With the first stroke the beautiful azure vision
+vanishes, leaving only a sense of misery behind.
+He imagined he could row as he walked, by the
+light of nature. He finds that all kinds of
+mysterious technicalities are required of him. He
+has to "get hold of the beginning" to "finish it
+out," to take his oar "out of the water clean" (an
+impossibility one would think on the dirty drain-fed
+Cam), to "plant his feet against the stretcher,"
+to row his shoulders back, to keep his elbows close
+to his sides, to shoot away his hands, to swing
+from his hips, under no circumstances to bend his
+back or to leave go with his outside hand, and,<!-- Page 227 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>
+above all, to keep his swing forward as steady as
+a rock&mdash;an instruction to which he conforms by
+not swinging at all. These are but a few points
+out of the many which are dinned into his ears by
+his energetic coach. A quarter of an hour concludes
+his lesson, and he leaves the river a much
+sadder, but not necessarily a wiser man. However,
+since he is young he is not daunted by all
+these unforeseen difficulties. He perseveres, and
+towards the end of his first term reaps a doubtful
+reward by being put into an Eight with seven
+other novices, to splash and roll and knock his
+knuckles about for an hour or so to his heart's
+content. Next term (the Lent Term) may find
+him a member of one of his college Lent boats.
+Then he begins to feel that pluck and ambition
+are not in vain, and soon afterwards for the first
+time he tastes the joys of training, which he will
+be surprised to find does not consist entirely of
+raw steaks and underdone chops. Common sense,
+in fact, has during the past fifteen years or so
+broken in upon the foolish regulations of the
+ancient system. Men who train are still compelled
+to keep early hours, to eat simple food at
+fixed times, to abjure tobacco, and to limit the<!-- Page 228 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>
+quantity of liquid they absorb. But there is an
+immense variety in the dishes put before them;
+they are warned against gorging (at breakfast,
+indeed, men frequently touch no meat), and though
+they assemble together in the Backs before breakfast,
+and are ordered to clear their pipes by a
+short sharp burst of one hundred and fifty yards,
+they are not allowed to overtire themselves by
+the long runs which were at one time in fashion.
+Far away back in the dawn of University rowing
+training seems to have been far laxer, though
+discipline may have been more strict, than it is
+now. Mr. J. M. Logan (the well-known Cambridge
+boat-builder) wrote to me on this subject: "I
+have heard my father say that the crews used to
+train on egg-flip which an old lady who then kept
+the Plough Inn by Ditton was very famous for
+making, and that crew which managed to drink
+most egg-flip was held to be most likely to make
+many bumps. I believe the ingredients were
+gin, beer, and beaten eggs, with nutmegs and spices
+added. I have heard my father say that the
+discipline of the crews was of an extraordinary
+character. For instance, the captain of the Lady
+Margaret Boat Club used to have a bugle, and<!-- Page 229 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>
+after he had sounded it the crew would have to
+appear on the yard in high hats and dress suits
+with a black tie. The penalty for appearing in a
+tie of any other colour was one shilling. The
+trousers worn on these occasions were of white jean,
+and had to be washed every day under a penalty of
+one shilling. The wearing of perfectly clean things
+every day was an essential part of the preparation."</p>
+
+<p>All this, however, is a digression from the
+freshman whom we have seen safely through his
+tubbing troubles, and have selected for a Lent
+Boat. I return to him to follow him in a career of
+glory which will lead him from Lent Boat to May
+Boat, from that to his college Four, and so perhaps
+through the University Trial Eights to the final
+goal of all rowing ambition&mdash;the Cambridge Eight.
+He will have suffered many things for the sake of
+his beloved pursuit; he will have rowed many weary
+miles, have learnt the misery of aching limbs and
+blistered hands, perhaps he may have endured
+the last indignity of being bumped; he will have
+laboured under broiling suns, or with snowstorms
+and bitter winds beating against him; he
+will have voluntarily cut himself off from many
+pleasant indulgences. But, on the other hand,<!-- Page 230 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>
+his triumphs will have been sweet; he will have
+trained himself to submit to discipline, to accept
+discomfort cheerfully, to keep a brave face in
+adverse circumstance; he will have developed to
+the full his strength and his powers of endurance,
+and will have learnt the necessity of unselfishness
+and patriotism. These are, after all, no mean
+results in a generation which is often accused of
+effeminate and debasing luxury.</p>
+
+<p>A few words as to our scheme of boat-races at
+Cambridge. Of the Lent races I have spoken.
+They are rowed at the end of February in heavy
+ships, <i>i.e.</i> fixed-seat ships built with five streaks
+from a keel. Thirty-one boats take part in them.
+Every college must be represented by at least one
+boat, though beyond that there is no restriction
+as to the number of boats from any particular
+college club. No man who has taken part in the
+previous May races is permitted to row. In fact,
+they are a preparatory school for the development
+of eight-oared rowing. Next term is given up to
+the May races, which are rowed in light ships,
+<i>i.e.</i> keel-less ships with sliding seats. No club can
+have more than three or less than one crew in
+these races. In this term the pair-oared races<!-- Page 231 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>
+are also rowed, generally before the Eights. The
+Fours, both in light ships and, for the less ambitious
+colleges whose Eights may be in the second
+division, in clinker-built boats, take place at the
+end of October, and are followed by the Colquhoun,
+or University Sculls, and next by the University
+Trial Eights, two picked crews selected by the
+President of the University Boat Club from the
+likely men of every college club. The trial race
+always takes place near Ely, over the three miles
+of what is called the Adelaide course. Besides
+all these races, each college has its own races,
+confined to members of the college. But of course
+the glory of college racing culminates in the May
+term. Who shall calculate all the forethought,
+energy, self-denial, and patriotic labour, all the
+carefully organized skill and patient training which
+are devoted to the May races; for so they are still
+called, though they never take place now before
+June? Every man who rows in his college crew
+feels that to him personally the traditions and the
+honour of his college are committed. The meadow
+at Ditton is alive with a brilliant throng of visitors,
+the banks swarm with panting enthusiasts armed
+with every kind of noisy instrument, and all intent<!-- Page 232 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>
+to spur the energies of their several Eights. One
+by one the crews, clothed in their blazers, with
+their straw hats on their heads, paddle down to
+the start, pausing at Ditton to exchange greetings
+with the visitors. In the Post Reach they turn,
+disembark for a few moments, and wander
+nervously up and down the bank. At last the
+first gun is fired, the oarsmen strip for the race.
+Their clothes are collected and borne along in
+front by perspiring boatmen, so as to be ready
+for them at the end of the race. The men step
+gingerly into their frail craft and await the next
+gun. Bang! Another minute. The boat is
+pushed out, the coxwain holding his chain; the
+crew come forward, every nerve strained for the
+start; the cry of the careful timekeepers is heard
+along the reach, the gun fires, and a universal
+roar proclaims the start of the sixteen crews. For
+four "nights" the conflict rages, bringing triumph
+and victory to some, and pain and defeat to others;
+and at the end comes the glorious bump-supper,
+with its toasts, its songs, and its harmless, noisy
+rejoicings, on which the dons look with an indulgent
+eye, and in which they even sometimes take
+part for the honour of the college.<!-- Page 233 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Happy are those who still dwell in Cambridge
+courts and follow the delightful labour of the oar!
+For the rest of us there can only be memories
+of the time when we toiled round the never-ending
+Grassy corner, spurted in the Plough, heard dimly
+the deafening cheers of the crowd at Ditton, and
+finally made our bump amid the confused roar
+of hundreds of voices, the booming of fog-horns
+the screech of rattles, and the ringing of bells.
+What joy in after-life can equal the intoxication
+of the moment when we stepped out upon the
+bank to receive the congratulations of our friends,
+whilst the unfurled flag proclaimed our victory to
+the world?</p>
+
+<p>To such scenes the mind travels back through
+the vista of years with fond regret. For most
+of us our racing days are over, but we can still
+glory in the triumphs of our college or our
+University, and swear by the noblest of open-air
+sports.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 234 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.
+<br />
+ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><i><b>By W. E. Crum</b></i>,
+<br />
+Captain of the Boats, 1893; President O.U.B.C. 1896, 1897.</p>
+
+
+<p>In most books that have been published on
+rowing matters, a chapter has been devoted
+to rowing at Eton. But these accounts have
+been mainly of a historical nature, and have not,
+I think, dealt sufficiently with the career of an
+Eton boy, from the time when he passes through
+the ordeal of the swimming examination up to
+the proud moment when he wears the light blue
+at Henley, representing his school in the Ladies'
+Plate.</p>
+
+<p>Before any boy is allowed to go on the river at
+all, he is obliged to satisfy the authorities of his
+ability to reach the banks of the river safely if
+he should upset while boating. This swimming
+examination is held about once a week after<!-- Page 235 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>
+bathing has commenced in the summer half at
+the two bathing-places, Cuckoo Weir and Athens,
+which are reserved for the use of the boys alone.</p>
+
+<p>On the Acropolis, a mound raised some ten
+feet above the water for diving purposes, sit the
+two or three masters whose duty it is to conduct
+the "passing." On one side a punt is moored,
+from which the boys enter the water head first
+as best they can. They have to swim a distance
+of about twenty yards, round a pole, and return,
+showing that they can swim in good style, and
+can keep themselves afloat by "treading water."</p>
+
+<p>When a boy has successfully passed this
+examination, he is at liberty to go on the river.
+As it is probably well on in the summer half
+before he has passed, and it is more than likely
+that he has never before handled an oar, we will
+suppose that he does not enter for the Lower Boy
+races that year, but has to learn by himself, with
+no coaches to help him, the rudiments of rowing
+and sculling on fixed seats. Always on the river,
+whenever he has an hour to spare from his school
+duties, the Lower Boy soon acquires that knowledge
+of "watermanship" for which Etonian
+oarsmen are famous.<!-- Page 236 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>By the end of the summer half, he can sit his
+sculling-boat in comparative safety, and has learnt,
+perhaps, at the cost of several fines, the rules of
+the river, which are considered sacred by all Eton
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>The ensuing winter terms are devoted to football
+and fives, rowing not being allowed; and we
+may pass on to the next summer, when our Lower
+Boy will probably enter for both Lower Boy sculling
+and pulling (<i>i.e.</i> pairs). These two races are rowed
+in boats almost peculiar to Eton. That used for
+the Lower Boy pulling is called a "perfection," of
+which the design is due to the Rev. S. A.
+Donaldson; it is an open, clinker-built, outrigged
+boat, which recalls the lines of the old Thames
+wherry. That used for the Lower Boy sculling
+is known as a "whiff," an open clinker boat with
+outriggers. On an average about a dozen competitors
+enter for these events, five or six boats
+being started together, the first and second in
+each heat rowing in the final. The course, which
+is about two miles long, begins opposite the
+Brocas, extending for a mile upstream, where the
+competitors turn round a ryepeck, and then down-stream
+to the finish, just above Windsor Bridge.<!-- Page 237 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>If fairly successful in his school examinations,
+the boy whose career we are considering will, after
+his second summer, have reached the fifth form, a
+position which entitles him to be tried for the
+boats. He probably does not succeed in obtaining
+the coveted colour at the first attempt; and
+it is, say, in his third summer, that he first comes
+under the eye of a coach.</p>
+
+<p>For the last month of the summer half, as many
+as ten or a dozen eights are taken out by members
+of the Upper Boats every evening, and four crews
+are selected from these, put into training, and
+carefully coached, and after about a fortnight's
+practice race against each other from Sandbank
+down to the bridge, a distance of about three-quarters
+of a mile; the race is called "Novice
+Eights," and each crew is stroked by a member
+of the Lower Boats. Every boy who rows in this
+race may be sure that he will get into the boats
+on the following 1st of March; and having
+reached this important point in an Eton wetbob's
+career, I must endeavour to explain the meaning
+of the term "The Boats," which I have already
+frequently used.</p>
+
+<p>The Boats are composed of one ten-oared, and<!-- Page 238 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>
+nine eight-oared crews, presumably made up of
+the eighty-two best oarsmen in the school; the
+boats are subdivided into two classes, Upper and
+Lower Boats.</p>
+
+<p>The Upper Boats comprise the ten-oared
+<i>Monarch</i>, and the two eights, <i>Victory</i> and <i>Prince
+of Wales</i>; the Lower Boats are more numerous,
+consisting of seven eights, which have characteristic
+names, such as <i>Britannia</i>, <i>Dreadnought</i>,
+<i>Hibernia</i>, and <i>Defiance</i>. Each of the Upper Boats
+has a distinctive colour just like any other school
+team, whereas all members of the Lower Boats
+wear the same cap.</p>
+
+<p>At the head of the Eton wetbob world there
+reigns supreme the Captain of the Boats, who is
+always regarded in the eyes of a small Eton boy
+as next in importance only to the Prince of
+Wales and the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is
+captain of the <i>Monarch</i>, and after him, in order of
+merit, come the captains of the other boats, who
+act as his lieutenants; these captains are practically
+appointed by the first captain of the
+previous year, and were probably all members of
+the Upper Boats in that year.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of each summer term the<!-- Page 239 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>
+Captain of the Boats calls a meeting of his other
+boat captains; he has by him a list of all those
+who were already members of the boats the year
+before, and he knows pretty correctly the form of
+every one of them; thus, with his lieutenants' help
+he can assign to each oarsman the boat in which
+he considers him worthy to row.</p>
+
+<p>The first boat to be made up is the <i>Monarch</i>.
+Though nominally the first of the boats, the
+<i>Monarch</i> is actually composed of those who, from
+their place in the school, or from their prowess at
+other games, deserve some recognition; in fact, I
+may best designate the members of the "ten," as
+good worthy people, who have tried to row well
+and have not succeeded.</p>
+
+<p>The next boat is the <i>Victory</i>, and here we find
+the pick of the previous year's Lower Boats. Though
+junior, and in order of precedence below all the
+captains of the various boats, these eight have
+just as much chance of rowing in the eight at
+Henley as any of the captains; for the younger
+oar, whose faults can easily be cured, is often
+preferred to his stronger senior, whose faults are
+fixed and difficult to eradicate.</p>
+
+<p>Similar to the <i>Victory</i>, though of rather a lower<!-- Page 240 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>
+standard, is the <i>Prince of Wales</i>, or "Third Upper;"
+and this is composed of the remnants of the
+previous year's Lower Boats who are not quite good
+enough for the <i>Victory</i>. The great distinction in
+the present day between Upper and Lower Boats
+is that all those in the former may row in any
+boat on sliding seats, while to those in the latter
+only fixed seats are allowed.</p>
+
+<p>Having completed his Upper Boats, the captain
+has now to fill the seats in the seven Lower
+Boats. A few of the refuse, one may almost
+call them, of the year before are still left;
+refuse, because it is rarely the case that a boy who
+is more than one year in Lower Boats develops
+into a really good oar. To these are generally
+assigned the best places in the Lower Boats, and
+after them come, in order of merit, as far as possible,
+all those who rowed in the previous summer
+in the "Novice Eight" race.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, just as the <i>Victory</i> is always better than
+the <i>Monarch</i>, so the <i>Dreadnought</i>, the second
+Lower Boat, is often better than the <i>Britannia</i>,
+which may be composed of old "crocks."</p>
+
+<p>On the 1st of March and the 4th of June in each
+year the boats row in procession, in their order,<!-- Page 241 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>
+each boat stroked by its captain, up to Surley
+Hall, where, on the 4th of June, a supper is held.
+But I will leave a description of the 4th of June
+till later, and will return to where I left our
+successful Etonian, who has just received his
+Lower-Boat colours.</p>
+
+<p>During his first summer half in the boats he is
+practically never out of training. As soon as he
+has rowed one race he must begin practice for the
+next. The first race of the season is "Lower Eights."
+Four crews are chosen from among members of
+the Lower Boats, are coached for three weeks by
+members of the Upper Boats, and then race for a
+mile and a half. After this follow "Lower Fours,"
+in which, again, four crews take part, chosen from
+the best of those who have raced in Lower Eights.
+These two races are rowed in order that those in
+authority may see how their juniors can race, and
+also that the said juniors may profit by efficient
+coaching. No prizes are awarded; they simply
+row for the honour of winning. After these
+come Junior Sculling and Junior Pulling, two
+races again confined to the Lower Boats. They
+are rowed in light, keelless, outrigged boats, with
+fixed seats, no coxswain being carried by the pairs.<!-- Page 242 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>
+And here, again, much watermanship is learned,
+for the Eton course is a difficult one to steer, and
+only those who steer well can have any chance of
+a win. As many as fifty entries are sometimes
+received for Junior Sculling, for though an Eton
+boy may have no chance of winning a race, he will
+start, just for the sport of racing and improving his
+rowing, a proceeding which might well be imitated
+at Oxford or Cambridge. Each boy who starts in
+one of these races has to wear a jersey trimmed
+with a distinctive colour, and carry a flag in his
+bows; and it is extraordinary what ugly combinations
+some of them choose and think beautiful.</p>
+
+<p>These four races have taken our young friend well
+on into the summer half; but after Henley is over,
+he will probably have to represent his House in the
+House Four race. Perhaps at his tutor's there
+may be one or two who have rowed at Henley in
+the Eight, and with these, and possibly another
+boy in Lower Boats, he has to train for another
+three weeks to row in what has been called, in a
+song familiar to Etonians of late years, "<i>the</i> race
+of the year." It is an inspiriting sight for any one
+who wishes to get an idea of an Eton race to see
+the crowds of men and boys, masters and pupils,<!-- Page 243 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>
+wetbobs and drybobs, running along the bank with
+the race, some so far ahead that they can see
+nothing, some with the boats, some tired out and
+lagging behind, but all shouting for a particular
+crew or individual as if their lives depended on it.</p>
+
+<p>In the last few years another race has been
+established for the Lower Boats; but it has not met
+with the approval of many Old Etonians. It is a
+bumping race, similar to those at Oxford and
+Cambridge, rowed by the different Lower Boats&mdash;<i>Britannia</i>,
+<i>Dreadnought</i>, etc. It is claimed that
+by practising for this race many of those who
+would not otherwise get much teaching are
+coached by competent people, and thus the
+standard of rowing is raised; but the opponents of
+the measure object, and as I think rightly, on the
+grounds that the average oar in the Lower Boats
+has quite enough rowing and racing as it is, and
+that even if more racing were needed, a bumping
+race is the very worst that can be rowed. It is
+necessary at the Universities, on account of the
+narrowness of the rivers, to hold these races, for two
+boats cannot race abreast; but they must tend to
+make crews rush and hurry for two or three
+minutes, and then try to get home as best they can.<!-- Page 244 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So much for the Lower Boat races. And there
+is only one more point to add concerning the
+Lower Boats: at the end of each summer half a
+list is published called "Lower Boat Choices,"
+comprising about twenty of the Lower Boat oarsmen;
+to these also is given a special colour; and
+it is in the order of these choices that places in the
+Upper Boats are assigned in the following spring.</p>
+
+<p>Having, therefore, in the next year, risen to the
+dignity of the Upper Boats, our Etonian has
+before him almost as many races as when he was
+in Lower Boats. His first is "Trial Eights."
+This takes place at the end of the Lent term,
+between two eight-oared crews, rowing on sliding
+seats, and chosen by the Captain of the Boats.
+It is from these two crews, picked from the Upper
+Boats and the boat captains, that the Henley Eight
+has to be chosen; and it is, therefore, the object of
+the first and second captains of the boats to
+equalize them as far as possible, so that they may
+have a close race, and that the rowing and stamina
+of individuals at high pressure may be watched.
+In the summer half come the School Pulling and
+Sculling, similar to junior races, but rowed on
+sliding seats, and confined to the Upper Boats.<!-- Page 245 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>
+The winner of a school race, besides getting his
+prize, is entitled to wear a "School Shield"&mdash;a
+small gold shield, on which are engraved the
+Eton arms, and the name and year of the race won.
+To secure a "School Shield" is one of the greatest
+ambitions of every ambitious Etonian.</p>
+
+<p>These two races being over, practice for the
+Eight which is to row at Henley begins. Every
+day the Captain of the Boats, aided by one or two
+masters, who have probably represented their
+Universities at Putney in their day, has out
+two crews, composed of the best of those who
+are in Upper Boats. These crews are gradually
+weeded out till, perhaps, only an eight and a
+four are left; and then, at last, the Eight is
+finally chosen.</p>
+
+<p>It is difficult to say who should be pitied most
+while this process of choosing the crew is going on&mdash;the
+captain or those who are striving for their
+seats; the captain always worried and anxious
+that he should get the best crew to represent his
+school, the crew always in agony lest they should
+be turned out, and should never be able to wear
+the light blue. Of course, the captain has the
+advice of those much more experienced than<!-- Page 246 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>
+himself; but if there is a close point to settle, it is
+on him alone that the responsibility of the choice
+falls.</p>
+
+<p>Once safely settled in the boat, there follows a
+period of five or six weeks of mixed pleasure and
+pain, for every crew, however good, must pass
+through periods of demoralization when for a few
+days they cease to improve, and periods of joy
+when they realize that, after all, they have some
+chance of turning out well.</p>
+
+<p>For the last three weeks of this Henley practice
+the Eight is in strict training; but training for
+Eton boys is no great hardship. The days of
+"hard steak and a harder hen" are over. The
+Eton boy is always fit, and the chief point he has
+to observe is regularity.</p>
+
+<p>His meals are much the same as usual&mdash;breakfast
+at eight, lunch at two, a light tea at five, supper
+together at eight in the evening, and bed at ten.
+There is no need to pull him out of bed in the
+morning, as at the Universities, for he has to go to
+school every morning at seven o'clock; he does
+not usually smoke&mdash;or, at any rate, is not supposed
+to by the rules of the school, and it is rarely that
+this rule is broken&mdash;and he does not indulge in<!-- Page 247 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>
+large unwholesome dinners, after the manner of
+many undergraduates.</p>
+
+<p>Every evening at six o'clock he goes down to the
+river, and is probably tubbed in a gig-pair before
+rowing down the Datchet reach in the Eight.
+About twice a week the crew rows a full racing
+course, and is taken in for the last three minutes by
+a scratch crew, which goes by the name of "duffers,"
+composed of five or six Old Etonians and masters,
+and one or two Eton boys, who are kept in
+training as spare men. The crew is coached from
+a horse by one of the masters&mdash;of late years Mr.
+de Havilland, who is certainly as keen for his
+crew to win as any boy in the school.</p>
+
+<p>For the last five years the crew has taken a
+house at Henley for the days of the regatta, and
+gone to Henley by train the afternoon before the
+races. Though much wiser, this departure from
+Eton is not as impressive as in older days, when
+the crew used to drive to Henley for each day's
+racing; when, filled with pride and shyness, the
+young oarsman used to issue from his tutor's,
+wearing for the first time his light-blue coat and
+white cap, and walk to Mr. Donaldson's or Dr.
+Warre's house, where waited the brake which was<!-- Page 248 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>
+to convey the crew, with the cheers of the crowd,
+along the hot, dusty road to Henley. In 1891,
+the last year that this drive was taken, the crew,
+before the final of the Ladies' Plate, had to drive
+no less than seventy-five miles in three days.
+They were only beaten by a few feet, and there
+is little doubt that but for this most tiring drive
+they would have won. Once at Henley, all is
+pleasure. No crew is more popular, none more
+cheered, as it paddles down the course to the
+starting-point and as it arrives first at the winning-post.
+The scene of enthusiasm, not only among
+Etonians, but among the whole rowing world,
+when an Eton crew wins the Ladies' Plate after a
+lapse of several years, is past description.</p>
+
+<p>After Henley come House Fours; and then
+the list of Upper Boat choices is made up by
+the Captain of the Boats. The captain, by this
+means, appoints his successor for the following
+year, for he arranges these choices in order of
+merit, just as Lower Boat choices are arranged,
+and the highest choice remaining at Eton till the
+next year becomes captain. Thus the power of
+the captain is absolute; he can appoint whomever
+he likes to be his successor, and it is seldom that<!-- Page 249 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>
+the choice falls on the wrong boy. Besides being
+the sole authority in these matters, the captain
+has to arrange all the money matters of the
+E.C.B.C.; over five hundred pounds pass through
+his hands in a year, and this gives an extra
+responsibility to his post. Of course all his
+accounts are carefully audited by one of the
+masters, and the experience gained, not only in
+looking after money, but also in arranging dates
+of races, in choosing and in captaining his crew,
+and in judging disputed points, is well worth all
+the trouble and worry entailed.</p>
+
+<p>Our Eton Lower Boy has now reached the
+position of Captain of the Boats, and here I will
+leave him to go on either to Oxford or Cambridge
+and represent his University at Putney. A few
+words, however, may still be added.</p>
+
+<p>There is a great difference between teaching a
+boy of sixteen and a man of twenty to row, and
+this difference lies in the fact that it is much
+easier, and perhaps even more important, to teach
+your boy to row in good form. By good form,
+I mean the power to use all his strength directly
+in making the boat move so that no energy is
+wasted in making the body pass through the<!-- Page 250 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>
+extraordinary contortions and antics often seen in
+an inferior college crew.</p>
+
+<p>It is easier to teach the boy of sixteen to row in
+good form, because his muscles are not yet formed,
+and his body still lithe and supple; it is more
+important to teach him, because he is not so strong
+as his elders, and consequently has not as much
+strength to waste.</p>
+
+<p>A description of best how to use your strength
+would be out of place here, for it will be found
+set forth in another part of this volume. Let
+me, therefore, pass on to a subject which lately
+has caused considerable discussion&mdash;the subject
+of the length of the course for the Junior and
+School races. All these races are held over a
+course of about three miles in length, and take
+some twenty minutes to row. They start opposite
+the Brocas, and continue up-stream round
+"Rushes," and then down-stream to Windsor
+Bridge. The contention of many is that the
+length of these races is too great, and that the
+trial put on boys of perhaps fifteen years of age
+is too severe. From this view of the matter I
+differ, for to any one who has rowed over both the
+Henley and Putney course it will be evident that<!-- Page 251 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>
+the forty strokes per minute for a mile and a half
+would be more trying to a young boy than the
+thirty-four per minute for four miles.</p>
+
+<p>A short note on the proceedings of the wetbobs
+on the 4th of June, the great day of celebration at
+Eton, may have some interest.</p>
+
+<p>As I have said, a procession of all the boats
+takes place on this day. About five o'clock they
+start in order from the Brocas, and row to Surley
+Hall, where, in tents on the grass, a supper
+is prepared. After supping, they return to the
+rafts in time for a display of fireworks, the crews
+standing up in their boats and tossing their oars,
+whereby a very pretty effect is obtained. The
+dresses worn by the crews are quaint and old-fashioned
+on this great day. All are dressed in
+white ducks, a shirt of the colours of their boat, a
+dark-blue Eton jacket trimmed with gold or silver
+braid, and a straw hat covered with various emblems
+of their boat. The coxswains of the Upper
+Boats wear naval captain's clothes, while the Lower
+Boat coxswains represent midshipmen.</p>
+
+<p>So much for Eton rowing; and, in finishing, I
+must pay a slight tribute to three old Etonians, to
+whom the success of Eton rowing is mainly due.<!-- Page 252 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>
+They are Dr. Warre, the Rev. S. A. Donaldson,
+and Mr. de Havilland; and I feel sure that out
+of these three, who have all done yeomen service
+for their school, I may single out Dr. Warre, and
+yet give no offence to his two successors. Before
+Dr. Warre came to Eton as a master, in the
+early sixties, the masters had taken little interest
+in the proceedings on the river; consequently
+the traditions of rowing, learnt mainly from
+the riverside watermen, were not of a very high
+standard. Eton had never rowed in any races,
+except against Westminster, and it was due to
+Dr. Warre's efforts that competition for the
+Ladies' Plate was first allowed. From this date
+till the middle of the eighties, Dr. Warre was
+always ready to coach when asked, but never till
+asked, for he believed, and still believes strongly,
+in allowing the boys to manage their own games
+as far as possible.</p>
+
+<p>How well he kept his principles of rowing up to
+date is shown in his pamphlets on rowing and
+coaching, for probably no one but he could have
+written so clear and concise a description as he
+has given.</p>
+
+<p>Besides being an eminent coach, he understands<!-- Page 253 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>
+thoroughly the theories of boat-building, his ideas
+being well exemplified of late by the boats which
+won for Eton in '93, '94, '96, and '97.</p>
+
+<p>When the duties of head-master became too
+engrossing to allow him to devote as much time
+to the Eight as formerly, his place was taken, and
+well filled, by Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson
+was always a most keen and patient coach, and
+followed closely on the head-master's lines; and
+his cheery voice at Henley&mdash;clear above all the din
+of the race&mdash;once heard, could never be forgotten.
+He was very successful with his crews, and helped
+them to win the Ladies' Plate several times.</p>
+
+<p>In 1893 Mr. de Havilland first coached the
+Eight, and, since this date, has had an unbroken
+series of wins. In the first year of his coaching,
+fifteen-inch slides, instead of ten-inch, were used,
+and this, aided by his excellent advice, helped
+to produce one of the fastest Eights that Eton
+has ever sent to represent the school. Mr. de
+Havilland has that wonderful knack, possessed
+by some good coaches, of training his crew to
+the hour, and it is surprising with what speed
+his crews always improve in the last week or so
+of practice.<!-- Page 254 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I can only hope, in conclusion, that I have to
+some extent succeeded in explaining to the uninitiated
+the mysteries of the career of an Eton
+wetbob during the five or six happiest years of his
+life spent at the best of schools.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 255 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.
+<br />
+AUSTRALIAN ROWING.</h2>
+
+<h4><i>By E. G. Blackmore.</i></h4>
+
+
+<p>A country which has produced such
+scullers as Beach and Searle, not to
+mention Trickett, Laycock, Kemp, Nielson,
+Stanbury, and many others of less calibre,
+may well claim a place in a work treating of the
+science and art of rowing. In the limits of a
+chapter it is scarcely possible to give an exhaustive
+account of Australian oarsmen and oarsmanship,
+and as the performances of the leading
+Colonial scullers are sufficiently well known, from
+their having competed on English waters, this
+record will be almost entirely confined to amateur
+rowing, as practised in Australia.</p>
+
+<p>That large continent, with the island of Tasmania,
+consists of six colonies, in all of which the
+art is cultivated, with more or less enthusiasm.<!-- Page 256 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The first record we can find of anything like
+boat-racing occurs in 1818, when ships' gig races
+were rowed in the Sydney Harbour, while the
+first regatta was held in the same place in 1827.
+In 1832 an Australian-born crew, in a locally built
+whale-boat, beat several crews of whaling ships.
+Passing over a series of years, in which nothing
+of more than local and momentary interest
+occurred, we find that in 1858, in the first race
+rowed on the present Champion course, the
+Parramatta River, Green beat an English sculler,
+Candlish, in a match for �400. I am inclined
+to regard this as the real foundation of New South
+Wales professional sculling, which afterwards
+culminated in the performances of Beach and
+Searle. The mother colony is the only one of the
+group which has produced a professional sculler
+of any class. Amongst amateurs none has yet
+appeared who could be placed in the first rank.</p>
+
+<p>In all the Colonies there are rowing associations
+which regulate and control amateur rowing. Of
+these, New South Wales alone has attempted to
+maintain the amateur status on English lines.
+The other associations recognize men who would
+not pass muster at any regatta in the United<!-- Page 257 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>
+Kingdom where the regulation definition obtains.
+To the New South Wales Association about ten
+clubs are affiliated. Under its auspices regattas
+are held in the harbour of Sydney, and one on
+the Parramatta River. The former water is utterly
+unfit for first-class racing, as it is exceedingly
+rough, exposed to sudden winds, and hampered
+with steam traffic of all sorts. In September&mdash;regarded
+as the commencement of the rowing
+season&mdash;there is an eight-oar race, the winners of
+which rank as champions for the ensuing year, and
+fly the "Premiership Pennant." On January 26 is
+held the Anniversary Regatta, which, founded in
+1834, has been an annual event since 1837.</p>
+
+<p>The Parramatta River course, on which champion
+events are decided, and which Hanlan, Beach, and
+Searle have made classic ground, is 3 miles 330
+yards. It is practically straight, with a strong
+tide, the set of which is very difficult to learn.
+At times it is so affected by wind, as to render
+rowing impossible. The most perfect water is
+that of the Nepean River. Here a straight 3&frac14; miles
+course can be found, perfectly calm, and with no
+current. It was on this river that Beach beat
+Hanlan in 1887.<!-- Page 258 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Victorian Rowing Association holds three
+Championship events in the year&mdash;sculls, fours,
+and eights rowed in best boats on the Lower
+Yarra, and an annual regatta on the Albert Park
+Lake, though in former years it has taken place
+on the Upper and the Lower river. Important
+meetings are also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool,
+Bairnsdale, Colac, Nagambie, and Lake
+Moodemere. The length for Intercolonial and
+Championship races is 3 miles 110 yards, with the
+tide, which may be set at three miles an hour.</p>
+
+<p>The South Australian Association holds an
+annual regatta on the river Torrens, and has
+champion races for eights, fours, and sculls, on
+the Port River. The city course is one mile, that for
+the champion races, three miles. The Torrens is at
+the best an inferior river for rowing, while the
+Port Water is a broad tidal stream, exposed to
+south-west winds, and at times exceedingly rough.</p>
+
+<p>Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia,
+like their sister Colonies, have associations, and
+hold regattas.</p>
+
+<p>The great event of the year is the Intercolonial
+eight-oar race, rowed alternately in Sydney, Melbourne,
+and Brisbane. Western Australia is now<!-- Page 259 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>
+(1897) entering the field, but her crew is composed
+almost entirely of former Victorian oarsmen. In
+the past the rowing of Victorian crews has been
+generally far superior to that of the other Colonies,
+and in 1894 the Victorian combination was the
+nearest approach to English form that has yet
+been attained. South Australia has not so far
+been represented. Speaking generally, none of
+the picked eights of the Colonies have ever shown
+form or pace within measurable distance of the
+best college crews at Oxford and Cambridge, or the
+eights which may be seen at Henley. There is no
+approach to that systematic rudimentary teaching,
+coaching, and training, which proves so successful
+on English waters, and without which no crew can
+ever become that perfect human machine which
+a finished eight should be.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Public School Rowing.</i></h4>
+
+<div class="sidenote"><i>Sydney.</i></div>
+
+<p>The principal rowing schools in New South
+Wales are the Church of England Grammar
+School, North Shore, the Sydney Grammar School,
+and St. Ignatius College. Under the "Athletic
+Association of the Great Public Schools" an
+annual regatta is held on the Parramatta River in<!-- Page 260 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>
+May. The events are&mdash;"Schools Championship,"
+Maiden Fours, Junior Eights, and a June Handicap
+Sculling Race. The association has fixed the
+distance at 1&frac14; miles. The races are rowed in
+string test gigs; and 8 mins. 15 secs. is considered
+good time for school crews, whose age, it must
+be remembered, does not equal that of English
+schoolboys. The boathouses of the two grammar
+schools are at Berry's and Woolloomooloo Bays,
+in the harbour; and they are at a disadvantage
+compared with St. Ignatius College, which, at Lane
+Cove River, has a splendid course and smooth
+water. The ten days of the Easter vacation are
+spent by the two former schools in "Rowing Camp,"
+<i>i.e.</i> they migrate to the Parramatta River, where
+there are better opportunities of systematic work
+and coaching. Each club, notably St. Ignatius,
+has a good set of boats, those of the North Shore
+School being fitted with convertible fixed or
+sliding seats, carried on frames. The form of the
+two grammar schools is decidedly good, and conforms
+to the English standard much more nearly
+than that of most of the clubs.</p>
+
+<div class="sidenote"><i>Victoria.</i></div>
+
+<p>There are five schools approaching, as nearly as
+circumstances allow, the great public schools of<!-- Page 261 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>
+England, viz. in the capital, the Church of England
+Grammar School, the Scotch College, Wesley College,
+St Patrick's College, and the Church of
+England Grammar School at Geelong.</p>
+
+<p>Two races are rowed annually, for first and
+second crews, each school in turn having the choice
+of course, which is either on the Upper or Lower
+Yarra, the Albert Park Lagoon, or the Barwon at
+Geelong. For first crews the distance is 1&frac14; miles,
+for second a mile, the boats being string test gigs,
+fixed seats. Of all the schools none has a record
+equal to that of Geelong, where rowing, in comparison
+with other sports, occupies the same position
+as at Eton. To the Cambridge Eight it has
+contributed four oars, including the well-known
+heavyweight S. Fairbairn; while in the memorable
+race of '86, when Pitman made his victorious rush
+on the post, the school had an "old boy" in each
+boat&mdash;Fairbairn rowing for the Light Blues, and
+Robertson, whose father had been in Hoare's
+famous '61 crew, for Oxford. In the Cambridge
+Trial Eights seven "old Geelongs" have rowed;
+in the Oxford Trials only one; while the school
+has also been represented in the Grand Challenge
+and other races at Henley.<!-- Page 262 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Public Schools' Race for first crews was
+established in 1868, and for second in 1878. Geelong
+first rowed for the former in 1875, since when
+it has twelve wins to its credit, and the same number
+in the minor event.</p>
+
+<p>The Boat Club was established in 1874, and at
+the present date has a roll of fifty-six members, an
+excellent boathouse, and nineteen boats. It holds
+an annual school regatta in June.</p>
+
+<p>Rowing at the other schools is very spasmodic,
+mostly confined to a few weeks' training for the
+above races.</p>
+
+<div class="sidenote"><i>South</i>
+<i>Australia.</i></div>
+
+<p>There are only two schools in South Australia
+which merit the designation of public schools in
+the English sense, viz. St. Peter's Collegiate School
+and Prince Alfred College, both in the immediate
+neighbourhood of the city.</p>
+
+<p>Adelaide is bisected by the river Torrens, where,
+by reason of a dam, a mile and a half of water is
+available for rowing. But the course is so tortuous
+that racing is limited to a mile. The accumulation
+of silt is so great, and the growth of weeds and
+rushes so rapid, that for some five months in the
+year the river is kept empty for necessary operations;
+and at the best of times the water is slow<!-- Page 263 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>
+and sluggish. At the annual regatta, under the
+Rowing Association, the rivals have often competed
+in a special race; but they ran the chance of
+being drawn to row private schools. In order to
+make rowing as important a part of school athletics
+as cricket and football, the present writer, who was
+then chairman of the Rowing Association, instituted
+in 1893 an annual race between these schools for a
+challenge shield, to be rowed on the tidal river at
+the Port, over a straight mile course. The boats
+used are half-outrigged, clinker, keelless fours, fixed
+seats, with a twenty-six-inch beam. The crews
+practise on the home water, and finish their preparation
+on the scene of the contest. So far, St.
+Peter's College has won each event in the easiest
+style. A race has also been established with the
+Geelong school. Of three, each of which has been
+of the closest, Geelong has won once, St. Peter's
+twice. The boats used are full outrigged clinkers,
+with sliding seats.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of the inferior water, rowing at St.
+Peter's is becoming almost as popular with the
+boys as cricket and football. To this state of
+things their success against Prince Alfred and
+Geelong crews has materially contributed, as well<!-- Page 264 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>
+as the institution of school regattas. The club
+has a good boathouse, with the right class of boats
+for teaching and coaching, viz. steady, roomy, half-outrigged,
+clinker fours, with keels, convertible as
+fixed or sliders.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>University Rowing.</i></h4>
+
+<p>There are three Universities of Australia&mdash;those
+of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Racing was
+first instituted when Sydney and Melbourne met
+on the water of the latter in string test gig fours
+over a three and a half miles course. In the
+following year they met on the Parramatta. Melbourne
+won on both occasions. The race was then
+discontinued, but in 1885 the Sydney University
+Boat Club was founded, and in 1888 the three
+Universities mutually agreed to establish the race
+as an annual event in eights, to be rowed in turn
+on the Parramatta, the Yarra, and the Port
+Adelaide rivers, over a three mile course. Of nine
+races rowed&mdash;in two of which Adelaide, and in one
+of which Sydney, did not compete&mdash;Sydney has
+won four times, Melbourne thrice, and Adelaide on
+two occasions. The presentation by Old Blues of
+Oxford and Cambridge of a magnificent cup, to be<!-- Page 265 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>
+held by the winners, has given a great stimulus
+to the race, and invested it with an importance
+which otherwise would not have attached to it.
+It has served to establish the continuity of the
+contest, and to connect the local Universities with
+their more famous elder sisters of England.</p>
+
+<p>The Sydney U.B.C. undoubtedly takes the lead
+in prosecuting rowing. It promotes annual races
+for Freshmen, and intercollegiate fours between
+the three colleges of St. John's, St. Andrew's, and
+St. Paul's. Since their inauguration, in 1892, St.
+Paul's has won on every occasion except in 1894.
+In 1895 and 1896 the U.B.C. won the Rowing
+Association Eight-oar Championship.</p>
+
+<p>There is an annual race in eights between
+Ormond and Trinity Colleges of the Melbourne
+University, besides a few other less important
+events, but the rowing spirit is not in such evidence
+as in Sydney and Adelaide. The latter is
+simply a teaching and examining University, with
+members so few that it is rather a matter
+of finding eight men to put in a boat than of
+picking or selecting a crew from a number of
+aspirants. Its success and enterprise are the more
+remarkable.<!-- Page 266 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Speaking generally of University form in Australia,
+it is far inferior to that of a good college
+eight. Nor is the reason far to seek. There is no
+such recruiting ground as, for instance, Eton or
+Radley, not to mention other rowing schools, nor
+are there the opportunities for making oars such
+as the college clubs at the two great Universities
+present, with the successive stages of the Torpids
+and Lent races, the May and Summer Eights,
+Henley, and the Trial Eights. Coaching, as in
+England, from the tow path or a fast steam-launch,
+is practically impossible, and the number of those
+who have a scientific knowledge of oarsmanship,
+and, what is rarer still, the gift of imparting it to
+a crew, individually and collectively, is small
+indeed. Coaching in Australia is done from the
+stern, or from another boat, or by an occasional
+view from the bank, sometimes from a launch
+seldom fast enough to keep up, or range abeam.
+Pair-oar tubbing is of course utilized. Sydney
+University rowing is, however, far superior to non-University
+oarsmanship. The men sit up, use their
+backs and legs well, understand the knee work at
+the end of the slide, and do not rush their recovery.
+They are somewhat deficient in fore and aft swing,<!-- Page 267 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>
+have a tendency to sky the feather, and rarely
+catch their water at the first. Melbourne rowing
+is wanting in body work, and conspicuous for
+absence of length. The men apparently are taught
+to discard on slides every approach to fixed-seat
+form, instead of to retain as much as possible.
+Thanks to a strong Oxford inspiration in Adelaide,
+and a belief in fixed-seat form as the foundation
+of good rowing on slides, an Adelaide school or
+University crew is conspicuous for length, reach,
+and swing. The pace of the eights is far behind
+English standard.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Boatbuilding in Australia.</i></h4>
+
+<p>It was the opinion of Hanlan that in the matter
+of boats and sculls he had never been so well
+served as by Donnelly and Sullivan of Sydney, a
+judgment as regards sculls endorsed by Beach
+and Searle. Chris. Nielsen, the sculler, has brought
+out a boat which he claims to be faster than the
+ordinary wager boat, with, against, or without tide,
+in rough water or smooth. The dimensions for an
+11&frac12; stone man are&mdash;length, 23 ft.; beam, 16 ins.;
+depth, 7 ins.; for'ard, 6 ins.; aft, 5&frac12; ins.; full lines
+throughout; height of seat from heel plates, 7 ins.;<!-- Page 268 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>
+height of work from seat, 5&frac34; ins.; needs no fin,
+steers well, very light off hand; weight without
+fittings, 14 lbs. Riggers are bicycle tubing fittings,
+ordinary Davis gate; Colonial cedar, pine, and
+hickory timbers. The Australian-built boats are
+probably, so far as lines, general design, and workmanship,
+quite equal to the best English craft.
+For pairs, fours, and eights the Melbourne builders,
+Fuller, Edwards, and Greenland, are of the first
+class. They use a skeleton frame for the slides,
+built with angle pieces. This has all the rigidity
+of Clasper's more solid style, is lighter and stronger,
+and when the boat is being emptied allows the free
+escape of water. A Colonial eight is certainly
+lighter than those sent to Australia by Clasper or
+Rough. Probably the English builders have overestimated
+the weight of Australian eight-oar crews,
+which do not scale anything approaching a 'Varsity
+eight. Seating down the middle is generally preferred,
+which the present writer thinks has everything
+in its favour. The great drawback from
+which local builders suffer is the want of seasoned
+cedar. From this cause their boats do not last as
+long as English ones.<!-- Page 269 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Times.</i></h4>
+
+<p>I am not disposed to place much reliance on
+time as a test of a crew or a sculler, as conditions
+can never be so identical as to make comparison
+a safe guide. Still a certain interest attaches to
+records. It is contended that the Parramatta
+is a fifth slower than the Thames. The best trial
+with the tide that I know of is for a mile, 5 mins.
+20 secs. with a four; 4 mins. 47 secs. with an eight.
+Over the whole course, 3 miles 330 yards, an eight
+has put up 17 mins. 12 secs., one mile of which was
+compassed in 4 mins. 52 secs. On the Yarra the
+Victorian Eight of 1889 is said to have rowed two
+measured miles in 10 mins. 2 secs. At Brisbane,
+in 1895, the Sydney International Eight, with
+a strong stream, compassed three miles in 15 mins.,
+but the distance is doubted. On the Nepean
+course, 3 miles 440 yards, Sullivan beat Bubear in
+19 mins. 15 secs., no current.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 270 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.
+<br />
+ROWING IN AMERICA.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The sport of rowing, as I gather from
+Mr. Caspar Whitney's well-known book,<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a>
+was in its infancy in America when it
+had already taken a prominent place amongst
+our amateur athletic exercises in England. The
+Detroit Boat Club, established in 1839, was
+the first rowing organization in America. Next
+came Yale University, which established a Boat
+Club in 1843, and was followed by Harvard
+University in 1846. The first boat-race between
+Harvard and Yale took place in 1852 on Lake
+Winipiseogee, New Hampshire, in eight-oared
+boats with coxswains. Other meetings between
+these two followed at intervals until 1859, when a
+College Union Regatta was instituted. This took<!-- Page 271 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>
+place at Worcester (Mass.), on Lake Quinsigamond,
+in six-oared boats without coxswains, the
+bow oar invariably steering, and was continued,
+with an interruption of three years during the Rebellion,
+until 1870, when the course was changed
+to the Connecticut River. Up to this time two
+Universities only had competed besides Yale and
+Harvard; but in 1872 the number increased considerably,
+and in 1875 no less than twelve different
+Universities were represented in one race. These
+were, in the order in which they finished, Cornell,
+Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth (Hanover, N.H.),
+Wesleyan (Middletown, Conn.), Yale, Amherst
+(Mass.), Brown (Providence, R.I.), Williams (Williamstown,
+Mass.), Bowdoin (Brunswick, Maine),
+Hamilton (Clinton, N.Y.), and Union (Schenectady,
+N.Y.). The most eventful of these big
+regattas was that of 1874 at Saratoga, when nine
+boats entered. Harvard and Yale, having adjoining
+stations, unfortunately became engaged in a
+dispute as to "water," and were left disputing by
+several boats. Harvard got away from the entanglement
+first, leaving Yale with her rudder and
+one oar broken, and went in pursuit of the others;
+but in spite of the most heroic efforts, were beaten<!-- Page 272 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>
+by Columbia and Wesleyan, who finished respectively
+first and second. In 1876 Harvard and
+Yale decided to withdraw from these crowded
+meetings, and in this and the following year they
+rowed a private match at Springfield in Eights
+with coxswains, and in 1878 on the Thames at
+New London, where they continued their annual
+contest up to and including 1895.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> In that year
+there took place a break in the athletic relations
+between these two Universities, and in 1896 Harvard
+took part in a "quadrangular" race with
+Cornell, Columbia, and Pennsylvania Universities.
+This was won by Cornell, Harvard being second,
+and was rowed on a perfectly straight four-mile
+course at Poughkeepsie on the River Hudson,
+where Cornell, Columbia, and Pennsylvania had
+decided some previous contests. In the present
+year, however, the differences between Harvard
+and Yale were happily adjusted, and a race was
+rowed at Poughkeepsie between them and Cornell,
+in which Cornell came in first, Yale defeating
+Harvard for second place. Harvard, Yale, Columbia,
+Pennsylvania, and Cornell possess at the<!-- Page 273 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>
+present day the most important University rowing
+organizations, and at all of them the sport is
+practised with that intense keenness which characterizes
+the young American in everything that
+he undertakes. Especially is this the case with
+Harvard and Yale. Their rivalry has continued
+for many years, and a meeting between them in
+rowing, or in any other sport, evokes among their
+members an eagerness and an enthusiasm of which
+an Englishman can have little conception. Most
+of the Universities that took part in the contests
+of the seventies seem to have dropped altogether
+out of the rowing world. Last year saw a new
+arrival in the shape of the University of Wisconsin.
+These Westerners, in spite of their difficulties of
+climate, were able to form a very good freshman
+crew, which defeated the Yale freshmen in a two-mile
+race. This year the Wisconsin University
+Eight rowed a two-mile race against the Yale
+University Eight, but were unable to make much
+of a show against them. The United States
+Naval Academy at Minneapolis can also put a
+very fair crew on the water, though the course
+of their studies allows them but little leisure for
+practice. This year they were defeated by Cornell<!-- Page 274 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>
+in a two-mile race. The chief rowing school of
+America is undoubtedly St. Paul's, at Concord,
+New Hampshire. It is divided into two boat-clubs,
+the Halcyon and the Shattuck, and the teaching
+and training of the boys are looked after by Mr.
+Dole, a man of great knowledge and experience
+in rowing matters. They practise on a large lake
+situated close to the school buildings, and show
+on the whole very fair form, though in this respect
+they cannot equal an Eton crew. Rowing
+recruits from this school are eagerly sought after
+by Harvard and Yale, in whose contests old St.
+Paul's boys have a very brilliant record. At
+Groton School, in Massachusetts, the boys row
+in Fours on the river Nashua, their coach being
+Mr. Abbot, a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford.
+Rowing, however, at Groton has not yet
+assumed the importance it has at St. Paul's, baseball
+being considered of the first importance, and
+the captain of baseball having the right to claim
+rowing boys for his team. Not a few Groton
+wet-bobs have, however, done well in Harvard
+and Yale crews. Besides these two rowing-schools,
+there is also the High School of Worcester (Mass.),
+whose Eight this year&mdash;the first, I believe, in its<!-- Page 275 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>
+rowing history&mdash;rowed a severe but unsuccessful
+race against the Harvard freshmen on Lake Quinsigamond,
+and later in the summer won the race
+for Intermediate Eights at the National Regatta
+held on the River Schuylkill at Philadelphia.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> "A Sporting Pilgrimage" (published in 1895 by Messrs. Osgood,
+McIlvaine &amp; Co.), one of the best all-round accounts of
+English sport that it has ever been my good fortune to read.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> For many of these details I am indebted to an article by Mr.
+J. A. Watson-Taylor in the <i>Granta</i>.</p></div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_Harvard_eight" id="PLATE_Harvard_eight"></a>
+<a href="images/i_345.jpg"><img src="images/i_345_tn.jpg" width="400" height="265" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of A Harvard Eight.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON AT POUGHKEEPSIE.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>To an English reader, with his experience of
+Henley Regatta, it will seem strange that the
+Universities in America should take little or no
+part in any rowing contests except their own
+private matches, and should have no voice, and
+apparently no wish to have any voice, in the
+general management of the sport outside the Universities.
+But such is the case. The National
+Association of Amateur Oarsmen of America has
+more than sixty clubs affiliated to it, but neither
+Harvard nor Yale nor Cornell is amongst the
+number. The National Association holds a successful
+regatta every year in August, but no
+really representative Eight from Harvard or Yale
+has ever, I believe, taken part in it. With that
+exception, this Association corresponds to our
+Amateur Rowing Association, and in its constitution
+states its object to be "the advancement
+and improvement of rowing amongst amateurs."
+By Article III. of the Association an amateur is<!-- Page 276 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>
+defined as "one who does not enter in an open
+competition; or for either a stake, public or admission
+money, or entrance fee; or compete with
+or against a professional for any prize; who has
+never taught, pursued, or assisted in the pursuit
+of athletic exercises as a means of livelihood;
+whose membership of any rowing or other athletic
+club was not brought about, or does not continue,
+because of any mutual agreement or understanding,
+expressed or implied, whereby his becoming
+or continuing a member of such club would be of
+any pecuniary benefit to him whatever, direct or
+indirect;<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> who has never been employed in any
+occupation involving any use of the oar or paddle;
+who rows for pleasure or recreation only, and
+during his leisure hours; who does not abandon
+or neglect his usual business or occupation for
+the purpose of training, and who shall otherwise
+conform to the rules and regulations of this Association
+(as adopted August 28, 1872, amended
+January 20, 1876, and July 18, 1888)."</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> This clause is intended especially to prevent any so-called
+amateur oarsmen being surreptitiously compensated for rowing, as,
+for instance, by being furnished lucrative employment in sinecure
+positions.<!-- Page 277 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<p>"Any club which shall issue or accept a challenge
+for the purpose of holding a professional
+race, shall be for ever debarred from entering an
+individual or crew in the Regattas of the Association,
+and such club, if connected with the
+Association, shall be expelled."</p>
+
+<p>In point of strictness, it will be noticed this Rule
+does not suffer by comparison with that of our own
+Amateur Rowing Association.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> Indeed, in some
+respects it is both fuller and stricter. Practically
+the only difference is that whereas we disqualify as
+an amateur one who has been employed in manual
+labour for money or wages, or who is or has been
+by trade or employment for wages a mechanic,
+artizan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial
+duty, this exclusion finds no place in the American
+Amateur definition. The Laws of Boat-racing
+adopted by the Association are practically the
+same as our own.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> See <a href="#APPENDIX">Appendix</a>.</p></div>
+
+<p>It may be interesting to contrast the organization
+and management of rowing at an American
+University with the systems that a long tradition
+has consecrated at Oxford and Cambridge. In
+our Universities, in the first place, each particular<!-- Page 278 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>
+sport is entirely independent of all others. Each has
+its own club, its own funds, derived from the subscriptions
+of its members, and each manages its own
+affairs and arranges its own contests, except occasionally
+in the matter of convenience of date, without
+any reference whatever to the others. A don
+is usually treasurer of these clubs, but he has no
+special authority or control merely because he is a
+don. His experience and greater knowledge are
+placed at the disposal of undergraduates in matters
+of finance; that is all. Certain general University
+rules as to time of residence, etc., have to be observed,
+but beyond this the dons assume absolutely
+no authority at all in the sports of the undergraduates.
+The undergraduates themselves, through
+undergraduate officers, elected by themselves, make
+all their own arrangements as to dates, matches,
+and everything else connected with their competitions;
+and a don would as soon think of flirting
+with a barmaid as of interfering with these matters
+in virtue of his donship. This point is really of
+capital importance. The responsibility of everything
+connected with the sports of the University
+thus falls upon the proper shoulders&mdash;those, namely,
+of the undergraduates who take part in them. The<!-- Page 279 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>
+full glory of the victory is theirs, and a defeat they
+must feel is due to them alone. They cannot shift
+the blame to any don or committee of dons, and,
+as they must acknowledge themselves responsible,
+so the necessity of taking steps to restore the
+fortunes of their club is the more strongly brought
+home to them. The captain of a Boat Club is its
+absolute autocrat as regards work and discipline
+and the selection of his crew. The coach whom
+he asks to instruct them may possibly be old
+enough to be his father, but the coach, none the
+less, defers with an almost filial respect to the
+captain, through whom all executive orders are
+issued. In practice, of course, the wise captain is
+guided in most matters by his coach, but, should a
+serious difference arise between them, it is the
+coach who must give way to the authority of the
+captain. This uncontrolled management of their
+sports by the undergraduates is, it seems to me,
+no unimportant part of a University education;
+and a man may learn from it even more valuable
+lessons in conduct, self-control, and the treatment
+of his fellow-men, than from all the books,
+papers, and examinations of his University curriculum.<!-- Page 280 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At an American University a very different
+situation exists. I will take the case of Harvard,
+not merely because it is more familiar to me, but
+because it is typical in its general features, though
+not, of course, in all its details, of the position
+taken up by the authorities at most American
+Universities with regard to the sports of the
+undergraduates. From the earliest days of athletic
+exercises the Faculty, or Governing Body, of
+the University has kept a very tight control over
+them. It has issued rules and ordinances, allowing
+or forbidding certain competitions, deciding
+not only the number, but the date and place
+of matches in which it was allowable to take part,
+and regulating and controlling the conduct of
+those undergraduates who took part in athletics.
+This system, no doubt, originated at a time
+when the numbers at Harvard were comparatively
+small, and when the men entered College
+at an age considerably younger than is usual in
+England. But the numbers at Harvard have
+increased by leaps and bounds, and the age of
+undergraduates is now on an average the same as
+at Oxford and Cambridge.</p>
+
+<p>In recent years, indeed, a slight change has<!-- Page 281 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>
+been found advisable. The control of all athletics,
+whether rowing, baseball, football, or track athletics,
+is vested in what is called an Athletic Committee,
+composed of three professors (<i>Anglic�</i>, dons), three
+graduates of the University, and three undergraduates.
+These nine, who are not selected on
+any representative system, promulgate laws, conduct
+negotiations, settle dates, and generally
+perform those details of business which in England
+are left entirely to the undergraduates. For
+instance, the negotiations for a resumption of
+athletic relations with Yale University were on the
+Harvard side managed by and through the Athletic
+Committee. Moreover, the Athletic Committee has
+in its hands the appointment of coaches for the
+crew, and for the football, baseball, and athletic
+teams. The captain of a crew or a team is, to be
+sure, elected by the undergraduates themselves,
+the established system being that the crew should,
+before disbanding itself, elect the captain for
+the ensuing year. But no election of this kind is
+valid until it has been confirmed by the Athletic
+Committee. From the above account, in which I
+have confined myself to facts, and have not
+attempted to criticize, it will be seen how profound<!-- Page 282 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>
+are the differences between athletic organizations
+at English and American Universities.</p>
+
+<p>But there are further differences which have
+nothing to do with the system of control and
+management. An English University is composed
+of many colleges, each entirely independent, so
+far as the management of its affairs are concerned.
+An English University Boat Club is organized
+on the same principle. It is made up of representatives
+of all the College Boat Clubs, and combines
+these autonomous institutions for what may be
+termed Imperial purposes. College rowing at
+Oxford and Cambridge foments a keen and
+healthy rivalry, and to no small extent helps
+to keep up the standard of University rowing.
+In America, on the contrary, the University is
+one, and apparently indivisible. There are no
+colleges, and, therefore, there is no aggregation of
+College Boat Clubs such as we have at home.
+The want of this element is, no doubt, a serious
+disadvantage to an American University Boat
+Club. The only element of rivalry comes from
+the competition of the four different classes (<i>i.e.</i>
+years, as we should call them&mdash;freshmen; second-year
+men, or "sophomores;" third-year men, or<!-- Page 283 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>
+"juniors;" and fourth-year men, or "seniors")
+against one another in an eight-oared race in
+the spring. Beyond this there has been hitherto
+no internal competition between members of the
+University Boat Club. Compare this single race
+with the long series of contests in which an
+English University oarsman takes part. He may
+begin in October with the Fours, row in the University
+Trial Eights in December, and in the
+University crew in the following March. Then
+come the College eight-oared races in May or
+June, followed by Henley Regatta in July, to say
+nothing of pair-oar races, and sculling races, and
+College Club races, or of the various Thames
+regattas, in which he may take part during
+what remains of the summer. He thus gains
+invaluable lessons, both in watermanship and in
+racing experience, which are not open to his
+American cousin.</p>
+
+<p>For this absence of competitions in an American
+University Boat Club, the severe American winter,
+which closes the rivers from about the middle of
+December until early in March, is only partly
+responsible. During October and November the
+rivers are open; but up to the present very little<!-- Page 284 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>
+advantage has been taken of these valuable months.
+At Harvard there has hitherto been no race or
+series of races for Fours or Pairs or Scullers, and
+freshmen, during their first term, have been exercised
+on a rowing machine, when they might, with
+infinitely greater profit, have gained instruction on
+the water.</p>
+
+<p>Early in January, when the undergraduates have
+returned from their short Christmas vacation, a
+"squad" for the University crew has generally
+been formed and sent to the "training-table,"
+and the men composing it have been put into
+regular exercise, consisting of running varied
+by occasional skating, and of rowing practice
+every day in the tank. When the ice breaks
+up in March an Eight appears upon the
+water, and practises regularly from that time
+until towards the end of June, when its race
+against the rival University takes place. This long
+period of combined practice has many obvious
+drawbacks, which will at once strike an experienced
+oarsman. I believe better results might be
+obtained by allowing members of the University
+"squad" to take part in the Class races, and then,
+after a period of rest, selecting the University crew.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_coaching_Hudson" id="PLATE_coaching_Hudson"></a>
+<a href="images/i_359.jpg"><img src="images/i_359_tn.jpg" width="400" height="264" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Coaching on the River Hudson.]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><!-- Page 285 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>
+Notwithstanding, however, all these disadvantages,
+rowing at American Universities has reached
+a high standard&mdash;a result due to the extraordinary
+earnestness and enthusiasm of those who
+take part in it. The American University oarsman
+is in every respect as strong and as well-developed
+in physique as the average Englishman.
+All he lacks is the prolonged racing experience,
+which makes the Englishman so formidable and
+robust an opponent. There are men amongst the
+old oars of Harvard, Yale, and Cornell, who have
+made skilled rowing their special study, and whose
+knowledge of all points of the game is fully as
+great as that of our English oars. Yale, in particular,
+has, during the last ten years, been able
+to turn out some wonderfully fine and powerful
+crews; but the tendency amongst the American
+University oarsmen, during recent years, has been
+to sacrifice body-swing to the mere piston action
+of the legs on a very long slide. There is now,
+however, a reaction, due to the visits paid by
+Cornell and Yale to Henley in 1895 and 1896,
+and the long body-swing and general steadiness,
+which are marked features of English rowing, are
+now being very successfully cultivated in America.<!-- Page 286 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At the five chief rowing Universities&mdash;Harvard,
+Yale, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell&mdash;it is
+also customary to train a freshman crew every
+year, not merely for the local class races, but for
+competition against one another, the races taking
+place a few days before those in which the University
+crews compete. This year Yale defeated
+Harvard by something more than a length, Harvard
+being about three-quarters of a length ahead of
+Cornell. The race&mdash;a two-mile one&mdash;was very
+severe, and the crews, considering their material,
+showed, on the whole, better form than that displayed
+by the University crews. A week later
+the Cornell freshmen defeated those from Pennsylvania
+and Columbia over the same course. It
+is surprising to see what good results can be
+obtained from these freshmen crews. The men
+composing them have, for the most part, not
+rowed before coming to the University; they have
+had no graduated system of instruction on fixed
+seats. Up to March, all their rowing has been
+done on hydraulic machines in the gymnasium.
+They then launch a sliding-seat Eight and practise
+for the Class races at the beginning of May.
+After that they are carefully taken in hand, and<!-- Page 287 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>
+trained for their race in June against the other
+Universities. It is from this freshman crew, and
+from the older hands, who may have been rowing
+in the Class races, that the 'Varsity crew of the
+following year will be recruited.</p>
+
+<p>The number of students at American Universities
+is thus stated in Mr. Caspar Whitney's
+book: Harvard, 3100; Yale, 2400; Pennsylvania,
+2500; Columbia, 1600; Cornell, 1800; as against
+about 2400 at Oxford, and 2800 at Cambridge.</p>
+
+<p>I ought to add that the use of swivel rowlocks
+is almost universal in America, and that all their
+Eights are built with the seats directly in a line
+in the centre of the boat. Boats of <i>papier mach�</i>
+have had a great vogue, their builder being Waters
+of Troy; but there is now a reaction in favour of
+cedar boats, as being stiffer and more durable.
+The Harvard and Yale boats this year were built
+by Davy of Cambridge (Mass.), and were beautiful
+specimens of the art. American boats, however,
+cost at least twice as much as English boats. T.
+Donoghue, of Newburgh, N.Y., makes most of the
+oars that are used in first-class racing. They are
+lighter by a full pound than our English oars, and
+are every bit as stiff. It is a real pleasure to row
+with them.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 288 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.
+<br />
+A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES
+HEALTHY?&mdash;MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+TRAINING OF OARSMEN.</h2>
+
+
+<p>It would not be right, I think, to send forth a
+new book on rowing without referring to the
+controversy that has recently been carried on
+in the columns of the <i>St. James's Gazette</i> under the
+general title of "Are Athletes Healthy?" The
+discussion, which concerned itself mainly with
+oarsmen, is naturally of very deep interest, not
+only to them, but to the fathers and mothers who
+are anxious about the welfare of their energetic
+sons, and who, if the charges alleged against
+rowing can be proved, will, of course, do their best
+to dissuade their offspring from indulging in this
+pernicious exercise. I should have preferred to
+discuss the matter in the earlier chapters of this
+book, but the printing was already so far advanced<!-- Page 289 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>
+as to render this course out of the question, and I
+am therefore compelled to deal with it somewhat
+out of its place in this final chapter.</p>
+
+<p>It would be idle to deny that there was some
+reason for beginning this discussion. Within the
+past two years three magnificent young oarsmen,
+Mr. H. B. Cotton, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, and Mr.
+E. R. Balfour, have died; the first after an illness
+of six months' duration, the other two after being
+ill for less than a fortnight. They were all Oxford
+men, had rowed in victorious races both at Putney
+and at Henley, and two of them&mdash;Mr. Cotton and
+Mr. Balfour&mdash;had been actually rowing and racing
+till within a short time of the attack that proved
+fatal to them. Mr. Stretch had not raced, except in
+scratch Eights at Putney, since the Henley Regatta
+of 1896, some ten months before he died.</p>
+
+<p>It has been asserted that these three untimely
+deaths were due directly to the severe strain undergone
+both in preparation for racing and in the
+actual races in which these oarsmen took part, and
+that had they been content with unathletic lives
+they might have lived on for many years. Can
+that be proved? I admit that I do not wish to
+think the allegation capable of proof, for these<!-- Page 290 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>
+three were my familiar friends. I had coached
+and trained them all; with two of them I had
+rowed in several races; I had spent innumerable
+happy days in their society, and the sorrow I feel
+in having lost them would be terribly increased if
+I were forced to believe that our favourite sport
+had had any part in hastening their end. In these
+cases I will confine myself to stating facts within
+my own knowledge, and will leave those who read
+my statement to say whether on a fair view of the
+matter the exercise of rowing can be held blameworthy.</p>
+
+<p>I may begin by saying that it is the invariable
+rule at Oxford to send all men who may be required
+for the University Eight to undergo a
+preliminary medical examination. This examination
+is no perfunctory one. It is conducted by
+Mr. H. P. Symonds, a gentleman of very wide
+experience, especially amongst undergraduates,
+and I have known several instances in which,
+owing to his report, an oarsman has had to withdraw
+temporarily from the river, and has lost his
+chance of wearing the coveted blue. There has
+never been any question about yielding to Mr.
+Symonds's judgment. His verdict, if adverse, has<!-- Page 291 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>
+always been accepted as final both by the oarsman
+concerned and by the president of the Boat Club.
+In all the three cases with which I am dealing,
+Mr. Symonds passed his men as perfectly sound
+in heart and lungs and in every other organ.</p>
+
+<p>I take the case of Mr. Stretch first, in order to
+eliminate it conclusively. The cause of his death
+was appendicitis, followed by severe blood-poisoning.
+It is quite impossible to connect this painful
+and malignant illness with rowing or with any
+other exercise. The <i>appendix vermiformis</i>, which
+is the seat of the disease, is an unaccountable relic
+in the internal organization of human beings; it is
+liable to be affected mysteriously and suddenly in
+the young and the old, and the only effective
+remedy, I believe, is by means of an operation
+which removes it altogether. Mr. Stretch had, as I
+said, not trained and raced for ten months, and up
+to the moment of his illness had been in the enjoyment
+of robust and almost exceptional health.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Cotton, whose case I now proceed to consider,
+was an Eton boy, and had rowed a great
+deal during his school days, though he had not
+been included in the Eton crew at Henley. He
+was a man of small stature, beautifully built and<!-- Page 292 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>
+proportioned, well-framed, muscular, strong, and
+active. On coming to Oxford he continued his
+rowing, and being a good waterman and a man of
+remarkable endurance and courage, he was in his
+second year placed at bow of the University crew.
+Altogether he rowed in four victorious Oxford
+crews, he won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley
+twice as bow of a Leander crew, he won the
+Stewards' Cup in a Magdalen College Four, rowed
+Head of the River three times, besides taking part
+in many other races more or less important.
+During his whole rowing career I knew him to be
+unwell only once, and that was in 1893, when he
+suffered from a sore throat at Putney. In 1895
+he rowed bow of the Oxford Eight for the fourth
+time. The training of this crew was a very anxious
+one. Influenza was very prevalent, and one after
+another the Oxford men were affected by this
+illness. There were only two exceptions, and one
+of these was Mr. Cotton, who was never sick or
+sorry for a single day during the whole period
+of practice. Shortly after the race he came to stay
+with me. He was then perfectly strong, perfectly
+healthy, and in wonderfully good spirits, and
+showed not the least sign of being stale or<!-- Page 293 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>
+exhausted. He told me himself, on my congratulating
+him on having escaped the influenza, that
+he had never felt better or stronger in his life than
+he did at that time. On the Easter Monday he
+bicycled from Bourne End to Oxford and back
+(a distance of nearly seventy miles as he rode it),
+and, as he had had to battle against a strong cold
+wind on the return journey, he was very tired on
+his arrival. On the following morning, however,
+he appeared perfectly well. Towards the end of
+that week he complained of feeling "very lackadaisical
+and having a bad headache," but he
+attached no importance to these symptoms, and
+soon after went back to Oxford with a view to
+rowing in the Magdalen Eight. The tired feeling
+and the headache, however, continued, and
+eventually got so bad that he had to take to his
+bed with a high temperature and all the other
+symptoms of violent influenza. This illness,
+neglected at the outset, almost immediately settled
+on his lungs, both of which were congested with
+pneumonia. Owing, as Mr. Symonds himself
+told me, to his good general condition and his
+great strength, he fought through this, but in
+the mean time signs of consumption had declared<!-- Page 294 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>
+themselves, and of this he died at Davos Platz
+in the following October.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to Mr. Balfour, the facts are these:
+He was a man of Herculean build and strength.
+He played in the Oxford Rugby Union Football
+team for two years, 1894 and 1895. In 1896 and
+in this year he rowed in the University Eight, and
+last July he rowed at Henley in the Leander Eight,
+and won the pair-oared race with Mr. Guy Nickalls.
+I can answer for it that during all his races he was
+absolutely fit and well. I saw him daily at Henley,
+and, though I knew him to be strong and healthy,
+I was surprised not merely by his improvement
+in style, but by the great vigour he displayed in
+rowing. On the morning after the Regatta I saw
+him for the last time. He was then in splendid
+health and spirits. On the 12th of August he shot
+grouse; on the following day, in very cold wet
+weather, he went out fishing, and came home wet
+through, complaining of a chill. On the following
+day he took to his bed in a high fever, with both
+lungs congested. The illness next attacked his
+kidneys, and soon after his life was despaired of.
+However, he rallied in an extraordinary way until
+symptoms of blood-poisoning declared themselves,<!-- Page 295 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>
+when he rapidly sank, and died on August 27th.
+Now, this illness was due either to an ordinary chill
+or to influenza, or, as I have since heard, primarily
+to blood-poisoning, caused by leaky and poisonous
+drains at a place where he had been staying before
+his shooting excursion. A subsequent examination
+of these drains revealed a very bad condition of
+affairs immediately underneath the room that Mr.
+Balfour had occupied. In any case it does not
+appear&mdash;and the strong testimony of the doctors
+who attended him confirms me in this&mdash;that Mr.
+Balfour's death was due to his rowing. But an
+objector may say, "It is true that neither in Mr.
+Cotton's nor in Mr. Balfour's case can death be
+<i>directly</i> attributed to rowing; their exertions, however,
+so exhausted their strength, the soundness of
+their organs, and their powers of resistance to
+disease, that when they were attacked they became
+easy victims." To this I oppose (1) the report
+of Mr. H. P. Symonds, who examined both these
+oarsmen before they rowed in their University
+Eights; (2) my own observation of their health,
+condition, and spirits during practice, in their races,
+and afterwards when the races were over; and
+(3) the reports of the doctors who attended them<!-- Page 296 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>
+during their last illnesses, and who declared (I
+speak at second hand with regard to Mr. Balfour,
+at first hand with regard to Mr. Cotton) that they
+were both, when struck down, in a surprising state
+of strength, due to the exercise in which they had
+taken part, and that in both cases their powers of
+resistance were far greater than are usually found.
+Do I go too far in asserting that any doctor in large
+practice could find in his own experience for each
+of these two cases at least twenty cases in which
+non-rowing and non-athletic men have been suddenly
+carried off by the same sort of illness? I am
+not concerned to prove that rowing confers an
+immunity from fatal illness: my point is that in
+the two cases I have considered, and in all cases
+where it is pursued under proper conditions of
+training and medical advice, rowing does not in any
+way promote a condition favourable to disease.</p>
+
+<p>I pass from these particular cases, the discussion
+of which has been painful to me, to the general
+question of health amongst the great mass of those
+who have been, or are, active rowing men. It may
+be remembered that some twenty-five years ago
+Dr. J. H. Morgan, of Oxford, moved to his task by
+a controversy similar to that which has recently<!-- Page 297 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>
+taken place, instituted a very careful inquiry into
+the health of those who had taken part in the
+University Boat-race from 1829 to 1869. Their
+number amounted, if I remember rightly, to 294,
+of whom 255 were alive at the date of the inquiry.
+Of these 115 were benefited by rowing, 162 were
+uninjured, and only in 17 cases was any injury
+stated to have resulted. And it must be remembered
+that this inquiry covered a period during
+which far less care, as a general rule, was exercised
+both as to the selection and the training of men
+than is the case at the present day. I may add
+my own experience. Since I began to row, in 1874,
+I have rowed and raced with or against hundreds
+of men in college races and at regattas, and I have
+watched closely the rowing of very many others in
+University and in Henley crews. I have kept in
+touch with rowing men, both my contemporaries
+and my successors, and amongst them all I could
+not point to one (putting aside for the moment the
+three special cases I have just discussed) who has
+been injured by the exercise, or would state himself
+to have been injured. On the contrary, I can point
+to scores and scores of men who have been
+strengthened in limb and health&mdash;I say nothing<!-- Page 298 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>
+here of any moral effect&mdash;by their early races and
+the training they had to undergo for them. I
+could at this moment pick a crew composed of
+men all more than thirty years old who are still, or
+have been till quite recently, in active rowing, and,
+though some of them are married men, I would
+back them to render a good account of themselves
+in Eight or Four or Pair against any selection of
+men that could be made. Nay more, in any other
+contests of strength or endurance I believe they
+would more than hold their own against younger
+athletes, and would overwhelm any similar number
+of non-athletes of the same or any other age. As
+contests I should select a hard day's shooting over
+dogs, cross-country riding, tug-of-war, boxing, long-distance
+rowing, or, in fact, any contest in which the
+special element of racing in light ships has no part.
+For such contests I could pick, not eight, but eighty
+men well over thirty years old, and if the limit were
+extended to twenty-four years of age I could secure
+an army. Is there any one who doubts that my
+rowing men would knock the non-athletes into a
+cocked hat? For it must be remembered that the
+bulk of rowing men are not exclusively devoted to
+oarsmanship. A very large proportion of those<!-- Page 299 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>
+that I have known have been good all-round
+sportsmen.</p>
+
+<p>As to the general effect of rowing on strength
+and health I may perhaps be pardoned if I cite my
+own case, not because there is anything specially
+remarkable in it, but because it bears on some of
+the questions that have been raised, and I can
+speak about it with certainty. In early childhood
+I had a serious illness which considerably retarded
+my physical development. At school, however, I
+took my part in all sports, played three years in
+the Cricket XI. and in the Football XV., and won
+several prizes at the athletic sports. I went to
+Cambridge in 1874, when I was three months short
+of nineteen, and immediately took to rowing. I
+was certainly not a particularly strong boy then,
+though I had a fair share of activity. I rowed
+persistently in Eights, Fours and Pairs, at first with
+labour and distress, but gradually, as time went on,
+with ease and pleasure, and I found that the
+oftener I rowed the greater became my powers of
+endurance. I ought to add that I never rowed in
+the University Race, but I have borne my share in
+thirty-six bumping races, as well as in numerous
+other races ranging in distance from three-quarters<!-- Page 300 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>
+of a mile to three miles. I believe that the six
+consecutive races of a May Term call for endurance
+at least as great as the single race from Putney to
+Mortlake. My actual muscular strength, too,
+increased very largely, and has ever since maintained
+itself unimpaired. I have found that this
+exercise has, in fact, strengthened and consolidated
+me all round; and I can think of no other exercise
+that could have had upon me the same salutary
+effect that I am justified in attributing mainly to
+rowing&mdash;an effect which has enabled me to endure
+great exertion, sometimes in extremes of heat or of
+cold, without the smallest ill result, and has brought
+me to middle age with sound organs, a strong
+constitution, active limbs, and a good digestion.
+There are hundreds of other men who could, I
+doubt not, give a similar account of themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Out of this main discussion on the health of
+athletes there sprang a subsidiary one, which proved
+of even greater interest to rowing men. It was
+started by Mr. Sandow, the eminent weight-lifter
+and modern representative of Hercules. Mr.
+Sandow, stimulated by a disinterested love for his
+fellow-men in general, and for those of Cambridge
+University in particular, wrote an article in the<!-- Page 301 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>
+<i>St. James's Gazette</i> in which he put forward his
+own peculiar views on the proper system for the
+training of athletes. He ended by declaring that
+if he were allowed to train a Cambridge crew
+according to his system (it being understood that
+rowing instruction was at the same time to be
+imparted to them by a properly qualified teacher),
+he would guarantee to turn out a crew the like of
+which had never before sat in a boat. We were to
+infer, though this was at first sight not obvious, that
+this crew would easily defeat an Oxford crew
+trained on a system which Mr. Sandow evidently
+considered to be absurd and obsolete.</p>
+
+<p>According to Mr. Sandow's system, as he subsequently
+developed it, the members of this crew
+were to have complete license in all things. They
+were to eat what they liked, drink what they liked,
+smoke as much as they liked, and, in fact, make
+their own good pleasure the supreme law of their
+existence. All that Mr. Sandow stipulated was
+that for some two hours a day during a period of
+several months these men were to put themselves
+in Mr. Sandow's hands for the purpose of muscular
+development all round according to the methods
+usually employed by him. Any spare energy that<!-- Page 302 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>
+might then remain to them might be devoted to the
+work of rowing in the boat.</p>
+
+<p>Now, in the first place, there are certain elementary
+difficulties which would go far to prevent the
+adoption of this experiment. The crew is not
+selected several months before the race; and even
+if it were, it would be practically impossible for
+the men composing it to spare the time required
+by Mr. Sandow. After all, even the most brilliant
+of us have to get through a certain amount of
+work for our degrees. There are lectures to be
+attended, there is private reading, not to speak
+of the time which has to be devoted to the ordinary
+social amenities of life at a University.
+Sport has its proper place in the life of an undergraduate;
+but it does not, and cannot, absorb the
+whole of that life. Yet if a man is to spend two
+hours with Mr. Sandow, and about two hours and
+a half (I calculate from the moment he leaves his
+rooms until he returns from the river) on the
+exercise of rowing, it is not easy to see how he
+will have sufficient vigour left to him to tackle
+the work required even for the easiest of pass
+examinations. I can foresee that not only the
+man himself, but his tutors and his parents might
+offer some rather serious objections.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 303 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>
+But I am not going to content myself with
+pointing out these preliminary difficulties. I go
+further, and say that the whole proposal is based
+upon a fallacy. The method of training and
+development that may fit a man admirably for
+the purpose of weight-lifting, or of excelling his
+fellow-creatures in the measurement of his chest
+and his muscles, is utterly unsuited for a contest
+that requires great quickness of movement, highly
+developed lung-power, and general endurance
+spread over a period of some twenty minutes. It
+does not follow that because a man measures
+forty-two inches round the chest, and has all his
+muscles developed in proportion, he will therefore
+be better fitted for the propulsion of a racing-boat
+than a man who in all points of development is
+his inferior. If I produced Mr. C. W. Kent
+<i>incognito</i> before Mr. Sandow and asked whether
+it would be feasible to include this gentleman in
+an eight-oared crew, Mr. Sandow would probably
+laugh me to scorn. Mr. Sandow could doubtless
+hold out Mr. Kent at arm's length with the
+greatest possible ease. I am perfectly certain
+that Mr. Kent&mdash;if he will pardon me for thus
+making free with his name&mdash;could do nothing<!-- Page 304 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>
+of the kind to Mr. Sandow. Yet I am perfectly
+certain, too, that, in a severely contested race, Mr.
+Kent&mdash;admittedly one of the finest strokes that
+ever rowed&mdash;would, to put it mildly, be more useful
+than Mr. Sandow. All gymnasium work, and
+even the modified form of it patented by Mr.
+Sandow, must tend to make men muscle-bound,
+and therefore slow. Skilled rowing consists of
+a series of movements which have to be gone
+through with a peculiar quickness, precision, and
+neatness. To be able to go through Mr. Sandow's
+eight weight exercises, to lift weights, to carry
+horses on your chest, may indicate great muscular
+strength, but it has absolutely nothing to do with
+being able to row. If a rowing man requires some
+exercise subsidiary to rowing, he would, in my
+opinion, be far better advised if he devoted some
+of his spare time to boxing and to fencing, exercises
+which necessitate immense quickness and
+perfect combination between brain, hand, and eye,
+than if he were to spend time in building up his
+body with such exercises as are included in the
+Sandow curriculum. But, in the main, rowing
+must develop for itself the muscles it requires. It
+is an exercise which, when all is said and done, can<!-- Page 305 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>
+only be learnt effectively in a boat on the water.
+It is thus, and thus only, that a man can acquire
+the necessary movements, and perfect himself in
+that sense of balance and of rhythm which is as
+necessary to a rowing man as muscular strength.
+My experience leads me to the conclusion that
+men who, though naturally well-framed and proportioned,
+are not afflicted with excessive muscle,
+are more likely to be useful in rowing than the pet
+of a gymnasium or the muscle-bound prodigies
+made in the image of Mr. Sandow. I may cite
+as examples such men as Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, Mr.
+R. O. Kerrison, Mr. W. Burton Stewart, Mr. W.
+E. Crum, Mr. J. A. Ford, and Mr. C. W. Kent.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a>
+All these men acquired their unquestionable
+excellence as oarsmen by the only possible
+method&mdash;that is, by long practice of rowing in
+boats. Even an exercise so nearly resembling
+actual rowing as the tank work practised in the
+winter by American crews has very serious disadvantages.
+It might be supposed that it would<!-- Page 306 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>
+exercise and keep in trim the muscles required
+for actual rowing; but its effect is to make men
+slow and heavy, faults which they have to correct
+when they once more take to the river.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The photographs reproduced in this chapter are those of active
+rowing men. No. 4, whose muscular development is the slightest,
+is one of the most brilliant oarsmen of the day. See also photographs
+of <a href="#PLATE_Mr_Kent">Mr. Kent</a> and <a href="#PLATE_Mr_Gold">Mr. Gold</a> in Chapter V.</p></div>
+
+<p>With regard to Mr. Sandow's revolutionary proposals
+about diet, smoking, and hours, I have only
+this to say. We rowing men have shown time
+after time that by adhering to what I do not hesitate
+to call our common-sense system of rules
+tempered with indulgences we can bring our men
+to the post in the most perfect health and condition,
+absolutely fit, so far as their wind and
+powers of endurance are concerned, to take part
+in the severest contests. What has Mr. Sandow
+shown that should avail, with these results before
+our eyes, to make us exchange our disciplined
+liberty for his unfettered license? In the mean
+time we shall very properly hesitate to take the
+leap in the dark that he suggests.</p>
+
+<p>I trust that the President of the C.U.B.C. will, in
+future, conduct the practice of his crew according
+to the methods that have proved their efficacy over
+and over again, and that he will not listen to the
+voice of Mr. Sandow, charm he never so unwisely.
+<i>Non tali auxilio</i> are boat-races to be won.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 277px;">
+<a name="PLATE_rowing_type_1" id="PLATE_rowing_type_1"></a>
+<a href="images/i_366.jpg"><img src="images/i_366_tn.jpg" width="277" height="400" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Rowing Types No. 1]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">ROWING TYPES.<br />NO. 1.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 276px;">
+<a name="PLATE_rowing_type_2" id="PLATE_rowing_type_2"></a>
+<a href="images/i_377.jpg"><img src="images/i_377_tn.jpg" width="276" height="400" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Rowing Types No. 2]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">ROWING TYPES.<br />NO. 2.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_rowing_type_3" id="PLATE_rowing_type_3"></a>
+<a href="images/i_382.jpg"><img src="images/i_382_tn.jpg" width="400" height="366" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Rowing Types No. 3]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">ROWING TYPES.<br />NO. 3.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_rowing_type_4" id="PLATE_rowing_type_4"></a>
+<a href="images/i_386.jpg"><img src="images/i_386_tn.jpg" width="400" height="344" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Rowing Types No. 4]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">ROWING TYPES.<br />NO. 4.</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<a name="PLATE_rowing_type_5" id="PLATE_rowing_type_5"></a>
+<a href="images/i_390.jpg"><img src="images/i_390_tn.jpg" width="400" height="353" alt="" title="[Linked to larger image of Rowing Types No. 5]" /></a>
+<span class="caption">ROWING TYPES.<br />NO. 5.</span>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 307 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2>
+
+<h3>HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA.</h3>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Secretary</i>: <span class="smcap">J. F. Cooper</span>.</p>
+
+<h3>QUALIFICATION RULES.</h3>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Grand Challenge Cup, For Eight Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>Any crew of amateurs who are members of any University
+or public school, or who are officers of Her Majesty's army
+or navy, or any amateur club established at least one year
+previous to the day of entry, shall be qualified to contend
+for this prize.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Stewards' Challenge Cup, For Four Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>The same as for the Grand Challenge Cup.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Ladies' Challenge Plate, For Eight Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>Any crew of amateurs who are members of any of the
+boat clubs of colleges, or non-collegiate boat clubs of the
+Universities, or boat clubs of any of the public schools, in
+the United Kingdom only, shall be qualified to contend for
+this prize; but no member of any college or non-collegiate
+crew shall be allowed to row for it who has exceeded four
+years from the date of his first commencing residence at the<!-- Page 308 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>
+University; and each member of a public school crew shall,
+at the time of entering, be <i>bon� fide</i> a member "<i>in statu
+pupillari</i>" of such school.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Visitors' Challenge Cup, For Four Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>The same as for the Ladies' Challenge Plate.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Thames Challenge Cup, For Eight Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the
+Grand Challenge Cup; but no one (coxswains excepted) may
+enter for this cup who has ever rowed in a winning crew
+for the Grand Challenge Cup or Stewards' Challenge Cup;
+and no one (substitutes as per <a href="#Henley_rule_II">Rule II</a> excepted) may enter,
+and no one shall row, for this cup and for the Grand
+Challenge Cup, or Stewards' Challenge Cup, at the same
+regatta.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Wyfold Challenge Cup, For Four Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the
+Stewards' Challenge Cup; but no one shall enter for this
+cup who has ever rowed in a winning crew for the Stewards'
+Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes as per <a href="#Henley_rule_II">Rule II</a>
+excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cap and
+for the Stewards' Challenge Cup at the same regatta.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Silver Goblets, For Pair Oars.</span></h4>
+
+<p>Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according
+to the Rules following.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">The Diamond Challenge Sculls, For Sculls.</span></h4>
+
+<p>Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according
+to the Rules following.</p>
+
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page 309 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>GENERAL RULES.</h3>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Revised December 1st, 1894.</i></p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Definition.</i></h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman,
+sculler or coxswain&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake,
+money, or entrance-fee.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p>
+
+<p>2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or
+against a professional for any prize.</p>
+
+<p>3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the
+practice of athletic exercises of any kind for profit.</p>
+
+<p>4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in
+manual labour, for money or wages.</p>
+
+<p>5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for
+wages, a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged
+in any menial duty.</p>
+
+<p>6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch
+of sport.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any otherwise
+duly qualified amateur who previously to June 23, 1894, has rowed
+or steered for a stake, money, or entrance-fee, in a race confined to
+members of any one club, school, college, or University.</p></div>
+
+
+<h4><i>Eligibility.</i></h4>
+
+<p><a name="Henley_rule_II" id="Henley_rule_II"></a>II.&mdash;No one shall be eligible to row or steer for a club
+unless he has been a member of that club for at least two
+months preceding the regatta, but this Rule shall not apply
+to colleges, schools, or crews composed of officers of Her
+Majesty's army or navy.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Entries.</i></h4>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;The entry of any amateur club, crew, or sculler, in
+the United Kingdom, must be made ten clear days before
+the regatta, and the names of the captain or secretary of each<!-- Page 310 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>
+club or crew must accompany the entry. A copy of the list
+of entries shall be forwarded by the secretary of the regatta
+to the captain or secretary of each club or crew duly entered.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;The entry of any crew or sculler, out of the United
+Kingdom, other than a crew or sculler belonging to a club
+affiliated to the Union des Soci�t�s Fran�aises de Sports
+Athl�tiques, or of the Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of
+the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must be
+made on or before the 31st of March, and any such entry
+must be accompanied by a declaration made before a notary
+public, with regard to the profession of each person so
+entering, to the effect that he has never rowed or steered in
+any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee; has never
+knowingly rowed or steered with or against a professional
+for any prize; has never taught, pursued, or assisted in
+the practice of athletic exercises of any kind for profit;
+has never been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+labour for money or wages; is not, and never has been,
+by trade or employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan,
+or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty; and is not
+disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport;
+and in cases of the entry of a crew, that such crew represents
+a club which has been duly established at least one year
+previous to the day of entry: and such declaration must be
+certified by the British Consul or the mayor, or the chief
+authority of the locality.</p>
+
+<p>The entry of any crew or sculler belonging to a club
+affiliated to the Union des Soci�t�s Fran�aises de Sports
+Athl�tiques, or of the Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of the
+Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must be made
+on or before the 1st of June, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration in writing by the secretary
+of such Union, or Verband, or by the Council of the club
+from time to time appointed by the Verbonden Nederlandsche<!-- Page 311 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span>
+Roeivereenigingen, with regard to the profession of each
+person so entering, to the effect that he has never since
+the institution of the Union des Soci�t�s Fran�aises de
+Sports Athl�tiques, or the Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of
+the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, as the
+case may be, either rowed or steered in any race for a stake,
+money, or entrance fee; or knowingly rowed or steered with
+or against a professional for any prize; has never taught,
+pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises of
+any kind for profit; has never been employed in or about
+boats, or in manual labour for money or wages; is not, and
+never has been by trade or employment, for wages, a mechanic,
+artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty; and is
+not disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport;
+and in cases of the entry of a crew, that each member thereof
+is and has been for two months a member of such club, and
+that such club has been duly established at least one year
+previous to the day of entry.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;No assumed name shall be given to the secretary
+unless accompanied by the real name of the competitor.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;No one shall enter twice for the same race.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or
+report the state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;Entrance money for each boat shall be paid to the
+secretary at the time of entering, as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Entry fees for various competitions at the Henley Regatta.">
+<tr><th colspan="2">&nbsp;</th><th align="center">�</th><th align="center"><i>s.</i></th><th align="center"><i>d.</i></th></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">For the</td><td align="left">Grand Challenge Cup</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Ladies' Challenge Plate</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Thames Challenge Cup</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Stewards' Challenge Cup</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Visitors' Challenge Cup</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Wyfold Challenge Cup</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Silver Goblets</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Diamond Challenge Sculls</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<p><!-- Page 312 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span>
+IX.&mdash;The Committee shall investigate any questionable
+entry, irrespective of protest.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;The Committee shall have power to refuse or return
+any entry up to the time of starting, without being bound to
+assign a reason.</p>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;The captain or secretary of each club or crew
+entered shall, seven clear days before the regatta, deliver
+to the secretary of the regatta a list containing the names
+of the actual crew appointed to compete, to which list the
+names of not more than four other members for an eight-oar
+and two for a four-oar may be added as substitutes.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;No person may be substituted for another who has
+already rowed or steered in a heat.</p>
+
+<p>XIII.&mdash;The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list
+of the crews entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required,
+furnish a copy of the same, with the names, real and assumed,
+to the captain or secretary of each club or crew entered,
+and in the case of pairs or scullers to each competitor
+entered.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Objections.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XIV.&mdash;Objections to the entry of any club or crew must
+be made in writing to the secretary at least four clear days
+before the regatta, when the committee shall investigate the
+grounds of objection, and decide thereon without delay.</p>
+
+<p>XV.&mdash;Objections to the qualification of a competitor must
+be made in writing to the secretary at the earliest moment
+practicable. No protest shall be entertained unless lodged
+before the prizes are distributed.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Course.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XVI.&mdash;The races shall commence below the Island, and
+terminate at the upper end of Phyllis Court. Length of
+course, about 1 mile and 550 yards.<!-- Page 313 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XVII.&mdash;The whole course must be completed by a competitor
+before he can be held to have won a trial or final
+heat.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Stations.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;Stations shall be drawn by the Committee.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Row over.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XIX.&mdash;In the event of there being but one boat, entered
+for any prize, or if more than one enter, and all withdraw
+but one, the crew of the remaining boat must row over the
+course to be entitled to such prize.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Heats.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XX.&mdash;If there shall be more than two competitors, they
+shall row a trial heat or heats; but no more than two boats
+shall contend in any heat for any of the prizes above
+mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>XXI.&mdash;In the event of a dead heat taking place, the same
+crews shall contend again, after such interval as the Committee
+may appoint, or the crew refusing shall be adjudged
+to have lost the heat.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Clothing.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXII.&mdash;Every competitor must wear complete clothing
+from the shoulders to the knees&mdash;including a sleeved jersey.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Coxswains.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXIII.&mdash;Every eight-oared boat shall carry a coxswain;
+such coxswain must be an amateur, and shall not steer for
+more than one club for the same prize.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The minimum weight for coxswains shall be 7 stone.</p>
+
+<p>Crews averaging 10&frac12; stone and under 11 stone to carry
+not less than 7&frac12; stone.<!-- Page 314 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Crews averaging 11 stone or more, to carry not less than
+8 stone.</p>
+
+<p>Deficiencies must be made up by dead weight carried on
+the coxswain's thwart.</p>
+
+<p>The dead weight shall be provided by the Committee,
+and shall be placed in the boat and removed from
+it by a person appointed for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Each competitor (including the coxswain) in eight and
+four-oared races shall attend to be weighed (in rowing
+costume) at the time and place appointed by
+the Committee: and his weight then registered by
+the secretary shall be considered his racing weight
+during the regatta.</p>
+
+<p>Any member of a crew omitting to register his weight
+shall be disqualified.</p></div>
+
+
+<h4><i>Flag.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXIV.&mdash;Every boat shall, at starting, carry a flag showing
+its colour at the bow. Boats not conforming to this Rule
+are liable to be disqualified at the discretion of the umpire.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Umpire.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXV.&mdash;The Committee shall appoint one or more umpires
+to act under the laws of boat-racing.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Judge.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXVI.&mdash;The Committee shall appoint one or more judges,
+whose decision as to the order in which the boats pass the
+post shall be final.</p>
+
+
+<h4><i>Prizes.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXVII.&mdash;The prizes shall be delivered at the conclusion
+of the regatta to the respective winners, who on receipt of a<!-- Page 315 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>
+challenge prize shall subscribe a document of the following
+effect:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>
+"I/We A (B C D, etc.) (members of the club), having been this day
+declared to be the winners of the Henley Royal Regatta &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp; Challenge Cup (or
+diamond sculls), and the same having been delivered to us on behalf of
+the stewards of the said regatta, do (jointly and severally) agree to
+return in good order and condition as now received the said cup (or
+diamond sculls), to the stewards on or before June 1st next, and I/we do
+also (jointly and severally) agree that if the said cup (or sculls) be
+accidentally lost or destroyed, or in any way permanently defaced, I/we
+will on or before the date aforesaid, or as near thereto as may be
+conveniently possible, place in the hands of the said stewards a cup (or
+diamond sculls) of similar design and value, and engraved with the names
+of the previous winners (their officers) (and crews) as now engraved on
+the present cup and base./case. In witness of which agreement I/we have
+hereunto subscribed my/our (respective) name./names."
+</p></div>
+
+<h4><i>Committee.</i></h4>
+
+<p>XXVIII.&mdash;All questions of eligibility, qualification, interpretation
+of the Rules, or other matters not specially provided
+for, shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision shall
+be final.</p>
+
+<p>XXIX.&mdash;The laws of boat-racing to be observed at the
+regatta are as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+(<i>The same as the A.R.A. Laws.</i>)
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 316 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p>
+<h3><a name="THE_AMATEUR_ROWING_ASSOCIATION" id="THE_AMATEUR_ROWING_ASSOCIATION"></a>THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.</h3>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Hon. Sec.</i>: <span class="smcap">R. C. Lehmann</span>, 30, Bury Street, St. James's, S.W.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Revised, April 23rd, 1894.</i></p>
+
+
+<h4>CONSTITUTION.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;This Association shall be called "The Amateur Rowing
+Association," and its objects shall be&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>1. To maintain the standard of amateur oarsmanship as
+recognized by the Universities and principal boat
+clubs of the United Kingdom;</p>
+
+<p>2. To promote the interests of boat-racing generally.</p></div>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;The Association shall consist of clubs which adopt
+the following definition of an amateur, viz.:</p>
+
+<p>No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman,
+sculler, or coxswain&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a
+stake, money or entrance-fee.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p>
+
+<p>2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or
+against a professional for any prize.</p>
+
+<p>3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the
+practice of athletic exercises of any kind for profit.<!-- Page 317 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in
+manual labour, for money or wages.</p>
+
+<p>5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages
+a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any
+menial duty.</p>
+
+<p>6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other
+branch of sport.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> N.B.&mdash;This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any
+otherwise duly qualified amateur who previously to April 23rd, 1894,
+has rowed or steered for a stake, money or entrance-fee, in a race
+confined to members of any one club, school, college, or University.</p></div>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;Any amateur club willing to bind itself to observe
+the rules of the Association may become affiliated upon
+making application to the Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A., and being
+elected by a majority of two-thirds of the meeting of the
+Committee.</p>
+
+<p>Every affiliated club shall have at least one vote at General
+Meetings. Any club having more than two hundred full
+members shall have in addition one vote for every hundred
+or part of a hundred members in excess of two hundred;
+but no club shall have more than six votes.</p>
+
+<p>Every affiliated club shall, when required, send to the
+Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A. a list of its members and a copy of
+its last balance-sheet.</p>
+
+<p>The Committee shall not consider an application for affiliation
+from any club previously refused, until after the expiration
+of twelve calendar months from the date of such refusal.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;Each club shall pay to the expenses of the Association
+an annual subscription to be fixed by the Committee;
+such subscription not to exceed one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;The government and management of the Association
+shall be vested in a Committee of twenty-five members, who
+shall meet once at least in every six months, or as often as
+may be required. At the first meeting of the Committee in
+each year a chairman shall be elected, who shall remain in
+office until the next General Meeting. At all meetings of the
+committee the chairman shall preside, and in his absence a
+chairman shall be elected for the occasion; seven members<!-- Page 318 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>
+shall form a quorum, and the chairman shall have a casting
+vote.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;For the purpose of electing the members of the
+Committee a General Meeting of the representatives of the
+affiliated clubs shall be held once a year at a date to be fixed
+by the Committee. Ten days' notice of this meeting shall
+be given.</p>
+
+<p>Each club shall notify to the Secretary in writing, not less
+than three days prior to the Annual General Meeting, the
+names of its authorized representatives, the number of whom
+must not exceed the number of votes to which such club is
+entitled; but should a club nominate one representative only
+such representative can record the number of votes to which
+his club is entitled.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;Five members of the Committee shall be elected at
+each Annual General Meeting, and shall remain in office for
+three years. The Committees of the Cambridge University
+Boat Club, the Royal Chester Rowing Club, the Kingston
+Rowing Club, the Leander Club, the London Rowing Club,
+the Molesey Boat Club, the Oxford University Boat Club,
+the Thames Rowing Club, and the Twickenham Rowing
+Cub shall each nominate annually a member of the Committee,
+and such nomination shall be sent to the Secretary
+prior to the General Meeting. The Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A.
+shall be an <i>ex officio</i> member of the Committee of the A.R.A.
+In the year 1894, in order to complete the number of twenty-five,
+the fifteen members of the Committee elected and nominated
+as hereinbefore provided shall meet and co-opt the
+remaining ten members, and the business of that meeting
+shall be confined to this object alone. Five members of the
+Committee shall retire annually by rotation, but shall be
+eligible for re-election. Five of the co-opted members shall
+retire in 1895, the remaining five in 1896. The Committee
+shall have power to fill up any vacancy that may occur<!-- Page 319 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>
+during the year amongst the elected members, but any
+vacancy amongst the nominated members shall be filled up
+by the club affected.</p>
+
+<p><a name="ARA_Const_VIII" id="ARA_Const_VIII"></a>VIII.&mdash;The Committee shall have power to affiliate clubs
+to the Association, to appoint officers, to make or alter rules,
+to suspend, disqualify, and reinstate amateurs, and generally
+to determine and settle all questions and disputes relating to
+boat-racing which may be referred to them for decision.
+And further, the Committee shall take such other steps as
+they may consider necessary or expedient for carrying into
+effect the objects of the Association.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;The Committee shall have power on due cause being
+shown to suspend any affiliated club or to remove it from the
+list of affiliated clubs.</p>
+
+<p>No motion for the suspension or removal of a club shall be
+considered except at a Committee Meeting specially called
+at not less than seven days' notice for the purpose. Such a
+motion shall not be deemed carried except by a majority of
+two-thirds of the Committee present.</p>
+
+<p>A resolution for the removal of a club must be confirmed
+at a subsequent meeting of the Committee specially summoned
+at not less than seven days' notice for the purpose.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;The hon. sec. shall be elected by the Committee; he
+shall keep a proper record of the proceedings of the Committee
+and of General Meetings, and shall be responsible
+for the books, accounts, and funds of the Association.</p>
+
+<p><a name="ARA_Const_XI" id="ARA_Const_XI"></a>XI.&mdash;No member of any club affiliated to the Association
+shall compete in any regatta in England which is not held
+in accordance with the rules of the Association.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;No addition to or alteration in these rules shall be
+made except by the vote of a majority of two-thirds of a
+meeting of the Committee specially summoned at not less
+than seven days' notice for the purpose. Such notice shall
+state the alteration or addition proposed.<!-- Page 320 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h4>LIST OF AFFILIATED CLUBS.</h4>
+
+<p>N.B.&mdash;The figures denote the number of votes to which
+each of the clubs is entitled.</p>
+
+<ul>
+<li>(1) Albion Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Anglian Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Ariel Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Avon Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Barry Amateur Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Bedford Amateur Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Bewdley Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Birmingham Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Bradford Amateur Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Bridgnorth Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Broxbourne Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Burton Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(6) Cambridge University Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Cardiff Amateur Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Cecilian Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Cooper's Hill Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Gloucester Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Henley Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Irex Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Iris Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Ironbridge Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Kensington Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(2) Kingston Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(6) Leander Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Leicester Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Liverpool Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(6) London Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Marlow Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Medway Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Mersey Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Molesey Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) North London Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Nottingham Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(6) Oxford University Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Pembroke Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(2) Pengwern Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Reading Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Redcliffe Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(2) Royal Chester Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Royal Savoy Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Staines Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Stourport Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(5) Thames Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Twickenham Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Vesta Rowing Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Warwick Boat Club.</li>
+<li>(1) Worcester Rowing Club.</li></ul>
+
+<p><!-- Page 321 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h4>RULES FOR REGATTAS.</h4>
+
+<p><a name="ARA_Regattas_I" id="ARA_Regattas_I"></a>I.&mdash;The laws of boat-racing adopted by the Association
+shall be observed, and the Association's definition of an
+amateur shall govern the qualifications of each competitor.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;The Regatta Committee shall state on their programmes,
+and all other official notices and advertisements,
+that their regatta is held in accordance with the rules of the
+A.R.A.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;No money or "value prize" (<i>i.e.</i> a cheque on a
+tradesman) shall be offered for competition, nor shall a
+prize and money be offered as alternatives.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;Entries shall close at least three clear days before
+the date of the regatta.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;No assumed name shall be given to the secretary of
+the regatta unless accompanied by the real name of the
+competitor.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;No one shall enter twice for the same race.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or
+report the state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;The Regatta Committee shall investigate any
+questionable entry irrespective of protest, and shall have
+power to refuse or return any entry up to the time of starting,
+without being bound to assign a reason.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered,
+shall, at least three clear days before the regatta, deliver to
+the secretary of the regatta a list containing the names of the
+actual crew appointed to compete, to which list the names
+of not more than four other members for an eight-oar, and
+two for a four-oar, may be added as substitutes.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;No person may be substituted for another who has
+already rowed or steered in a heat.</p>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list
+of the crews entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required,<!-- Page 322 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>
+furnish a copy of the same, with the names, real and assumed,
+to the captain or secretary of each club or crew entered, and,
+in the case of pairs or scullers, to each competitor entered.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;Objections to the qualification of a competitor must
+be made in writing to the secretary of the regatta at the
+earliest moment practicable. No protest shall be entertained
+unless lodged before the prizes are distributed.</p>
+
+<p>XIII.&mdash;The whole course must be completed by a
+competitor before he can be held to have won a trial or final
+heat.</p>
+
+<p>XIV.&mdash;In the event of there being but one boat entered
+for any prize, or if more than one enter and all withdraw but
+one, the crew of the remaining boat must row over the course
+to be entitled to such prize.</p>
+
+<p>XV.&mdash;In the event of a dead heat taking place, any
+competitor refusing to row again, as may be directed by the
+Regatta Committee, shall be adjudged to have lost.</p>
+
+<p>XVI.&mdash;Every competitor must wear complete clothing
+from the shoulders to the knees&mdash;including a sleeved
+jersey.</p>
+
+<p>XVII.&mdash;The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more
+umpires.</p>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more
+judges, whose decision as to the order in which the boats
+pass the posts shall be final.</p>
+
+<p><a name="ARA_Regattas_XIX" id="ARA_Regattas_XIX"></a>XIX.&mdash;A maiden oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has
+never won a race with oars at a regatta; (B) who has never
+been a competitor in any International or Inter-University
+Rowing Match.</p>
+
+<p>A maiden sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a
+sculling race at a regatta; (B) who has never competed for
+the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or for the Amateur
+Championship of any country.</p>
+
+<p>XX.&mdash;A junior oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never<!-- Page 323 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>
+won a race with oars at a regatta other than a school race;
+a race in which the construction of the boats was restricted;
+or a race limited to members of one club; (B) who has never
+been a competitor in any International or Inter-University
+match. No oarsman who has won a race at a regatta in
+which the construction of the boats was restricted, shall
+compete as a junior in any such race after the end of the
+current year.</p>
+
+<p>A junior sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a
+sculling race at a regatta other than a race in which the
+construction of the boats was restricted; or a race limited to
+members of one club; (B) who has never competed for the
+Diamond Sculls at Henley, or for the Amateur Championship
+of any country.</p>
+
+<p>N.B.&mdash;The qualification shall in every case relate to the
+day of the regatta.</p>
+
+<p>XXI.&mdash;All questions not specially provided for shall be
+decided by the Regatta Committee.</p>
+
+
+<h4>LAWS OF BOAT-RACING.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;All boat races shall be started in the following
+manner:&mdash;The starter on being satisfied that the competitors
+are ready, shall give the signal to start.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;A boat not at its post at the time specified, shall be
+liable to be disqualified by the umpire.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;The umpire may act as starter, or not, as he thinks
+fit; when he does not so act, the starter shall be subject to
+the control of the umpire.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;If the starter considers the start false, he shall at
+once recall the boats to their stations, and any boat refusing
+to start again shall be disqualified.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;Each boat shall keep its own water throughout a race.
+A boat departing from its own water will do so at its peril.<!-- Page 324 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;A boat's own water is its due course, parallel with
+the course of the other competing boat or boats, from the
+station assigned to it at starting, to the finish.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat or
+boats committing a foul shall be disqualified.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;It shall be considered a foul when, after a race has
+been started, any competitor, by his oar, boat, or person,
+comes into contact with the oar, boat, or person of another
+competitor; unless, in the opinion of the umpire, such
+contact is so slight as not to influence the race.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;A claim of foul must be made to the umpire or the
+judge by the competitor himself before getting out of his boat.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;In case of a foul the umpire shall have power&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) To place the boats not disqualified in the order in
+which they come in.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>b</i>) To order the boats not disqualified to row again on
+the same or another day.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>c</i>) To re-start the boats not disqualified according to
+his discretion.</p></div>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat's own
+water and due course during a race, and he may caution any
+competitor when in danger of committing a foul.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all
+questions as to a foul.</p>
+
+<p>XIII.&mdash;Every boat shall abide by its accidents, but if
+during a race a boat shall be interfered with by any outside
+boat, the umpire shall have power, if he thinks fit, to re-start
+the boats according to his discretion, or to order them to row
+again on the same or another day.</p>
+
+<p>XIV.&mdash;No boat shall be allowed to accompany or follow
+any race for the purpose of directing the course of any of
+the competitors. Any competitor receiving any extraneous
+assistance may be disqualified, at the discretion of the
+umpire.<!-- Page 325 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XV.&mdash;Boats shall be held to have completed the course
+when their bows reach the winning post.</p>
+
+<p>XVI.&mdash;Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision of
+the umpire, or to follow his directions, shall be disqualified.</p>
+
+<p>XVII.&mdash;The umpire, if he thinks proper, may reserve his
+decision, provided that in every case such decision be given
+on the day of the race.</p>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over a
+race and all matters connected with it, from the time the
+race is specified to start until its termination, and his decision
+in all cases shall be final and without appeal.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>A brief explanation of some points arising out of the Rules
+and Regulations of the A.R.A. may be useful.</p>
+
+
+<h4>"<span class="smcap">Professional.</span>"</h4>
+
+<p>Up to 1894 the A.R.A. gave a very wide interpretation to
+the term "professional," which was held to include "any
+person not qualified as an amateur under A.R.A. Rules."
+Mechanics, artisans, labourers, men engaged in menial duty,
+or employed in manual labour for money or wages, were,
+therefore, not merely disqualified as amateurs, but were considered
+to be professionals, and competition against them for
+a prize involved disqualification to the amateur so competing.
+In 1894, however, the whole code of A.R.A. was submitted
+to the revision of a sub-committee, and their report, subsequently
+adopted by the full committee, laid it down that from
+this time on the word "professional" must be interpreted
+"in its primary and literal sense," <i>i.e.</i> one who makes
+money by rowing, sculling, or steering. An amateur rowing,
+or sculling, or steering with or against a professional
+for a prize is still disqualified, but the amateur status of one
+who rows or steers with or against mechanics, artisans, etc.<!-- Page 326 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>
+(provided, of course, the race is not for a stake, money, or
+entrance fee), is not affected. At the same time it must
+be remembered (<a href="#ARA_Regattas_I">Rule I of Rules for Regattas</a>) that at
+regattas held in accordance with A.R.A. rules no mechanic,
+artisan, etc., can be admitted to compete, and by <a href="#ARA_Const_XI">Clause XI.
+of the Constitution</a> no member of any club affiliated to the
+A.R.A. is permitted to compete at a regatta not held in
+accordance with A.R.A. rules. The result would seem to be,
+therefore, that whereas an amateur who is not a member
+of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against
+mechanics, artisans, etc., at a regatta not held in accordance
+with A.R.A. rules without incurring any penalty, a member of
+a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against this class
+only in a private match. Any member of an affiliated club
+transgressing <a href="#ARA_Const_XI">Clause XI.</a> would unquestionably render himself
+liable to suspension under <a href="#ARA_Const_VIII">Clause VIII. of the Constitution</a>.
+There are now, therefore, three classes of oarsmen,
+viz. amateurs, non-amateurs, and professionals.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">Non-amateurs.</span></h4>
+
+<p>The A.R.A. holds that "apprenticeship is no disqualification."
+Nobody, therefore, is to be disqualified for serving
+an apprenticeship, even if it involves (as in the case of
+engineers or nurserymen) manual labour for a money payment.
+But such manual labour on the part of one who has
+passed through his ordinary apprenticeship and still continues
+at the work for a year or two would disqualify.</p>
+
+<p>The committee has held that disqualification attaches, for
+instance, to&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(1) A watchmaker's assistant who works, or has worked, at
+the bench.</p>
+
+<p>(2) A baker's assistant who not only helps to make bread,
+but also delivers it.<!-- Page 327 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(3) Engravers and etchers.</p>
+
+<p>(4) A man having an interest in a boat-letting business,
+<i>and</i> taking in or starting boats at a raft.</p>
+
+<p>But not to&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(5) A 3rd engineer, sea-going, who goes to sea and works
+for money, where such sea-service it necessary to qualify
+him for passing his examinations for the position of chief
+engineer.</p>
+
+<p>(6) A draughtsman in an engineering firm, though working
+for wages.</p>
+
+<p>Decisions 3 and 6 are not easily to be reconciled.</p>
+
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">Regatta. Junior Oarsmen and Scullers.</span></h4>
+
+<p>Doubts have occasionally arisen as to what is the correct
+meaning of the word "Regatta" in <a href="#ARA_Const_XI">Clause XI. of the Constitution</a>,
+and in <a href="#ARA_Regattas_XIX">Rules 19 and 20 of the Rules for Regattas</a>.
+The committee has held that any meeting, whether or not
+called open, at which more than one club, or members of
+more than one club, compete, is a regatta. This decision
+does not cover a private match, but does cover a regatta
+where, for instance, the competition is limited to certain
+clubs, specially invited by the club or committee who arrange
+and manage the regatta. Thus, if a junior competed and
+won, either as an oarsman or sculler, at a regatta limited,
+say, to members of the London, Kingston, and Thames
+Rowing Clubs, he would by so winning cease to be a junior,
+provided the race was neither a school race nor one in which
+the construction of the boats was restricted.</p>
+
+<p>The committee has decided that a man who rows over for
+a junior sculls race, even though he receive no prize (the
+committee not awarding one in any race in which there was
+only one starter), ceases to be a junior sculler.</p>
+
+<p>A junior sculler may be a senior oarsman, and <i>vice vers�</i>.<!-- Page 328 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<h3><a name="EXTRACTS_FROM_THE_RULES_AND" id="EXTRACTS_FROM_THE_RULES_AND"></a>EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND
+REGULATIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE
+UNIVERSITY BOAT CLUB.</h3>
+
+
+<h4>LAWS OF THE CLUB.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the <span class="smcap">Cambridge University Boat Club</span>
+consist of the members of the several boat clubs in the
+University.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the affairs of the club be under the management
+of a president, a vice-president (who shall also be hon.
+secretary), a treasurer, the captains of all boats rowing in
+the regular University races, and all those who have been
+members of the University crew. The president and vice-president
+shall be elected at the first meeting in each term,
+and those only to be eligible who shall have been members
+of a University crew. The treasurer shall be a resident
+graduate of the University, to be elected annually at the first
+meeting of the Easter Term.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That to assist the officers in case of extraordinary
+and pressing business, a small committee be formed, consisting
+of the president, vice-president, treasurer, and three
+extra committee-men, who shall be elected at the last
+meeting of the C.U.B.C. in each term. That members of
+the Committee shall have the right of attending meetings
+of the C.U.B.C. and voting at the same. That at meetings
+of the committee all except the treasurer must be present<!-- Page 329 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>
+in person or by deputy. The treasurer must attend all
+meetings of the committee on financial questions.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That all cases of dispute be referred to the president
+or his deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence,
+of the clubs in their order on the river who are not concerned
+in the dispute: whose decision shall be final. That representatives
+of the clubs concerned be present at the meeting.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;That the secretary of each boat club do send in to
+the assistant-secretary of the C.U.B.C. a balance-sheet of the
+receipts and expenditure of his club for the past year, within
+three weeks of the beginning of the October Term. That
+the penalty for neglecting this Rule be one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XIX.&mdash;That every club do pay to the C.U.B.C. a subscription
+in proportion to its receipts for the previous year.</p>
+
+<p>XX.&mdash;That the rate per cent. of this tax be fixed by the
+treasurer of the C.U.B.C., and, when confirmed by the
+Finance Committee, levied in three equal instalments.</p>
+
+<p>XXI.&mdash;That all moneys, however obtained, be included in
+the receipts of a College boat club, except such as are
+specially subscribed towards the expenses of a crew going to
+Henley.</p>
+
+<p>XXII.&mdash;That any club neglecting to pay the subscriptions
+or arrears due to the C.U.B.C. within six weeks of the
+beginning of full term be fined one guinea; and that no
+captain be allowed to vote whose club is in arrear.</p>
+
+<p>XXIII.&mdash;That medals be given by the C.U.B.C. to each
+member of such University crews as shall be winners of the
+University match with Oxford. Also to each member of those
+College crews which shall be head of the river at the end of
+the Lent and Easter Term races; and to each member of the
+Trial Eights.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+<p><!-- Page 330 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XXVI.&mdash;That all boats, except tub-pairs, used for coaching
+purposes be obliged to carry an india-rubber ball fixed to the
+nose of the boat. That the penalty for neglecting this Rule
+be one guinea.</p>
+
+
+<h4>REGULATIONS FOR BOAT-RACING.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That none but members of the C.U.B.C. be allowed to
+row or steer in the C.U.B.C. races.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That there be regular eight-oared races in the Easter
+and Lent Terms, and that the days on which they shall take
+place and the number of races be appointed and declared
+at the last general meeting of the preceding term respectively.
+That in these races two umpires be appointed by the
+president or his deputy; that in all other C.U.B.C. races one
+umpire be appointed.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That the number of boats be limited in the Easter
+Term to thirty, rowing in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen
+respectively, including the sandwich boat, and in the Lent
+Term to thirty-one, rowing in two divisions of sixteen each,
+including the sandwich boat.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;(1) That in the Lent and Easter Terms the two
+divisions be named respectively first and second division.
+That in the Lent Term both divisions shall row in clinker-built
+boats not more than 57 feet long, with not less than
+five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed 4&frac12; inches
+(outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by
+the president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. before they can be
+used in the races. That in the Easter Term the first division
+shall row in racing ships on sliding seats, and the second
+division in clinker-built boats, as above, and sliding seats.</p>
+
+<p>(2) That every college boat club have the right to be
+represented by at least one boat in the Lent races; and by
+at least one, and not more than three, in the May races.<!-- Page 331 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That during the races no person shall row or steer in
+both divisions (the crews of the last boats in a division
+excepted), except under peculiar circumstances, to be decided
+by the president or his deputy and the four senior captains
+in residence who are not concerned, which decision must be
+obtained before the crew or crews in question be allowed
+to start.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;In the races in the Lent Term no one be allowed to
+row or steer who rowed or steered respectively in any race
+of the previous Easter Term.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Rule_CUBC_2_7" id="Rule_CUBC_2_7"></a>VII.&mdash;That no one be allowed to row in the Lent or May
+races, or Fours or Pairs, after more than four years have
+elapsed from the first term he came up, unless he keep in
+residence three-fourths of the term in which he desires
+to row.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That each crew be chosen from one club and college
+in the case of Trinity and St. John's, and from not more than
+two clubs or two colleges in the case of other colleges; and
+that the crew of the two colleges joining be considered as a
+fresh one, and start from the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;That in order to take a boat off the river the captain
+must give notice to the hon. secretary of the C.U.B.C., who
+shall place lists of the boats entered for the races, arranged
+according to their order, in the different University boat-houses,
+at least a week before the commencement of races
+in each term, and on every race day during the term.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Rule_CUBC_2_10_1" id="Rule_CUBC_2_10_1"></a>X.&mdash;(1) That in the Easter Term any club desirous of putting
+on a second or third boat shall have the right to challenge
+the lowest non-representative boat to a bumping-race, but
+if successful shall start at the bottom of the river. That if
+there be more challenging crews than one, they shall row
+a time race amongst themselves, and the winner shall row
+the challenged boat. That the entrance fee for such races
+be five guineas; that the date for them be fixed at the first<!-- Page 332 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>
+general meeting of the term, and that at least ten clear days'
+notice be given to the secretary of the C.U.B.C. by the
+captains of crews desirous to compete.</p>
+
+<p>(2) That no man who has rowed in the successful challenging
+boat shall row in a higher boat during the following
+May races, except as in
+<a href="#Rule_CUBC_2_7" title="[TN: suspected typographical error - this should read &quot;Chapter II., rule 7&quot;]">Chapter III., rule 7</a>.</p>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;That the boats row down to their stations in reversed
+order, the last boat of each division starting first.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;That on racing days in the Lent Term a gun be fired
+at the Railway Bridge, at 3 p.m., as a signal for the last boat
+of the second division to row down; at 3.15 p.m. for the first
+boat of the division; and a third at 4 p.m. for the first boat
+of the first division. That in the Easter Term corresponding
+signals be fired for the second and first division boats at 5,
+5.15, and 6.15 p.m. respectively. That boats starting late be
+fined one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>That at the close of each race of the second division in the
+Lent Term, and of the second division in the Easter Term,
+a gun be fired at the Bridge; and that until this gun be fired
+no boat of the other racing division shall pass below the Ash
+Plantation under penalty of one guinea. That the umpire
+be responsible for the punctual firing of these guns. That
+any racing boat, leaving so late as to be obliged to pass the
+first boat of its division below Ditton Corner, be fined one
+guinea by the captain of the latter on behalf of the C.U.B.C.
+That the captain of the first boat starting late, or neglecting
+to act as this rule directs, be fined one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XIII.&mdash;That the races be bumping races, and the starting
+posts be 175 feet apart. That the last post be at Baitsbite-lock,
+and the winning-posts at the Big Horse-grind and the
+first ditch above the Railway Bridge.</p>
+
+<p>XIV.&mdash;That the first seven boats in all divisions be obliged
+to go up to the further post at the Big Horse-grind, and the
+other boats be obliged to stop at the nearer post at the first<!-- Page 333 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span>
+ditch above the Railway Bridge; also that the eighth boats
+have the option of stopping at the nearer or going on to the
+further post.</p>
+
+<p>XV.&mdash;That each boat start with the coxswain holding a
+line 36 feet in length attached to its post (or, if he by chance
+lose the line, with No. 7's rowlock opposite the post); that
+otherwise it cannot make a bump, but is subject to be
+bumped and to be fined one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XVI.&mdash;That if a boat miss a race, the boat behind it shall
+row past its post and be allowed the bump, and that the
+boat missing the race be fined one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XVII.&mdash;That the boats be started by three guns: the first
+gun shall be fired when the head boat shall have arrived at
+its post, the order being given by the captain of that boat;
+the second gun three minutes after the first, and the last gun
+one minute after the second.</p>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;That a boat be considered fairly bumped when it
+is touched by any part of the boat behind it, before its stern
+is past the winning-post; passing a boat being equivalent to
+a bump, providing the passing boat draw its whole length
+in advance. (The word boat includes the ship, crew, and
+oars, if in rowlock). That the coxswain of a boat so bumped
+shall immediately acknowledge the bump by holding up his
+hand, and that the crew making the bump immediately
+cease rowing; that any crew neglecting this rule be fined
+one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XIX.&mdash;That when one boat bumps another, both shall
+immediately draw aside till the racing boats have passed;
+that the last boat carry a white flag in the bows; that any
+boat neglecting this rule be fined one guinea.</p>
+
+<p>XX.&mdash;That if one boat bumps another they exchange
+places, whatever may have been their position before starting.
+That any boat making a bump may row up after the
+race with its flag hoisted; as also the boat rowing head.<!-- Page 334 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XXI.&mdash;That in order to claim a bump, the captain, on
+arriving at the Goldie Boat-house, must bracket the bump,
+state where it took place, and sign his name on the secretary's
+list; if the bump be not bracketed he shall be fined
+one guinea, but that the bumps shall, on sufficient evidence,
+be allowed; and that no bumps can be claimed after six
+o'clock in the Lent Term, or after nine in the Easter Term,
+or disputed after nine on the following morning.</p>
+
+<p>XXII.&mdash;That all cases of disputed bumps be referred to the
+president, or his deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in
+residence, of the clubs in their order on the river who are
+not concerned in the dispute, whose decision shall be final;
+and who shall have the power, in all doubtful cases, of
+causing the boats concerned to row the race again, starting
+from their original posts; and that there be representatives
+at the meeting of the clubs interested in the dispute.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>XXV.&mdash;That watermen be allowed to coach members of
+College boats in tub-pairs only till within a fortnight of the
+first day of the races.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>XXVII.&mdash;That breaches of Regulations issued by the
+officers of the C.U.B.C. be liable to a fine of one guinea.</p>
+
+
+<h4>LENT TERM RACES AND TIME RACES.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That all clubs wishing to put another boat on the river
+must enter such boat with the secretary of the C.U.B.C. on
+or before a date to be appointed by him at the beginning of
+the Lent Term.</p>
+
+<p>Entrance fee, three guineas, to be paid at the time of
+entry.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the Rules for these races be the same as those for
+the "Getting-on" races in the Easter Term, and that the<!-- Page 335 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>
+races be under the management of the C.U.B.C. or their
+deputies [see <a href="#Rule_CUBC_2_10_1">chapter II., rule 10 (1)</a>].</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That no first boat of a club be obliged to row for
+its place.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That these races be rowed on days preceding the
+Lent races.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That no man shall row in these time races (1) who has
+rowed on any night of the previous May races, or (2) who
+does not comply with <a href="#Rule_CUBC_2_7">Chapter II., rule 7</a>.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That no man who has rowed in the successful boat or
+boats during these trial time-races shall row in a higher
+boat in the following Lent races, except under peculiar circumstances,
+to be decided upon by the president, or his
+deputy, and the four senior captains in residence who are
+not concerned.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That when more than two boats start in a heat to
+race for getting on the river, such heat be started by three
+guns: the first gun to be fired when the last boat to come
+down shall have arrived at its post, the order being given
+by the umpire; the second gun three minutes after the first,
+and the last one minute after the second. That chains 36
+feet in length be provided 100 yards apart. That each boat
+start with the coxswain holding the chain allotted to it (or, if
+he by chance lose the chain, with No. 7's rowlock opposite
+the post), that otherwise it is liable to be disqualified.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That in time races, under the management of the
+C.U.B.C., the pistols at the winning-posts be fired by University
+men, who shall be called on to do so in the following
+order:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>The president, secretary, and committee of the C.U.B.C.;
+then the first captain of the boats in their order on the river,
+or deputies from their own clubs; provided that no one of
+the same club as any of the competitors shall fire a pistol in
+any race in which such competitor of his own club is rowing;<!-- Page 336 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>
+and that no one need, by reason of this rule, refuse to umpire.
+And that to prevent all difficulties of a pistol missing fire, a
+second person be appointed by the President or his deputy
+to stand at each winning-post and hold up a white flag,
+which shall be dropped the moment that the nose of the
+boat passes the post.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;That in time races no boat draw more than one bye.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;That if in any time race any boat touch any part of,
+or pass on the course, or be in any way inconvenienced by
+any boat in front of it, and the boat so touching, passing, or
+being inconvenienced, shall not come to its post first in order,
+such boat shall be allowed to start in the following day's
+race, whether the same would otherwise have been a final or
+a trial heat, and shall start on the same footing as regards
+drawing for stations, etc., as the other boats left in.</p>
+
+<p>Or the boat so impeded shall row again with the boat
+coming in first.</p>
+
+
+<h4>RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY CLINKER
+FOURS.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the University Clinker-built Fours be rowed as
+time races over the Colquhoun course.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the race be open to crews from any club, such
+crews to be composed solely of men who did not row in the
+first division of the previous May races.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That no "Blue" be allowed to compete.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That the coxswains must be members of the clubs
+they steer, and must weigh not less than 7st. 7lbs.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;The definition of a clinker boat is as follows:&mdash;That
+no boat have less than five streaks on a side, none of which
+shall exceed 4&frac12; inches (outside measurement). All such boats
+must be passed by the president and secretary of the C.U.B.C.
+at least one week before the commencement of the races.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That the entrance money for each boat be one guinea.<!-- Page 337 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h4>LAWS OF THE MAGDALENE SILVER PAIR-OARS
+AND UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION CUPS.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That watermen be allowed to coach and steer for
+these races.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That any member qualified to pull in the C.U.B.C.
+races be qualified to start for these oars.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That the crews need not consist of members of one
+club.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That no winning pair be allowed to enter together a
+second time.</p>
+
+
+<h4>REGULATIONS OF THE "COLQUHOUN SILVER
+SCULLS."</h4>
+
+<p>III. That only those members of the C.U.B.C. who have not
+exceeded five years from the date of their first commencing
+residence be allowed to start, on complying with the terms
+herein specified.</p>
+
+<hr class="long" />
+<p><!-- Page 338 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>
+</p>
+<h3>EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND
+REGULATIONS OF THE OXFORD
+UNIVERSITY BOAT CLUB.</h3>
+
+
+<h4>GENERAL RULES.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the club be open to all members of the University
+on the following conditions:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That any graduate of the University by paying two
+pounds, or any undergraduate by paying three pounds ten
+shillings, may become a life member.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That any member of the University by paying one
+pound may become a member for one term, not being thereby
+qualified to row or steer in any of the University races unless
+he has paid four such terminal subscriptions.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That the subscription must be paid before the admission
+to the club.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That this club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing
+Association, and that members are therefore bound to
+observe the A.R.A. rules.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That the officers of the club consist of president,
+secretary, and treasurer; who, with two other members of
+the club, shall form a committee.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That no member who is not strictly residing be on
+the committee.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;That the president, secretary, treasurer, and committee
+be elected by the captains of College boat clubs, or
+their representatives.<!-- Page 339 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;That the election of the president and secretary take
+place at the first captains' meeting in the Summer Term, that
+of the treasurer and the other members of the committee at
+the first meeting in the October Term.</p>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;That the president have the entire supervision of the
+property of the club; that he preside over all captains'
+meetings; have the sole selection and management of all
+University crews, and that he have absolute authority and
+entire responsibility in all matters immediately concerning
+the University boat; that he have charge of the president's
+book, and make such records in it as shall be interesting and
+useful to the future of the club; and that he keep the official
+records of all University races.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>XXV.&mdash;That if Henley Regatta do not take place at such
+a date in relation to Commemoration Day as is convenient
+to the O.U.B.C., the club reserves to itself the right of withdrawing
+its subscription.</p>
+
+<p>XXVI.&mdash;That the racing boat last purchased be not let or
+sold under any circumstances whatever.</p>
+
+
+<h4>RULES FOR RACES.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That all future members of the O.U.B.C. shall show
+a certificate of having passed a satisfactory swimming test
+before being allowed to row in University races.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That such certificate be either (1) that of some public
+school approved by the committee, or (2) a certificate from
+Dolley's Baths, signed by the bathman, and countersigned
+by the captain of the College boat club.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That any College boat club rowing a member who
+has obtained a certificate unfairly shall be fined five pounds,
+and lose one place on the river for each night on which he
+has rowed.<!-- Page 340 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That each college shall have its own punt and waterman
+during the races.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That the captain of each boat club shall, so far as
+possible, fix upon the maximum number which his punt is
+able to carry, and that this number shall in no case exceed
+twelve, and that the fine for overcrowding be five shillings.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That each barge shall be furnished with two lifebuoys.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That the bows of all racing Eights and Fours, both
+keel-less and clinker-built, and of all racing pair-oars and
+sculling boats be protected by an india-rubber ball, and the
+penalty for violation of this rule be, in the case of Eights
+and Fours, one pound; in the case of all other boats, ten
+shillings.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That all Challenge Cups which are the property of
+the O.U.B.C. shall either be taken home by the captain
+of the boat club which holds them, or be deposited at Rowell
+and Harris's during the vacation.</p>
+
+
+<h4>THE EIGHTS AND TORPIDS.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That all gentlemen rowing or steering in the races
+must be life members of the O.U.B.C.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That no boat be allowed to start in the races with
+more or less than eight oars.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That all boats starting in the races carry a coxswain
+over the whole course.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That the names of the crews be sent to the treasurer
+at least one day before the races begin, and that afterwards
+no change can be made, unless notice is given to the president
+at least one hour before the races begin, under a penalty
+of one pound.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That every club neglecting to send in the names of its<!-- Page 341 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span>
+crew to the treasurer, and pay the entrance money, five
+pounds, into the Old Bank, on or before the day previous to
+the first race in which they intend to row, shall forfeit five
+shillings; and that every club entering a boat after the races
+have begun shall pay one pound for every night of the races
+on which it has not had a boat on.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That no club start a boat in the races till all its
+arrears are paid, whether of fines, entrance money, or annual
+subscription.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That no crew be allowed to start in the races which
+shall have employed any waterman in capacity of coach or
+trainer within three weeks of the first race.</p>
+
+<p>VIII.&mdash;That no college be allowed to enter more than one
+boat for the Eights, unless it has had on a Torpid in the same
+year.</p>
+
+<p>IX.&mdash;That each boat start from a rope held by the
+steerer, and fastened to a post on the Berkshire shore; the
+rope to be 50 feet in length.</p>
+
+<p>X.&mdash;That the last boat be stationed above Iffley Lasher;
+and that 130 feet be the distance between the posts.</p>
+
+<p>XI.&mdash;That the boats entered for the races be divided as
+equally as possible, and row in two divisions; that the second
+division row first, and never contain fewer boats than the
+first division; that the head boat of the second division may
+row again with first division; and that the last boat of the
+first division start head of the second division on the following
+day.</p>
+
+<p>XII.&mdash;That the president provide a starter, who shall fire
+a signal gun for the boats to take their places; after four
+minutes another gun; and after the interval of one minute
+another gun for the start; after the third gun the race be
+always held to have begun.</p>
+
+<p>XIII.&mdash;That any boat starting before the gun goes off do
+lose a place forthwith.<!-- Page 342 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XIV.&mdash;That when a boat touches the boat or any part of
+the boat before it, or its oars or rudder, it be considered a
+bump; and also if a boat rows clean by another it be
+equivalent to a bump.</p>
+
+<p>XV.&mdash;That both the boat which bumps and the boat
+which is bumped immediately row out of the course of the
+other racing boats; and in case any obstruction be caused
+by culpable neglect of this, the offending boat be fined five
+pounds.</p>
+
+<p>XVI.&mdash;That after every bump the boat bumping change
+places with the boat bumped, whatever be their orders before
+starting; also in a bumping race no boat can make more
+than one bump, but of four boats, A, B, C, D, should B bump
+C, then A may bump D, and the next race A and D change
+places with each other.</p>
+
+<p>XVII.&mdash;That in the case of any boat not starting, the boat
+immediately behind them do row past their starting-post
+and be considered to have bumped the other boat.</p>
+
+<p>XVIII.&mdash;That all boats stand by their accidents; and that,
+in case of dispute, boats must take the place assigned them
+by the committee.</p>
+
+<p>XIX.&mdash;That an umpire be appointed by the first six
+colleges of each division in rotation, who shall sit and vote
+on the committee to decide disputes on the day on which he
+is in authority.</p>
+
+<p>XX.&mdash;That the races finish at the lower of the white
+posts to which Salter's barge is moored, on which a flag is to
+be hoisted, and that a boat is liable to be bumped till every
+part of it has passed that post, and that a judge be appointed
+by the president.</p>
+
+<p>XXI.&mdash;That if any boat after passing the post impedes
+another which has not passed the post, it be fined five
+pounds.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+<p><!-- Page 343 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>XXVI.&mdash;That all disputes concerning bumps, etc., arising
+out of the races, be referred to the committee on the day
+of the race, who shall decide the point before the next
+race.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>XXVIII.&mdash;That the College races take place in Easter or
+Act Term, and be six in number.</p>
+
+<p>XXIX.&mdash;That no non-resident member of the University
+may either row or steer in the races, unless he has resided in
+Oxford at least ten consecutive days before the races
+commence. That this rule apply to all University races, viz.
+Eights, Torpids, Fours, Pairs, and Sculls.</p>
+
+<p>XXX.&mdash;That no one may be allowed to row or steer in
+the races for a college or hall of which he is not a <i>bon� fide</i>
+member.</p>
+
+<p>XXXI.&mdash;That a man may be held to have rowed or steered
+in the Eights or Torpids when he has so officiated for three
+days.</p>
+
+
+<h4>TORPID RACES&mdash;SPECIAL RULES.</h4>
+
+<p>That the Torpid races be regulated by the above rules as
+far as they are applicable: but</p>
+
+<p>(1) That the races take place in the Lent Term, and be six
+in number.</p>
+
+<p>(2) That no one who has rowed or steered in the Eights
+may officiate in the same capacity in the next Torpid
+races.</p>
+
+<p>(3) That no one be allowed to row in his Torpid who has
+exceeded sixteen terms from his Matriculation.</p>
+
+<p>(4) That unless a college has had an Eight on the river
+more than three nights during the previous year, it be not
+permitted to start a Torpid, unless it engage to put on a
+distinct Eight in the ensuing Eights.<!-- Page 344 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>That in this case the distinct Eight</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>(<i>a</i>) do contain five men, at least, who have not rowed
+in the Torpids.</p>
+
+<p>(<i>b</i>) be compelled to row more than three nights, under
+penalty of �10.</p></div>
+
+<p>(5) That the committee have power to relax this rule at
+their discretion in the case of boats in the second division.</p>
+
+<p>(6) That these races be rowed in gig boats, of the specified
+mould, measuring inside at the gunwale not less than 2ft. 2in.,
+clinker-built of not less than 5 streaks.</p>
+
+<p>(7) That the distance between the starting-posts be 160 feet.</p>
+
+<p>(8) That no Torpid be allowed to use sliding seats.</p>
+
+<p>(9) That if more than twenty-five Torpids enter, the races
+shall be in three divisions; the boats to be divided as equally
+as possible, so that a higher division shall not contain more
+boats than a lower one.</p>
+
+
+<h4>FOUR-OAR CHALLENGE CUP.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the Cup be open for competition to members of
+any one college or hall who have not exceeded eighteen
+terms from their Matriculation.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the race take place annually, in the Michaelmas
+Term.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .
+</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That no crew be allowed to start which has had any
+waterman in the capacity of "coach" or trainer within three
+weeks of the first race.</p>
+
+
+<h4>CLINKER FOURS RACE.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the race be called the "Clinker Fours" race.</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the race take place annually in the Lent Term.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That it should be open for competition to members<!-- Page 345 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>
+of any college or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms
+from their Matriculation, and who have not rowed either in
+the University Race at Putney, or the Trials, or rowed in a
+College Eight which finished in the upper division of the
+summer races in the previous year, sandwich boat reckoning
+as Second Division.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That the race shall be rowed in keeled clinker-built
+boats with slides of not more than 12 inches, having not less
+than 5 streaks in each side, exclusive of saxe-board. The
+streaks shall not be more than 4&frac14; inches in breadth. The
+maximum inside width of each boat shall not be less than 24
+inches, measured on the top of the gunwale. No batswings,
+false outriggers, splayed-boards, or other device will be
+allowed to take the place of saxe-boards, and the committee
+of the O.U.B.C. reserve the right of determining in each
+instance whether these conditions have been fairly carried
+out or not.</p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That no boat be allowed to start with more or less than
+four oars and a coxswain.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That no crew be allowed to start which has had any
+waterman in the capacity of "coach" or trainer.</p>
+
+
+<h4>RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY TRIAL EIGHT
+RACE.</h4>
+
+<p>I.&mdash;That the race be called the "University Trial Eight
+Race."</p>
+
+<p>II.&mdash;That the race take place in Michaelmas Term, and
+subsequent to that for the Four-Oared Challenge Cup.</p>
+
+<p>III.&mdash;That the crews be selected by the president.</p>
+
+<p>IV.&mdash;That the crews be in practice not less than twelve
+days.<!-- Page 346 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>V.&mdash;That each member of the two crews pay ten shillings
+entrance money.</p>
+
+<p>VI.&mdash;That a silver medal be presented to each of the
+winning crew.</p>
+
+<p>VII.&mdash;That any member of the two crews who refuses to
+row in the University Eight if called upon to do so, be
+suspended by the committee from rowing in any University
+race till the end of the Summer Term, unless he shows
+reasonable grounds for refusal.</p>
+
+
+<p class="center">PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="long" />
+
+<p class="right-just"><!-- Page ci --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ci" id="Page_ci"></a></span>
+<i>November, 1897.</i></p>
+<h2>
+NEW &amp; RECENT BOOKS<br />
+PUBLISHED BY<br />
+A. D. INNES &amp; COMPANY<br />
+BEDFORD ST.<br />
+MDCCCXCVII.<br />
+</h2>
+
+
+<div class="box-advert">
+<p><!-- Page cii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cii" id="Page_cii"></a></span></p>
+<h4><a name="DRAWING-ROOM_PLAYS_FOR_CHILDREN" id="DRAWING-ROOM_PLAYS_FOR_CHILDREN"></a>DRAWING-ROOM PLAYS FOR CHILDREN.</h4>
+
+
+<p class="center"><i>Just Ready.</i></p>
+
+<p>
+Cinderella. By <span class="smcap">Santos</span>. Crown 8vo. Paper wrapper, 6<i>d.</i><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Beauty and the Beast. By <span class="smcap">Santos</span>. Crown 8vo. Paper
+Wrapper, 6<i>d.</i></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center">
+HALF-HOUR PLAYS. By <span class="smcap">Amabel Jenner</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Rumpelstilskin.<br />
+Tommy Trout and the Owl.<br />
+Jack and the Beanstalk.<br />
+Silverlocks and the Three Bears; and the Snow Queen.<br />
+Little Prit.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in
+a Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d.</i></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="center">TERRA-COTTA PLAYS. By C. M. <span class="smcap">Prevost</span>.</p>
+
+<p>
+The Sleeping Beauty.<br />
+The White Cat.<br />
+Jack and the Beanstalk.<br />
+Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in
+a Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d.</i></p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">London</span>: A. D. INNES &amp; CO., 31 and 32 Bedford Street, Strand.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<p class="right-just">
+<!-- Page ciii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ciii" id="Page_ciii">[Pg iii]</a></span>
+<span class="smcap">31 &amp; 32, Bedford Street,</span><br />
+Strand, W.C.,<br />
+<i>November, 1897</i>.
+</p>
+
+<h3>
+NEW BOOKS<br />
+<span style="font-size:small">PUBLISHED BY</span><br />
+A. D. INNES &amp; CO.
+</h3>
+<h4>HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, ETC.</h4>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">F. H. S. Merewether</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Through the Famine Districts of India.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being an Account, by Reuter's Special Correspondent, of his
+experiences in travelling through the Famine Districts of
+India. Profusely illustrated. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16<i>s.</i></p>
+
+<p><br />By Sir <span class="smcap">Joseph Fayrer</span>, Bart., K.C.S.I., M.D.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Life of Sir Ranald Martin, C.B.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Brief Account of the Life and Work of the great Sanitary
+Reformer in India. Crown 8vo, cloth, with Portrait, price 6<i>s.</i></p>
+
+<p><br />From the Letters of Major <span class="smcap">W. P. Johnson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Edited by his Widow. Being an Account of the experiences
+of a Major in the Native Irregular Cavalry in India and
+elsewhere. Crown 8vo, cloth, with Portrait, price 6<i>s.</i></p>
+
+<p><br />By Professor <span class="smcap">W. C. Lawton</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Successors of Homer.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being an Account of the Greek Poets who followed from Homer
+down to the time of Aeschylus. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top,
+price 5<i>s.</i></p>
+
+<p><br />By Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">Ross-of-Bladensburg</span>, C.B.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Coldstream Guards in the Crimea.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being a Sketch of the Crimean War, treating in detail of the
+operations in which the Coldstream took part. With
+numerous Maps. Crown 8vo, cloth, price 6<i>s.</i></p></div><p><!-- Page civ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_civ" id="Page_civ">[Pg iv]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><br />
+SECOND REVISED EDITION.
+</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Lieutenant-General <span class="smcap">McLeod Innes</span>, V.C.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Sepoy Revolt.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Critical Narrative, covering the whole field of the Indian
+Mutiny, its causes and course, till the final suppression.
+With numerous Maps and Plans. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>The picturesque aspects of the Indian Mutiny have been frequently treated.
+The purpose of this volume is to convey in a clear and compendious form the
+underlying causes as well as the immediate circumstances which led up to the
+Revolt; and the true relation and importance of the various phases.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By General Sir <span class="smcap">Charles Gough</span>, V.C., G.C.B., and <span class="smcap">Arthur
+D. Innes</span>, M.A.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With 13 Maps and Plans. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16s.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>An account of the rise of the Sikh State; of the struggle with the British,
+the most stubborn in our Indian record; and of the subsequent Annexation.
+With especial reference to current misapprehensions as to Lord Gough.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">Ross-of-Bladensburg</span>, C.B., late
+Coldstream Guards.</p></div>
+
+<p class="center">
+Dedicated, by permission, to H.M. the Queen.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="book-title">A History of the Coldstream Guards, from
+1815 to 1885.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With numerous Coloured Plates, Drawings, and Maps by
+Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Nevile R. Wilkinson</span>. Crown 4to, cloth,
+gilt top, two guineas net.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>An account of the famous regiment since Waterloo; with the history of the
+political events and the campaigns with which it has been associated.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">A. Hilliard Atteridge</span>, Special Correspondent of the
+<i>Daily Chronicle</i> with the Dongola Expeditionary Force.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Towards Khartoum.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The Story of the Soudan War of 1896. With numerous Maps
+and Illustrations from Photographs taken by the Author.
+Demy 8vo, buckram, price 16s.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Mr. Atteridge's letters to the "Daily Chronicle" contained no more than
+the skeleton of the present work, which is in no sense a reprint of them.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">C. R. B. Barrett</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="center">Dedicated, by permission, to General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.</p>
+
+<p class="book-title">Battles and Battlefields in England.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With an Introduction by <span class="smcap">H. D. Traill</span>, and profusely
+Illustrated by the Author. Super royal 8vo, buckram, gilt
+top, 18s.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Compiled from a thorough examination of the authorities, and personal
+inspection of the ground.</i><!-- Page cv --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cv" id="Page_cv">[Pg v]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h4>RECENT WORKS OF HISTORY, ETC.</h4>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. Boissier</span> (de l'Acad�mie Fran�aise).</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Cicero and his Friends.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Translated by <span class="smcap">A. D. Jones</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><i>M. Boissier's work in the French is familiar to historical students; but it
+has been felt that a translation would make it available for many more readers.
+The addition of an index and analytical contents increase its advantages for
+reference.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">J. S. Risley</span>, M.A., B.C.L.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Law of War.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Study of the Legal Obligations and Conditions applying to
+Belligerents or Neutrals in Times of War. Demy 8vo,
+cloth, 12<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><i>Compiled primarily for the use of the ordinary reader rather than the
+technical student.</i></p>
+
+<p>First Review.&mdash;"The book ... is admirably done. It avoids technicalities
+and ... is admirably suited to serve as a guide and first introduction to a most
+instructive subject."&mdash;<i>Scotsman.</i></p>
+
+<p class="center">
+<span class="smcap"><br />New and Revised Edition.</span>
+</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Lieutenant-General <span class="smcap">McLeod Innes</span>, V.C.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Lucknow and Oude in the Mutiny.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Narrative and a Study. With Numerous Maps, Plans, etc.,
+and an Index. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>A critical narrative of the causes and course of the Mutiny, with a full account
+of the operations in Oude and the siege of Lucknow, from personal knowledge.</i></p>
+
+<p>"A most valuable contribution to the history of the great crisis."&mdash;<i>Times.</i></p>
+
+<p>"Recent literature concerning the Indian Mutiny has brought us nothing so
+valuable.... His knowledge of India and her people is accurate and profound....
+The facts are marshalled with consummate skill. In this book General
+Innes has rendered invaluable service in regard to the military history of the
+Mutiny and the Indian Empire."&mdash;<i>Army and Navy Gazette.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By Dr. <span class="smcap">Wilhelm Busch</span>, Professor at the University of
+Freiburg, in Baden.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">England under the Tudors.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Vol. I. Henry VII. (1485-1509). Translated from the German
+by Miss <span class="smcap">Alice M. Todd</span> and the Rev. <span class="smcap">A. H.
+Johnson</span>, some-time Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford,
+under the supervision of, and with an Introduction by, Mr.
+<span class="smcap">James Gairdner</span>, Editor of the "Paston Letters." Demy
+8vo, cloth, 16<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+<p>"Since a body of Oxford Tutors published a translation of Ranke's English
+History just twenty years ago, no more important step has been taken to give
+English readers access to recent German work on English History than in the
+book now before us.... The general value of what we hope will ultimately be
+the best general text-book of Tudor History is too well known to scholars to
+make it worth while to dwell upon it here."&mdash;<i>Speaker.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Arthur D. Innes</span>, M.A., Author of "Seers and Singers," etc.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Britain and her Rivals.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>1713-1789. A Study dealing chiefly with the Contests between
+the Naval Powers for Supremacy in America and India. With
+numerous Plans, Maps, etc. Large crown, buckram, 7<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.</p></div>
+
+<p>The <i>Pall Mall Gazette</i>, in a review headed, "History as it Should be
+Written," says: "The book is indeed just what was most wanted: ... a great
+deal more than a popular work in the usual sense of the term, seeing that it is
+accurate and thoughtful, besides being eminently readable."<!-- Page cvi --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cvi" id="Page_cvi">[Pg vi]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h4>NEW AND RECENT BELLES LETTRES.</h4>
+
+<p class="book-title">Eighteenth Century Letters.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Edited by <span class="smcap">R. Brimley Johnson</span>, with Introductions by eminent
+scholars. Illustrated with Photogravure Portraits of the writers.
+Crown 8vo, half-parchment, gilt top, price 6<i>s.</i> each volume.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span>&mdash;SWIFT, ADDISON, STEELE. With an Introduction
+by <span class="smcap">Stanley Lane Poole</span>.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span>&mdash;JOHNSON AND CHESTERFIELD. With an
+Introduction by <span class="smcap">George Birkbeck Hill</span>, D.C.L.</p>
+
+<p><br />By <span class="smcap">Maidie Dickson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Saga of the Sea Swallow.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. D. Batten</span> and <span class="smcap">Hilda Fairbairn</span>. Fcap. 4to,
+cloth, gilt top, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+<p>"The narrative is told with the most engaging circumstantial vividness, and it
+held us as we read."&mdash;<i>Academy.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Cosmo Monkhouse</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">In the National Gallery.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The Italian Schools from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century.
+Illustrated with numerous examples specially prepared for this
+work. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"One of the most popular handbooks yet issued on the development of Italian art
+as exemplified by the works in our National Collection. The author's name is a
+guarantee of the precision of the facts he produces, and of the excellence of the
+writing by which they are connected. The book is illustrated by a good number of
+excellent reproductions of the principal pictures."&mdash;<i>Magazine of Art.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">A. J. Butler</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Dante: his Times and his Work.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Popular Treatise dealing with the great Poet. Crown 8vo,
+cloth, gilt top, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+<p>"The work should be interesting and profitable both to every Dante student and
+to every general reader who wishes to acquire a knowledge of a most interesting
+epoch of modern history, and one of the most interesting figures of any epoch."&mdash;<i>Illustrated
+London News.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Arthur D. Innes</span>, M.A.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Seers and Singers.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Study of Five English Poets (<span class="smcap">Browning</span>, <span class="smcap">Tennyson</span>, <span class="smcap">Wordsworth</span>,
+<span class="smcap">Matthew Arnold</span>, and <span class="smcap">Mrs. Browning</span>). Cloth
+antique, extra gilt top, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Never were great poets and their gifts to us dealt with in a more reverential and
+yet discriminating fashion. Comments and criticism are alike delicate and suggestive.
+All followers of the great five should posses this little book, whose dainty get-up is
+still its least charm."&mdash;<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i><!-- Page cvii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cvii" id="Page_cvii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Clifford Harrison</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Lute of Apollo.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>An Essay on Music. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 5<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+<p>"No real lover of music will fail to give an easily accessible and honoured
+corner on his or her favourite bookshelf to this little volume. It has a unique
+charm which no words of mine can properly define or describe."&mdash;<i>Ladies'
+Pictorial.</i></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h4>
+RECENT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
+</h4>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Gwendolen Trench Gascoigne</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Among Pagodas and Fair Ladies.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being an Account of a Tour through Burma. With numerous
+Illustrations from Photographs. Medium 8vo, buckram, 12<i>s.</i></p>
+
+
+<p><br />By <span class="smcap">G. F. Scott Elliot</span>, F.S.S., F.R.G.S.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">A Naturalist in Mid Africa.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being an Account of a Journey to the Mountains of the Moon and
+Tanganyika. With numerous Illustrations from Photographs
+and Sketches by the Author, and Three Coloured Maps.
+Medium 8vo, buckram, 16<i>s.</i></p>
+
+
+<p><br />By <span class="smcap">Robert K. Douglas</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Society in China.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>An Account of the Everyday Life of the Chinese People, Social,
+Political, and Religious. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i> (Library
+Edition, with 22 Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16<i>s.</i>)</p></div><p><!-- Page cviii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cviii" id="Page_cviii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h3>Theological and Devotional Works.</h3>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By Rev. <span class="smcap">W. F. Cobb</span>, D.D.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Origines Judaic�.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>An Inquiry into Heathen Faiths as affecting the Birth and Growth
+of Judaism. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"We cannot help feeling very grateful to our author. He has obtained a competent
+knowledge of what recent investigation has revealed in Egyptology and
+Assyriology, and he has brought his stores of knowledge to interpret the Old Testament
+religion and history, and by his conception of 'Menotheism,' if not by the
+coining of the word, he has brought a welcome illumination to the obscure subject of
+the primitive Hebrew religion."&mdash;<i>Daily Chronicle.</i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With an Introduction by the Very Reverend <span class="smcap">F. W. Farrar</span>, D.D.,
+Dean of Canterbury.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The New Life in Christ Jesus.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Essays on Subjects relating to Spiritual Life. Edited by <span class="smcap">Julian
+Field</span>. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p class="book-title">Prayers, Penitence, and Holy Communion.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. <span class="smcap">E. B. Pusey</span>, D.D.
+By E. H. and F. H. Bound together in one volume. Royal
+16mo, cloth extra, bevelled boards, with red edges and silk
+book-markers, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p class="center">
+<i>The three parts may be had separately, price 1s. 6d. each.</i><br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="book-title">Daily Text-Book.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. <span class="smcap">E. B. Pusey</span>, D.D.
+By E. H. and F. H. With Preface by the Right Rev. the
+<span class="smcap">Lord Bishop of Lincoln</span>. Square 16mo, cloth, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">On the Catholic Faith. Notes and Questions.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Compiled from the Works of the late Rev. <span class="smcap">E. B. Pusey</span>, D.D.
+With Preface by the Rev. Canon <span class="smcap">Carter</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth,
+2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; or in paper wrapper, 1<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Spiritual Combat; with the Path of Paradise;
+and the Supplement; or, the Peace of
+the Soul.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Scupoli</span>. (From the Italian.) Edited by the late Rev. <span class="smcap">E. B.
+Pusey</span>, D.D. Post 8vo, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Sufferings of Jesus.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Composed by <span class="smcap">Fra Thom� de Jesu</span>, of the Order of Hermits of
+S. Augustine. Translated for the first time from the original
+Portuguese. In two parts. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i>; or separately,
+each 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Soul's Hour Glass.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Translated from the Horologium of Drexelius. Edited by the Rev.
+Canon <span class="smcap">Atkinson</span>; being a Book of Devotions for the Twenty-four
+Hours. Printed in red and black. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt
+top, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div><p><!-- Page cix --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cix" id="Page_cix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h3>NEW AND RECENT VERSE.</h3>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">George Cookson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Poems.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">A. E. Hills</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Elfinn's Luck, and Other Poems.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Mostyn T. Piggott</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Songs of a Session.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Volume of Political Verses. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">E. H. Lacon Watson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Verses Suggested and Original.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Robert George Legge</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Songs of a Strolling Player.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By the <span class="smcap">Same Author</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Player Poems.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By the late <span class="smcap">James Russell Lowell</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Last Poems.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being the Last Unpublished Poems written by the late <span class="smcap">James
+Russell Lowell</span>. Crown 8vo, gilt top, buckram, 4<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Clifford Harrison</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">On the Common Chords.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Verses by <span class="smcap">Clifford Harrison</span>. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top,
+4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Arthur D. Innes</span>, M.A.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Verse Translations from Greek and Latin Poets.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Large post 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 5<i>s.</i> net.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">W. J. Robertson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">A Century of French Verse.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being a Series of Translations from the French Poets since the
+Revolution, with Biographical Notices and Appreciations.
+Fcap. 4to, buckram, gilt top, 6<i>s.</i> net.</p></div><p><!-- Page cx --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cx" id="Page_cx">[Pg x]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h3>The Isthmian Library.</h3>
+
+
+<p>VOL. I.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">B. Fletcher Robinson</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Rugby Football.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With Chapters by <span class="smcap">Frank Mitchell</span>, <span class="smcap">R. H. Cattell</span>, <span class="smcap">C. J.
+N. Fleming</span>, <span class="smcap">Gregor MacGregor</span>, <span class="smcap">C. B. Nicholl</span>, and
+<span class="smcap">H. B. Tristram</span>. Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><br />VOL. II.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">A. C. Pemberton</span>, <span class="smcap">Mrs. Harcourt Williamson</span>, <span class="smcap">C. P.
+Sisley</span>, and <span class="smcap">Gilbert Floyd</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Complete Cyclist.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><br />VOL. III.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">E. F. Knight</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Sailing-boats and Small Yachts.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [<i>In Preparation.</i></span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p><br />VOL IV.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">R. C. Lehmann</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Rowing.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With Chapters by <span class="smcap">Guy Nickalls</span> and <span class="smcap">C. M. Pitman</span>. Illustrated,
+post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><br />VOL. V.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">R. Allanson Winn</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Boxing.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><br />VOL. VI.</p>
+
+<p class="book-title">Ice Sports.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><br />VOL VII.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Montagu S. Monier Williams</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Figure Skating.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p class="center">
+<i>Other Volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced.</i></p>
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page cxi --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxi" id="Page_cxi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>New One-Volume Novels.</h3>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">A. E. W. Mason</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Lawrence Clavering.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Fred T. Jane</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Lordship, the Passen, and We.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Lady Helen Craven</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Katharine Cromer.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">C. M. Campbell</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Deilie Jock.</p>
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Francis Gribble</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Sunlight and Limelight.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  [<i>Ready January, 1898.</i></span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+<p><br />By <span class="smcap">Eden Phillpotts</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="book-title">The King's Chamber.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  [<i>Ready January, 1898.</i></span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Esther Miller</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Shadows of Guilt.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Fred T. Jane</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">To Venus in Five Seconds.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Demy 12mo, cloth, 2<i>s.</i>; or in paper wrapper, 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Francis Gribble</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Only an Angel.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Demy 12mo, half-parchment, yellow edges, 2<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page cxii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxii" id="Page_cxii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>RECENT POPULAR 6s. NOVELS.</h3>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">J. C. Snaith</span>, Author of "Mistress Dorothy Marvin."</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Fierceheart the Soldier.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Mr. Snaith has given us a resource that for terse, pregnant phrasing, exception
+character, and recurring and vivid depiction of dramatic situation, is the best thing
+of its kind we remember to have seen for a long time."&mdash;<i>Observer.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Max Pemberton</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Christine of the Hills.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Assuredly he has never written anything more fresh, more simple, more alluring
+or more artistically perfect."&mdash;<i>Daily Mail.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Eden Phillpotts</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Lying Prophets.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Third Edition.</i> Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"An excellent novel.... A place of serious and admirable work.... Not unworthy
+of a place with George Eliot's 'Adam Bede' and 'Mill on the Floss.'"&mdash;<i>Pall
+Mall Gazette.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Isabel Clarke</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Episode of Alethea.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"The author deals with admirable taste and tact with the situation.... The
+story is one of high merit from beginning to end."&mdash;<i>Scotsman.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Esther Miller</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Sport of the Gods.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"It is very well told.... The novel is exciting, and preserves its interest to the
+end.... Excellent story."&mdash;<i>Athen�um.</i><!-- Page cxiii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxiii" id="Page_cxiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">E. F. Benson</span>, Author of "Dodo."</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Limitations.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Mr. Benson has written an interesting and truly human book. His range is
+much wider than it was: his character-drawing has gained in depth, delicacy, and
+precision; while the sparkling dialogue which we enjoyed in 'Dodo' has lost none
+of its old brilliancy."&mdash;<i>Daily Telegraph.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Francis Gribble</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Lower Life.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"A very remarkable novel, well thought out, well sustained, and inspired from first
+to last."&mdash;<i>National Observer.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">G. B. Burgin</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Tomalyn's Quest.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Mr. Burgin has just scored a second shining success with 'Tomalyn's Quest,' a
+tale of the keenest interest."&mdash;<i>Daily Telegraph.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">W. L. Alden</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Mystery of Elias G. Roebuck.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Mr. Alden has the true gift of honour.... It is impossible to read the collection
+of short stories without genuine enjoyment."&mdash;<i>Times.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">C. R. Coleridge</span> and <span class="smcap">Helen Shipton</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Ravenstone.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"The love interest of 'Ravenstone' is twofold, and is admirably sustained
+throughout this bright, vigorous, and refreshing story."&mdash;<i>Daily Telegraph.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">X. L.</span>, Author of "Aut Diabolus aut Nihil."</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Limb.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Gladstone</span> writes: "Pray accept my thanks.... I was so imprudent as to
+read it at once, and since that act have found great difficulty in laying it down."</p>
+
+<p>"'The Limb' is unquestionably one of the most fascinating books of the season."&mdash;<i>Birmingham
+Daily Gazette.</i><!-- Page cxiv --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxiv" id="Page_cxiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Roma White</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">A Stolen Mask.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"A capital story, and Mrs. Roma White tells it with a delicate humour and a
+spontaneous brilliancy as rare as they are delightful. 'A Stolen Mask' is a novel
+that stands high above the average, and can be strongly recommended. It is a long
+time since we have come across anything so thoroughly fresh and bright."&mdash;<i>Pall
+Mall Gazette.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Francis Gribble</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Things that Matter.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Is an extremely psychological study."&mdash;<i>Times.</i></p>
+
+<p>"It is a very amusing novel, full of bright satire directed against the new woman
+and similar objects."&mdash;<i>Speaker.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">G. B. Burgin</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Judge of the Four Corners.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"A delightfully humorous sketch, full of the purest fun, and irresistibly laughable."&mdash;<i>Saturday
+Review.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Eden Phillpotts</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">My Laughing Philosopher.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">George Hutchinson</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"We commend to the notice of any one wanting a good laugh 'My Laughing
+Philosopher,' whose varied character-sketches amply prove Mr. Eden Phillpotts to
+be endowed with those two excellent gifts of humour and imagination."&mdash;<i>Spectator.</i></p>
+
+<p>"The book will be welcome to every one who likes a book from which a man can
+get a good laugh."&mdash;<i>Scotsman.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Leslie Keith</span>, Author of "The Chilcotes," "'Lisbeth," etc.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">For Love of Prue.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Plot and incident in this present story are alike remarkable ... altogether we
+heartily commend 'For Love of Prue' as a sensible, humorous, and thoroughly
+wholesome book."&mdash;<i>Speaker.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Dorothea Gerard</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Lot 13.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"A bright, buoyant, and bustling story, with plenty of local colour derived
+from the scenery and the society, black and white, of a West Indian plantation."&mdash;<i>Times.</i><!-- Page cxv --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxv" id="Page_cxv">[Pg xv]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By the late Mrs. <span class="smcap">J. K. Spender</span>, Author of "Thirteen Doctors," etc.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Wooing of Doris.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"Has much to commend it to novel-readers. A clever plot: well-drawn characters&mdash;such
+are the leading features of a novel by which the reputation of its much-regretted
+writer is fully sustained to the last."&mdash;<i>World.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">J. C. Snaith</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Mistress Dorothy Marvin.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Romance of the Glorious Revolution.</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. Cowell</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"The author has succeeded in making his story intensely interesting....
+One of the very best adventure stories we have had for a long time past."&mdash;<i>Speaker.</i></p>
+
+<p>"'Mistress Dorothy Marvin,' most delightful and winsome of women, and one of
+the freshest and most unhackneyed heroines whose acquaintance we have had the
+pleasure of making for a very considerable period.... Mr. Snaith has a great gift
+of observation, and his book is a remarkable picture of the age it is intended to
+depict."&mdash;<i>World.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Stanley Weyman</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">My Lady Rotha.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Romance of the Thirty Years' War.</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">John Williamson</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"No one who begins it will lay it down before the end, it is so extremely well
+carried on from adventure to adventure."&mdash;<i>Saturday Review.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Frank Barrett</span>, Author of "The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane."</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">A Set of Rogues.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A Romance of the Seventeenth Century.</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. Cowell</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>"He has related the adventures of a set of rogues ... with so pleasant a tongue
+and in such attractive fashion that it impossible for mere flesh and blood to resist
+them. His set of rogues have won our entire sympathy, and his narrative our
+hearty approval."&mdash;<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p>
+
+<p>"Another capital story.... Strongly recommended. Stirring tale this, without
+a dull chapter in it, and just enough human sentiment in it to soften down the
+roguery.... Let the honest reader procure the book."&mdash;<i>Punch.</i></p>
+
+<hr />
+<p><!-- Page cxvi --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_cxvi" id="Page_cxvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>SCARLET NOVELS.</h3>
+<p class="center">A SERIES OF POPULAR NOVELS BY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS.</p>
+<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, uniform scarlet cloth, 3s. 6d. each Volume.</i></p>
+
+
+<h4>ANTHONY HOPE'S SOCIETY NOVELS.</h4>
+
+<p class="book-title">Comedies of Courtship.</p>
+
+<p>"He is undeniably gay in the best sense of the word, now and then almost
+rollicking. An admirable example of what we mean by gaiety in fictional literature."&mdash;<i>Daily
+Telegraph.</i></p>
+
+
+<p class="book-title">Half a Hero.</p>
+
+<p>"The book is delightful to read, and an excellent piece of work."&mdash;<i>Standard.</i></p>
+
+
+<p class="book-title">Mr. Witt's Widow.</p>
+
+<p>"A brilliant little tale.... Exhibits unborrowed ingenuity, plausibility, and
+fertility in surprises."&mdash;<i>Times.</i></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Max Pemberton</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">A Gentleman's Gentleman.</p>
+
+<p>"This is very much the best book that Mr. Max Pemberton has so far given us."&mdash;<i>Daily
+Chronicle.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Richard Pryce</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">The Burden of a Woman.</p>
+
+<p>"The conception and execution of this interesting story are excellent. A book
+to read and remember with pleasure."&mdash;<i>Lady's Pictorial.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">C. R. Coleridge</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Amethyst.</p>
+
+<p>"Extremely amusing, interesting, and brightly written."&mdash;<i>Guardian.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">F. Frankfort Moore</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Two in the Bush and Others Elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"Carry the reader on from page to page till criticism is forgotten in enjoyment."&mdash;<i>Daily
+Graphic.</i></p>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><br />By <span class="smcap">Roma White</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p class="book-title">Punchinello's Romance.</p>
+
+<p>"We give Roma White the warmest of welcomes into the world of fiction....
+Admirably and irresistibly comic, without anything in the nature of force or even of
+apparent exaggeration, ready at the least moment to run into equally true pathos."&mdash;<i>Graphic.</i></p>
+
+<div class="trans-note">
+<h4><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber's Notes</h4>
+
+<p><i>Factual errors were noted as follows:</i></p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_273">273</a>: Reference to "Minneapolis" instead of "Annapolis" (The United
+States Naval Academy at Minneapolis ...)</p>
+
+
+<p><i>Changes to the text are listed as follows:</i></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Page_v">Title page</a>: added comma after "C. M. PITMAN" ( ... C. M. PITMAN, W. E.
+CRUM, <span class="smcap">AND</span> E. G. BLACKMORE)</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>: added missing line in the List of Illustrations (<span class="smcap">Lent races in
+the Plough Reach</span> [<i>Facing page</i>] 200)</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_65">65</a>: added missing number and open quotes where start of paragraph
+is missing in the text ([(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as
+they move, ...)</p>
+
+<p>Plate "Henley Regatta" originally facing page 157: changed "Heart fo" to
+"Heat for" (A Heat for the Diamonds.)</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_258">258</a>: changed "Warnambool" to "Warrnambool" (Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, ...)</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_339">339</a>: changed "captain's" to "captains'" ( ... at the first captains' meeting ...)</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
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+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Rowing
+
+Author: Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+Contributor: Guy Nickalls
+             G. L. Davies
+             C. M. Pitman
+             W. E. Crum
+             E. G. Blackmore.
+
+Editor: B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34950]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Simon Gardner, Chris Curnow and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+This Plain Text version prepared for smoothreading uses symbols from the
+ASCII and Latin-1 character sets.
+
+Italic typeface is represented by _underscores_. Small capital typeface
+is represented by UPPER CASE.
+
+Fractions are shown in the form 1/2, 2-1/4 etc.
+
+Greek transliterations are shown (at this stage) as [Greek: ... ].
+
+  [^a], [^e] represent a-acute, e-acute;
+  ['e] represents e-acute;
+  [E'] represents E-grave;
+  [oe] represents the [oe] ligature;
+  [^o] represents Greek omega.
+
+Detailed notes on corrections to the text etc. are listed at the end of
+the book.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    THE ISTHMIAN LIBRARY: A Series of Volumes dealing popularly with the
+      whole range of Field Sports and Athletics.
+
+    Edited by B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, and Illustrated by numerous Sketches
+      and Instantaneous Photographs. Post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._ each.
+
+    Vol. I. Rugby Football. By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON, with chapters by
+      FRANK MITCHELL, R. H. CATTELL, C. J. N. FLEMING, GREGOR MACGREGOR,
+      and H. B. TRISTRAM, and dedicated by permission to Mr. ROWLAND
+      HILL.
+
+    Vol. II. The Complete Cyclist. By A. C. PEMBERTON, Mrs. HARCOURT
+      WILLIAMSON, and C. J. SISLEY.
+
+    Vol. IV. Rowing. By R. C. LEHMANN, with chapters by GUY NICKALLS and
+      C. M. PITMAN.
+
+    Vol. V. Boxing. By R. ALLANSON WINN.
+
+
+    _Other volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced._
+
+
+
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+
+[Illustration: THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOATRACE, 1894.]
+
+                           The Isthmian Library
+                      Edited by B. Fletcher Robinson
+
+                                  No. 4
+
+                                  ROWING
+
+                                    BY
+                              R. C. LEHMANN
+
+                          WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY
+                 GUY NICKALLS, G. L. DAVIS, C. M. PITMAN,
+                 W. E. CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE
+
+                              _ILLUSTRATED_
+
+                                  LONDON
+                          A. D. INNES & COMPANY
+                                  LIMITED
+                                   1898
+
+         *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                     AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP
+
+                           I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
+
+                                    TO
+
+                       MR. HERBERT THOMAS STEWARD,
+
+               CHAIRMAN OF THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION;
+         CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, HENLEY REGATTA;
+                    AND PRESIDENT OF THE LEANDER CLUB.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+My thanks are due to the proprietors of the _Daily News_ and of the
+_English Illustrated Magazine_ for permission to include in this book
+the substance of articles originally contributed to their columns. I
+have not added to the Appendix any lists of winning crews, as these are
+to be found very fully and accurately set out in the Rowing Almanack,
+published every year at the office of the _Field_.
+
+For the rest, I have endeavoured to make the rowing instructions which
+will be found in this book as concise as was compatible with perfect
+clearness, assuming at all times that I was addressing myself first of
+all to the novice. No doubt other oarsmen will differ here and there
+from my conclusions. Absolute unanimity on every detail of rowing is not
+to be expected.
+
+All I can do is to assure my readers that nothing has been set down here
+the truth and accuracy of which I have not proved--at least, to my own
+satisfaction.
+
+_The illustrations are reproduced from photographs by Messrs. Stearn, of
+Cambridge; Messrs. Gillman, of Oxford; Messrs. Marsh, of
+Henley-on-Thames; Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton; Messrs. Pach
+Brothers, of Cambridge (Mass.); and Mr. J. G. Williams, of East
+Molesey._
+
+                                                            R. C. L.
+    _October, 1897._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                                    PAGE
+
+     I. INTRODUCTORY                                            1
+
+    II. FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS                           14
+
+   III. FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS                         38
+
+    IV. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS                         55
+
+     V. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           72
+
+    VI. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_)           89
+
+   VII. OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF
+          STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF COACHING               109
+
+  VIII. OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE
+          NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF LEISURE
+          TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS                             128
+
+    IX. FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS              144
+
+     X. SCULLING. _By_ GUY NICKALLS                           157
+
+    XI. STEERING. _By_ G. L. DAVIS                            176
+
+   XII. COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD. _By_ C. M. PITMAN           194
+
+  XIII. COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE                           211
+
+   XIV. ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE. _By_ W. E. CRUM               234
+
+    XV. AUSTRALIAN ROWING. _By_ E. G. BLACKMORE               255
+
+   XVI. ROWING IN AMERICA                                     270
+
+  XVII. A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES
+          HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+          TRAINING OF OARSMEN                                 288
+
+        APPENDIX--HENLEY REGATTA RULES; RULES OF
+          THE A.R.A.; RULES OF THE C.U.B.C. AND
+          O.U.B.C.                                            307
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF PLATES.
+
+
+  PAGE
+  THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE, 1894     _Frontispiece._
+  FIRST HENLEY REGATTA PROGRAMME                 _To face_   6
+  FIXED SEATS. NUMBER 1                                     20
+       "          "   2                                     22
+       "          "   3                                     24
+       "          "   4                                     26
+       "          "   5                                     30
+  SLIDING SEATS. NUMBER 1                                   38
+         "         "    2                                   40
+         "         "    3                                   41
+         "         "    4                                   42
+         "         "    5                                   44
+         "         "    6                                   45
+         "         "    7                                   47
+         "         "    8                                   48
+         "         "    9                                   50
+         "         "   10                                   52
+         "         "   11                                   54
+  SNAP-SHOTS--CREW IN MOTION. NUMBERS 1 AND 2               56
+      "         "       "        "    3 AND 4               58
+      "         "       "        "    5 AND 6               61
+      "         "       "        "    7 AND 8               64
+  MR. C. W. KENT                                            78
+  MR. H. G. GOLD                                            81
+  HENLEY REGATTA, 1897                                     130
+  HENLEY REGATTA: A HEAT FOR THE DIAMONDS                  157
+  A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS                                     194
+  A START IN THE EIGHTS                                    202
+  THE GOLDIE BOAT-HOUSE                                    211
+  A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON, AT POUGHKEEPSIE     272
+  COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON                             284
+  ROWING TYPES. NUMBER 1                                   289
+        "         "    2                                   298
+        "         "    3                                   301
+        "         "    4                                   303
+        "         "    5                                   305
+
+
+
+
+ROWING.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+INTRODUCTORY.
+
+
+My object in the following pages will be not merely to give such hints
+to the novice as may enable him, so far as book-learning can effect the
+purpose, to master the rudiments of oarsmanship, but also to commend to
+him the sport of rowing from the point of view of those enthusiasts who
+regard it as a noble open-air exercise, fruitful in lessons of strength,
+courage, discipline, and endurance, and as an art which requires on the
+part of its votaries a sense of rhythm, a perfect balance and symmetry
+of bodily effort, and the graceful control and repose which lend an
+appearance of ease to the application of the highest muscular energy.
+Much has to be suffered and many difficulties have to be overcome
+before the raw tiro, whose fantastic contortions in a tub-pair excite
+the derision of the spectators, can approach to the power, effectiveness
+and grace of a Crum or a Gold; but, given a healthy frame and sound
+organs inured to fatigue by the sports of English boyhood, given also an
+alert intelligence, there is no reason in the nature of things why
+oarsmanship should not eventually become both an exercise and a
+pleasure. And when I speak of oarsmanship, I mean the combined form of
+it in pairs, in fours, and in eight-oared racing boats.
+
+Of sculling I do not presume to speak, but those who are curious on this
+point may be referred to the remarks of Mr. Guy Nickalls in a later
+chapter. But of rowing I can speak, if not with authority, at any rate
+with experience, for during twenty-three years of my life I have not
+only rowed in a constant succession of boat-races, amounting now to
+about two hundred, but I have watched rowing wherever it was to be seen,
+and have, year after year, been privileged to utter words of instruction
+to innumerable crews on the Cam, the Isis, and the Thames. If, then, the
+novice will commit himself for a time to my guidance, I will endeavour
+to initiate him into the art and mystery of rowing. If he decides
+afterwards to join the fraternity of its votaries, I can promise him
+that his reward will not be small. He may not win fame, and he will
+certainly not increase his store of wealth, but when his time of action
+is past and he joins the great army of "have-beens," he will find, as he
+looks back upon his career, that his hours of leisure have been spent in
+an exercise which has enlarged his frame and strengthened his limbs,
+that he has drunk delight of battle with his peers in many a hard-fought
+race, that he has learnt what it means to be in perfect health and
+condition, with every sinew strung, and all his manly energies braced
+for contests of strength and endurance, and that he has bound to himself
+by the strongest possible ties a body of staunch and loyal friends whose
+worth has been proved under all sorts of conditions, through many days
+of united effort.
+
+It has often been objected to rowing, either by those who have never
+rowed, or by those who having rowed have allowed themselves to sink
+prematurely into sloth and decay, that the sport in the case of most men
+can last only for a very few years, and that having warred, not without
+glory, up to the age of about twenty-five, they must then hang their
+oars upon the wall and pass the remainder of their lives in an envious
+contemplation of the exploits of old but unwearied cricketers. Judging
+merely by my own personal experience, I am entitled to pronounce these
+lamentations baseless and misleading, for I have been able to row with
+pleasure even in racing boats during the whole period of nineteen years
+that has elapsed since I took my degree at Cambridge. But I can refer to
+higher examples, for I have seen the Grand Challenge Cup and the
+Stewards' Cup at Henley Regatta either rowed for with credit, or won by
+men whose age cannot have been far, if at all, short of forty years, and
+of men who won big races when they were thirty years old the examples
+are innumerable. But putting actual racing aside, there is in skilled
+rowing a peculiar pleasure (even though the craft rowed in be merely a
+fixed seat gig) which, as it seems to me, puts it on a higher plane than
+most other exercises. The watermanship which enables a party of veterans
+to steer their boat deftly in and out of a lock, to swing her easily
+along the reaches, while unskilled youths are toiling and panting
+astern, is, after all, no mean accomplishment. And in recent years
+rowing has taken a leaf out of the book of cricket. Scattered up and
+down the banks of the Thames are many pleasant houses in which, during
+the summer, men who can row are favoured guests, either with a view to
+their forming crews to take part in local regattas, or merely for the
+purpose of pleasure-rowing in scenes remote from the dust and turmoil of
+the city. Let no one, therefore, be repelled from oarsmanship because he
+thinks that the sport will last him through only a few years of his
+life. If he marries and settles down and becomes a busy man, he will
+enjoy his holiday on the Thames fully as much as his cricketing brothers
+enjoy theirs on some country cricket field.
+
+Of the early history of boats and boat-racing it is not necessary to say
+very much. It is enough to know that the written Cambridge records date
+back to 1827, though it is certain that racing must have begun some
+years previously; that Oxford can point to 1822 as one of the earliest
+years of their College races; that the two Universities raced against
+one another for the first time in 1829; and that Henley Regatta was
+established in 1839, when the Grand Challenge Cup was won by First
+Trinity, Cambridge. Opposite is a facsimile copy of the programme of
+this memorable regatta.
+
+Those who desire to go still further back, have the authority of Virgil
+for stating that the Trojans under Aeneas could organize and carry
+through what Professor Conington, in his version of the "Aeneid," calls
+"a rivalry of naval speed." The account of this famous regatta is given
+with a spirit and a richness of detail that put to shame even the most
+modern historians of aquatic prowess. After reading how Gyas, the
+captain and coach of the _Chimaera_--
+
+    "Huge bulk, a city scarce so large,
+    With Dardan rowers in triple bank,
+    The tiers ascending rank o'er rank"
+
+--how Gyas, as I say, justly indignant at the ineptitude and cowardice
+of his coxswain, hurled him from the vessel, and himself assumed the
+helm at a critical point of the race, it is a mere paltering with the
+emotions to be told, for instance, that "Mr. Pechell, who owes much to
+the teaching of Goosey Driver, steered a very good course," or that he
+"began to make the shoot for Barnes Bridge a trifle too soon." How,
+too, can the statement that "both crews started simultaneously,
+Cambridge, if anything, striking the water first," compare with the
+passage which tells us (I quote again from Professor Conington) how
+
+            "at the trumpet's piercing sound,
+    All from their barriers onward bound,
+    Upsoars to heaven the oarsman's shout,
+    The upturned billows froth and spout;
+    In level lines they plough the deep--
+    All ocean yawns as on they sweep."
+
+It may be noted in passing that no one else seems to have felt in the
+least inclined to yawn, for
+
+    "With plaudits loud and clamorous zeal
+      Echoes the woodland round;
+    The pent shores roll the thunder peal--
+      The stricken rocks rebound;"
+
+which seems, if the criticism may be permitted, a curious proceeding
+even for a stricken rock during the progress of a boat-race. Finally, a
+touch of religious romance is added when we learn that the final result
+was due, not to the unaided efforts of the straining crew, but to the
+intervention of Portunus, the Harbour God, who, moved by the prayer of
+Cloanthus, captain of the _Scylla_, pushed that barque along and carried
+her triumphantly first into the haven--invidious conduct which does not
+appear to have caused the least complaint amongst the defeated crews, or
+to have prevented Cloanthus from being proclaimed the victor of the day.
+Only on one occasion (in 1859) has Father Thames similarly exerted
+himself to the advantage of one of the University crews, for during the
+boat-race of that year he swamped the Cambridge ship beneath his mighty
+waves, and sped Oxford safely to Mortlake. Lord Justice A. L. Smith,
+amongst others, still lives, though he was unable to swim, to tell the
+exciting tale.
+
+Before I take leave of this Virgilian race, I may perhaps, even at this
+late date, be permitted as a brother coach to commiserate the impulsive
+but unfortunate Gyas on the difficulties he must have encountered in
+coaching the crew of a trireme. Not less do I pity his oarsmen, of whom
+the two lower ranks must have suffered seriously as to their backs from
+the feet of those placed above them, while the length and weight of the
+oars used by the top rank must have made good form and accurate time
+almost impossible. A Cambridge poet, Mr. R. H. Forster, has sung the
+woes of the Athenian triremists and their instructor--
+
+    "Just imagine a crew of a hundred or two
+      Shoved three deep in a kind of a barge,
+    Like a cargo of kegs, with no room for their legs,
+      And oars inconveniently large.
+    Quoth he, '[Greek: pantes pros[^o]]' and they try to do so.
+      At the sight the poor coach's brains addle;
+    So muttering '[Greek: oimoi],' he shouts out '[Greek: hetoimoi],'
+      And whatever the Greek is for 'paddle.'
+    Now do look alive, number ninety and five,
+      You're 'sugaring,' work seems to bore you;
+    You are late, you are late, number twenty and eight,
+      Keep your eyes on the man that's before you."
+
+So much for the trireme. But neither the Greeks nor any other race
+thought of adapting their boats merely to purposes of racing until the
+English, with their inveterate passion for open-air exercise, took the
+matter in hand. African war-canoes have been known to race, but their
+primary object is still the destruction of rival canoes together with
+their dusky freight. In Venice the gondoliers are matched annually
+against one another, but both the gondola and the sandolo remain what
+they always have been--mere vessels for the conveyance of passengers and
+goods. The man who would make war in a racing ship would justly be
+relegated to Hanwell, and to carry passengers, or even one "passenger,"
+in such a boat is generally looked upon as a certain presage of defeat.
+Consider for a moment. The modern racing ship (eight, four, pair, or
+single) is a frail, elongated, graceful piece of cabinet work, held
+together by thin stays, small bolts, and copper nails, and separating
+you from the water in which it floats by an eighth of an inch of Mexican
+cedar. The whole weight of the sculling-boat, built by Jack Clasper, in
+which Harding won the Searle Memorial Cup, was only nineteen pounds,
+_i.e._ about 112 pounds lighter than the man it carried. Considering the
+amount of labour and trained skill that go towards the construction of
+these beautiful machines, the price cannot be said to be heavy. Most
+builders will turn you out a sculling-boat for from [L]12 to [L]15, a
+pair for about [L]20, a four for [L]33, and an eight for [L]55. But the
+development of the racing type to its present perfection has taken many
+years. Little did the undergraduates who, in 1829, drove their ponderous
+man-of-war's galleys from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, while the
+stricken hills of the Thames Valley rebounded to the shouts of the
+spectators--little did they imagine that their successors, rowing on
+movable seats and with rowlocks projecting far beyond the side would
+speed in delicate barques, of arrowy shape and almost arrowy swiftness,
+from Putney to Mortlake--in barques so light and "crank" that, built as
+they are without a keel, they would overturn in a moment if the balance
+of the oars were removed. The improvements were very gradual. In 1846
+the University race was rowed for the first time in boats with
+outriggers. That innovation had, however, been creeping in for some
+years before that. Mr. Hugh Hammersley, who rowed in the Oriel boat
+which started head of the river at Oxford in 1843, has told me that in
+that year the University College boat, stroked by the famous Fletcher
+Menzies, was fitted with outriggers at stroke and bow; and the bump by
+which University displaced Oriel was generally ascribed to the new
+invention.
+
+In 1857 the University race was rowed in boats without a keel, and oars
+with a round loom were used for the first time by both crews. At the
+Henley Regatta of the preceding year the Royal Chester Rowing Club had
+entered a crew rowing in this novel style of keelless boat for the Grand
+Challenge and the Ladies' Cups. Her length was only fifty-four feet, and
+her builder was Mat Taylor, a name celebrated in the annals of
+boat-building, for it is to him, in the first instance, that our present
+type of racing-boat owes its existence. "The Chester men," Mr. W. B.
+Woodgate tells us in his Badminton book on boating, "could not sit their
+boat in the least; they flopped their blades along the water on the
+recovery in a manner which few junior crews at minor regattas would now
+be guilty of; but they rowed well away from their opponents, who were
+only College crews." They won, as a matter of fact, both the events for
+which they entered.
+
+One might have thought that with this invention improvements would have
+ceased. But in course of time the practical experience of rowing men
+suggested to them that if they slid on their seats, both the length and
+power of their stroke through the water would be increased. At first
+they greased their fixed seats, and slid on those. But it was found that
+the strain caused by this method exhausted a crew. In 1871 a crew of
+professionals used a seat that slid on the thwarts, and beat a crew that
+was generally held to be superior, and from that moment slides, as we
+now know them, came into general use. In 1873 the University crews
+rowed on sliding seats for the first time. Since then the length of the
+slide has been increased from about nine inches to fifteen inches, or
+even more, a change which has made the task of the boat-builder in
+providing floating capacity more difficult; but in all essentials the
+type of boat remains the same. It ought to be added that the Americans,
+to a large extent, use boats moulded out of _papier mach['e]_, but this
+variation has never obtained favour in England, though boats built in
+this manner by the well-known Waters of Troy (U.S.A.) have been seen on
+English rivers. The Columbia College crew won the Visitors' Cup at
+Henley in 1878 in a paper boat, and she was afterwards bought by First
+Trinity, Cambridge, but she never won a race again.
+
+[Illustration: THE FIRST HENLEY REGATTA.]
+
+  HENLEY REGATTA
+  _June 14th_, 1839.
+
+  [Illustration]
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    OXFORD.--BRASEN NOSE COLLEGE,--Blue Cap, with Gold Tassel; Rosette,
+      yellow, purple, and crimson.
+
+    CAMBRIDGE.--TRINITY BOAT CLUB,--Blue stripe Jersey and Trowsers;
+      Rosette, French blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--ETONIAN CLUB,--White Jersey, with pale blue facings;
+      Rosette, sky blue.
+
+    OXFORD.--WADHAM COLLEGE,--White Jersey, with narrow blue stripes,
+      dark blue cap, with light blue velvet band, and light blue scarf.
+
+  _Entrances for the_
+
+  TOWN CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+  WAVE.--White Jersey, pale blue facings.
+
+  DREADNOUGHT.--Blue Striped Shirt, blue Cap
+
+  ALBION.--Blue Striped Jersey, crimson scarf.
+
+  TURN OVER.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  ORDER OF THE RACES.
+
+  GRAND CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+    The first trial heat will commence at FOUR o'clock precisely.
+
+    The second trial heat will follow immediately.
+
+    The final heat will take place at SEVEN o'clock precisely.
+
+  The Race for the
+
+  TOWN CUP,
+
+  Will take place at SIX o'clock precisely.
+
+    Previous to each Race, a Signal Gun will be fired at the Bridge to
+    clear the course, another when the course is clear, a third at the
+    Island when the Boats start, and a fourth at the Bridge to announce
+    that the race is ended.
+
+  Lithographic Drawings of the Cups,
+
+  _Two Shillings per pair_,
+
+  And the Henley Guide, Two Shillings,
+
+  May be had of HICKMAN & KINCH, Post-Office.
+
+  Hickman & Kinch, Typ. Henley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON FIXED SEATS.
+
+
+If the tiro who aspires to be an oarsman has ever seen a really good
+eight-oared crew in motion on the water, he will probably have been
+impressed not so much by the power and the pace of it as by the
+remarkable ease with which the whole complicated series of movements
+that go to make up a stroke is performed. The eight blades grip the
+water at the same moment with a perfect precision, making a deep white
+swirl as they sweep through; the bodies swing back with a free and
+springy motion; the slides move steadily; and almost before one has
+realized that a stroke has been begun, the hands have come squarely home
+to the chest and have been shot out again to the full extent of the
+arms, the blades leaving the water without a splash. Then with a
+balanced swing the bodies move forward again, the oar-blades all in a
+level line on either side, and, _presto!_ another stroke has been
+started. Nothing in these movements is violent or jerky; there are no
+contortions--at least the tiro can see none, though the coach may be
+shouting instructions as to backs and shoulders and elbows--and the boat
+glides on her way without a pause or check.
+
+What sort of spectacle, on the other hand, is afforded by a thoroughly
+bad eight? The men composing it have chests and backs together with the
+usual complement of limbs that make up a human being; they are provided
+with oars; their ship is built of cedar and fitted with slides and
+outriggers--in short, as they sit at ease in their boat, they resemble
+in all outward details the crew we have just been considering. But watch
+them when they begin to row. Where now are the balance, the rhythm, the
+level flash of blades on the feather, the crisp beginning, the dashing
+and almost contemptuous freedom of bodies and hands in motion, the even
+and unsplashing progress of the ship herself? All these have vanished,
+and in their place we see a boat rolling like an Atlantic liner, oars
+dribbling feebly along the water or soaring wildly above it, each
+striking for the beginning at the sweet will of the man who wields it,
+without regard to anybody else; eight bodies, cramped and contorted
+almost out of the semblance of humanity, shuffling, tumbling, and
+screwing, while on eight faces a look of agony bears witness to such
+tortures as few except Englishmen can continue to suffer without mutiny
+or complaint. It is not a noble or an inspiring sight; but it may be
+seen at Oxford or at Cambridge, on tidal waters, and even at Henley
+Regatta.
+
+What, then, is the main cause of the difference between these two crews?
+It lies in good "style"--style which is present in the one crew and
+absent from the other. And this style in the rowing sense merely sums up
+the result, whether to individuals or to a crew, of long and patient
+teaching founded upon principles the correctness of which has been
+established ever since rowing became not merely an exercise, but a
+science in keelless racing ships. And here one comment may be added. It
+is the habit of every generation of rowing men to imagine that they have
+invented rowing all over again, and have at last, by their own
+intelligence and energy, established its principles on a firm
+foundation. Within my own experience, five at least of these
+generations believed that for the first time the virtues of leg-work had
+been revealed to them, four thought they had made out a patent in the
+matter of body-swing, and six were convinced that they had discovered
+length of stroke and firmness of beginning. In the eyes of these young
+gentlemen, the veterans whom they occasionally condescended to invite to
+their practice were harmless and well-meaning enthusiasts, who might
+have made a figure in their day, but who were, of course, utterly unable
+to appreciate the niceties of rowing as developed by their brilliant and
+skilful successors.[1] Amiable presumption of youth and innocence! The
+fact is, of course, that the main principles of good rowing are the same
+now as they have always been, on long slides or on short slides, or even
+on fixed seats. And, personally, I have always found that the hints I
+gathered from such men as Dr. Warre, Mr. W. B. Woodgate, Mr. J. C.
+Tinne, or Sir John Edwards-Moss, whose active rowing days were over
+before sliding seats came into use, were invaluable to me in the
+coaching of crews.
+
+  [1] I shall never forget the tone of kindly patronage in which the
+  stroke of my college crew once observed to his coach, a man about
+  fifteen years older than himself: "Ah, I suppose, now, they all used to
+  row in top-hats in your day!"
+
+How is a novice to be taught so that he may some day take his seat with
+credit in a good crew? I answer that there is no royal road; he must
+pass through a long period of practice, often so dull that all his
+patience will be required to carry him through it. His progress will be
+so slow, that he will sometimes feel he is making no headway at all; but
+it will be sure none the less, and some day, if he has in him the
+makings of an oar, he will realize, to his delight, that his joints move
+freely, that his muscles are supple, that his limbs obey his brain
+immediately--that, in short, the various movements he has been striving
+so hard to acquire have become easy and natural to him, and that he can
+go through them without the painful exercise of deliberate thought at
+every moment of their recurrence.
+
+Every oarsman must begin on fixed seats. This statement is to an English
+public school or University oar a mere platitude; but in America, and
+even in some of our English clubs outside the Universities, its force
+and necessity have been lost sight of. Here and there may be found a
+born oar, whose limbs and body do not require an arduous discipline; but
+in the case of ordinary average men like the immense majority of us, it
+is impossible, I believe, to acquire correct body movement without a
+stage, more or less prolonged, of practice in fixed-seat rowing. For it
+is on fixed seats alone that a man can learn that free and solid swing
+which is essential to good oarsmanship on slides.
+
+I will, therefore, ask my novice reader to imagine that he is seated on
+one of the thwarts of a fixed-seat tub-pair, while I deceive myself into
+the belief that I am coaching him from its stern. My first duty will be
+to see that all his implements are sound and true and correct, since it
+is probable that faults are often due as much to the use of weak or
+defective materials as to any other cause. I must satisfy myself that
+his oar is stiff and of a proper length; that when pressed against the
+thole in a natural position it can grip the water firmly and come
+through it squarely;[2] that the stretcher is properly set, and that the
+straps pass tightly over the root of the toes. I must also see that he
+is properly dressed, and not constricted about the waist by impeding
+buttons. A belt is never permissible. Now for instruction.
+
+  [2] The breadth of beam of an ordinary in-rigged fixed-seat gig for the
+  use of novices may be stated at 3 ft. 10 in. A line drawn horizontally
+  across the boat, at right angles from the rowing thole, would be from
+  11-1/2 in. to 12 in. distant from the aft, or sitting edge of the
+  thwart. Oars should measure 12 ft. over all, with an in-board length of
+  3 ft. 5 in. to 3 ft. 5-1/2 in. Breadth of blades 5-1/2 in. to 5-3/4, not
+  more.
+
+(1) Sit erect on the aft edge of your seat, exactly opposite the point
+at which your heels touch the stretcher. The feet must be placed firm
+and flat upon the stretcher, the heels touching one another, and forming
+an angle of about forty-five degrees. The knees must be bent to about
+one-third of their scope, and set a shoulder's breadth apart. Shoulders
+must be well set back, the chest open, and the stomach well set out.
+
+(2) Now swing your body slowly forward as far as you are able _from the
+hips_, without bending the back, being careful to let your head swing
+with your body. Repeat this movement several times without holding the
+oar.
+
+(_Note._--The ideal swing is that which takes the whole unbending body
+full forward till it is down between the knees. This, to a novice, is
+impossible, and the coach must therefore be content to see the first
+efforts at swing very short. It is better that this should be so than
+that a man should prematurely attain length by bending his back,
+doubling in his stomach, and over-reaching with his shoulders, faults
+that, once acquired, it is extremely difficult to eradicate.)
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_This is a stationary photograph. In the movement of the swing the body
+will come still further down._)]
+
+The swing must be slow and balanced, for "the time occupied in coming
+forward should be the body's rest, when the easy, measured swing, erect
+head, braced shoulders, and open chest, enable heart and lungs to work
+freely and easily, in preparation for a defined beginning of the next
+stroke."[3]
+
+  [3] From an article by Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith.
+
+(3) Take hold of your oar, the fingers passing round it, thumbs
+underneath, and the hands one hand's-breadth apart. The grip on the oar
+should be a finger-grip, not the vice-like hold that cramps all the
+muscles of the arm. It is important, too, to remember that, while the
+arms are presumably of the same length, the outside hand (_i.e._ the
+hand at the end of the oar) has, during stroke and swing forward, to
+pass through a larger arc than the inside hand. The inside wrist should,
+therefore, be slightly arched even at the beginning of the stroke, thus
+shortening the inside arm, but without impairing its use during the
+stroke. This arch, too, will give the inside hand a greater leverage and
+ease for performing the work of feathering, which devolves mainly upon
+it.
+
+(4) Draw your oar-handle slowly in till the roots of the thumbs touch
+the chest, the elbows passing close to the sides, and the body
+maintaining the erect position described above in instruction (1), but
+slightly inclined beyond the perpendicular. I assume that the blade of
+the oar is covered in the water in the position it would have at the
+finish of a stroke.
+
+(5) Drop your hands; in fact, not merely the hands, but the forearms and
+hands together. This movement will take the oar clean and square out of
+the water.
+
+(6) Turn your wrists, more particularly the inside wrist, with a quick
+sharp turn. This movement will feather the oar.
+
+(7) Without attempting to move your body, shoot your hands sharply out
+to the full extent of your arms, taking care to keep the blade of the
+oar well clear of the water. Repeat these last three movements several
+times, at first separately, then in combination.
+
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER CATCHING, BEGINNING.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(_Note._--These three movements are sometimes spoken of incorrectly as
+the finish of the stroke. Properly speaking, however, the finish, as
+distinguished from the beginning, is that part of the stroke which is
+rowed through the water from the moment the arms begin to bend until the
+hands come in to the chest. The movements I have described are in
+reality part of the recovery, _i.e._ they are the movements necessary to
+enable the oarsman's body to recover itself after the strain of one
+stroke, and to prepare for the next. Smartly performed, as they ought to
+be, they have all the appearance of one quick motion. As to the dropping
+of the hands, the novice must practise this so as to get his oar square
+and clean out of the water. It is, however, necessary to guard against
+exaggerating it into the pump-handle or coffee-grinding style, which
+merely wastes energy and time. Later on, when an oarsman is rowing in a
+light racing ship, a very slight pressure will enable him to release his
+oar, the movement and elasticity of the boat helping him.)
+
+(8) You have now taken the blade out of the water, feathered it, and
+have shot your hands away, the blade still on the feather, to a point
+beyond the knees. In so doing you will have released your body, which
+you must now swing forward slowly and at a perfectly even pace, in a
+solid column from the hips, as described in instruction 2.
+
+(9) Obviously, if you keep your arms stiff in the shoulder-sockets, you
+will eventually, as your body swings down, force your hands against the
+stretcher, or into the bottom of the boat, with the blade of the oar
+soaring to the level of your head. To avoid this windmill performance
+let your hands, especially the inside hand, rest lightly on the
+oar-handle, and as the body swings down let the hands gradually rise,
+_i.e._ let the angle that the arms make with the body increase. You will
+thus, by the time you have finished your swing, have brought the blade
+close to the water, in readiness to grip the beginning without the loss
+of a fraction of a second.
+
+(10) During the foregoing man[oe]uvre keep your arms absolutely straight
+from shoulder to wrist. Many oarsmen, knowing that they have to get hold
+of the beginning, cramp their arm-muscles and bend their elbows as they
+swing forward, the strain giving them a fictitious feeling of strength.
+But this is a pure delusion, and can only result in waste, both of
+energy and of time.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--POSITION HALF-WAY THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+(11) As you swing, use the inside arm and hand to shove against the oar.
+You will thus keep the button of the oar pressed up against the rowlock,
+a position it ought never even for a moment to lose; you will help to
+steady your swing, and you will go far towards keeping both shoulders
+square. Most novices and many veterans over-reach badly with the outside
+shoulder.
+
+(12) While you are carrying out the last four instructions, your feet,
+save for a slight pressure against the straps during the very first part
+of the recovery (see instruction 23), must remain firmly planted, heel
+and toe, against your stretcher. During your swing you should have a
+distinct sense of balancing with the ball of your foot against the
+stretcher. This resistance of the feet on the stretcher helps to prevent
+you from tumbling forward in a helpless, huddled mass as you reach the
+limit of your forward swing.
+
+(13) As to taking the oar off the feather. Good oars vary considerably
+on this point. Some carry the blade back feathered the whole way, and
+only turn it square just in time to get the beginning of the stroke.
+Others turn it off the feather about half-way through, just before the
+hands come over the stretcher. For a novice, I certainly recommend the
+latter method. Turn your wrists up and square your blade very soon after
+the hands have cleared the knees. It will thus be easier for you to keep
+your button pressed against the rowlock; your hands can balance the oar
+better, and you will not run the risk, to which the former method
+renders you liable, of skying or cocking your blade just when it ought
+to be nearest the water, so as to catch the beginning. A good and
+experienced waterman, however, ought certainly to be able to keep his
+oar on the feather against a high wind until the last available moment.
+The movement of returning the blade to the square position ought to be
+firm and clean.
+
+(14) As the body swings, your hands ought to be at the same time
+stretching and reaching out as if constantly striving to touch something
+which is as constantly evading them.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--POSITION AS ARMS ARE BENDING FOR FINISH.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+(15) When you are full forward, the blade of your oar should not be
+quite at a right angle to the water, but the top of it ought to be very
+slightly inclined over, _i.e._ towards the stern of the boat. A blade
+thus held will grip the water cleaner, firmer, and with far less
+back-splash than a blade held absolutely at right angles. Besides,
+you will obviate the danger of "slicing" into the water and rowing too
+deep. At the same time, I am bound to admit that I know only a few oars
+who adopt this plan. One of them, however, is the present President of
+the Oxford University Boat Club, Mr. C. K. Philips, as good a waterman
+as ever sat in a boat. I am quite firmly convinced that the plan is a
+sound one, and I believe if it were more generally followed, we should
+see far less of that uncomfortable and unsightly habit of
+back-splashing, which is too often seen even in good crews.
+
+(16) I have now brought you forward to the full extent of your swing and
+reach. Your back is (or ought to be) straight, your shoulders are firm
+and braced, your chest and stomach still open, though your body is down
+somewhere between your open knees. Your hands have been gradually
+rising, and your oar-blade is, therefore, close to the water. Now raise
+your hands a little more, not so as to splash the blade helplessly to
+the bottom of the river, but with a quick movement as though they were
+passing round a cylinder. When they get to the top of the cylinder the
+blade will be covered in the water. At the same moment, and without the
+loss of a fraction of a second, swing the body and shoulders back as
+though they were released from a spring, the arms remaining perfectly
+straight, and the feet helping by a sharp and vigorous pressure (from
+the ball of the foot, and the toes especially) against the stretcher.
+The result of these rapid combined movements will be that the blade, as
+it immerses itself in the water, will strike it with an irresistible
+force (a sort of crunch, as when you grind your heel into gravel),
+created by the whole weight-power of the body applied through the
+straight lines of the arms, and aided by all the strength of which the
+legs are capable. This, technically speaking, is the beginning of the
+stroke. The outside hand should have a good grip of the oar.
+
+(17) Swing back, as I said, with arms straight. The novice must,
+especially if he has muscular arms, root in his head the idea that the
+arms are during a great part of the stroke connecting rods, and that it
+is futile to endeavour to use them independently of the body-weight,
+which is the real driving power.
+
+(18) Just before the body attains the limit of its back-swing, which
+should be at a point a little beyond the perpendicular, begin to bend
+your arms for the finish of the stroke, and bring the hands square home
+until the roots of the thumbs touch the chest about three inches below
+the separation of the ribs. Here you must be careful not to raise or
+depress the hands. They should sweep in to the chest in an even plane,
+the outside hand drawing the handle firmly home without lugging or
+jerking. As the hands come in, the body finishes its swing, the elbows
+pass close to the sides, pointing downwards, and the shoulders are rowed
+back and kept down. The chest must be open, but not unduly inflated at
+the expense of the stomach, the head erect, and the whole body carrying
+itself easily, gracefully, and without unnecessary stiffness.
+
+(19) Do not meet your oar, _i.e._ keep your body back until the hands
+have come in. If you pull yourself forward to meet your oar, you will
+certainly shorten the stroke, tire yourself prematurely, and will
+probably fail to get the oar clean out of the water or to clear your
+knees on the recovery.
+
+(20) Do not try to force down your legs and flatten the knees as if you
+were rowing on a sliding seat. The mere movement of the body on the
+back swing and the kick off the stretcher will cause a certain
+alteration in the bend of the knees, but this tendency should not be
+consciously increased. Remember that fixed-seat rowing is not now an end
+in itself. It is a stage towards skilled rowing on sliding seats, and
+its chief object is to give the novice practice in certain essential
+elements of the stroke, and particularly in body-swing, which could not
+be so easily taught, if at all, if he were to begin at once on sliding
+seats. Swing is still, as it always has been, all important in good
+rowing, and if a novice attempts to slide (for that is what it comes to)
+on fixed seats he will begin to shuffle and lose swing entirely.
+
+(21) Do not let your body settle down or fall away from your oar at the
+finish. Sit erect on your bones, and do not sink back on to your tail.
+The bones are the pivot on which you should swing.
+
+[Illustration: FIXED SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--THE FINISH.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph. In movement the body would go a little further
+back._)]
+
+(22) The blade of the oar, having been fully covered at the very
+beginning of the stroke, must remain fully covered up to the moment that
+the hands are dropped. If the oarsman, when he bends his arms during the
+stroke, begins to depress his hands, he will row light, _i.e._ the blade
+will be partially uncovered, and will naturally lose power. On the
+other hand, if he raises his hands unduly, he will cover more than the
+blade, and will find great difficulty in extracting it from the water
+properly. The outside hand should control the balance of the oar, and
+keep it at its proper level.
+
+(23) As to the use of the stretcher-straps. Many coaches imagine that
+when they have said, "Do not pull yourself forward by your toes against
+the straps," they have exhausted all that is to be said on the matter. I
+venture, with all deference, to differ from them. I agree that in the
+earlier stages of instruction it is very useful to make men occasionally
+row in tub-pairs without any straps, so as to force them to develop and
+strengthen the muscles of stomach and legs, which ought to do the main
+work of the recovery. But later on, when a man is rowing in an eight,
+and is striving, according to the instructions of his coach, to swing
+his body well and freely back, he can no more recover properly without a
+slight toe-pressure against the straps--the heels, however, remaining
+firm--than he could make bricks without straw. The straps, in fact, are
+a most valuable aid to the recovery. Take them away from a crew and you
+will see one of two things: either the men will never swing nearly even
+to the upright position, and will recover with toil and trouble, or, if
+they swing back properly, they will all fall over backwards with their
+feet in the air. This slight strap-pressure just helps them over the
+difficult part of the recovery; as the body swings forward the feet
+immediately resume their balance against the stretcher. Indeed, if these
+movements are properly performed, you get a very pretty play of the toes
+and the ball of the foot against the stretcher, you counteract the
+tendency of the body to tumble forward, and you materially help the
+beginning from that part of the foot in which the spring resides.
+Totally to forbid men to use their straps seems to me a piece of
+pedantry. On this point I may fortify myself with the opinion of Mr. W.
+B. Woodgate, as given in his "Badminton Book on Boating." I am glad,
+too, to find that Mr. S. Le Blanc Smith, of the London Rowing Club, a
+most finished and beautiful oarsman, whose record of victories at Henley
+is a sufficient testimony to his knowledge and skill, agrees with me. In
+an article published during a recent rowing controversy, he remarks, "I
+think Mr. ---- will find that all men, consciously or unconsciously,
+use the foot-strap more or less, to aid them in the first inch or two of
+recovery. If he doubts this, let him remove the strap and watch results,
+be the oarsman who he may." I need only add that this pressure should
+never be greater than will just suffice to help the body-recovery. If
+exaggerated, its result on slides will be to spoil swing by pulling the
+slide forward in advance of the body.
+
+I have now, I think, taken you through all the complicated movements of
+the stroke, and there for the present I must leave you to carry out as
+best you can instructions which I have endeavoured to make as clear on
+paper as the difficulties of the subject permit. But I may be allowed to
+add a warning. Book-reading may be a help; but rowing, like any other
+exercise, can only be properly learnt by constant and patient practice
+in boats under the eyes of competent instructors. Do not be discouraged
+because your improvement is slow, and because you are continually being
+rated for the same faults. With a slight amount of intelligence and a
+large amount of perseverance and good temper, these faults will
+gradually disappear, and as your limbs and muscles accustom themselves
+to the work, you will be moulded into the form of a skilled oarsman.
+Even the dread being who may be coaching you--winner of the Grand
+Challenge Cup or stroke-oar of his University though he be--had his
+crude and shapeless beginnings. He has passed through the mill, and now
+is great and glorious. But if you imagine that even he is faultless,
+just watch him as he rows, and listen to the remarks that a fearless and
+uncompromising coach permits himself to address to him. And to show you
+that others have suffered and misunderstood and have been misunderstood
+like yourself, I will wind up this chapter with "The Wail of the
+Tubbed," the lyrical complaint of some Cambridge rowing Freshmen.
+
+    "Sir,--We feel we are intruding, but we deprecate your blame,
+    We may plead our youth and innocence as giving us a claim;
+    We should blindly grope unaided in our efforts to do right,
+    So we look to you with confidence to make our darkness light.
+
+    "We are Freshmen--rowing Freshmen; we have joined our college club,
+    And are getting quite accustomed to our daily dose of tub;
+    We have all of us bought uniforms, white, brown, or blue, or red,
+    We talk rowing shop the livelong day, and dream of it in bed.
+
+    "We sit upon our lexicons as 'Happy as a King'
+    (We refer you to the picture), and we practise how to swing;
+    We go every day to chapel, we are never, never late,
+    And we exercise our backs when there, and always keep them straight.
+
+    "We shoot our hands away--on land--as quick as any ball:
+    Balls always shoot, they tell us, when rebounding from a wall.
+    We decline the noun 'a bucket,' and should deem it--well, a bore,
+    If we 'met,' when mainly occupied in oarsmanship, our oar.
+
+    "But still there are a few things that our verdant little band,
+    Though we use our best endeavours, cannot fully understand.
+    So forgive us if we ask you, sir--we're dull, perhaps, but keen--
+    To explain these solemn mysteries and tell us what they mean.
+
+    "For instance, we have heard a coach say, "Five, you're very rank;
+    Mind those eyes of yours, they're straying, always straying,
+                                                           on the bank.'
+    We are not prone to wonder, but we looked with some surprise
+    At the owner of those strangely circumambulating eyes.
+
+    "There's a stroke who 'slices awfully,' and learns without remorse
+    That his crew are all to pieces at the finish of the course;
+    There's A., who 'chucks his head about,' and B.,
+                                                who 'twists and screws,'
+    Like an animated gimlet in a pair of shorts and shoes.
+
+    "And C. is 'all beginning,' so remark his candid friends;
+    It must wear him out in time, we think, this stroke that never ends.
+    And though D. has no beginning, yet his finish is A1;
+    How can that possess a finish which has never been begun?
+
+    "And E. apparently would be an oar beyond compare,
+    If the air were only water and the water only air.
+    And F., whose style is lofty, doubtless has his reasons why
+    He should wish to scrape the judgment seat, when rowing, from the sky.
+
+    "Then G. is far too neat for work, and H. is far too rough;
+    There's J., who lugs, they say, too much, and K. not half enough;
+    There's L., who's never fairly done, and M., who's done too brown,
+    And N., who can't stand training, and poor O., who can't sit down.
+
+    "And P. is much too limp to last; there's Q. too stiffly starched;
+    And R., poor fool, whose inside wrist is never 'nicely arched.'
+    And, oh, sir, if you pity us, pray tell us, if you please,
+    What is meant by 'keep your button up,' and 'flatten down your knees.'
+
+    "If an oar may be described as 'he,' there's no death half so grim
+    As the death like which we hang on with our outside hands to 'him;'
+    But in spite of all our efforts, we have never grasped, have you?
+    How _not_ to use 'those arms' of ours, and yet to pull it through.
+
+    "S. 'never pulled his shoestrings.' If a man must pull at all,
+    Why uselessly pull shoestrings? Such a task would surely pall.
+    But T.'s offence is worse than that, he'll never get his Blue,
+    He thinks rowing is a pastime--well, we own we thought so too.
+
+    "Then V.'s 'a shocking sugarer,' how bitter to be that!
+    X. flourishes his oar about as if it were a bat;
+    And Y. should be provided, we imagine, with a spade,
+    Since he always 'digs,' instead of 'merely covering his blade.'
+
+    "Lastly, Z.'s a 'real old corker,' who will never learn to work,
+    For he puts his oar in gently and extracts it with a jerk.
+    Oh! never has there been, we trow, since wickedness began,
+    Such a mass of imperfections as the perfect rowing man.
+
+P.S. BY TWO CYNICS.
+
+    "So they coach us and reproach us (like a flock of silly jays
+    Taught by parrots how to feather) through these dull October days.
+    We shall never understand them, so we shouldn't care a dam[4]
+    If they all were sunk in silence at the bottom of the Cam."
+
+  [4] Dam--an Oriental coin of small value.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+FIRST LESSONS ON SLIDING SEATS.
+
+
+Let me assume (I am still addressing my imaginary novice) that you have
+passed through the first few stages of your novitiate. If you are an
+Oxford or a Cambridge freshman you will have been carefully drilled in a
+tub-pair, promoted later to a freshmen's four or eight, and during the
+next term may have been included in the Torpid or Lent-Boat of your
+College. At any rate, I am assuming that you have by now rowed in a race
+or a series of races for eight-oared crews on fixed seats. But I prefer
+to leave the general subject of combined rowing, whether in eights or
+fours, to a later chapter, while I attempt to explain the mysteries and
+difficulties of the sliding seat.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 1.--POSITION AT FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+The slide may be described as a contrivance for increasing the length of
+the stroke (_i.e._ of the period during which, the oar-blade remaining
+covered in the water, power is applied to the propulsion of the
+boat), and for giving greater effect to the driving force of the
+oarsman's legs. Long before the actual sliding seat had been invented
+professional oarsmen and scullers had discovered that if they slid on
+their fixed thwarts they increased the pace of their boats, and even
+amongst amateurs this practice was not unknown. Mr. R. H. Labat has told
+me that so far back as 1870 he and his colleagues fitted their rowing
+trousers with leather, greased their thwarts, and so slid on them. In
+1872 slides were used at Henley Regatta, and in 1873 the Oxford and
+Cambridge crews for the first time rowed their race on slides, Cambridge
+winning in 19 mins. 35 secs., which remained as record time until 1892.
+This performance, though it was undoubtedly helped by good conditions of
+tide and wind, served to establish slides firmly in popular favour, and
+from that time onwards fixed seats were practically retained only for
+the coaching of novices and, in eights, for the Torpids and Lent Races
+at Oxford and Cambridge. Now, proceeding on the principle that rowing is
+meant to be an exercise of grace, symmetry, and skill, as well as of
+strength and endurance, I think I may lay it down as an essential rule
+that it is necessary on slides to observe those instructions which made
+fixed-seat rowing in the old days a pleasure to the eye. In the very
+early days of slides, while men were still groping for correct
+principles, this important axiom was too often neglected. It was
+imagined that swing was no longer necessary, and accordingly the rivers
+were filled with contorted oarsmen shuffling and tumbling and screwing
+on their slides. Veteran oars and coaches, to whom "form" was as the
+apple of their eye, were horror-struck, and gave vent to loud
+lamentations, utterly condemning this horrible innovation, which, as
+they thought, had reduced oarsmanship to the level of a rough and tumble
+fight. "If both Universities," wrote the Rev. A. T. W. Shadwell in his
+"Notes on Boat-building," published in the "Record of the University
+Boat Race" in 1881, "would condescend to ask Dr. Warre to construct for
+them, and if their crews would also either learn to use the sliding
+apparatus effectively, or to discard it as pernicious and as an enemy to
+real oarsmanship when not thoroughly mastered, then we should be treated
+again to the welcome spectacle of boats travelling instead of
+dragging, riding over the water instead of the water washing over the
+canvas, combined with that still more-to-be-desired spectacle of
+faultless form and faultless time--eight men ground into one perfect
+machine. Nothing short of that result will satisfy those who know what
+eight-oared rowing ought to be, and lament its decadence." Yet Cambridge
+had produced the 1876 crew, Oxford the 1878 crew, both of them models of
+style, unison and strength, and Leander both in 1875 and in 1880 had won
+the Grand Challenge Cup with admirable crews composed exclusively of
+University men. It would seem, therefore, as if Mr. Shadwell's
+strictures were undeserved, at least by the better class of University
+oars. The fact is that by that time, and for some years before that
+time, the true principles of sliding had been acquired, and the more
+serious defects of form had once more become the cherished possession of
+inferior college crews. But then, even in the glorious old fixed-seat
+days, College crews were not always remarkable for the beauty and
+correctness of their form. I am not going to deny that the difficulty of
+teaching good style has been increased by the addition of the sliding
+seat; but there have been innumerable examples during the last quarter
+of a century to prove that this difficulty can be faced and entirely
+overcome. Four crews I have already mentioned. I may add to them, not as
+exhausting the list of good crews, but as being splendid examples of
+combined style and power, the London Rowing Club crew of 1881, which won
+the final of the Grand from the outside station against Leander and
+Twickenham; the Oxford crews of 1892, 1896 and 1897; the crews of
+Trinity Hall, the Oxford Etonians, and the Thames Rowing Club in 1886
+and 1887; the Cambridge crew and the Thames Rowing Club crew of 1888;
+the London Rowing Club crew of 1890; the Leander crews of 1891, 1893,
+1894 and 1896; and the New College and Leander crews of the present
+year. It is fortunate that this should be so, for, the proof of the
+pudding being in the eating, it is hardly likely that crews will abandon
+a device which, while it has actually increased pace over the Henley
+course by close on half a minute, has rendered skill and watermanship of
+higher value, and has given an additional effect to physical strength.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 2.--POSITION JUST AFTER FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_As the recovery movements begin, the hands have been dropped and the
+wrists have begun to turn over for feather. Instantaneous Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 3.--THE RECOVERY.
+
+(_Arms have been sharply straightened out and the body has been released
+for the swing._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 4.--FORWARD POSITION ON 16 INCH SLIDE LEVEL WITH "WORK."
+
+(_In movement the body would swing a little further forward, the chest
+pressing against left knee._)
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+During my undergraduate days at Cambridge, and for some years afterwards
+(say, up to about 1884), the slide-tracks in racing boats were
+sixteen inches long.[5] This, allowing seven inches as the breadth of
+the seat itself, would give the slide a "play," or movement, of nine
+inches. The front-stop, which forms the limit of the forward movement of
+the slide, was fixed so as to bring the front edge of the slide to a
+point five inches from the "work," _i.e._ from a line drawn straight
+across the boat from the back, or rowing, thole. At the finish of the
+stroke, therefore, when the slide had been driven full back, its front
+edge was fourteen inches away from the work. To put it in technical
+language, we slid up to five inches from our work and finished fourteen
+inches away from it. Since that time slides have become longer, and
+there are but few racing boats in which the slide-tracks are less than
+twenty-two or even twenty-three inches long, giving the slide a play of
+fifteen or sixteen inches. The front edge of the slide now moves forward
+(when I say "forward" I speak in relation to the movement of the body
+and not in relation to the ends of the boat) to a point which is level
+with the work. In other words, we now slide up to our work and finish
+fifteen or sixteen inches from it. On these long slides, when the body
+has attained the full reach, the flanks are closed in upon the thighs,
+the knees are bent until the thighs come fairly close to the calves,
+and, _ex necessario_, the ankle-joints are very much bent. It is plain
+that great flexibility of hip-joints, knees, and ankles must be attained
+in order that the slide may be used fully up to the last fraction of an
+inch in coming forward. This flexibility very few novices, and not all
+old stagers, possess. The muscles and joints at first absolutely refuse
+to accommodate themselves to this new strain, and you will see a man as
+he slides forward, taking his heels well off the stretcher in order to
+ease the strain upon his ankles, and moving his shoulders back long
+before his oar has gripped the water in order to relieve his hip-joints.
+This results in his missing the whole of his beginning, striking the
+water at right-angles to his rigger instead of well behind it, and
+having absolutely no firmness of drive when it becomes necessary for him
+to use his legs. In order, therefore, that matters may be made easier
+for novices, and that they may be brought on gradually, I strongly
+advise coaches to start them on slides much shorter than those now
+in vogue. A slide with a play of eight inches, coming to a point six
+inches from the work, is ample. A few days will make a wonderful
+difference, and later on, when the first stiffness has worn off and the
+movements have become easier, the slide can be gradually increased. At
+Oxford and Cambridge the proper seasons for such preliminary practice
+would be the Lent Term, when Torpids and Lent Races are over, and the
+beginning of the October term, when many College clubs--at any rate at
+Cambridge--organize Sliding-seat Trial Eights in clinker-built boats.
+
+  [5] The Metropolitan rowing clubs had, I believe, lengthened their
+  sliding some time before this.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 5.--BEGINNING OF STROKE.
+
+(_Instantaneous Photograph. N.B.--Head inserted by engraver._)]
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 6.--POSITION OF BODY ABOUT HALF THROUGH STROKE.
+
+(_Stationary Photograph._)]
+
+Two further points remain to be noticed. On fixed seats the ankles
+hardly bend up as the body swings forward, and it is possible,
+therefore, to use a stretcher fixed almost erect in the boat, the seat
+being placed eleven or twelve inches from the work. But with slides, as
+I have explained, the seat moves to a point which in racing boats is now
+level with the work, and few ankles are capable of submitting to the
+strain which would be involved if the stretchers were set up as erect
+("proud" is the technical term) as they are with fixed seats. It is
+necessary, therefore, to set the stretchers more off on an incline
+(technically, to "rake" them). It will be found, I think, that,
+assuming a stretcher to be one foot in height, a set-off of nine inches
+will be amply sufficient for most novices, even on full slides.[6] I
+have myself never found any difficulty in maintaining my feet firm on a
+stretcher of this rake or even of less, and I have known some very
+supple-jointed men, _e.g._ Mr. H. Willis, of the Leander Crews of 1896
+and 1897, who preferred to row with a stretcher set up a good deal
+prouder. But the average oar is not very supple-jointed, though his
+facility in this respect can be greatly improved by practice. To make
+things easier--and after all our object should be to smooth away all the
+oarsman's external difficulties--I consider it advisable to fix
+heel-traps to the stretcher. This simple device, by the pressure which
+it exercises against the back of the heels, counteracts their tendency
+to come away from the stretcher; but even with heel-traps, I have seen
+stiff-jointed oarsmen make the most superbly successful efforts to bring
+their heels away.
+
+  [6] The angle made by the back of the stretcher and the kelson may
+  vary from 43 deg. to 53 deg.. Personally, I prefer 50 deg.. The
+  prouder (up to a certain point) you set the stretcher the firmer will
+  your leg-power be at the finish of the stroke.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 7.--POSITION JUST BEFORE FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+(_The hands have still to come in to chest and a few inches of slide
+remain for final leg-pressure._)]
+
+The second point is this: With sliding seats you require an oar of
+longer leverage (_i.e._ inboard measurement from rowing-face of
+button to end of handle) than with fixed seats. For a fixed seat an oar
+with a leverage of 3 ft. 5-1/2 ins. should suffice. With long slides the
+leverage of an oar should not be less than 3 ft. 8 ins., nor more than 3
+ft. 8-1/2 ins. For this I assume that the distance of the centre of the
+seat from the sill of the row-lock is 2 ft. 7 ins. With regard to
+leverage, there is a practical unanimity of opinion amongst modern
+oarsmen. With regard to the outboard measurement of oars and the proper
+width of blade, they differ somewhat, but I can reserve this matter for
+the next chapter, merely premising that in any case it is not advisable
+to start your novices in gigs with oar-blades broader than 5-3/4 ins.
+
+Let me imagine, then, that my pupil is seated in the gig, his stretcher
+having been fixed at a point that will enable him, when his slide is
+full back, and he is sitting on it easily without pressing, to have his
+knees _slightly_ bent.
+
+And now to the business of instruction.
+
+1. Remember and endeavour to apply all the lessons you have learnt on
+fixed seats. Slides add another element to the stroke. They do not alter
+the elements you have previously been taught.
+
+2. BEGINNING.--Get hold of this just as you would on a fixed seat, with
+a sharp spring of the whole body, which thus begins its swing-back
+without the loss of a fraction of time.
+
+    (_a_) The natural tendency of a tiro will be to drive his slide away
+      before his shoulders have begun to move. This must at all costs be
+      avoided. In order to secure the effectual combination of
+      body-swing and leg-work, it is essential that the swing should
+      start first.
+
+    (_b_) It is equally reprehensible to swing the body full back before
+      starting the slide; you thus cut the stroke into two distinct
+      parts, one composed of mere body-swing, the other of mere
+      leg-work. Therefore:
+
+(2) When the body-swing backwards has started, but only the smallest
+fractional part of a second afterwards--so quickly, indeed, as to appear
+to the eye of a spectator almost a simultaneous movement--let the slide
+begin to travel back, the swing meanwhile continuing.
+
+    (_a_) Remember what was said in fixed-seat instructions as to the
+      use of the toes and the ball of the foot at the beginning of the
+      stroke. On slides this is even more important.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 8.--BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, head left behind._)]
+
+(3) Body and slide are now moving back in unison, the feet pressing with
+firm and steady pressure against the stretcher, _and the arms perfectly
+straight_. As the slide moves, the leg-power applied must on no account
+diminish. If anything it ought to increase, for the body is beginning to
+lose its impetus, and the main part of the resistance is transferred to
+the legs, the blade all the time moving at an even pace through the
+water.
+
+(4) The body must swing a little further back than on a fixed seat.
+
+(5) Body-swing and slide-back should end at the same moment.
+
+(6) As they end, the knees should be pressed firmly down so as to enable
+you to secure the last ounce of leg-power from the stretcher.
+Simultaneously with this depression of the legs, the hands (and
+particularly the outside hand, which has been doing the main share of
+the work of the stroke all through) must bring the oar-handle firmly
+home to the chest, sweeping it in and thus obtaining what is called a
+firm hard finish. As the knees come finally down, the elbows pass the
+sides, and the shoulders move back and downwards.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 9.--THOROUGHLY BAD POSITION FULL FORWARD.
+
+(_Overreach with shoulders, back doubled over, arms bent, hands heavy on
+handle. A position entailing great labour and resulting in a short weak
+stroke._)]
+
+    (_a_) Mr. W. B. Woodgate, in the Badminton book on "Boating," says:
+      "Many good oarsmen slide until the knees are quite straight. In
+      the writer's opinion this is waste of power: the knees should
+      never quite straighten; the recovery is, for anatomical reasons,
+      much stronger if the joint is slightly bent when the reversal of
+      the machinery commences. The extra half-inch of kick gained by
+      quite straightening the knees hardly compensates for the extra
+      strain of recovery; also leg-work to the last fraction of a second
+      of swing is better preserved by this retention of a slight bend,
+      and an open chest and clean finish are thereby better attained."
+
+    If Mr. Woodgate means that the legs are _not_ to be pressed down as
+      the stroke finishes, but are to remain loosely bent, I differ from
+      him, though, considering his high authority, with hesitation and
+      regret. As a matter of fact, the front edge of the thwart catches
+      the calves of the legs at the finish, when the legs are pressed
+      down, and prevents the knees from being _absolutely_
+      straightened. But I am certain that unless an oarsman assures his
+      legs in the firm position that I have explained, he will lose most
+      valuable power at the end of the stroke, and will materially
+      increase his difficulty in taking his oar clean out of the water
+      and generally in getting a smart recovery. This final leg-pressure
+      not only supports the body in a somewhat trying position, but
+      enables the hands to come home to the chest without faltering. As
+      on fixed seats, it is essential that the body should not be pulled
+      forward to meet the oar. And it is equally essential that it
+      should not sink down or fall away from the hands, thus rendering
+      an elastic recovery impossible.
+
+    (_b_) The blade, as on fixed seats, must be kept fully covered to
+      the finish, and there must be power on it to the last fraction of
+      an inch. If a man takes his oar out of the water before he has
+      fairly ended his stroke, and rows his finish in the air, or if he
+      partially uncovers his blade and rows "light," he commits in
+      either case a serious fault. In the former case his whole
+      body-weight, which ought to be propelling the boat, not only
+      ceases to have any good effect, but becomes so much dead lumber,
+      and actually impedes her progress. In the latter he can only exert
+      half, or, it may be, one quarter of his proper power during an
+      appreciable part of the stroke.
+
+(7) The drop of the hands, the turn of the wrists, the shoot-out of the
+hands, and the straightening of the arms must be performed precisely as
+on a fixed seat, but the legs, meanwhile, are to remain braced, so that
+knees may not hamper hands. As soon as ever the hands have been shot
+out, and _immediately_ after the start of the forward swing, the slide
+comes into play, and the knees consequently begin to bend outwards and
+upwards. It is very important not to pause or "hang" on the recovery.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 10.--A THOROUGHLY BAD AND VERY COMMON POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body lying much too far back, elbows sticking out. From such a
+position a smart and elastic recovery is impossible._)]
+
+(8) The recovery movements ought to release the body smartly, but care
+must be taken not to hustle the body forward with a rush before the arms
+are straightened. The body _begins_ to swing _from the hips_ as soon
+as the hands release it, but the swing is to be a slow one.
+
+    (_a_) Do not begin to slide forward before you swing. Let your swing
+      just have the precedence, and let it then carry your slide with
+      it.
+
+(9) The pace of the swing forward must be slow and unvarying, and the
+slide, therefore, must also move slowly. The time occupied by the swing
+should be the body's rest.
+
+(10) Remember the fixed-seat instructions as to balance against the
+stretcher with the feet during the swing forward, and especially during
+the latter part of it. The fault of tumbling forward over the stretcher
+is far too common, and can only be avoided or corrected by maintaining
+the pressure on the stretcher. In fact, never let your body get out of
+control. You ought to feel and to look as if at any moment during the
+swing forward you could stop dead at the word of command. Swing and
+slide should practically end together, the body "snaking out," as I have
+heard it expressed, in the final part of the swing, but without
+"pecking" over the front-stop. There must be no over-reach with the
+shoulders.
+
+(11) When the body is full forward the knees should be opened to about
+the breadth of the arm-pits, the flanks closed in against the thighs.
+The knees should bend steadily and gradually into this position, and at
+the moment of beginning they must maintain themselves there and not fall
+loosely apart. Such a movement entails a great loss of power at the
+beginning of the next stroke. Nor, on the other hand, ought the knees to
+be clipped together as the stroke begins.
+
+(12) Remember, finally, that grace, erectness, straightness of back and
+arms, and a clean precision, balance and elasticity of all movements are
+as important now as they were on fixed seats. A man who on slides rounds
+his back, humps up his shoulders, and hollows his chest _may_ do good
+work, but it will be in spite of and not because of these serious
+disfigurements. Only by carefully observing fixed rules and by prolonged
+practice will you be able to attain to the harmonious ease and elegance
+by which a comparatively weak man can so economize his strength as to
+outrow and outlast some brawny giant who wastes his power in useless
+contortions.
+
+[Illustration: SLIDING SEATS.
+
+NO. 11.--ANOTHER BAD POSITION AT FINISH.
+
+(_Body doubled up over handle of oar, elbows sticking out. With the body
+in this position heart and lungs get no chance of working properly._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS.
+
+
+The novice, having passed successfully through his period of
+apprenticeship, is by this time ready, let us suppose, to be included in
+an eight-oared, sliding-seat crew, either for his college or for the
+rowing club to which he may happen to belong. He will marvel at first at
+the fragile and delicate fabric of the craft in which he is asked to
+take his place. One-eighth of an inch of cedar divides him from the
+waters that are to be the scene of his prowess. In stepping into the
+boat he must exercise the greatest care. The waterman and the coxswain
+are firmly holding the riggers, while the oarsman, placing a hand on
+each gunwale to support himself, steps cautiously with one foot on to
+the kelson, or backbone of the ship. Then he seats himself upon his
+slide, fits his feet into the stretcher-straps, and inserts his oar in
+the rowlock, finally getting the button into its proper place by
+raising the handle, and so working at it until the button comes in under
+the string that passes from thole to thole, and keeps the oar from
+flying out of the rowlock. His seven companions having performed the
+same feats, the boat is now shoved out from the bank, and the work of
+the day begins.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 1.--JUST BEFORE FULL REACH.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 2.--FULL REACH.
+
+("_Reach out and row!_")]
+
+The oarsman who thus takes his first voyage in a racing-ship, built, as
+all racing-ships are, without a keel, must remember that her stability,
+when she contains her crew, is obtained merely by the balance of the
+oars. Remove the oars, and the boat would immediately roll over to one
+side or the other, and immerse her crew in the water. With eight bodies
+and oars in a constant state of movement, the problem of keeping the
+boat upon an even keel is not an easy one. It can only be solved
+satisfactorily in one way: There must be absolute harmony in every
+movement. The hands must come in and out at the same moment and at the
+same level, and the oar-blades must necessarily be maintained, on the
+feather and throughout the swing, at the uniform level prescribed for
+them by the harmonious movement of eight pairs of hands. The bodies must
+begin, continue, and end the swing together; the blades must strike
+the water at precisely the same moment; all the bodies must swing back
+as if released from one spring; the slides must move together; the arms
+bend as by one simultaneous impulse; and the eight oar-blades, having
+swept through the water in a uniform plane, must leave it as though they
+were part of a single machine, and not moved by eight independent wills.
+When this unison of movements has been attained by long and persevering
+practice, marred by frequent periods of disappointment, by knuckles
+barked as the boat rolls and the hands scrape along the gunwale, and by
+douches of cold water as the oars splash, then, and not till then, may
+it be said that a crew has got together.
+
+The above details concern the harmony and unison of the crew. It is
+obvious, however, that the eight men who compose it may be harmonized
+into almost any kind of style, and it is important, therefore, to settle
+what is the best style--the style, that is, which will secure the
+greatest possible pace at the smallest cost of effort. In the first
+place, then, you must remember and endeavour to apply all the
+instructions I have laid down in the two previous chapters. These were
+framed upon the supposition that you were trying to qualify yourself to
+row eventually in a light racing-ship. Summing these up generally, and
+without insisting again upon details, I may say that you are required to
+have a long, steady, and far-reaching body-swing; you must grip the
+beginning of the stroke well behind the rigger at the full reach forward
+without the loss of a fraction of a second, with a vigorous spring back
+of the whole body, so as to apply the body-weight immediately to the
+blade of the oar. As your body swings back, your feet are to press
+against the stretcher and drive the slide back, in order that, by the
+combination of body-swing and leg-drive, you may retain the power which
+you have applied at the beginning evenly throughout the whole of the
+stroke. It is essential that the body should not fall away at the
+finish, but maintain an easy, graceful position, so that, with a final
+pressure of the legs, the swing of the elbows past the sides, and a
+rowing back of the shoulders which opens the chest, the hands may be
+swept fair and square home, the oar-blade being meanwhile covered, but
+not more than covered, from the moment it enters the water until it is
+taken clean out. The hands must then leave the chest as a
+billiard-ball rebounds from the cushion, in order that you may have a
+smart and elastic recovery. This swift motion of the hands straightens
+the arms, and releases the body for its forward swing. The body-swing
+forward, as I cannot too often repeat, must be slow, especially during
+its latter part; in fact, during that swing, a perfect balance must be
+maintained, the feet being well planted against the stretcher. When a
+man rows in this style with seven other men, in absolute time and
+harmony with them, he will find a rhythmical pleasure and a delightful
+ease in movements which at the outset were cramped and difficult. Then,
+as he swings his body, grips the water and drives his swirling oar-blade
+through, he will feel that every ounce of strength he puts forth has its
+direct and appreciable influence upon the pace of the boat. Not for him
+then will it be to envy the bird in its flight, as, with all his muscles
+braced, his lungs clear, and his heart beating soundly, he helps to make
+his craft move like a thing of life over the water.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 3.--JUST AFTER BEGINNING OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 4.--SLIDES BEGINNING TO MOVE.]
+
+That is the ideal. Let us come down to the actual. I will imagine myself
+to be coaching an average crew in a racing-ship.
+
+I must first of all assure myself that the boat is properly rigged, and
+that the men have a fair chance of rowing with comfort. The thole-pins
+should stand absolutely straight from the sill of the rowlock. If the
+rowing-pin is bent outwards towards the water in the slightest degree,
+the oar will have a tendency to "slice," and a feather under water will
+be the result. The actual wood of the rowing-pin, however, should be
+slightly filed away at the bottom, so as to incline a very, very little
+towards the stern of the boat. Care must be taken also to have a
+sufficient width between the thole-pins to prevent the oar from locking
+on the full reach. The rowlock-strings must be taut. They must have a
+sufficient pressure on the oar to prevent the button being forced out of
+the rowlock. For these and other details, the table of measurements
+given at the end of this chapter should be consulted.
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 5.--ARMS ABOUT TO BEND FOR FINISH OF STROKE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 6.--ARMS BENT FOR FINISH OF STROKE.
+
+("_Sit Up No. 3!_")]
+
+In this crew I will suppose that five of the members have already had
+experience in lightship rowing. The three others--bow, No. 3, and No.
+4--are quite new to the game. I point out to these three, to begin with,
+the importance of balancing the boat by having their arms rigidly
+straight as they swing forward, so as to be able, by the slightest
+amount of give and take from the shoulders, to counteract any tendency
+to roll, by sitting firmly on their seats, and not shifting about to
+right or to left, and by keeping their feet well on the stretchers. That
+done, the words of command will come from the cox. "Get ready all!" (At
+this command, the oarsmen divest themselves of all unnecessary
+clothing.) "Forward all!" (The oarsmen swing and slide forward to within
+about two-thirds of the full-reach position, the backs of the blades
+lying flat upon the water.) "Are you ready?" (This is merely a call to
+attention.) "Paddle!" (At this the blades are turned over square, and
+immediately grip the water, and the boat starts.) During the progress of
+this imaginary crew, I propose to invest them individually and
+collectively with certain faults, and to offer suggestions for their
+improvement, just as if I were coaching them from the bank or from a
+steam-launch.
+
+(1) "Stroke, you're tumbling forward over your stretcher. Keep the last
+part of your swing very slow by balancing against the stretcher with
+your feet as you swing forward. That's better. You got a beginning twice
+as hard that time."
+
+(2) "Seven, you're feathering under water. Keep pressure on to the very
+finish of the stroke, and drop your hands a little more, so as to get
+the oar out square and clean. Use the legs well at the finish."
+
+(3) "Six, you're very slow with your hands. Consequently, your body
+rushes forward to make up for lost time. Shoot the hands away quickly,
+with a sharp turn of the inside wrist. Then let the body follow slowly."
+
+(4) "Five, you slide too soon and fall away from your oar at the finish.
+Get your shoulders and the whole of your body-weight well on to the
+beginning, so as to start swinging back before you drive your slide
+away. At the finish keep your shoulders down and sit up well upon your
+bones."
+
+(5) "Four and three, your blades are coming out of the water long before
+any of the others. This is because you are afraid of reaching properly
+forward. You therefore get your oars in scarcely if at all behind the
+rigger, and consequently there is not enough resistance to your oar in
+the water to enable you to hold out the stroke fully to the finish.
+Swing, and reach well forward, and let your oars strike the beginning at
+the point to which your reach has brought it. You may splash at first,
+but with a little confidence you will soon get over that. Three, you're
+late. As you come forward you press heavily on the handle of your oar,
+the blade soars up, and is coming down through the air when the rest
+have struck the water. Keep your hands, especially the inside one, light
+on the handle of the oar, and let them come up as the body swings
+forward."
+
+(6) "Two, your arms are bending too soon. Try to swing back with
+perfectly straight arms. Don't imagine that you can row your stroke
+merely by the power of your arms. Also try and keep your shoulders down
+at the finish and on the recovery."
+
+(7) "Bow, swing back straight. Your body is falling out of the boat at
+the finish. Use the outside leg and hand more firmly through the stroke,
+and row the hands a little higher in to the chest; also arch the inside
+of the wrist a little more to help you in turning the oar on the
+feather."
+
+So much for individuals. Now for the crew.
+
+(1) "The finish and recovery are not a bit together. I can almost hear
+eight distinct sounds as the oars turn in the rowlocks. Try and lock it
+up absolutely together. There ought to be a sound like the turning of a
+key in a well-oiled lock--sharp, single, and definite."
+
+(_Note._--This is a very important point. On the unison with which the
+wrists turn and the hands shoot away depends the unison of the next
+stroke. When once, in coaching, you have locked your crew together on
+this point, you will greatly decrease the difficulty of the rest of your
+task.)
+
+(2) "Don't let the boat roll down on the bow oars. Stroke side, catch
+the beginning a little sharper. Bow side, when the roll of the boat
+begins, do not give in to it by still further lowering your hands. Keep
+your hands up." (The same instruction applies, _mutatis mutandis_, when
+the boat rolls on the stroke oars. Apart from individual eccentricities,
+a boat is often brought down on the one bank of oars by the fact that
+the opposite side, or one or two of them, grip the water a little too
+late.)
+
+(3) "You are all of you slow with your hands. Rattle them out sharply,
+and make your recovery much more lively. Steady now! don't rush forward.
+Keep the swing slow and long. You are all much too short on the swing,
+and consequently get no length in the water."
+
+[Illustration: SNAPSHOTS OF A CREW IN MOTION.
+
+NO. 7.--A BAD LURCH ON TO STROKE-SIDE.]
+
+[Illustration: NO. 8.--A LURCH ON TO BOW-SIDE.]
+
+[(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move, and mould
+yourself on their movement."
+
+(5) "You have fallen to pieces again. Use your ears as well as your
+eyes, and listen for the rattle of the oars in the rowlocks. Whenever
+you fall to pieces, try to rally on that point. Also plant your feet
+firmly on the stretchers, and use your legs more when the boat rolls."
+
+These, I think, are a fair sample of the faults that may be found in
+almost any crew, and to their eradication coach and oarsmen have
+patiently to devote themselves.
+
+
+MEASUREMENTS OF AN EIGHT-OARED RACING-BOAT.
+
+For purposes of convenience, I have taken the following measurements
+from a boat built by Rough for Leander, in 1891. In that year she
+carried a very heavy crew, who won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in
+record time. She repeated her Grand Challenge victory in 1892 and 1893,
+with crews very differently constituted from the first one:--
+
+                                                      ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                  60   3
+
+  (2) Beam amidships, under gunwale                     1  11
+
+  (3) Depth    "        "      "                        1   1
+
+  (4) Height of thwarts above skin of boat              0   7-1/8
+
+  (5)   "       seats     "         "                   0   9-1/8[7]
+
+  (6)   "       rowlock sills above seat                0   6-7/8
+
+  (7)   "       heels above skin of boat                0   1-1/4
+
+  (8) Position of front edge of slide in relation to
+        rowing-pin when well forward                    level
+
+  (9) Length of movement of slide                       1   4
+
+  (10) Distance from rowing-pin, measured horizontally
+         and at right angles to boat, to centre of seat 2   7
+
+  (11) Distance from wood of one thole-pin to wood
+         of the other                                   0   4-7/8
+
+This boat, like nearly all English Eights, was "side-seated," _i.e._ the
+centre of the seat, instead of being over the kelson, was set away from
+it, and from the outrigger. Bow's and stroke's seats were 2-1/2 ins.
+from centre, No. 5's 3-1/2 ins. Nearly all Fours and Pairs in England
+are now centre-seated, as are Eights in America. Of course, with
+centre-seating, assuming that you want the same leverage, you require a
+longer outrigger. Otherwise, the only difference between the two systems
+would seem to be that with centre-seating you naturally align the bodies
+better.
+
+  [7] A few very short-bodied men have to be "built-up," _i.e._ their
+  seats have to be raised even higher than this to enable them to clear
+  their knees and to swing. This, however, should not be done unless
+  absolutely necessary, as it tends to make the boat unsteady.
+
+Since 1891 boat-builders have somewhat increased the length of the boats
+they build, and it is not uncommon now to find boats with a measurement
+of 63 feet and a few inches over all. The boat whose measurements I have
+given had, if I remember rightly, a slightly wider beam at No. 3
+stretcher than she had amidships. I have noticed, and my experience in
+this respect confirms that of Mr. W. B. Woodgate, though it is entirely
+opposed to the Rev. A. T. Shadwell's theories, that a boat with a full
+beam somewhere between No. 4 and No. 3 is always a fast one. A boat
+should never dip her head, but should always maintain it free.
+
+
+MEASUREMENT OF OARS.
+
+On this matter there is now a great divergence of opinion amongst rowing
+men. From 1891 inclusive up to the present year, the Leander crews have,
+with trifling divergences, rowed with oars built on the following
+measurements:--
+
+                                                             ft.  ins.
+
+  (1) Length over all                                         12   0
+
+  (2) Length in-board, _i.e._ measured from rowing face
+        of bottom to end of handle                             3   8
+
+  [_Note._--In some cases an extra half-inch was
+      added, which would make the length over all             12   0-1/2]
+
+  (3) Length of button from top to bottom, measured
+        in a straight line                                     0   3-1/4
+
+  (4) Length of blade measured over the arc of the
+        scoop                                                  2   7
+
+  (5) Breadth of blade                                         0   6
+
+[_Note._--These are what are called square blades, _i.e._ the widest
+part came at the end. Barrel blades are those in which the widest part
+comes about the middle. In 1893 an extra half-inch was added out-board.
+In 1896 the length of the Leander oars over all was only 11 ft. 11-1/8
+ins., the in-board measurement being 3 ft. 8 ins. With these oars the
+Leander crew defeated Yale, and in the next heat, after a very severe
+struggle, rowed down and defeated New College, who were rowing with oars
+three inches longer out-board. Here are the measurements of the oars
+with which the Eton crew won the Ladies' Plate in 1885--
+
+                                            ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                                  12    6
+
+  In-board                                   3    7-1/2
+
+  Length of blade                            2    5
+
+  Breadth of blade near shank                0    6-3/8
+
+     "         "   at end                    0    5
+
+(These blades were "coffin"-shaped on a pattern invented by Dr. Warre.)]
+
+_Measurement of Oars of Oxford Crew, 1890._
+
+                                ft.  ins.
+
+  Over all                      12    3-1/8
+
+  In-board                       3    8-1/2
+
+  Length of blade                2    7
+
+  Greatest breadth               0    6-1/2
+
+  (These were barrel blades.)
+
+In 1896 the Oxford crew rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 2 ins. over
+all, with a leverage of 3 ft. 8-1/4 ins., and blade 6 ins. broad. With
+these, it will be remembered, they rowed down and defeated Cambridge,
+after a magnificent struggle, by two-fifths of a length, Cambridge using
+oars measuring some 3 ins. longer out-board. It will thus be seen that
+short oars have a very good record to support them--especially over the
+Henley course. This year, however, a reaction took place at Oxford in
+favour of longer oars with narrower blades. The Oxford Eight of this
+year rowed with oars measuring 12 ft. 6 ins. over all, the extra length
+being, of course, out-board, and their blades were cut down to a breadth
+of 5-1/2 ins. They were, by common consent, a very fine crew, but were
+unable to command a fast rate of stroke, and in the race against an
+inferior crew they hardly did themselves or their reputation justice.
+This pattern of oar was used by New College at Henley, the blades,
+however, being further cut down to 5-1/4 ins. In the final heat of the
+Grand Challenge Cup, they met Leander, who were rowing with 12-ft. oars.
+Leander, rowing a considerably faster stroke, at once jumped ahead, and
+led by a length in three minutes. New College, however, came up to
+them, still rowing a slower stroke, then picked their stroke up, and,
+after rowing level with Leander for about 250 yards, finally defeated
+them by 2 ft. The result of this race cannot be said to have settled the
+question as between long oars and short. In the Stewards' Fours, on the
+other hand, Leander, rowing with oars measuring 12 ft. 1/2 in. over all,
+and blades 5-3/4 ins. in breadth, defeated New College, rowing with 12
+ft. 6 ins. oars, and blades of 5-1/2 ins., the leverage in both cases
+being 3 ft. 8-1/2 ins. The advocates of the long oar maintain that they
+secure a longer stride, and are thus able to economize strength by using
+a slower rate of stroke. Those who favour the shorter ones believe that
+the extra lightness of their implement enables them to row a faster
+stroke without unduly tiring themselves. Personally, I found, after
+trying the experiment several times, that Leander crews I have coached
+invariably rowed better and commanded more speed in practice with 12 ft.
+to 12 ft. 1 in. oars than with oars 3 ins. or 4 ins. longer.[8]
+
+  [8] Mr. S. Le B. Smith informs me that, to the best of his recollection,
+  the oars used by the London Rowing Club, up to 1878, measured--for
+  Eights, 12 ft. 2 ins. all over, and for Fours, 12 ft., the inboard
+  measurement being 3 ft. 6-1/2 ins. My impression is that they used
+  riggers shorter by 2 ins. than those now in use. Their blades were not
+  quite 6 ins. broad.
+
+It must be remembered, finally, that men, as well as measurements, have
+something to do with the pace of a crew, and that style and uniformity
+count for a good deal. The advocates of long or short oars will always
+be able to explain a defeat sustained by one of their crews by alleging
+causes that are totally unconnected with the measurement of the oars. On
+the other hand, such is their enthusiasm, they will attribute the
+victory of their crew entirely to their favourite pattern of oar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+Now that the novice has been safely launched in his racing-ship, we may
+hark back for a space and consider some important points connected with
+the organization and management of an eight-oared crew. And first as to
+its selection and arrangement.
+
+As a general rule, it may be laid down that two middle-weights (men
+ranging from 11 st. 5 lbs. to 11 st. 10 lbs. or even to 12 st.) will be
+best at stroke and No. 7; three heavy-weights (12 st. 4 lbs. and
+upwards) will suit for No. 6, No. 5, and No. 4; then with two more
+middle-weights at No. 3 and No. 2, and a light-weight (10 st. to 11 st.
+3 lbs. or so) at bow, your crew will be complete. This sounds easy
+enough, but in practice the matter is complicated by a hundred
+difficulties, such as (_a_) a superfluity or (_b_) a total absence of
+good heavy-weights; (_c_) the absence of any good middle-weights
+possessing the peculiar qualities necessary for stroke and No. 7; and
+(_d_) the inability of good oars to row on one side or the other of the
+boat, for you may find that of six valuable oars whom you may want to
+include in a crew, every one will tell you that he can only row on the
+stroke side or the bow side, as the case may be. In theory, of course,
+every man ought to be able to row equally well on both sides. In
+practice it will be found that most men, apart from any conscious
+preference on their own part, do better work on one side than on the
+other, while some are absolutely useless if shifted from the side they
+prefer. This last class is, however, not nearly so numerous as it used
+to be; and if, for instance, you consult the list of victorious Oxford
+crews from 1890 up to the present year, and compare it further with
+lists of Leander crews and Oxford College crews, you will see that a
+very large number of men have rowed and won races on both sides of the
+boat. I may mention specially Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. C. W. Kent, Mr. W.
+A. L. Fletcher, Mr. R. P. P. Rowe, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, Mr. H. B.
+Cotton, Mr. M. C. Pilkington, Mr. C. D. Burnell, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch,
+Mr. C. K. Philips, Mr. C. M. Pitman, and Mr. H. G. Gold. On the other
+hand, I cannot remember--to take only two instances of excellent
+heavies--that Mr. E. G. Tew or Mr. W. Burton Stewart ever rowed except
+on the bow side.
+
+All such difficulties the captain and coach of a crew must overcome as
+best they can. In any case they will find it advisable to put their
+lighter men in the stern and the bows, dumping down their heavies in the
+waist of the boat, where they will have more room, and where it will be
+easier to correct the clumsiness which is often associated with great
+weight.
+
+
+STROKE.
+
+For stroke I like a man of not more than twelve stone. A few good
+strokes, _e.g._ the late Mr. J. H. D. Goldie, have topped this weight by
+a few pounds. But a real heavy-weight is almost invariably slow and
+lacking in initiative when placed at stroke, although, in the middle of
+the boat, with another man acting as fugleman for him, he may be able to
+row perfectly well at any rate of stroke that may be set to him. A
+long-backed, supple-jointed man is of course best, for the
+short-backed, long-legged man invariably has trouble in clearing his
+knees, and consequently develops faults of style which it is hard to
+eradicate or even to reduce when he has no model in front of him. These
+faults will therefore exercise a very deleterious influence on the rest
+of the crew. As to temperament, I should select a good fighter, a man,
+that is, who would rather die than abandon the struggle, and whose fiery
+determined nature does not exclude perfect coolness and mastery over
+himself when a crisis calls for resource. Let me cite some examples.
+
+I may begin my list with Mr. H. P. Marriott and Mr. C. D. Shafto, the
+Oxford and Cambridge strokes of 1877, the dead-heat year. It is rare
+indeed to find two such splendid performers matched against one another.
+Mr. L. R. West, the Oxford stroke of 1880, 1881, and 1883, was as good a
+stroke as ever came to the University from Eton. He only weighed eleven
+stone, but his style was simply perfect. The finest demonstration of his
+racing judgment was given when he took his crew off at the start in
+1883, and left Cambridge, on whom odds of three to one had been laid,
+struggling hopelessly in the rear. More familiarly known to me was the
+rowing of Mr. F. I. Pitman. In the University Boat Race of 1886 both
+crews started at a very fast rate, and rowed little under thirty-eight
+to the minute all the way to Hammersmith Bridge, which was passed by
+Cambridge with a trifling lead. Immediately afterwards a strong
+head-wind and a rough sea were encountered; the rate of stroke in both
+boats dropped to about thirty-two, and Oxford began to forge steadily
+ahead, until at Barnes Bridge they led by nearly two lengths. Here the
+water was again smooth, and Mr. F. I. Pitman, the Cambridge stroke,
+nerved himself for a supreme effort. With a wonderful spurt he picked it
+up, and in the first half-minute after Barnes, actually rowed twenty-one
+strokes, and in the full minute forty. The result of the race in favour
+of Cambridge is a matter of history; but, even had Cambridge lost, the
+merits of that wonderful spurt would have remained as striking.
+
+[Illustration: MR. C. W. KENT.]
+
+Mr. C. W. Kent, of Oxford and Leander fame, is another remarkable
+instance of a born stroke. He rarely rowed as much as eleven stone, and
+his general appearance outside a boat hardly gave promise of his
+marvellous vigour and endurance in a race. He is a loose-limbed,
+long-armed man, with no superfluous flesh, and with very little muscle.
+In any purely gymnastic competition he would stand no chance whatever.
+Yet it is not too much to say that as stroke of an Eight or a Four no
+man has ever been of greater value, none has a more brilliant record of
+victories secured by his own courage and resource after desperate
+struggles. He was not a very easy man to follow in the early stages of
+practice, but when once he had got his crew together behind him, he had
+the most absolute control over them, and could always get the last
+possible ounce of work out of them, and yet leave himself with
+sufficient vigour to wind them up to a final extra spurt if the
+necessity arose. His crew behind him became a single living entity, on
+which he could play as a musician plays on an instrument over which he
+has perfect command. He seemed to have a sort of intuitive knowledge,
+not merely of the capacity of his own crew, but also of the capacity of
+his opponents, at any given moment in a race. And he had, moreover, the
+gift--inestimably valuable in a stroke--of taking his men along at their
+best pace while economizing his own strength, thus always leaving
+himself with a margin to put in extra work and pace when a close finish
+required them. For there is no crew, however hard the men may have
+worked, and however greatly they may be exhausted, that cannot screw
+itself up to follow if only their stroke will give them a lead. Mr.
+Kent's record of brilliant achievements begins in 1889, when, as stroke
+of the Brasenose crew, with Mr. W. F. C. Holland at No. 7, he maintained
+his boat at the head of the river against the repeated attacks of a
+considerably stronger and faster New College crew. In 1890 he was stroke
+of a Brasenose four at Henley. In one of the preliminary heats of the
+Stewards' Cup, this crew defeated a strong Leander Four by two feet. In
+the final heat they had to meet the Thames Rowing Club. At Fawley Court,
+the halfway point, Thames had secured a lead of two lengths, and were
+apparently rowing well within themselves. From here, however, Mr. Kent
+began an extraordinary series of spurts. With a relentless persistence,
+his crew rowing as one man behind him, he drove his boat inch by inch up
+to the Thames boat, drew level with them about 300 yards from the
+finish, and then, reinvigorated by the sight of his rivals, sailed
+past them and won the race by something more than a length. In 1891, as
+stroke of the Leander Eight he still further distinguished himself.
+Rowing from the unsheltered station against a strong "Bushes" wind, he
+just managed by a final effort to avert defeat at the hands of the
+Thames Rowing Club, and made a dead heat of it. On the following day,
+there being no wind, Leander beat Thames by two lengths, and in the
+final heat beat the London Rowing Club by a length. Again, in the final
+heat of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1894, he won another terrible race
+from the worse station by half a length against the Thames Rowing Club.
+No one who saw that extraordinary race can forget the wonderful
+succession of efforts put forth both by Mr. Kent and by the Thames
+stroke, Mr. J. C. Gardner, a very fine and powerful oar, who had stroked
+Cambridge to victory in '88 and '89. Time after time did Mr. Gardner
+force his boat almost level with Leander, and time after time Mr. Kent
+just stalled him off and reasserted his crew's lead, until at the last
+he went in with horse, foot, and artillery, and won the furious contest.
+I cannot forbear citing another instance which shows merit as great,
+though of a different order, in this remarkable stroke. In 1891 he
+stroked the Oxford Eight, a crew of very heavy metal, but not well
+arranged, and containing one welter-weight, who, in consequence of a
+severe attack of influenza during the earlier stages of training, could
+not be depended upon to last at top pressure over the whole of a course
+of four miles and a quarter. In fact, Oxford, considering their
+material, were unaccountably slow, and Cambridge, admirably stroked by
+Mr. G. E. Elin, were as unaccountably fast. The race, it will be
+remembered, was a very close one, and was won by Oxford by only half a
+length. During its progress there were many temptations to Mr. Kent, a
+man whose favourite rate of stroke was as a rule not less than forty, to
+increase the pace. He saw the Cambridge crew hanging doggedly on to him,
+and there were not wanting voices from his own crew to urge him to pick
+it up. But Mr. Kent knew the capacity of his crew, and knew that, though
+a fast spurt might give him a temporary advantage, it would leave him in
+all probability with a completely exhausted heavy-weight on his hands to
+struggle hopelessly against Cambridge's next effort. So he resolutely
+kept the stroke slow until he got to Chiswick, where he made his only
+effort, a slight one, it is true, but just sufficient to give him a
+margin on which he could win the race.
+
+[Illustration: MR. H. G. GOLD.]
+
+I have dwelt at some length on Mr. Kent's performances, because I think
+that he showed in the highest degree all the qualities that make a man a
+good stroke in spite of the absence of mere brute strength. Mr. C. M.
+Pitman, who as a freshman stroked Oxford in 1892, was a worthy successor
+to Mr. Kent. The three Oxford crews stroked by him won with comparative
+ease, a result of which the credit in a very large share must go to Mr.
+Pitman, who proved his judgment and coolness, not only in the races, but
+during practice against scratch Eights. Mr. H. G. Gold's remarkable
+victories are too recent to require any comment beyond the statement
+that they stamp him as one of the company of really great strokes.
+
+Of non-University strokes, the best I have seen have been Mr. J. Hastie,
+of the Thames R.C.; Mr. F. L. Playford, of the London R.C.; Mr. J. A.
+Drake-Smith, of the Thames R.C.; and Mr. G. B. James, of the London R.C.
+The three last of these possessed, in addition to considerable natural
+strength and endurance, a rhythmical ease and finished elegance which
+made their rowing a pleasure to the eye, and rendered it easy for a crew
+to shake together behind them. Mr. Hastie had enormous power and perfect
+judgment, and no man ever knew better exactly how and when to crack up
+an opposing crew.
+
+
+NO. 7.
+
+This position is every whit as important as that of stroke. Indeed, I
+have known many crews that were made by a good No. 7, in spite of an
+inferior or an inexperienced stroke. Of the converse I cannot at this
+moment remember any instances. No. 7 is the keystone of the crew. If he
+fits perfectly into his place, the whole fabric remains firm; if he fits
+badly, it will crumble to pieces at the first shock.
+
+It is the duty of No. 7 to weld the two sides of the crew into harmony,
+to transmit to the rest of the crew the initiative of the stroke-oar, to
+be ever on the watch to make stroke's task an easy one by following him
+implicitly and immediately. But, more than this, a good No. 7 can
+control and manage an inexperienced stroke, can check him when he
+attempts to hurry unduly, can inspirit him and renew his energies when
+he shows signs of flagging. The style and elegance of a crew depend even
+more upon No. 7 than they do upon stroke. Therefore select for this
+position a man whose movements are graceful, rhythmical and easy, who
+can show style in his own rowing, and thus instil it into the rest of
+the crew. It is important for No. 7 that he too should be able to
+economize his power in a race. I do not mean that he is to be a
+"sugarer" (a word we use to indicate a man who may show style, but who
+never works honestly), but he must row with judgment. I have seen many
+very big men row well at No. 7, but I should always prefer a man of the
+stamp of the late Mr. H. E. Rhodes, the late Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, Mr.
+R. P. P. Rowe, and Mr. W. E. Crum. These were all born No. 7's, though
+the reputation of the first was chiefly gained at stroke. Still, I
+consider that his best rowing was shown in 1876, when he rowed No. 7 of
+the Cambridge crew behind Mr. C. D. Shafto. Those who can recall the
+marvellous flexibility and adaptable ease of Mr. T. C. Edwards-Moss, and
+who have seen similar qualities exhibited by Mr. Rowe and Mr. Crum,
+will realize what I mean when I insist upon the importance of grace,
+rhythm, and elegance, in a word, of style in a No. 7. You can rarely, of
+course, count upon such a paragon for your No. 7, but at any rate get a
+man who approaches more nearly than the rest to this ideal.
+
+
+NO. 6.
+
+This, again, is a very important place; for your No. 6 must back up
+stroke, and must, by genuine hard work, take as much as possible of the
+burden off stroke's shoulders. Choose for the position a man who
+combines great weight and power and endurance with a large share of
+experience, a man who can row every stroke hard, and by his swing can
+help to keep it long. Mr. S. D. Muttlebury, in the Cambridge crews of
+1886 and 1887, was such a No. 6. Such, too, was Mr. W. A. L. Fletcher,
+in the Oxford and Leander crews of a later date, and such is the veteran
+Mr. Guy Nickalls at the present time. It must be an inspiration to the
+rest of the crew to have the broad back of this iron oarsman swinging up
+and down with an untiring vehemence, and slogging at every stroke as if
+he had no thought whatever of the strokes that had to come after. But
+then Mr. Nickalls is equally at home at No. 5 in an Eight; and as
+stroke-oar of a Four or pair--a position from which he invariably steers
+the boat--he is to my mind unapproachable. He would not himself assert
+that he was a model of elegance, but for power and endurance, and for
+the knack of infusing these qualities into the rest of the crew, no man
+has ever, in my experience, surpassed, and very few indeed have
+equalled, him.
+
+
+NO. 5 AND NO. 4.
+
+These two are places which require weight and power. The details of
+elegance and polish are not here so important, though it is, of course,
+well to secure them if you can. A No. 5 who swings long and steadily is
+of the utmost value, and the same may be said of No. 4. For instance, no
+small part of the merit of the Oxford and Leander crews in which he
+rowed was due to Mr. W. B, Stewart, their No. 5. A very tall,
+well-built, and extremely powerful man, he rowed, I think, with the
+longest swing I have ever seen. It was for this quality that we picked
+him out of his college crew, when he was a comparative novice, and gave
+him No. 5's seat in the Leander crew of 1893, and his rowing in that
+crew and in others subsequently proved the correctness of our judgment.
+The late Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, too, was a remarkable No. 5, a position
+in which, however, he only rowed once, viz. in the Leander crew of 1896.
+He was then certainly, for style and power combined, the best
+heavy-weight oar at Henley Regatta. Mr. Broughton, of the Thames Rowing
+Club, was another fine example of what a No. 5 ought to be--a really
+slashing oar of wonderful power. I might use the same words to describe
+Mr. R. S. Kindersley, of the Oxford crews of 1880, 1881, and 1882.
+Amongst good No. 4's, I should specially select Mr. S. Swann, in the
+Cambridge crew of 1884; Mr. C. B. P. Bell, of the Cambridge crews of
+1888 and 1889; and Mr. F. E. Robeson, of the splendid Oxford crew of
+1892.
+
+
+NO. 3 AND NO. 2.
+
+Of these positions little need be said. Weight here ceases to be of
+great importance compared with briskness and liveliness of movement. Yet
+instances are not wanting of genuine heavy-weights who rowed at No. 3 in
+fast crews. Mr. E. F. Henley, in the Oxford crew of 1866, rowed at 12
+st. 13 lbs.; Mr. P. W. Taylor, in the Oxford crew of 1885, and Mr. W. B.
+Stewart, in the Oxford crew of 1894, were placed at No. 3 in spite of
+their weighing well over 13 st.; and Mr. Vivian Nickalls, in the Leander
+crew of 1891, was little short of this weight. But where these cases
+have occurred, they were generally due to the fact that the authorities
+had at their disposal a great number of really good heavy-weights, and,
+rather than lose one of them, they placed him at No. 3.
+
+
+BOW.
+
+Bow should be light, alert, compact, springy and cat-like, and a good
+waterman. Such discomforts as may exist in a boat seem to concentrate
+themselves at bow's seat. He has less room than any other man in the
+boat, and any unsteadiness affects him more. I can recall a long list of
+good bows, but none better than Mr. W. A. Ellison of Oxford, Mr. R. G.
+Gridley of Cambridge, Mr. C. W. Hughes of the Thames R.C., Mr. W. F. C.
+Holland and the late Mr. H. B. Cotton of Oxford, and Mr. C. W. N.
+Graham of Leander fame. The last two rarely rowed as much as ten stone,
+but their work was remarkable. In their respective college crews, they
+proved that they could row at stroke just as well as at the other end of
+the boat.
+
+Finally, a captain of a crew must remember, if with these great examples
+before his eyes he feels inclined, as he runs over his list of available
+oars, to despair of getting together a good crew, that wonderful results
+have been achieved by college captains who had to draw their men from a
+comparatively narrow field, and were often forced by the exigencies of
+the case to fill places in their boats with men who were far removed
+from ideal perfection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_).
+
+
+From the hints given in the preceding chapter it will have been gathered
+that good oarsmen are of all sizes and weights. But it must not be
+forgotten that no small part of the motive-power of a crew comes from
+heavy men. By weight I do not, of course, mean that which results from
+mere adipose deposit; but weight, as it is usually found amongst young
+men, that depends on the size of the frame and the limbs, and on their
+due covering of muscle and sinew. I cannot, therefore, too strongly
+advise a captain or a coach to spare no labour and no patience in
+endeavouring to teach big men how to row. There will be disappointments.
+Every one who has experience of rowing must remember at least one
+massive and magnificent giant who failed to learn, in spite of infinite
+pains on his own part and on the part of those who had to teach him.
+Out of a boat he may have looked the very model of what a heavy-weight
+oarsman should be--erect, strong, well-proportioned, supple, and active.
+But put him in a boat, and at once he suffered a river change. His
+muscles turned into pulp, his chest became hollow, his arms and legs
+were mere nerveless attachments, and his whole body assumed the
+shapelessness of a sack of potatoes. In the end, after many days, the
+hopeless effort had to be sadly abandoned, and the would-be oarsman
+returned to the rough untutored struggles of the football field, or the
+intoxicating delights of lawn-tennis and golf. But, on the other hand,
+there are innumerable instances to prove that a big man who has never
+touched an oar before he came to Oxford or Cambridge, or joined one of
+the Metropolitan clubs, may, by care and perseverance, be turned into
+the pride and mainstay of his crew. Therefore, I say, persist with big
+and heavy men, in spite of occasional discouragements; for there is more
+advantage to a crew in one rough thirteen-stoner who really works and
+swings than in two light-weights polished _ad unguem_.
+
+In the shapes of oarsmen, again, every kind of variety may be found, not
+merely in minor details, but in the whole physical characteristics of
+their bodies. Bob Coombes, the professional champion of 1846, 1847, and
+1851, has recorded his opinion that the best physical type of oarsman is
+the man who is, amongst other things, deep-chested and straight and full
+in the flanks; who, in other words, has no waist to speak of. To this
+type Mr. S. D. Muttlebury and Mr. Guy Nickalls conform, and there can be
+no doubt that it is the best. But I have known oarsmen who varied from
+it in every detail, and yet did magnificent work in a crew. I have
+already mentioned Mr. C. W. Kent, and I may add another example in Mr.
+H. Willis, of the Leander Club, a very finished and valuable oar, who
+has given his proofs not only in an Eight, but also as No. 3 of the
+winning Stewards' Four at Henley Regatta this year. Mr. Willis is tall
+and loose-jointed. He is not furnished with any great quantity of
+muscle, and his modesty will not resent my adding that, though he has a
+well-framed chest, he also possesses a very distinct waist. I might
+multiply such instances; but they may all be summed up in the statement
+that a really good oarsman is never of a bad shape--for rowing. The
+ultimate test is to be found not in the examination of his muscle or the
+measurement of his frame, but in the careful and patient observation of
+his work while he is actually engaged in rowing. A mere weed, of course,
+cannot row to advantage; but I have seen more than one instance of
+so-called weeds who eventually developed under the influence of the
+exercise into solid and capable oars. And, as a rule, there is more
+promise in the comparative weakling than in the gymnast whose tight
+binding of muscles impedes the freedom and alertness of his limbs.
+
+We may now consider how the practice of an ordinary eight-oared crew
+should be conducted. There is a certain amount of difference of opinion
+as to how long a crew should remain in their tub--that is, in their
+clinker-built boat--before taking to the racing-ship. Most college
+captains, I think, keep their men in the heavy boat too long. Four or
+five days are, I think, an amply sufficient period. Experienced oars are
+none the better for rowing in a heavy boat, and novices who have much to
+learn in watermanship, and want a long period for the learning, can be
+taught the requisite lessons only in a light ship. The difficulties of
+sitting such a ship are, as a rule, much exaggerated; and the young oar
+who watches the scratch crews rowing against a University crew, or sees
+a Leander Eight setting out for the first time, is apt to be surprised
+when he notes how eight men, who have never rowed together before, can
+move along with uniformity and steadiness. There are, no doubt,
+difficulties of balance and quickness in light ship rowing; but the
+sooner these are faced the better for all concerned. I am assuming, of
+course, that the novice has been already drilled in the manner described
+in previous chapters.
+
+As to the total length of the period of practice from the start to the
+day of the race, that must, and does, vary according to circumstances. A
+University crew practising for a long race will be at work generally
+from about the middle of January until towards the end of March, some
+ten weeks in all. Cambridge college crews have six weeks, Oxford college
+crews only about four, for the college races. A London, Thames, or
+Kingston crew can command at least seven weeks for the practice of its
+Henley crew. On the other hand, no winning Leander crew that I have
+known has ever practised for more than three weeks as a combination;
+though individual members of it, who had not been at work since the
+previous year, may have been taking rowing exercise on their own account
+for some little time before the eight got to work. As a typical example,
+I may take the remarkable Leander crew of 1896. Five members of this
+crew--Mr. Guy Nickalls, Mr. J. A. Ford, Mr. C. W. N. Graham, Mr. T. H.
+E. Stretch, and Mr. H. Willis--had had no rowing exercise for a year;
+one, Mr. W. F. C. Holland, had not worked, except for a casual regatta
+in Portugal, since the final of the Grand Challenge Cup in 1893; the
+other two, Mr. H. Gold and Mr. R. Carr, had been in regular practice at
+Oxford or at Putney since the previous October. Two weeks before
+practice in the Eight began, Messrs. Holland, Ford, Stretch, and Graham
+began work in a Four, with Mr. Graham, the eventual bow of the Eight, at
+stroke. Mr. Willis had half this period of preliminary practice in a
+pair. Mr. Nickalls had for some weeks been working at Putney in a Four
+and a pair. Just three clear weeks before the first day of Henley
+Regatta the Eight was launched; but it was not until three days after
+this that Mr. Nickalls was able to come into the boat, and the crew for
+the first time rowed in its final order, the advent of Mr. Nickalls
+resulting in four changes in its arrangement. And yet this crew defeated
+Yale University, who had been practising for months, and other crews,
+composed of good material, that had been together for six or seven
+weeks. I have in my mind, too, another crew, a combination of three
+Oxonians, two Cantabs, two Etonians, and one Radleian, who, on one
+week's practice, managed to beat over a one-mile course the Eights of
+the London and Thames clubs, in spite of their ten or eleven weeks of
+practice.
+
+I do not wish to have it inferred from the foregoing facts that in my
+opinion those crews are likely to turn out best which practise together
+for a very short time. Still, the qualities of skill, keenness of
+enthusiasm, strength, condition, and racing ability, are factors in
+success even more important than length of practice. It ought, of
+course, to be true that if you could get two crews equally matched as
+regards these qualities that which had had the longer period of practice
+should win because of its greater uniformity. Moreover, in most cases
+extra length of practice _up to a certain point_ ought to imply
+superiority of condition. Beyond that point a crew, though it maintains
+its outward uniformity and style, will fall off in pace, because
+overwork will have dulled the edge of its energies, and robbed it of the
+brisk animation that marks the rowing of men trained to the very
+needle-point of perfect condition. And on the whole, taking condition
+and the risks of staleness into account, I should prefer to take my
+chances for an ordinary race with a crew that had practised from four to
+five weeks, rather than with one that had been at it for ten or eleven.
+I leave out of account the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, both because
+of the length of the course over which it is rowed, and on account of
+the frequent changes to which the authorities generally find themselves
+compelled to resort. And even for this race, if a president could at the
+outset be absolutely certain as to the general composition of the crew,
+he would find, I think, that a period of seven weeks at the outside
+would be fully sufficient for him and his men. The whole matter amounts
+to this, that a captain or a coach must consider carefully all the
+circumstances of his case--the skill, the condition, the experience and
+the strength of his men, and the distance over which they have to race,
+and must decide on the period of practice accordingly. I cannot on paper
+lay down any fixed general rule for his guidance, but can only bring
+before him a few detached considerations which may be useful to him as
+food for reflection. For my own part, I may add that I have never found
+the least difficulty, even after a year's rest from rowing, in getting
+into very good racing condition on three or four weeks of work.
+
+
+HOW TO ARRANGE THE DAILY WORK OF AN EIGHT.
+
+Let the real hard work be done in the earlier stages of practice. You
+thus accustom your men to one another, and you grind them into a
+uniformity which makes all their subsequent work easier. This plan has
+been very successfully followed by Oxford crews. Before they get to
+Putney they will have rowed over the long course of four miles some ten
+times. As a result, the men are hard and row well together; and during
+their stay at Putney it is found possible to ease them in their work,
+so as to bring them fresh and vigorous to the post on the day of the
+race. Supposing you have five weeks for practice, you ought, I think,
+during the first fortnight to row your crew over the racing course at
+least four times. During the next ten days one full course will be
+sufficient. The work of the last ten days must vary according to the
+condition of the men, but two half courses and one full course at a
+racing stroke will probably be found sufficient. Save for the rare case
+of an exceptionally long row, a practice of about an hour and a half
+every day is enough. At Henley all crews practise twice a day, but I do
+not think they spend more than two hours, if so much, on the water every
+day.
+
+
+RATE OF STROKE.
+
+The practice rate for paddling ought not in the early stages to be less
+than twenty-eight to the minute, which you may raise two points when
+rowing hard. Later on, when your men are doing their rowing work at
+thirty-six or more, and when they are, or ought to be, well together,
+you may drop the rate of paddling to twenty-six or twenty-five, in order
+to give them periods of rest, and to instil into them that steadiness
+of swing which they are apt to neglect when engaged in the effort of
+working up the stroke to racing pace. For a course of a mile to a mile
+and a half, a crew should be able to start at forty, continue at
+thirty-eight, and, if necessary, finish at forty in the race. Even for
+the Putney to Mortlake course a crew ought to be able to command forty
+at a pinch. As a rule, however, over a four-mile course a crew will go
+quite fast enough if it starts for not more than a minute at
+thirty-seven to thirty-eight, and continues, in the absence of a
+head-wind at an average of thirty-five.[9] At Henley most crews will
+start off at forty-one to forty-two for the first minute, and continue
+at thirty-nine. Anything higher than this is dangerous, though on a
+course of two-thirds of a mile I have known a Four to row forty-six in
+the first minute with advantage.
+
+  [9] Against a head-wind the rate of stroke must be slower. A coach's
+  instructions would be, "Swing down and reach out well, and swing hard
+  back against the wind." A following wind makes a crew very unsteady,
+  unless they remember that, since the pace of the boat is increased by
+  the wind, they must catch the beginning sharper, to prevent the boat
+  running away from them, and take their oars out even quicker and cleaner
+  than before, in order to prevent the boat catching them up, as it were.
+  Above all, they must keep the swing slow when they have a following
+  wind.
+
+These instructions are intended to apply to light racing ships. For the
+clinker-built fixed-seat boats that are used at Oxford and Cambridge for
+the Torpids and Lent races, a racing rate of thirty-seven ought to be
+high enough, seeing that the crews are mainly composed of young oars.
+The second division crews of the Cambridge "May" races row with slides,
+but in heavy, clinker-built boats. The advantages of this arrangement
+are not obvious. Still, these crews ought to be able to race at
+thirty-six to thirty-seven. As a rule, however, when I have seen them
+practising a minute's spurt, nearly all of them seem to have imagined
+that thirty-two strokes were amply sufficient for racing purposes.
+
+
+PADDLING.
+
+Paddling should be to rowing what an easy trot is to racing speed on the
+cinder-path. A crew when paddling is not intended to exert itself
+unduly, but to move at a comfortable pace which excludes any sense of
+fatigue, and enables the men to give their best attention to perfecting
+themselves in style, and to harmonizing their individual movements with
+those of the rest. In paddling men do not slash at the beginning so
+hard, nor do they grind the rest of the stroke through with the same
+power as when rowing. Less violent energy is put into the work, and the
+stroke consequently does not come through so fast. The rate of paddling
+must therefore be slower than that of rowing, since each stroke takes a
+longer time for its completion. As a rule, too, the blade is in paddling
+not quite so deeply covered, and cannot make the same rushing swirl
+under water. During the earlier stages of practice paddling is merely
+easier rowing; it is not so sharply distinguished from hard rowing as it
+becomes later on. At the outset it is necessary to make your crew both
+paddle and row with a full swing, in order to get length ineradicably
+fixed in their style. But later on a coach may tell his men, when he
+asks them to paddle, not only to use the easier movements prescribed
+above, but also to rest themselves additionally by using a somewhat
+shortened swing. Then, when they are to row, he must call on them to
+swing forward and reach out longer; to swing back harder and longer,
+with a more vigorous beginning; and to put more force into their
+leg-drive. A very useful plan, especially for the purpose of getting a
+crew finally together, is to make them do long stretches of paddling
+varied here and there by about a dozen or twenty strokes of rowing, care
+being taken, however, not to allow the paddling to get dead and dull,
+and a special point being made of getting the rowing not only hard, but
+very long.
+
+Paddling is a difficult art to learn, and only the very best crews
+paddle really well with balance, rhythm, and ease. Many a time I have
+seen a good crew and an inferior one paddling along the course together,
+and almost invariably the good crew, which had mastered the trick of
+paddling at a slow stroke and with perfect ease, was distanced. Yet a
+moment afterwards, when they ranged up alongside, and started together
+for a two minutes' burst of rowing, the good crew would leave its
+opponents as though they were standing still.
+
+
+HOW TO WORK THE STROKE UP TO RACING PACE.
+
+There comes a time in the history of every crew when, having been
+plodding along comfortably at thirty-four, they suddenly realize that
+the race is barely a week off, that if they are to have any chance of
+success they must raise the stroke, and that they don't know how on
+earth it is to be done, seeing that they have usually felt pretty well
+cleaned out after rowing even a half course at their present rate.
+However, they generally do manage _tant bien que mal_ to get it done,
+and find in the end that thirty-eight is not really much more difficult
+for men in good training than thirty-four.
+
+The best plan, I think, is to devote the greater part of an afternoon's
+practice to short rows of half a minute and a minute at, say,
+thirty-seven, and to wind up with three minutes of this. On that day
+there will probably be at first a terrible amount of rushing and
+splashing. On the following day you will find that things have settled
+down, and you will be able to row for five minutes at the faster rate.
+On the third day practise short pieces again at thirty-eight,
+thirty-nine, forty; and on the fourth day row your full course at as
+fast a rate as you can command. A coach should impress upon his crew
+that a fast stroke is to be secured not by rushing forward with the
+bodies, but by rattling away the hands quicker and by increasing the
+force employed in forcing the oar through the water. The pace of the
+bodies on the forward swing, though, of course, it does increase, should
+feel as if it were slower. _Relatively to the rate of stroke used_, it
+is, in fact, slower at a fast than at a slow stroke. The best
+stroke-oars have been men who fully realized this, and who, either in
+breaking from a paddle into a row, or in spurting during a hard piece of
+rowing, gave their crew a delightful sense of steadiness and balance,
+which enabled them to put their utmost energies into every stroke.
+
+
+PRACTICE IN STARTING.
+
+During the week preceding the race a coach should devote a great part of
+his attention to the task of getting his crew quick off the mark. If a
+crew starts in a brisk and lively manner, and gets pace on its boat
+immediately, it is far more likely to continue well, so long as its
+strength and condition last, than a crew that ponderously drags its boat
+off, with the notion that it can put pace on later. At the end of half a
+minute the lively crew would be well ahead--no small moral advantage
+where two crews are evenly matched. The best position for the first
+stroke is a little more than half forward with the body and three parts
+forward with the slide. The mind, as well as the muscles, must be intent
+on the effort. At the word "Go" at once cover the blade deeply, spring
+the body on to the work, use the arms vigorously on this occasion only,
+and, above all, drive, drive, drive with the legs, wrenching the stroke
+fully home with outside hand.[10] Then make a special point of rattling
+hands out like lightning, and get hold of the second stroke when the
+hands are over the stretcher. Again a lightning rattle, followed by a
+longer swing. The fourth stroke should be a full one. During the first
+two strokes the crew should watch stroke's blade, and take their time
+from that.
+
+  [10] The simplest and easiest plan is to have the back of the blades
+  flat on the water while you are waiting for the word. In rowing _with_ a
+  strong tide it may sometimes be advisable to have the top of the blades
+  turned over towards the stern and to square blades at the "Are you
+  ready?" But this requires a lot of practice, and even then generally
+  causes unsteadiness.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF BEING EXHAUSTED.
+
+I hold it to be absolutely necessary that during practice men should
+learn thoroughly to row themselves out. If they do not, they need never
+expect to become properly fit for the hard strain involved in a race. If
+men will only consent to put their best and hardest work into a practice
+course, so that they may feel at the end of it that they have neither
+wind nor strength left, I will guarantee that all the subsequent work
+will become infinitely easier for them, and the race itself will be a
+pleasure instead of a pain. I hate to see a crew finish a practice row,
+no matter how short it may be, in perfectly fresh trim. That is a sign
+that they must have shirked their work. Yet I have often read in
+newspaper reports of the practice of crews some statement like the
+following:--"The boat travelled well all through, and the time
+accomplished was fast; but when it was over most of the men were much
+distressed"--as if this were a reproach instead of a compliment. Such
+"distress" is one of the necessary stages through which crews must pass
+on their way to good physical condition and perfect racing power. If a
+crew never tires itself in practice, it will never row fast in a race.
+
+
+HOW TO JUDGE A MAN'S WORK IN A BOAT.
+
+This can only be done properly by watching both the movements of the
+body and the action of the blade in the water. It may be assumed that if
+the blade strikes the water fairly at the full reach, is covered at
+once, produces a deep boiling swirl _under_ the water, and remains
+covered to the end of the stroke, the oarsman who wields it must be
+working, in spite of many possible faults of form. Again, if the body
+moves well, and with a vigorous briskness through the stroke, it may be
+found that the swirl of the blade through the water does not show
+properly, because the blade is put in too deep. This, of course, is a
+fault, for the oarsman is giving himself too much work, and the effect
+on the propulsion of the boat is smaller; but, at any rate, there is
+honesty of intention. On the other hand, a man may make a great show of
+form with his body, and a great splash in the water, by merely covering
+half his blade through the stroke, or by missing his beginning and
+rowing light at the finish; or he may seem to be swinging his body on to
+his work, and yet by some subtly contrived disconnection between body
+and arms and legs, produce no effect on the water. For all this a coach
+must be on the look out. If he has once done hard rowing himself, and
+watched it in others, he will never mistake the sham article (the
+"sugarer") for the genuine, though possibly clumsy, worker.
+
+
+THE VALUE OF TUB-PAIR PRACTICE.
+
+Practice in the tub-pair is one of the greatest possible aids towards
+the consolidation of an eight-oared crew. A coach or captain should
+never omit during the early stages of work to take out his men two by
+two in a tub. Sitting at ease in the stern, he can lecture them to his
+heart's content, and can devote himself with far better effect than when
+his crew are in the Eight to eradicating individual faults and drilling
+the men into one uniform style. During the latter part of training,
+however, the tub-pair is, with rare exceptions, an unnecessary burden.
+The crew then require all their energies for the work of the Eight, in
+which they ought to be learning the last important lessons of
+watermanship and uniformity every day. To drag them into tub-pairs at
+such a time can only weary them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF
+COACHING.
+
+
+AILMENTS.
+
+I may preface what I have to say about ailments by stating, as
+emphatically as it can be stated, that every man who proposes to take
+part in a race ought, before he begins practice, to be thoroughly
+overhauled by a medical man. I do not believe that any man whose heart
+and lungs and general constitution are sound can be injured by rowing.
+On the contrary, I have seen scores and scores of instances in which
+sound but imperfectly developed youngsters were formed and solidified
+and made into robust men by the exercise. But if a doctor reports of an
+apparently powerful man that his heart is weak and his circulation
+defective, or that the state of his lungs is unsatisfactory, no power on
+earth would induce me to include him in my crew. Race-rowing is one of
+the severest strains to which a man can submit himself, and only a
+perfectly sound man can go through it without taking harm.
+
+Coaches are sometimes ridiculed for the excessive care they take of
+their men; and there are not wanting those who draw the inference that
+rowing men are peculiarly liable to illness, and suffer, when attacked
+by it, more than others. Nothing can be further from the truth. If we
+are anxious, it is because we know that for the special strain involved
+in racing a man must be in specially good condition, and we desire,
+above all things, to avoid anything that may keep him back in his
+training and his work. Moreover, even a slight illness may entail
+temporary retirement from the crew, and thus necessitate changes in its
+order which will prevent the men from getting together.
+
+In rowing hard a man should keep a good colour. If you see him turning
+green and yellow, you may be sure that something is wrong with him, and
+you must pack him off to the doctor at once. It may turn out that his
+digestion is in fault, and that a careful attention to diet is all that
+is necessary to cure him. I have seen only two men actually faint
+during a race. One of them was a distinguished Oxford Blue, who
+collapsed during a heat of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley; the other
+was a college oar rowing in the Cambridge Fours. With regard to him, we
+discovered afterwards that he had overtaxed his strength by working in
+the Cambridge engineering workshop for about six hours every day. Both
+these cases took place a good many years ago, and in neither has any
+permanent injury resulted. I have, of course, seen hundreds of men
+absolutely rowed out at the end of a race; but, with hardly an
+exception, they were perfectly fit a few minutes afterwards and,
+possibly, in the course of a few hours they might be seen rowing in
+another severe race with unimpaired strength and vitality.
+
+With regard to ailments generally, I cannot do better than quote Mr.
+Woodgate in the Badminton book: "A crew should be under strict orders to
+report _all_ ailments, if only a blister, _instantly_ to the coach. It
+is better to leave _no_ discretion in this matter to the oarsman, even
+at the risk of troubling the mentor with trifles. If a man is once
+allowed to decide for himself whether he will report some petty and
+incipient ailment, he is likely to hush it up, lest it should militate
+against his coach's selection of him. The effect of this is that
+mischief which might otherwise have been checked in the bud, is allowed
+to assume dangerous proportions for want of a stitch in time. An oarsman
+should be impressed that nothing is more likely to militate against his
+dream of being selected than disobedience to this or any other standing
+order. The smallest pimple should be shown forthwith to the
+coach"--verily the coach is not only [Greek: dios], but [Greek:
+polytlas]--"the slightest hoarseness or tendency to snuffle reported,
+any tenderness of joint or sinew instantly made known."
+
+To these golden words I would merely add that in all more serious cases,
+such as boils, colds, coughs, severe diarrh[oe]a, or strains, it is best
+for the coach not to attempt any amateur doctoring, but to send his
+oarsman at once to a qualified doctor. In nearly every large rowing
+club, and at the Universities, there are to be found doctors who have
+either rowed themselves, or have had long experience of treating the
+ailments of rowing men; and it is far better to take their advice,
+which, as a rule, does not incline to molly-coddling, than to run the
+risk of losing a valuable oar out of the crew through one's own
+quackery.
+
+
+_Blisters._
+
+Blisters are a common accompaniment of the early days of practice. They
+are ordinarily innocuous enough if well treated; but a neglected blister
+may result in a raw hand, and lead to blood-poisoning. The best plan is
+to prick a blister at its side with a clean needle before going to bed,
+and on the following day or two to row with a glove and a pad of
+cotton-wool over the blister. The skin very soon hardens into a
+callosity.
+
+
+_Boils._
+
+These are a sure sign that the blood is in a bad condition, due probably
+to over-eating. They afflict novices much more often than old oars, who
+have learnt by experience to diet themselves. A mild dose of Eno's Fruit
+Salt before breakfast may be recommended. The quantity of beef and
+mutton eaten must be largely reduced. Fish and the dark meat of poultry
+should be the staple articles of diet, and not too much of those. Nor
+must the mistake be made of making up for the decrease of meat by
+over-loading the stomach with immense masses of vegetables, though in
+moderation vegetables are excellent. Having thus done his best for the
+patient's inside, the coach must send him to a doctor to have the boil
+treated externally.
+
+
+_Diarrh[oe]a._
+
+Cut off fruits of all kinds; reduce meat; give an extra glass of port,
+and if the complaint continues, send the afflicted to a doctor.
+
+
+_Strains._
+
+Ordinary muscular strains generally yield to a good rubbing with an
+embrocation. For wrist-strains a leather band may be recommended.
+Abdominal strains must be seen to by a doctor.
+
+
+_Colds._
+
+The best remedy for a severe cold is to give your man at least one day's
+complete rest, and make him keep his room. Indeed, with most ailments a
+day's rest will work wonders; and it is far better for a coach to make
+up his reluctant mind to grant it, than to run the risk of losing a
+valuable man altogether by keeping him chained to his oar when he is
+unfit to work. However, no man who takes proper care of himself, and
+always makes a point of wrapping up when his crew easies, ought to catch
+a cold.
+
+
+TRAINING AND DIET.
+
+The rules of training and diet should be the rules of common sense,
+applied to cases in which the body has to prepare itself, by severe work
+and perfectly simple, healthy living, for an exceptional effort or
+series of efforts. Rules there must be, if only on account of the
+advantage that comes of being able to make exceptions to them. But the
+chief points must be regularity and simplicity--a regularity, that is,
+which shall not entail an unvarying and wearisome monotony, and
+simplicity which shall not exclude occasional little luxuries that act
+as a stimulus to a man's jaded energies.
+
+I shall give here two tables showing the hours and the dietary of an
+Oxford crew training during a little more than five weeks for the race
+against Cambridge, and of a Leander crew training for nearly three
+weeks for the Grand Challenge race at Henley Regatta.
+
+    I. _Oxford Crew._
+
+       7    A.M. Out of bed, and without bathing or washing dress
+                 immediately in flannels. A cup of milk and a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       7.15  "   Out of the house. A brisk walk with one sharp
+                 run of 150 yards.
+
+       7.50  "   Back to the house. Bath, etc.
+
+       8.30  "   Breakfast.--Fish, plainly cooked, without sauce.
+                 Soles, whiting, and smelts are best. Salmon
+                 is not allowed. Cutlets or beefsteaks, or grilled
+                 chicken. Eggs, boiled, or poached, or fried,
+                 sometimes scrambled. Mustard and cress, or
+                 water-cress. Toast. Limited amount of butter.
+                 Marmalade is allowed only during the last
+                 fortnight of training. Not more than a cup
+                 and a half of tea.
+
+      11     "   At Putney, when the state of the tide permits it,
+                 exercise in the boat. It should be noted that
+                 the tide sometimes makes it necessary for the
+                 crew to do its rowing in the morning, sometimes
+                 in the afternoon. Occasionally work can be
+                 done both in the morning and afternoon.
+
+       1    P.M. Lunch.--Cold meat. Tomatoes plainly made into
+                 a salad with oil and vinegar. Toast. Small
+                 quantity of butter. Oatmeal biscuits. One
+                 glass of draught beer, or claret and water.
+
+      3 or 4 "   (according to tide). Work in the boat.
+
+       6.30  "   Dinner.--Fish, as at breakfast. An _entr['e]e_ of
+                 pigeons, or sweetbread, or spinach and poached
+                 eggs. Roast joint (not pork or veal), or else
+                 chicken, with potatoes, mashed or boiled, and
+                 boiled vegetables. Stewed fruit with rice puddings.
+                 Sometimes jelly. Two glasses of draught
+                 beer, or claret and water. For dessert, figs,
+                 prunes, oranges, dry biscuits, and one glass of
+                 port wine.
+
+       9.50 P.M. A glass of lemon and water, or a cup of water-gruel.
+
+      10     "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--Once or twice during training there is a "champagne
+    night," when champagne is substituted for beer or claret and water;
+    but this only occurs when the crew have been doing very hard work,
+    or when they show evident signs of being over-fatigued, and require
+    a fillip.)
+
+    II. _Leander Training at Henley._
+
+       7 to 8.30 A.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+       8.30 A.M. Breakfast.--Same as in previous table, save for
+                 the frequent absence of meat. Marmalade
+                 allowed. Strawberries or peaches without
+                 sugar; no cream.
+
+      10.30 or 11, or 12 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       1.30 P.M. Lunch.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       4.45 " Cup of tea with a slice of bread and butter, or a
+                 biscuit.
+
+       5.30 or 6 P.M. Out on the water.
+
+       7.30 or 8  "  Dinner.--Same as in previous table.
+
+       9.50 P.M. Same as in previous table.
+
+      10.15  "   Bed.
+
+    (_Note._--With most Leander crews, which are composed of experienced
+    oarsmen, it has been found possible to abolish restrictions on the
+    amount of liquor, and to allow the men to take what they want to
+    satisfy their thirst, which at Henley time is naturally more severe
+    than it is in the early spring at Putney. With a college crew of
+    younger and less experienced oars such liberty of action is not to
+    be recommended; but a trainer ought, during hot weather, to tell his
+    men that if they really want an extra half-glass or so, they are not
+    to hesitate to ask for it. Men in training will, however, generally
+    find that if they exercise a little self-control during the first
+    few days of training, when the restriction on their drink seems
+    specially painful, their desire for drink will gradually diminish,
+    until at last they are quite content with their limited allowance.
+    If, on the contrary, they perpetually indulge themselves, they will
+    always be wanting more. On this point I may cite the authority of
+    the following remarks extracted from a recent article in the
+    _British Medical Journal_:--
+
+    "Among the various discomforts entailed upon us by the hot weather
+    is thirst, which leads to many accidents. First and most especially
+    is the danger arising from the ingestion of ices and cold drinks,
+    which so many people fly to directly they feel hot. Difficult as it
+    may be to explain in precise physiological terms the evil
+    consequences which so often follow the sudden application of cold to
+    the mucous membrane of the stomach when the body is over-heated,
+    there is no doubt about the fact, and people would do well to
+    remember the risk they run when they follow their instinct, and
+    endeavour to assuage their thirst by huge draughts of cold fluids.
+    There can be but little doubt that the profuse perspiration which is
+    the cause of so many dangers is greatly aggravated by drinking, and
+    especially by drinking alcoholic fluids. No one can watch a tennis
+    match without noticing how the men perspire, while the girls hardly
+    turn a hair. Some, perhaps, will say that the girls play the feebler
+    game; but, game or no game, they exert themselves. The same also may
+    be seen at any dance. The secret is that the men follow their
+    instinct and slake their thirst, while the girls simply bear it. It
+    should be remembered that thirst is the result of want of fluid in
+    the blood, not want of fluid in the stomach, and that a pint or more
+    may be drunk before a single ounce is absorbed. Any attempt, then,
+    to assuage thirst by rapid drinking must of necessity lead to far
+    more being taken than is wanted, the moral of which is that if we
+    must drink, at least let us drink slowly."
+
+    Besides asking his men to drink slowly, a coach will do well to see
+    that they take no drink at all before they have eaten a certain
+    amount of food. Between meals, except as set out in the tables given
+    above, no drink of any kind should be allowed.
+
+    Over-eating, too, is a very common danger, especially in the case of
+    youngsters, and a coach must warn his crew severely against it.)
+
+A captain ought to be specially strict in insisting on getting his men
+out of their beds at a fixed time, and in seeing that they do not stay
+up too late at night. Absolute punctuality all round ought to be rigidly
+enforced. If, however, anybody should resent the severities entailed by
+this dietary, and pine for freedom, he may be recommended to try what I
+may call the Ouida system. It is fully set out in "Under Two Flags,"
+from which, in a spirit of humble admiration, I venture to give an
+extract:--
+
+"'Beauty don't believe in training. No more do I. Never would train for
+anything,' said the Seraph, now pulling the long blonde moustaches that
+were not altogether in character with his seraphic cognomen. 'If a man
+can ride, let him. If he's born to the pig-skin he'll be in at the
+distance safe enough, whether he smoke or don't smoke, drink or don't
+drink. As for training on raw chops, giving up wine, living like the
+very deuce, and all as if you were in a monastery, and changing yourself
+into a mere bag of bones--it's utter bosh. You might as well be in
+purgatory; besides, it's no more credit to win then than if you were a
+professional.'
+
+"'But you must have trained at Christ Church, Rock, for the Eight?'
+asked another Guardsman, Sir Vere Bellingham--'Severe,' as he was
+christened, chiefly because he was the easiest-going giant in existence.
+
+"'Did I! Men came to me; wanted me to join the Eight. Coxswain came,
+awful strict little fellow, docked his men of all their fun--took plenty
+himself, though! Coxswain said I must begin to train, do as all his crew
+did. I threw up my sleeve and showed him my arm;' and the Seraph
+stretched out an arm magnificent enough for a statue of Milo. 'I said,
+There, sir, I'll help you thrash Cambridge, if you like, but train I
+_won't_ for you or for all the University. I've been captain of the Eton
+Eight; but I didn't keep my crew on tea and toast. I fattened 'em
+regularly three times a week on venison and champagne at Christopher's.
+Very happy to feed yours, too, if you like--game comes down to me every
+Friday from the Duke's moors; they look uncommonly as if they wanted it!
+You should have seen his face! Fatten the Eight! He didn't let me do
+that, of course; but he was very glad of my oar in his rowlocks, and I
+helped him beat Cambridge without training an hour myself, except so far
+as rowing hard went.'
+
+"And the Marquis of Rockingham, made thirsty by the recollection, dipped
+his fair moustaches into a foaming seltzer.
+
+"'Quite right, Seraph!' said Cecil. 'When a man comes up to the weights,
+looking like a homonunculus after he's been getting every atom of flesh
+off him like a jockey, he ought to be struck out for the stakes, to my
+mind.'"
+
+The obvious inference from this is that if we want to avoid looking like
+"homonunculi" we must acquire dukes as fathers, and get fattened on
+venison and champagne.
+
+
+SMOKING.
+
+There are no smokes in training.
+
+
+STALENESS.
+
+In the practice of almost every crew there comes a period, generally
+about half way through training, when they begin to show the effects of
+hard work by a certain lassitude and loss of vigour. This, in fact, is
+not genuine staleness, but is the half-way house to perfect condition.
+An experienced coach can always detect the signs of it amongst his men.
+Their tempers will be short, they will begin to mope about the room, and
+their general manner will betray languor and listlessness, instead of
+that brisk cheerfulness that one has a right to expect. Their appetite
+will decrease, and at meals they will dally with their food instead of
+consuming it with a hearty zest. If a coach is blind to these signs, and
+pursues, in spite of them, the scheme of work and diet which he may have
+laid down at the first, he will probably bring to the post a crew as
+stale and lifeless as London shrimps. If, however, he grants certain
+indulgences to those who are most affected; if he lets them lie in bed
+of a morning, adds a basin of soup to their lunch or dinner, gives them
+extra liquor, or champagne in place of their ordinary liquor, and eases
+the work of the crew all round, he will probably find that within three
+days they will be perfectly brisk and fit again. I remember the case of
+an Oxford crew which showed the worst symptoms of staleness on a Friday.
+Saturday to Monday they spent in Brighton, and returned so
+reinvigorated, that on the following Wednesday they were able in the
+race to row Cambridge down at Chiswick and win by a length. For extreme
+cases of what I call genuine staleness, I do not think there is any
+remedy except complete rest for a period more or less prolonged. I have
+seen instances of this at Henley amongst University oarsmen, who had had
+practically no rest since the previous October.
+
+
+DISCIPLINE.
+
+Not the least important point in the management of a crew lies in the
+preservation of strict discipline. While they are in the boat and
+engaged in rowing, no man, except the captain or the cox, should speak a
+word, unless he is appealed to by the coach. A wise captain, too, when
+he has a coach in whom he trusts, will content himself with saying very
+little indeed. To be constantly cursing his crew, or to be shouting
+directions to them from the boat, not only irritates the other men, but
+increases all the difficulties of a coach. To "answer back" a coach is a
+capital offence, which ought to lead to immediate removal from the crew.
+I can only remember one instance of it in all my experience, and that
+was promptly followed by a humble apology. Silence, prompt obedience,
+absolute subordination of the individual self to the collective good of
+the crew, a quick and hearty willingness in endeavouring to carry out
+orders or instructions, a cheerful temper when things are going awry,
+and a constant keenness whether in rowing or paddling--these are model
+qualities which will go far to make a man a valuable oar. Nothing has so
+bad an effect upon a crew as the display of moroseness or sullenness on
+the part of one of its members. If that member should chance to be the
+captain, the baneful effects are increased tenfold. There are times of
+inattention and slackness when a coach does well to be angry, and to
+bring his men sharply back to a knowledge of their duty.
+
+
+THE COACH.
+
+I cannot deal with this subject at any length, for good coaching is a
+matter of temperament, sympathy, tact, and intelligence--qualities that
+cannot be taught. The man who has these necessary qualities, and adds to
+them a wide experience of rowing, can never go very far wrong in
+coaching a crew. If a man can once establish between himself and his
+crew that subtle bond which comes of their conviction that their welfare
+and success are his chiefest desire, and that everything he says is
+absolutely right, the rest will be comparatively easy. A few simple
+hints may, however, be given.
+
+(1) Never nag at your crew, or at an individual. Point out his fault;
+explain to him as clearly as you can how he ought to correct it, and
+then leave him alone for a bit. Never weary your men with an incessant
+stream of talk. Periods of complete silence on your part are very
+valuable, to you and to the crew.
+
+(2) If you see signs of improvement in a man whom you have been
+correcting, never fail to tell him so. A little encouragement of this
+kind has more effect than heavy loads of objurgation.
+
+(3) Rebuke any carelessness very sharply, but always keep strong
+measures, such as taking a crew back to the start, for really serious
+emergencies.
+
+(4) Show no partiality, and make as little difference as you can between
+man and man. It is useful to begin by coaching old hands with some
+severity. New hands are encouraged by feeling that even a Blue or a
+Grand Challenge winner is liable to error, and that a coach is not
+afraid to tackle these eminent men.
+
+(5) Make a gallant effort never to lose your temper with an individual,
+though loss of temper with a crew as a whole need not always be avoided.
+When things go wrong in a crew, impress upon each and every man that he
+is individually responsible for the defects. Every man is probably doing
+something wrong, and in any case a determined and united attempt to row
+better can do no harm.
+
+(6) Never tell your men that they are rowing "well," or " better," when
+these statements are contrary to the truth. The men in the boat can
+generally feel what is happening as well as you can see it from the bank
+or the launch, and they are apt to lose confidence in a man who talks
+smooth things when everything is rough.
+
+(7) Never confuse a man by telling him more than one thing at a time
+while he is rowing. When the crew has easied you can lecture him and
+them more at length.
+
+(8) Remember Dr. Warre's rule, that general exhortations, such as
+"Time," "Beginning," "Smite," "Keep it long," and the like, are to be
+given at the right moment, not used as mere parrot cries.
+
+(9) Vary the tone of your voice as much as possible.
+
+(10) Vary, if possible, the expressions you use in pointing out and
+correcting faults.
+
+(11) Always insist on your crew putting on their wraps when they easy
+after rowing hard.
+
+(12) Never allow men during summer training to stand, sit, or lie about
+in the full blaze of the sun.
+
+(13) Teach by example as well as by precept. The coach should be able to
+take his seat in a gig pair, and to show his men practically the style
+he wishes them to row in, and how their faults may be corrected.
+
+(14) Always remember, while paying attention to the form of individuals,
+that your main object is to secure uniformity in the crew. Never fail,
+therefore, to correct faults of time instantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF
+LEISURE TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+
+THE DAY OF THE RACE.
+
+On this tremendous day, towards which all their efforts for weeks past
+have been directed, the coach will find that all his crew are suffering
+from that peculiar nervousness to which rowing men have given the name
+of "the needle." It is a complaint against which no length of experience
+can harden a man, and the veteran of a hundred races will feel it as
+acutely as the boy who is engaged in his first struggle. A sort of
+forced cheerfulness pervades the air. Men make irrelevant remarks about
+their oars, their stretchers, or the notorious incapacity of their
+rivals, while they are reading the newspapers or discussing the politics
+of the day. Even a coach is seized with the universal affection,
+however gallantly he may strive against it, and endeavour to entertain
+the crew with all his best stories of triumphant victories, of defeats
+averted by brilliant spurts, or of the last sayings of some well-known
+aquatic humourist. Old oars drop in, and for a few moments divert the
+conversation, only to flow back with it into the one absorbing topic
+that occupies all men's minds. The feeling goes on increasing until at
+last, oh joy! the time comes for getting into the boat. With his
+faithful oar in his hand, and his feet fixed to the stretcher, a man
+regains his confidence, and when the word is given he will find that the
+only effect that the needle has had upon him has been to brace his
+energies to their highest pitch. The duty of a coach on such an occasion
+is clear. He must try to keep his men cheerful, and prevent them from
+brooding over the race that is to come. Visits from old oars should be
+encouraged, for it is often a relief and an amusement to a youngster to
+find that some solid oar of the past is even more agitated than he is
+himself. One thing must not be omitted, and that is the preliminary
+spin, which should take place about two hours before the race, and
+should consist of two sharp starts of ten strokes each and one hard row
+of a minute. This has an invaluable effect in clearing the wind. I have
+always felt, when I have rowed more than one race in a day, and I think
+my experience will be confirmed by most other oarsmen, that I have been
+able to row better, harder, and with less distress, in the second race
+than in the first. An hour and a half before the race a man will be all
+the better for a biscuit and a hot cup of strong meat soup, with perhaps
+a dash of brandy to flavour it, but this must depend upon the hour at
+which the race is rowed, for if you have lunched at one and have to race
+at half-past three you will want nothing between times to stay your
+stomach. The early morning sprint should be taken as usual.
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA, 1897.
+
+(_New College_ v. _Leander_. _Won by New College by 2ft._)]
+
+
+THE RACE.
+
+"I shall say, 'Are you ready?' once; if I receive no answer, I shall
+say, 'Go!'" It is the voice of the umpire addressing us from the
+steam-launch in which he will follow the race. He must be a man dead to
+all feeling, incapable of sympathy, for he actually turns to one of his
+fellow-passengers and makes a jesting remark, while our hearts are
+palpitating and our minds are strung up to face the stern actualities of
+the race. The other crew look very big and strong, and fit and
+determined. We shall have to row our hardest, and we all know it. "Get
+the top of your shorts properly tucked in," says our captain, "so as not
+to catch your thumbs; and mind, all of you, eyes in the boat, and when
+cox shouts for ten strokes let her have it. Come forward all."
+
+"Touch her gently, bow" (it is the cox who speaks, and his voice sounds
+thin and far away and dream-like). "One more. That'll do. Easy, bow. Now
+we're straight."
+
+"Are you ready?" from the umpire. Great heaven! will he never
+say----"Go!" he shouts. There is a swish, a leap, a strain, a rattle of
+oars, a sense of something moving very swiftly alongside, a turmoil of
+water, a confused roar from the bank: we are off!
+
+We started splendidly. For half a minute I am a mere machine; thoughts,
+feelings, energies--all are concentrated into one desire to work my
+hardest and to keep in time. Then my mind clears, and I become conscious
+once more of myself and my surroundings. Have we gained? I _must_ steal
+a look. By Jupiter, they're leaving us! "Eyes in the boat, four,"
+screams the cox; "you're late!" Be hanged to cox! he's got eyes like a
+lynx. Yes; there's no doubt of it--I can see, without looking out of the
+boat, out of the corner of my eye. They're gaining still. Now their
+stroke is level with me; now he has disappeared, and for a few strokes I
+am conscious of a little demon cox bobbing and screeching alongside of
+me. Then he, too, draws away, and their rudder is all I can see. At last
+that also vanishes, and a sense of desolation descends on us. Nearly two
+minutes must have gone; I know that by the landmarks we have passed.
+Surely we ought to spurt. What can stroke be up to? Is he going to let
+us be beaten without an effort. Ugh! what a shower-bath that was. It's
+six splashing, as usual. Well, if we're beaten, we must just grin and
+bear it. We shall have to congratulate the other ruffians. Hateful!
+Somebody must get beaten. But we're not beaten yet, hang it all! Three
+minutes. What's this? Cox is shouting. "Now, ten hard strokes together;
+swing out, and use your legs!" He counts them out for us at the top of
+his voice. Grand! We're simply flying. That's something like it. And
+I'm not a bit done yet. We're none of us done. The boat's going like
+smoke. "Nine!" yells the cox. "Ten! Now, don't slack off, but keep her
+going. You're gaining, you're gaining! On to it, all of you." He is
+purple in the face, and foaming at the mouth. Glorious! Their rudder
+comes back to me; I see their cox. We _are_ catching them. Now for it! A
+few strokes more and the boats are running dead level, and so they
+continue for half a minute. Stroke has now, however, taken the measure
+of his foes. We are steadying down and swinging longer, and I am
+conscious that the other crew are rowing a faster stroke. It is now our
+turn to leave them. Foot by foot we creep past them; their bows come
+level with me, and then slowly recede. I can see the back of their
+bowman. His zephyr has come out from his shorts; the back of his neck is
+very pale. There can't be more than two minutes left now, and I'm still
+fit, and my wind is all right. We are winning; I'm sure of it. No;
+they're spurting again, and, by Jove! they're gaining! Spurt, stroke,
+spurt! We mustn't get beaten on the post. But stroke, that wary old
+warrior, knows what he is about. Unmistakable signs prove to him that
+this effort is the last desperate rally of his enemies. He sees their
+boat lurch; their time is becoming erratic; two of them are rolling
+about in evident distress. His own crew he has well in hand; we are
+rowing as one man, and he feels that he has only to give a sign, and our
+restrained eagerness will blaze forth and carry us gloriously past the
+post. Let us wait, he seems to say, a very few seconds more, until the
+opposing spurt fades out to its inevitable end; so he rows on
+imperturbably. But isn't he running it too fine? Not he. He gives a
+quick word to cox, rattles his hands away, and swings as if he meant to
+strike his face against the kelson of the boat. "Pick her up all!"
+screams the cox. "Now then!" comes in a muffled gasp from the captain.
+We feel that our moment has come, and, with a unanimous impulse, we take
+up the spurt and spin the ship along. In a flash we leap ahead; we leave
+the other crew as if it was standing still. We are a length ahead; now
+we are clear; half a length of open water divides us from them. To all
+intents and purposes the race is over. The crowd grows thicker; the
+shouts from the bank become a deafening din. Enthusiasts scream futile
+encouragements to pursuer and pursued, and in another moment the flag is
+down, the cox cries, "Easy all!" and with triumph in our hearts we
+realize that we have won. The captain turns round to us--he is rowing
+No. 7--his face glowing with pleasure. "Well rowed indeed, you men!" he
+pants. "You all did thundering well! And as for you, stroke----" but
+words fail him, and all he can do is to clap his delighted stroke on the
+back. Then, having duly exchanged the customary "Well rowed!" and its
+accompanying rattle of oars in rowlocks with our gallant enemy, we
+paddle home to the raft, where our exultant coach and our perspiring
+partisans receive us with hand-shakings and embraces and fervently
+epitomized stories of the struggle. "I knew you had got 'em all the
+way!" says the coach. "Did you hear me shout when you got to the
+half-way point?" "Hear you shout?" we reply in a chorus of joyful
+assent. "Of course we did. That's why we spurted." Of course, we had
+heard nothing; but at this moment we almost think we did hear him
+plainly, and in any case we are not going to be so churlish as to
+detract from anybody's joy over our victory.
+
+And so the struggle is ended, and we have won. Pleasant though it is to
+know that training is over, there is not one of us who does not feel a
+sense of sorrow as he realizes that these days of toil and hardship and
+self-restraint, of glorious health and vigorous effort are past. All the
+little worries under which we chafed, the discipline that at times was
+irksome, the thirst, the fatigue, the exhaustion, the recurrent
+disappointments--all these become part of a delightful memory. Never
+again, it may be, shall these eight men strike the sounding furrows
+together. The victory that has crowned us with honour has at the same
+time broken up our companionship of labour and endurance; but its
+splendid memory, and the friendships it knit together--these remain with
+us, and are a part of our lives henceforth wherever we may be.
+
+
+THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT.
+
+Let me turn now to lighter matters, for there are lighter matters
+connected with rowing. And first let me insist on the necessity of
+having a butt in a crew. It appears strange at first sight that the
+system of training--that is to say, of diet, of early hours, of healthy
+exercise, and of perfect regularity in all things, which has so
+admirable an effect upon the condition of the body, should sometimes
+impair the powers of the mind, and absolutely shatter the temper. I have
+seen eight healthy, happy, even-tempered young men go into training
+together for three weeks. They were all the best of friends. Tom had
+known Dick at school, and both had been inseparable from Harry ever
+since they had gone up to the University. With these three the other
+five were closely linked by a common pursuit and by common interests.
+Each one of them was a man of whom his friends could say, he was the
+easiest man to get on with you could possibly meet. Yet mark what
+happened. At the end of three weeks every man in that crew was the proud
+possessor of seven detested foes. They ate their food in morose silence;
+they took no delight in the labour of the oar, and each one confided to
+his outside friends his lamentable opinions about the seven other
+members of the crew. Even now, though years have passed away, no one who
+rowed in that crew can look back without horror on those three terrible
+weeks. Why was this so? The simple answer is this, that the crew in
+question did not number among its members a butt. I doubt if the
+importance of a butt in modern boat-racing has been properly recognized.
+Speaking from an experience of many years, I should affirm
+unhesitatingly, if I did not remember what I have written in previous
+chapters, that in an ordinary crew, composed, as ordinary crews are, of
+men and not of angels, the position of butt is a far more important and
+responsible one than that of stroke or No. 7. If you can find a good,
+stout, willing butt--a butt who lends himself to nicknames, and has a
+temper as even as a billiard-table and as long as a tailor's
+bill--secure him at once and make him the nucleus of your crew. There
+may be difficulties, of course, if he should happen to be a heavy weight
+without a notion of oarsmanship, but these defects can easily be
+mitigated by good coaching, and in any case they cannot be allowed to
+count against the supreme merit of keeping the rest of the crew in good
+temper. Salient characteristics are apt to be a rock of offence to a
+training crew. To be a silent thinker does not give rise to happiness in
+the seven who watch you think. It is an even deadlier thing to be an
+eloquent gabbler or a dreary drawler. There is nothing an ordinary
+rowing man detests so much as windy eloquence, unless it be perhaps the
+miserable indolence which is known as slackness. The butt must therefore
+be neither silent, nor slack, nor a drawler. Nature will probably have
+saved him from being a thinker or an orator. He must be simply
+good-natured without affectation, and ready to allow tempers made stormy
+by rowing and training to break upon his broad back without flinching.
+Your true butt is always spoken of as "old" So-and-so, and, as a rule,
+he is a man of much sharper wits, with a far keener insight into
+character, than most of those who buffet or tease him. Among eminent
+butts may be named Mr.----, but on second thoughts I refrain.
+
+
+LEISURE TIME.
+
+It seems a mere platitude to say that a man who can occupy his spare
+moments in writing or reading is likely to be happier and more
+even-tempered than one who is never seen with a book or a pen in his
+hand. Yet it is a platitude of which not many oarsmen realize the force;
+and, indeed, it is not an uncommon sight to see most of the members of
+a crew sitting about listlessly in armchairs or talking the stale
+futilities of rowing shop when they might with more solid advantage be
+engaged, let us say, in following Mr. Stanley Weyman's or Dr. Conan
+Doyle's latest hero through the mazes of his exciting adventures. At
+Oxford or Cambridge, of course, a man has his lectures to attend, his
+fixed tale of work to get through. But at Putney or at Henley this is
+not so. There a man is thrown back on his own resources, a companionship
+which he does not always seem to find particularly cheerful or
+attractive. A billiard table, of course, is a valuable adjunct to
+training quarters, but this is scarcely ever found at Henley, and not
+always at Putney. Besides, most of us, after a short time, cease to take
+any pleasure whatever in a game in which we are not qualified to shine.
+The joy of reading the sporting reporter's account of your doings, and
+of proving conclusively that he knows nothing about rowing, lasts but a
+short time every morning. I may, therefore, offer the oarsman a piece of
+advice which is, sound, in spite of its copybook flavour, and that is,
+that he shall cultivate a habit of reading, and, if possible, of reading
+good literature. Many moralists might recommend this habit on the
+common ground that good literature tends to improve the tone of a man's
+mind; and even a coach who is not a moralist will find it useful in
+distracting the thoughts of his men. Besides, it is quite pleasant in
+after life to recognize a well-worn quotation in a newspaper article,
+and to remember, probably with complete inaccuracy, where it originated.
+A little attention to writing and spelling might also prove valuable.
+Oarsmen who had devoted themselves, say for ten minutes a day, to these
+simple tasks, would have been saved from perpetrating the following
+correspondence, which I quote _verbatim et literatim_ from letters in my
+possession:--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"It has been reported to me that you broke training last night you were
+seen smoking not only a few wiffs but a whole pipe I have therefore
+decided to turn you out of the boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+Answer to the above--
+
+"DEAR----
+
+"I am in reciet of your letter it is true that I smoked two whifs (not
+"wiffs" as you say) out of another man's pipe but that's all however I
+don't want to row in your beastly boat.
+
+                    "Yours, etc."
+
+
+AQUATIC AXIOMS.
+
+I may add here some axioms which have been printed before,[11] but which
+I may venture to repeat in a treatise on rowing. The years that have
+passed since they were first set down have not weakened my conviction
+that they are accurate. I still believe myself justified in stating--
+
+(1) That if two crews row a course within ten minutes of one another,
+the wind is always more violent and the stream more powerful against the
+crew in which you yourself happen to be rowing.
+
+(2) That it is always right to take off at least five seconds from the
+time shown on your stop-watch in timing your own crew, and to add them,
+by way of compensation, to the time shown on the same watch when timing
+a rival crew.
+
+(3) That your own crew is absolutely the only one which ever rows the
+full course right out or starts at the proper place.
+
+(4) That if your crew is impeded while rowing a course you must allow
+ten seconds; but if any other crew is impeded you must allow only two
+seconds.
+
+(5) That if you row a slow course, No. 5's stretcher gave way, or his
+slide came off.
+
+(6) That you could always knock a quarter of a minute off when you row a
+faster stroke, but that--
+
+(7) You never do, as a matter of fact, row a faster stroke.
+
+(8) That your crew always rowed a slower stroke than the rest.
+
+(9) That you are sure to do a faster time to-morrow.
+
+(10) That your private opinion is, that if everybody in the crew did as
+much work as you do yourself your crew would be many lengths faster,
+and--
+
+(11) (and last) That you always lose by the steering of your coxswain
+three lengths, which all other crews gain by the steering of theirs.
+
+  [11] In "In Cambridge Courts."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+
+A good coxswainless four-oared crew represents skill and watermanship,
+as distinguished from mere brute strength, in their highest development.
+I may lay it down as an axiom that any man who can row well in a
+coxswainless Four will row equally well in an eight-oared crew. The
+converse of this is, however, by no means true. A man may do good work
+in an Eight, and yet be incapable of doing himself justice in a Four,
+or, indeed, of helping the pace of the boat in any way. Rowing of a more
+refined order is requisite for a Four. Greater power of balance is
+needed, and a more perfect sense of that rhythm which goes far to secure
+uniformity in rowing. You may have in your Eight a clumsy heavy-weight,
+who at No. 5 can use his strength to wonderful advantage, in spite of
+various aberrations from correct form. But if you put this man at No. 3
+in a Four, the results are sure to be disastrous. An easier style of
+movement is required for a Four. A strenuous application of all the
+body-weight at the beginning of the stroke is still, no doubt,
+necessary. The beginning must, of course, be gripped, and that firmly;
+but the best four-oared rowing I have seen always gave me the impression
+that a sort of "oiling" method of progression, in which steady
+leg-pressure plays a prominent part, was best suited to a Four which is
+not encumbered with the weight of a coxswain. Over and over again have
+Eights been defeated at Henley for the Grand Challenge Cup, and yet
+Fours, selected from their members, have been able to beat all comers in
+the Stewards'. From 1868 to 1878 the London Rowing Club won the Grand
+five times. In the same period of eleven years their Four was only once
+defeated for the Stewards', proving, if any proof were needed, that an
+inferior Eight (I use the term merely relatively) may contain a
+first-class victorious Four. On the other hand, from 1891 to 1897, a
+period during which Leander won the Grand five times, they were able to
+win the Stewards' only once, and that was this year, when their Eight
+was defeated. Instances of this kind might be multiplied.
+
+But besides skill in oarsmanship, another element, which adds greatly
+both to the difficulties and pleasures of a Four, has to be considered.
+This is the necessity that one of the oarsmen should not only row, but
+also guide the course of the boat by steering with his foot. It is
+evident that watermanship of a very high order is needed for this feat.
+The steerer must know the course and all its points perfectly. The
+ordinary oar often finds it difficult to keep time when his eyes are
+glued on the back of the men in front of him, but the steerer in a Four
+has to keep time and regularity, even though he may be forced to look
+round in order to ascertain the true direction of his boat. An oarsman
+in an Eight has both his feet firmly fixed; a steerer of a Four must
+keep one foot constantly ready for movement. And all this he has to do
+without making the boat roll, or upsetting the harmony of his crew.
+These difficulties, no doubt, are great; but when once they have been
+overcome, and the crew has shaken absolutely together, there can be few
+pleasures in the world of exercise comparable to that of rowing in a
+Four.
+
+During a long period the London Rowing Club had almost a monopoly of
+good Fours. Their crews showed a degree of watermanship which in those
+days University oarsmen despaired of attaining to. Gulston, Stout, A. de
+L. Long, Trower, and S. Le B. Smith were not only names to conjure with,
+but showed in their rowing that perfection of apparently simple ease
+which lies at the root of success in four-oared rowing. Who that ever
+witnessed it can forget the sight, once well-known at Henley, of Mr. F.
+S. Gulston as he rowed and steered his Four to victory? As a recent
+Cambridge versifier said of him--
+
+    "They can't recall, but ah, I can,
+       How hard and strong you looked, sir;
+     Twelve stone, and every ounce a man,
+       Unbeatable, uncooked, sir.
+     Our French friends, had they seen your rude
+       Vast strength had cried, '_Ah quel beau
+     Rameur, celui qui arque le coude_'--
+       That is, protrudes his elbow.
+
+    "Your ship could run like Charley's Aunt,
+       And you, demure as Penley,
+     Knew all the wiles that might enchant
+       The river nymphs at Henley.
+     No piles had yet marked out the way
+       Forbidding men to try on
+     The tricks that found round every bay
+       The short cuts to the 'Lion.'
+
+    "Each inch of bay you knew by heart,
+       You knew the slackest water;
+     All foes who faced you at the start,
+       You beat, and beat with slaughter.
+     To 'form' a stranger, yet your style
+       The kind that much endures was.
+     I never saw--forgive the smile--
+       A rounder back than yours was.
+
+    "But round or straight, when all dismayed
+       Your rivals lagged in trouble,
+     Still with a firm, unfaltering blade
+       You drove the swirling bubble.
+     With you to speed the hours along
+       No day was ere spent dully,
+     Our stalwart, cheerful, matchless, strong,
+       Our undefeated Gully."
+
+As a matter of record it may be stated that Mr. Gulston won five Grand
+Challenge Cup medals and ten Stewards' Cup medals, Mr. A. de L. Long
+five Grand Challenge Cup medals and eight Stewards' Cup medals, and Mr.
+S. Le B. Smith four Grand Challenge Cup medals, and seven Stewards' Cup
+medals. No oarsman of the present day can boast of anything like such a
+record in these two events.
+
+The art of four-oared rowing, then, was brought to perfection by the
+crews of the London Rowing Club many years ago; but there is no danger
+that it will be forgotten by oarsmen of the present day. Indeed, the
+rowing of the Leander Four that won the Stewards' Cup this year was
+about as good as four-oared rowing can be. They were absolutely
+together, they rowed with most perfect ease, and in the race they beat
+record time by seven seconds, and might have beaten it by still more,
+had they not easied a length or two from the finish. Their weights were
+as follows:--
+
+  Bow. C. W. N. Graham                   10 st. 2 lbs.
+    2. J. A. Ford                        12 st. 1 lb.
+    3. H. Willis                         11 st. 12 lbs.
+       Guy Nickalls (stroke, and steers) 12 st. 7 lbs.
+
+From the above remarks it will be gathered that the great points to be
+insisted upon in four-oared rowing are uniformity, and again uniformity,
+and always uniformity. A coach should insist, if possible even more
+strenuously than he insists in an Eight, on bodies and slides moving
+with a faultless precision and perfectly together. Let him devote his
+energies to getting the finish and recovery locked up all through the
+crew, and let him see to it that the movements of their bodies shall be
+slow and balanced on the forward swing, and strong and not jerky on the
+back swing. More it would be difficult to add.
+
+When a Four is practising for a four-oared race alone--that is to say,
+when its members are not rowing in an eight-oared crew as well, their
+course of work should be similar to that laid down for an Eight. But
+when, as often happens at Henley, a Four is made up out of the members
+of an eight-oared crew, it will always be found better to allow its
+members to do the bulk of their work in the Eight, and to confine
+themselves in the Four principally to long and easy paddling, varied by
+short, sharp bursts of rowing. It may be necessary for such a Four to go
+over the full course once at top speed, but that ought to be enough.
+Their work in the Eight should get them into condition; all that they
+really need in the Four is to be able to row perfectly together. The
+Brasenose Four that won the Stewards' in 1890 had never rowed over the
+full course before the day of the race. Their longest piece of rowing,
+as distinguished from paddling, had been a burst of three minutes. Their
+men acquired fitness by working in the Eight, and proved their
+condition by the two desperate races they rowed.
+
+As to steering, it used to be said that anybody might steer in a Four
+except stroke, but Mr. Guy Nickalls has proved that a stroke can steer
+as well as row. He has won four Stewards' Cup medals, has stroked and
+steered in every race, and his boat has always been kept on a faultless
+course.
+
+In the case of the ordinary oar, however, the old saying, I think, holds
+good. Bow naturally is the best place to steer from, not only because in
+turning his head he can obtain a clear view of the course, but also
+because he has a considerable advantage in leverage, and ought to be
+able to control the direction of his boat merely by relaxing or
+increasing the power applied to his oar. The best part of the stroke for
+looking round is, I consider, towards the finish. A turn of the head,
+accompanied by an outward movement of the outside elbow to suit the
+slightly altered position of the body, while keeping pressure on the
+oar, is all that is necessary. Yet I have seen Mr. Guy Nickalls look
+round in the middle of his forward swing without apparently disturbing
+the equilibrium of the boat. In any case, the best thing a steerer can
+do is to learn his course by heart, so that he may be able to steer for
+the most part without looking round at all, judging the direction she is
+taking by her stern and by well-known objects on the bank as he passes
+them. Personally I prefer, and I think most men prefer, to steer with
+the outside foot. The captain of a Four should always look carefully to
+his steering-gear to see that the wires and strings are taut, and that
+they move properly and without jamming over the wheels. I have seen more
+than one race lost by accidents to the steering-gear that might have
+been avoided by a little preliminary attention.
+
+
+PAIR OARS.
+
+This, too, is a very pleasant form of rowing, both with a view to racing
+and merely for casual amusement. The main elements for success are
+similar to those laid down in the case of Fours. In pair-oared rowing,
+however, there is one important point which distinguishes it from all
+other forms of rowing. It is absolutely essential that the two men
+composing a Pair should not row "jealous," _i.e._ neither of them must
+attempt to row the other round in order to prove his own superior
+strength and ability. Such a course of action not only makes progress
+circuitous and slow, but also ends by entirely destroying the tempers of
+both oarsmen. In a Pair, even more than in a Four, the bow oar has a
+considerable advantage in leverage, whence it comes that a lighter and
+less powerful man can often row bow in a Pair with a strong and heavy
+stroke. The most surprising instance of this occurred in the Oxford
+University Pairs of 1891, which were won by the late Mr. H. B. Cotton,
+rowing bow at 9 st. 12 lbs., to the stroke of Mr. Vivian Nickalls, who
+weighed close on 13 st. An instance to the contrary was afforded by the
+winners of the Goblets at Henley in 1878. These were Mr. T. C.
+Edwards-Moss, bow, 12 st. 3 lbs., and Mr. W. A. Ellison, stroke, 10 st.
+13 lbs. The Goblets at Henley have been won six times by Mr. Guy
+Nickalls, and five times by his brother Vivian.
+
+
+SWIVEL ROWLOCKS.
+
+There has been, during the past year, a movement in favour of using
+swivel rowlocks, not only in sculling-boats, but also in Pairs, Fours,
+and Eights, though the majority of English oarsmen, even when inclined
+to use them in Pairs and Fours, set their faces against them for
+Eights. The advocates of swivels contend that by their use the hands are
+eased on the recovery, and the jar that takes place when the oar turns
+on a fixed rowlock is absolutely abolished. These advantages seem to me
+to be exaggerated, for, though I have carefully watched for it, I have
+never seen an Eight or a Four retarded in her place for even a fraction
+of a second by the supposed jar due to the turning of the oar on the
+feather in fixed rowlocks. On the other hand, I am convinced that for an
+ordinary eight-oared crew the fixed rowlock is best, and for the
+following reasons:--
+
+The combined rattle of the oars as they turn constitutes a most valuable
+rallying-point. The ears are brought into action as well as the eyes.
+This advantage is lost with swivels. In modern sculling-boats a man must
+use swivels, for the reach of the sculler extends to a point which he
+could not reach with fixed rowlocks, as his sculls would lock before he
+got there. As he moves forward he is constantly opening up, his arms
+extending on either side of his body; but in rowing, one arm swings
+across the body, and unless you are going to screw the body round
+towards the rigger, and thus sacrifice all strength of beginning, you
+cannot fairly reach beyond a certain point, which is just as easily and
+comfortably attained with fixed rowlocks as with swivels. Moreover--and
+here is the great advantage--you have in the thole-pin of a fixed
+rowlock an absolutely immovable surface, and the point of application of
+your power is always the same throughout the stroke. With a swivel this
+is not so, for the back of the swivel, against which your oar rests, is
+constantly moving. To put it in other words, it is far easier with a
+fixed rowlock to get a square, firm, clean grip of the beginning, and
+for the same reason it is easier to bring your oar square and clean out
+at the end of the stroke. A really good waterman can, of course, adapt
+himself to swivels, as he can to almost anything else in a boat, but his
+task will not be rendered any easier by them. For average oars, and even
+for most good oars, the difficulties of rowing properly will be largely
+increased, without any compensating advantage, so far as I am able to
+judge. In the case of novices, I am convinced that it would be quite
+disastrous to attempt to make them row with swivel rowlocks.
+
+
+_Measurements of Racing Four built by J. H. Clasper._
+
+(In this boat Leander won the Stewards' Cup, 1897.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                42  3
+  Greatest breadth of beam, exactly amidship      1  8-3/8
+  From centre of seat to sill of rowlock          2  8-1/2
+  Length of play of slides                        1  3-7/8
+  Height of sliding-seat above skin of boat          8-7/8
+  Height of heel-traps above skin of boat            1-5/8
+    (This would make the heels about one inch
+        above skin of boat.)
+  Height of sill of rowlock above seat               6-3/4
+  Depth forward                                      6-1/8
+  Depth aft                                          5
+
+
+_Measurements of Oars used._
+
+  Length over all                                12  0-1/2
+  Length in-board                                 3  8-1/2
+  Length of blade                                 2  8
+  Breadth of blade                                   5-3/4
+
+This boat is some three feet shorter than the average of Fours nowadays.
+
+The oars used by the New College Four measured over all 12 ft. 6 ins.;
+in-board, 3 ft. 8-1/2 ins.; breadth of blades, 5-1/2 ins.
+
+
+_Measurement of a Pair Oar built by Sims, of Putney._
+
+(In this Pair Mr. H. G. Gold, and Mr. R. Carr won the University Pairs
+at Oxford, their weights being 11 st. 10 lbs. and 12 st. 8 lbs.
+respectively.)
+
+                                                 ft. ins.
+  Length over all                                37  1
+  Greatest breadth                                1  3-3/4
+  Length of slide play                            1  4
+  Distance from sill of rowlock to centre of seat 2  8-1/2
+  Height of seat above skin of boat                  8-1/8
+  Height of heels above skin of boat                 1-1/4
+
+[Illustration: HENLEY REGATTA.
+
+(_A Heat for the Diamonds._)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+SCULLING.
+
+_By Guy Nickalls._
+
+
+In writing an article on sculling, a sculler must of necessity be
+egotistical. He can only speak of what he himself feels to be the
+correct way of doing things, and cannot judge of how a different man
+feels under the same circumstances. I therefore put in a preliminary
+plea for forgiveness if in the course of these remarks the letter "I"
+should occur with excessive frequency. Sculling is so entirely an art by
+itself, that a man might just as well ask a painter how he produces an
+impression on a canvas as ask a sculler why he can scull, or how it
+comes that so many good oarsmen cannot scull. Ask an ordinary
+portrait-painter why he cannot sketch a landscape, and ask an ordinary
+oarsman to explain why he cannot scull, and to the uninitiated the
+answer of both will have the same sort of vagueness. Sculling differs
+so vastly from rowing that no man who has not tried his hand at both can
+appreciate how really wide apart they stand; and the fact that sculling
+depends to such a great extent on one's innate sense of touch and
+balance, makes it extremely hard for a man who has tried his hand with
+some success at both sculling and rowing to explain to the novice, or
+even to the veteran oarsman, wherein the difference lies. There is as
+much difference between sculling and rowing as there is between a single
+cyclist racing without pacemakers, steering and balancing himself and
+making his own pace, and a man in the middle of a quintette merely
+pedalling away like a machine at another man's pace, and not having the
+balance or anything else solely under his control. The difference in
+"feel" is so great that one might liken it to the difference between
+riding a light, springy, and eager thoroughbred which answers quickly to
+every touch, and pounding uncomfortably along on a heavy, coarse-bred
+horse, responding slowly to an extra stimulus, and deficient in life and
+action.
+
+To scull successfully one must possess pluck, stamina, and a cool head,
+and must, above all, be a waterman. A man may _row_ well and
+successfully, and yet possess none of these qualities. Nothing depresses
+a man more when he is sculling than his sense of utter isolation. If a
+spurt is required, he alone has to initiate it and carry it through;
+there is no cheering prospect of another strong back aiding one, no
+strenuous efforts of others to which one can rally, no cox to urge one
+to further effort. You feel this even more in practice than in actual
+racing, especially when going against the clock. You are your own
+stroke, captain, crew, and cox, and success or failure depends entirely
+and absolutely upon yourself. No one else (worse luck) is to blame if
+things go wrong.
+
+The pace of a sculling-boat is strictly proportionate to the quality of
+its occupant. A good man will go fast and win his race; a bad man
+cannot. A good man in an Eight cannot make his crew win; and a bad man
+in an Eight may mar a crew, but he can also very often win a race
+against a crew containing better men than himself.
+
+People have often asked me why a first-class oar should not of necessity
+be a good sculler. This, although a hard matter to explain, is partly
+accounted for by what I have said above, in that sculling is so greatly
+a matter of delicate touch and handling. Even good oars are as often as
+not clumsy and wanting in a quick light touch. Very few really big men
+have ever been fine scullers. This is partly accounted for by the fact
+that so few boats are built large enough to carry big weights, and
+consequently they are under-boated when practising. Many big weights,
+_e.g._ S. D. Muttlebury and F. E. Churchill, have been good and fast
+scullers at Eton, but two or three years afterwards are slow, and get
+slower and slower the longer they continue. This, I think, is a good
+deal owing to the muscle which a big man generally accumulates,
+especially on the shoulders and arms, and he therefore lacks the
+essential qualities of elasticity, lissomeness, and quickness with the
+hands.
+
+Big, strong men also generally grip with great ferocity the handles of
+their sculls, and these being small, the forearm becomes cramped, and
+gives out. Many good oarsmen have never tried to scull, and those who
+have generally give it up after a first failure, which is more often
+than not due to want of attention to detail. What passes for good
+watermanship in an Eight is mere clumsiness in a sculling-boat, and, as
+a matter of fact, there are far fewer really good watermen than the
+casual observer imagines.
+
+I asked three of our best modern heavy-weight oarsmen to tell me the
+reason why they could not scull. The Thames R.C. man said the only
+reason why he had never won the Diamonds was because he had never gone
+in for them. This was straightforward, but unconvincing to any one who
+had watched this gentleman gambolling in a sculling-boat. The Cambridge
+heavy-weight affirmed solemnly that he could scull, and was at one time
+very fast. He subsequently admitted that he could never get a boat big
+enough, and, secondly, his arms always gave. The Oxford heavy-weight
+replied much to the same purpose, without the preliminary affirmation.
+
+Many men can scull well and slowly, but few can really go fast, and
+this, I think, is due to the fact that they do not practise enough with
+faster men than themselves, and so do not learn by experience what
+action of theirs will best propel a boat at its fastest pace. Nothing is
+more deceptive than pace; when a man thinks he is going fastest he is
+generally going slowest. He gets the idea that he is going fast because
+his boat is jumping under him, and creating a large amount of side-wash;
+but an observer from the bank will notice that although the sculls are
+applying great power, that power is not being applied properly, and his
+boat will be seen to be up by the head and dragging at the stern, and
+bouncing up and down instead of travelling.
+
+The first and foremost thing, then, to be attended to for pace is
+balance, _i.e._ an even keel, and to obtain this your feet should be
+very firm in your clogs. As those supplied by the trade are of a very
+rough and rudimentary character, they will nearly always require padding
+in different places. You should be able to feel your back-stop just so
+much that when leaning back well past the perpendicular you can push
+hard against it with a straight leg. You are then quite firm, and can
+control your body in the event of your boat rolling. Although when a man
+has become a waterman he will find the back-stop unnecessary, it is
+safest for the novice to have it, so as to be able to press against it;
+otherwise, having nothing to press against at the finish of his stroke,
+he may acquire the bad habit of relying entirely on his toes to pull him
+forward. In such a position he is unstable, and if his boat rolls he has
+no control over his body.
+
+Having got your balance, the next thing to be thought of is the stroke.
+Reach forward until the knees touch either armpit; put the sculls in
+quite square, and take the water firmly (be most careful not to rush or
+jerk the beginning); at the same time drive with the legs, sending the
+slide, body and all, back; the loins must be absolutely firm, so that
+the seat does not get driven away from underneath the body. If you allow
+the loins to be loose and weak you will acquire that caterpillar action
+which was to be seen in several aspirants to Diamond Sculls honours last
+year, and which ruined whatever poor chance they ever possessed. This
+diabolical habit of driving the slide away, although common to many
+professionals, cannot be too severely condemned, as it relieves the
+sculler from doing any work at all except with the arms, which, if thus
+used, without swing and leg-work to help them, cannot, unless a man is
+enormously muscular in them, hold out for any great length of time. The
+firm drive will start the swing of the body, which may be continued a
+fraction of time after the slide has finished. You will find that when
+you have driven your slide back your body will have swung well past the
+perpendicular (and in sculling you may swing further back than you are
+allowed to in rowing). When in that position a sculler is allowed to do
+that which an oarsman must not, viz. he may help to start his recovery
+by moving his body slightly up to meet his sculls as they finish the
+stroke. Thus by keeping his weight on the blades in the water as long as
+possible, instead of in his boat, he strengthens the finish and prevents
+his boat burying itself by the bows. The stroke from the beginning
+should go on increasing in strength to the finish, which should be firm
+and strong, but, like the beginning, not jerked or snapped. Strength
+applied to the finish keeps a boat travelling in between the strokes.
+
+The finish is by far the hardest part of the stroke, and is most
+difficult to get clean and smart. The position is naturally a far weaker
+one than that of the oarsman, as the hands are eight inches or so
+further back, and at the same time six inches or so clear of the ribs.
+In this position nine out of ten scullers fail to get a really quick
+recovery with the sculls clean out and clear of the water, the hands
+away like lightning and clear of the knees, and the body at the same
+time swinging forward. As soon as the hands have cleared the knees they
+should begin to turn the blade off the feather, so that by the time you
+are full forward the blades are square and ready to take the water.
+Professionals recommend staying on the feather until just before the
+water is taken, but this is apt to make the novice grip his handles
+tightly, and press on them almost unconsciously when he should be very
+light. He will thus make his blade fly up and miss the beginning. In
+order to ensure both hands working perfectly level and taking and
+leaving the water exactly together, a man should watch his stern, and by
+the turn given either way he can easily detect which hand is not doing
+its right amount of work. Which hand you scull over or which under makes
+little or no difference. Personally, I scull with the right hand under.
+In holding a scull the thumb should "cap" the handle; this prevents you
+from pulling your button away from the thowl even the slightest bit, and
+makes your grip firmer and steadier. If in steering you must look right
+round, do so shortly before you are full forward, as soon as the hands
+have cleared the knees, but generally steer by the stern, if you can,
+without looking round, and almost unconsciously by what you notice out
+of the corner of either eye as you pass.
+
+Modern professionals, with very few exceptions, scull in disgracefully
+bad form. W. Haines, Wag Harding, and W. East, at his best, are perhaps
+the only exceptions I know to this rule. English professionals, owing to
+the manual labour with which most of them start life, become abnormally
+strong in the arms, and trust almost entirely to those muscles. Their
+want of swing, their rounded backs, and "hoicked" finish they carry with
+them into a rowing-boat. Nothing shows up their bad form in rowing so
+much as sandwiching a few pros. in a goodish amateur crew--"by their
+style ye shall know them." They have acquired a style which does not
+answer, and which they cannot get rid of, and they consider an Eight can
+be propelled in the same manner as a sculling-boat. Nothing is more
+erroneous. They cannot assimilate their style to the correct one. Two
+pros. sometimes make a fair pair, because they may happen to "hoick"
+along in the same style. Professional Fours are a little worse than
+Pairs, and their Eights disgraceful. I am of opinion (and I fancy most
+men who know anything about rowing will agree with me) that England's
+eight best amateurs in a rowing-boat would simply lose England's eight
+best pros. over any course from a mile upwards. This inability to
+assimilate one's style to that of another man, or body of men, may be
+the reason why some excellent amateur scullers proved inferior oars, or
+it may be that they can go at their own pace and not at another man's. I
+myself have often felt on getting out of a sculling-boat into an Eight
+great difficulty and much weariness at being compelled to go on at
+another man's pace, and only to easy at another's order. If you are
+practising for sculling as well as rowing there is nothing like being
+_captain_ of an Eight or stroke of a Pair or Four.
+
+The novice, if he has toiled so far as this, is no doubt by now saying
+to himself that I am only repeating what he knows already, and that what
+he especially requires are hints as to rigging his boat, size and shape
+of sculls, and various measurements, the pace of stroke he ought to go,
+etc., Of course, the smaller the blade the quicker the stroke, and _vice
+vers[^a]_. It should be remembered that even 1/16 of an inch extra in the
+breadth of a blade makes a lot of difference. Blades, I think, should
+vary according to the liveliness of water rowed on, and according to the
+strength of the individual. For myself, I am rather in favour of smaller
+blades than are generally used. My experience leads me to believe that
+racing sculls should be from 9 ft. 8-1/2 ins. to 9 ft. 9-1/2 ins. in
+length all over; in-board measurement from 2 ft. 8-1/4 ins. to 2 ft. 9
+ins., but, of course, this entirely depends on how much you like your
+sculls to overlap. When they are at right angles to the boat, my sculls
+overlap so much that there is a hand's-breadth of space in between my
+crossed hands. The length of blade should be about 2 ft.; breadth of
+blade, from 5-3/4 ins. to 6-1/4 ins. Even on the tideway sculls should
+be as light as a good scull-maker can turn them out, so long as they
+retain their stiffness. Do not, however, sacrifice stiffness to
+lightness. It is rather interesting to compare these measurements with
+those of a pair of sculls hanging over my head as I write; these were
+used in a championship race eighty years ago, and have a heavy square
+loom to counteract their length and consequent weight out-board. The
+measurements are--8 ft. 8 ins. in length over all, 1 ft. 9 ins.
+in-board; length of blade, 2 ft. 5 ins.; breadth of blade, 3-1/8 ins. I
+give below roughly what should be the measurements of a boat according
+to the weight of the sculler. For a man of--
+
+                 9 stone.   12 stone.      13 stone.
+  Length        30 ft.       31 ft.       31 ft. 3 ins.
+  Width         9 ins.       10-1/2 ins.  11-1/2 ins.
+  Depth         5-1/4 ins.    5-1/2 ins.   5-3/4 ins.
+    "  forward  3-1/4 ins.    3-1/2 ins.   3-5/8 ins.
+    "  aft      2-1/2 ins.    2-1/2 ins.   2-5/8 ins.
+  Weight        24 lbs.       28 lbs.      34 lbs.
+
+As to slide, I hold that a man should slide to a point level with his
+rowing-pin--never past it, lest the boat should be pinched instead of
+being driven at the beginning of the stroke. The clogs should be fixed
+at an angle of 55 deg. to the keel (_i.e._ an angle measured along the back
+of the clogs). If the angle is much smaller, the feet and legs lose
+power when the sculler is full back, and the drive at the finish is
+weakened. If the angle is greater, the difficulty of bending the
+ankle-joints sufficiently as the slide moves forward becomes very
+serious. The distance of fifteen inches from the heel of the clogs to
+the edge of slide when full forward may be slightly reduced, but only
+slightly. For instance, if reduced, as is sometimes done, to ten inches,
+the body comes too close to the heels in the forward position to enable
+the sculler to get a strong, direct, and immediate drive, and the boat
+is pinched.
+
+A very old sculling-boat of mine--and perhaps the best that Clasper ever
+built--was built for Mr. F. I. Pitman in 1886. She owed her pace to the
+fact that she was very long aft, and consequently never got up by the
+head; her cut-water was always in the water, even when her occupant was
+full forward; and the most marvellous thing was that, low as she was,
+she did not bury her nose, considering that she had to endure a weight
+of 170 lbs. or so, shifting its position fore and aft to the extent of
+sixteen inches. She is a marvel of the boat-builder's art, and was built
+of exceptionally close-framed cedar, which takes a long time to get
+water-soaked, and indeed should never do so if properly looked after.
+Her dimensions were: Length, 31 ft. 2 ins.; length from edge of sliding
+seat when forward to stern-post, 14 ft. 6-1/2 ins.; width, 11-1/4 ins.;
+depth forward, 3-1/4 ins.; depth aft, 2-5/8 ins.; depth amidships, 5-1/2
+ins.; from heels to back edge of slide when back, 3 ft. 5-1/4 ins.;
+leverage, _i.e._ measurement from thowl to thowl across, 4 ft. 9 ins.;
+from heels to edge of seat when forward, 15-1/4 inches. She won the
+Diamond Sculls in 1886, 1888, 1889, 1890; the amateur championship in
+1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890; besides the Metropolitan Sculls and
+several minor races.
+
+It is a great mistake to try and get a boat too light. The eagerness a
+man will display in cutting down everything to lessen the weight of his
+craft, until he is sitting on the water on a weak bit of nothing, is
+really astounding. Three or four extra pounds often make all the
+difference, whether a boat is stiff and keeps on travelling, or whether
+she jumps, cocks her head, and waggles about generally.
+
+As to the pace of stroke, from twenty-two to twenty-six strokes a minute
+is a fair practice paddle, twenty-four to twenty-eight for sculling
+hard, and in racing, even for a minute, never attempt anything over
+thirty-eight. I once sculled seventy-eight strokes in two minutes, and
+felt more dead than alive at the end of it. It is harder work to scull
+thirty-eight strokes in a minute than it is to row forty-four in the
+same time. If you do start at thirty-eight, drop down as soon as
+possible to thirty-four, thirty-two, or even thirty, according to
+circumstances of wind and weather, etc. My best advice to the novice is
+to go just fast enough to clean out his opponent before the same thing
+happens to himself, or, even better still, to get his opponent beaten,
+and leave himself fresh. But always remember if you are at all evenly
+matched, that however bad you feel yourself, your opponent is probably
+in just as bad a plight. Talking of pace reminds me of how soon even the
+best scullers tire. In sculling a course against time at Henley, a good
+man may get to Fawley, the halfway point, in about the same time as a
+Pair, and yet will be half a minute slower from that point to the
+finish; and for the last quarter-mile the veriest tiro can out-scull a
+champion, provided the latter has gone at his best pace throughout. In
+scull-racing the advantage of the lead is greater than in rowing, as a
+sculler can help his own steering by watching the direction of the
+other's craft. Yet you should never sacrifice your wind to obtain the
+advantage, for recollect that in sculling you can never take a blow or
+an easy for even a stroke. If you are behind, never turn round to look
+at your opponent, as by doing so you lose balance and pace, and many a
+good man has lost a race by so doing. Keep just so close up to your man
+as to prevent him giving you the disadvantage of his back wash.
+
+Training for sculling requires more time and practice than training for
+rowing. If it takes an Eight 6 weeks to get together and fit to race, it
+takes a Four 9 weeks, a Pair 12 weeks, and a Sculler 15 weeks. If a man
+is training for both rowing and sculling at the same time, and racing in
+both on the same day, it takes lengths and lengths off his pace, for
+rowing upsets all that precision so necessary in sculling. If a man
+sculls and rows at Henley, and does both on the same day, and practises
+for the same daily for a month beforehand, I should think it would make
+him from six to eight lengths slower on the Henley course. Otherwise,
+train as you would for rowing, the only difference being that a little
+more time should be spent in the actual sculling than is spent in the
+actual rowing.
+
+Having attended Henley Regatta since 1883, and having raced there for
+twelve years in succession, I have met with various scullers. Mr. J. C.
+Gardner, taking him all round, was the finest I have ever seen of
+amateurs. He was quite the best stripped man I have ever seen, his
+muscles standing out like bars of steel all over his body; he was a very
+neat, finished sculler, the only fault I could find with him being a
+tendency to a weak finish. W. S. Unwin, a light weight, was extremely
+neat, but his style was rather spoilt by a roundish back. F. I. Pitman,
+his great rival, was perhaps a better stayer, and had a more elegant
+style. Vivian Nickalls, for a long man, was a fine sculler, handicapped
+by an awkward finish and handicapped also by the fact that he never
+entirely gave his time up to sculling only--his chief characteristic
+being a fine, healthy, long body swing. M. Bidault, a Frenchman, who
+rowed in the Metropolitan Regatta some years ago, was 7 ft. 4-1/2 ins.
+high; he weighed 17 stone; his boat weighed 50 lbs., was 35 feet long,
+had a 5 ft. leverage; his sculls were 11 ft. 10 ins. long. Compare with
+him Wag Harding, with a boat 19-1/2 lbs. in weight, weighing 9 stone
+himself, and you will see in what different forms and shapes men can
+scull. And M. Bidault was a fast man for a quarter of a mile. The
+fastest sculler for half a mile I have ever seen was Herr Doering, who
+sculled for the Diamonds in 1887. The slowest man I have ever seen
+was---- Well, I won't mention names, as he might go in for the Diamond
+Sculls again. Rupert Guinness, although not what I should call a born
+sculler, obtained his great proficiency in sculling by dint of a very
+long and careful preparation, by months and months of continual
+practice, and by not hampering his sculling by entering and practising
+for rowing events at the same time--in fact, by making a speciality of
+sculling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+STEERING.
+
+(SOME HINTS TO NOVICE COXSWAINS.)
+
+_By G. L. Davis_,
+
+Cox of the Cambridge Eight, 1875-79; Cox of Leander, 1880-85.
+
+
+Many people think that any one, provided he be of the proper weight, is
+fitted to fill the post of coxswain.
+
+Nobody, however, knows better than the actual rowing man what an amount
+of useless labour and irritation a crew can be saved by possessing a
+good man in the stern, not to mention the assistance he can afford both
+directly and indirectly in getting a crew together. Certainly a mere
+tiro, having acquired the elementary knowledge that if he pulls the
+right rudder-line he will turn his boat to starboard, _i.e._ to the
+right, and that if he pulls his left line he will turn her to port,
+_i.e._ to the left, may be able to guide a boat sufficiently well for
+ordinary purposes; but even in the period of training a crew, and still
+more so in the race, there is undoubtedly plenty of scope for a clever
+coxswain to distinguish himself. There is no royal road to good
+steering. Pains and perseverance are necessary, as in every other branch
+of athletics. The attainment of perfection in steering is not all that
+is requisite; there are many other qualities added to this skill which
+combine to make a coxswain worthy to be reckoned in the front rank--a
+position which all coxswains should aim for.
+
+In the days of Tom Egan the steerer had to act as coach to his crew, but
+nowadays he is no longer called upon to do so. He is, in the first
+place, chosen on account of his light weight; but eligible though he may
+be in this respect, he is too often quite incapable in other ways of
+performing his duties. Should this be the case, a crew would be well
+advised in carrying a few more pounds, or even a stone or two extra, if
+by so doing they manage to gain an able and experienced coxswain. There
+are certain qualities which are absolutely essential in the right sort.
+He should have light hands, judgment, a cool head, and plenty of nerve
+to enable him to keep his presence of mind in the face of a sudden
+predicament or unforeseen danger. There are numberless occasions both in
+practice and during races when risks are run. A boat laden with
+pleasure-seekers may suddenly pop out from the bank into the course. The
+coolness of the coxswain may avert very much more serious consequences
+than the loss of a stroke or two, such as a broken rigger or an injury
+to an oarsman, by a touch of the rudder and a ready appeal to his crew
+to mind their oars.
+
+During a University Boat Race, in which I was steering the Cambridge
+Boat, a waterman's wherry, with two or three occupants, was suddenly
+pulled out from the Surrey shore at a short distance above Hammersmith
+Bridge. The course at this point lies somewhat near to the bank, and the
+Oxford Boat was nearly level with mine. The wherry was directly in my
+way, and, as far as I could make out, those who were in it seemed to be
+in doubt as to whether they should row still further out or make for the
+shore. If I went to the right, a foul was imminent with the Oxford Boat;
+if to the left, I should have got into slack water and lost ground by
+the _d['e]tour_. There was no time for those in the wherry to waste in
+making up their minds, so I promptly made straight for them with the
+object of driving them out of my course. The desired effect followed.
+They got sufficient way on in the direction of the shore to enable me to
+steer straight on and clear them. My action involved the ticklish
+question of judgment of distance and of pace, namely, should I reach the
+spot before the wherry was clear; and this anecdote illustrates my
+point--that quickness in making up the mind, and, when it is made up, in
+acting, is _essential_ to a coxswain.
+
+The duties of a coxswain consist of many and varied details. To make a
+smart crew, attention should be paid to discipline both in and out of
+the boat, and he can and ought to further this object to the utmost of
+his power, thereby saving the coach or captain a great deal of trouble.
+If the coxswain of a light eight-oared racing ship has been ordered to
+get her into the water, he ought to be there to superintend the order
+being carried out. He should bid his crew "stand by" their riggers, and
+see that each man is in readiness to lift and carry her to the water's
+edge. There is generally a waterman at hand, but whether there is or
+not, the coxswain should be ready, if necessary, to remove any stool
+upon which the ship may have been resting, so as to prevent any
+stumbling on the part of his men. His place is near the rudder (unless
+she is launched stern foremost, when, of course, it would be
+impossible), to prevent any injury happening to it, until the boat is
+safely in the water. He will then get the oarsmen into her in an orderly
+manner. There is necessity for this, for otherwise the boat's back may
+be strained. This might occur by allowing stroke and bow to get in
+first, owing to a boat of such length and lightness of build being
+supported in the centre and at the same time weighted at each end. The
+best order for the men to take their places is, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7, bow,
+and then stroke. The coxswain should call out their numbers one by one,
+holding the boat firmly whilst they take their seats, and on no account
+allow more than one man to get in at the same time. In disembarking, it
+is part of his duty to see that the crew leave the ship in the reverse
+order. The coxswain seats himself in the aftermost thwart perfectly
+upright, with his legs crossed tailor-fashion, and takes up the
+rudder-lines one in each hand; and, before he gives any command, should
+see that his steering gear is in proper order. It is a common and useful
+custom for the purpose of preventing the hand from slipping, to have
+attached to each line a piece of wood of about three to four inches in
+length, and one and a half in circumference, called a tug. These the
+coxswain clasps tightly, one in each hand. Some coxswains hold their
+rudder-lines in front of the body, others behind; but in my opinion the
+best place to hold them is by the side, with the hands resting one on
+each gunwale. The coxswain, by thus supporting himself, can better
+preserve a firm and steady seat. He should never slip about on his seat,
+but always keep his body as nearly as possible erect, and balanced from
+his hips. He must on no account roll with the boat, and should endeavour
+to prevent himself being moved to and fro by the action of the rowers.
+Often a narrow strip of wood is nailed to the seat the better to enable
+him to sit firm. The lines must be kept taut, and tied together in front
+of him, lest by any accident he should lose one or both overboard. After
+having shoved off and paddled into position, he should see that the
+bows of his boat point straight for the course he wishes to steer. He
+will then start his crew by calling upon them to "get ready," when they
+will divest themselves of any superfluous clothing and make any other
+necessary preparations. He will then say "Forward!" or "Forward all!"
+for them to come forward in readiness for the first stroke. He should
+now take care that his boat is level, and should tell the oarsmen on the
+side to which she may list to raise their hands, or call upon the crew
+to get her level. After that he asks, "Are you ready?" as a final
+warning, and lastly cries, "Row!" or "Paddle!" as may be required. Some
+other forms are employed, but this is as good as any, and better than
+most, and the same words should always be used when once adopted. In the
+event of a crew making a bad start, they should be at once stopped and
+restarted. If the coxswain be desirous for his crew to stop rowing or
+paddling, "Easy all!" is the term to use, and this order should be given
+almost immediately after the commencement of a stroke, to prevent the
+rowers coming forward for the next one. In case it may be necessary to
+bring his boat up sharp, he will say, "Hold her up all!"[12] and if (at
+any time) there is any danger of the oars touching anything, he should
+cry, "Mind your oars, bow side," or "stroke side," as the case may be.
+The boat is ordinarily turned on the port (left) side by calling upon
+bow and No. 3 to paddle, and stroke and No. 6 to back water, or back,
+for brevity; and on the starboard (right) side by calling upon Nos. 2
+and 4 to paddle, and Nos. 5 and 7 to back. In each case the coxswain
+naturally assists with the rudder. When turning a racing ship, for fear
+of weakening her, the paddling and rowing should not take place
+simultaneously.
+
+  [12] This is the term used at Cambridge, where "Hold her" is also used
+  with the same meaning. At Oxford, "Hold her up" means "Paddle on
+  gently;" and "Hold her all," or "Stop her all," would be the order if a
+  sudden stoppage were required. To carry out such an order the rowers
+  turn the blades flat on the water, and raise their hands quickly, thus
+  burying blades in the water.
+
+Whatever the coxswain addresses to his crew should be spoken clearly and
+distinctly, so that all may hear without difficulty. The preceding
+instructions comprise most of the everyday terms that a coxswain should
+know.
+
+Now let me turn to his functions of a semi-coaching character, of
+keeping his crew in time. Whether the crew are rowing or paddling, he
+must carefully watch the time of the oars, both as they catch the water
+and leave it. If the oarsman catches the water too soon, he should be
+told not to hurry; if too late, he should be told, "You're late." If he
+leaves it too soon, or, as it is called, clips his stroke at the finish,
+he should be told to finish it out, etc. (but if an oarsman finishes it
+after the stroke, I cannot advise the coxswain to take notice of it).
+All these semi-coaching remarks, if I may so call them, should be
+prefaced with the number of the crew to whom they are addressed, for the
+purpose of calling his attention, and must be used with judgment and
+tact, for nothing can be more aggravating, not to say maddening, to an
+oarsman at any time, more especially when fagged in a race, to hear
+incessantly the possibly high-pitched and monotonous tones of a
+coxswain. There is only one fault that will excuse him shouting himself
+hoarse, if he be so disposed, and it is the fault, or rather vice, of
+one of the crew looking out of the boat; and he should at once cry,
+"Eyes in the boat!" and continue to do so until he is obeyed. There are
+certain acts of watermanship which an efficient coxswain will not
+neglect to carry out, namely, when turning to come down-stream, to swing
+his boat round by pulling her head outwards into the current; and, on
+the other hand, when turning to proceed up-stream, to thrust her nose
+into the slack water inshore, and allow her stern to come round in the
+same manner; and always to bring his boat in to the raft or
+landing-stage with her head pointing up-stream.
+
+There is no need for me to set out the rules of the road for a coxswain
+to follow, as they can be read at any time in the Rowing Almanack, which
+comes out annually, and is published at the _Field_ office.
+
+To steer a straight course, a coxswain should fix upon a high and
+conspicuous object some distance ahead, and endeavour to keep the nose
+of his boat dead on it; and when learning his course, he should remember
+to choose objects of a permanent nature, or in the race he will be in
+difficulties. Now, the keeping of a straight course is not so simple as
+it appears; in fact, it is a most difficult thing to do properly, and
+there is no case in which the advantage of a coxswain with light hands
+is better displayed. It will be noticed that such a one leaves scarcely
+a ripple in his wake, whilst another will leave a considerable wash. The
+reason of it is this: that whilst the former uses practically no rudder,
+the latter, by first pulling one line and then the other, causes the
+stern of his boat to swing from side to side, until, as the sailors say,
+she becomes wild--that is to say, so unsteady that the further she
+travels the more rudder she will require to prevent her bows from yawing
+and to keep her course. He should never steer for a curve in the bank or
+for other projections--as, for instance, the buttress of a bridge--in
+such a manner as to be compelled to sheer out to clear them. He should
+approach a sharp corner as wide as possible, in order to reduce the
+acuteness of the angle at which he will have to take it, and should have
+the boat's head round by the time that the axis or pivot, if I may use
+the term, on which the boat swings, and which in the eight-oared boats I
+steered was usually trimmed to be somewhere between the seats of Nos. 4
+and 5, is off the most prominent point.
+
+The difficulty of taking this sort of corner is increased when the
+course lies up-stream, according to the strength of the current; for not
+only does the current acting on the bows tend to prevent the boat
+coming round, but also to drive her head towards the opposite bank. When
+the Cam at Cambridge is in flood, "Grassy" and Ditton are corners of
+this character, but usually that river runs sluggishly. But even then
+these corners present many difficulties. "Grassy" is on the right bank
+of the river, and therefore on the coxswain's left; Ditton is on his
+right. The former is the harder to manipulate properly, by reason of the
+river becoming a narrow neck shortly before the corner is reached.
+
+In taking "Grassy," the coxswain should keep close to the tow-path bank
+until he commences to make the turn. It is impossible to explain on
+paper the exact spot when he should do so. The common fault is to begin
+too soon. Practice and experience only can teach him when to time his
+action correctly; but having acquired this knowledge, he will get his
+boat round with but a moderate amount of rudder, especially if he call
+upon bow and No. 3 for a little extra assistance.
+
+Some years ago, during the Lent Term Bumping Races at Cambridge, the
+coxswain of one of the boats, with the intention of cutting off the
+preceding one as it was being steered round in the correct way, took
+this very corner close to the inside bend at its very commencement, and
+in so doing acted contrary to the principle of giving a sharp corner a
+wide berth at the first part. The consequence was that, having failed to
+calculate the pace at which the other was travelling, and having missed
+his bump, he found it impossible to bring his boat round, ran high and
+dry on to the opposite bank, and was, of course, himself bumped.
+
+Ditton should be approached as wide as the coxswain can manage, by
+hugging the opposite bank until he begins to bring the boat's head
+round, which, as in the case of Grassy, should not be done until as late
+as possible. Here, too, Nos. 2 and 4 may be called upon to help her
+round. The rudder should be put on between the strokes as a rule,
+gradually, and not with a jerk, which has a tendency to cause the boat
+to roll. It should be used as lightly as possible, and never under
+ordinary circumstances put hard on. The effect of a cross wind is to
+drive the stern of a boat to leeward, and to bring her bows up into the
+wind. This should be counteracted by the coxswain steering to windward
+of his usual course, and by lee rudder to meet her: how much can only
+be learnt by experience, and must be regulated by the strength of the
+wind. The fin, which is a thin plate of metal fixed slightly abaft the
+coxswain's seat on her keelson, is of great assistance in keeping the
+boat straight under such circumstances.
+
+The coxswain should pick up information relating to his course by
+observation, inquiries, and in every way he can, and, previous to a
+race, he should take careful stock of the direction and force of the
+wind, and shape his course accordingly. It is a good plan to be taken
+over the course either in a row-boat or launch, by some one acquainted
+with it, for the purposes of instruction. He can gain a general idea of
+the Putney to Mortlake course by watching the barges which float up and
+down the river with the tide, and are kept in mid-stream by long sweeps.
+But every coxswain should learn to scull; he can then not only get his
+weight down by exercise, if required, but familiarize himself with the
+set of the stream, flats, and other peculiarities of a course by actual
+experience. Training for the purpose of reducing the weight of the
+coxswain is a questionable expedient; but if practised with moderation,
+and if natural means are employed, the object, if worth it--which I very
+much doubt--may be attained, and little harm done; but weakness, the
+result of excessive wasting, is not unfrequently accompanied with an
+impaired judgment and loss of nerve, the absence of which may lead to
+serious consequences. Moreover, a coxswain not only requires a certain
+amount of physical strength to manage a boat of the length of an
+eight-oar, but, to do himself justice, should come to the post feeling
+full of energy and determination. In level races the coxswain of the
+leading boat should never take his opponents' water, unless reasonably
+certain that he cannot be overtaken, for a sudden sheer out involving
+loss of pace and ground at a critical time has before now lost a race;
+and when alongside, and in close proximity, he should avoid watching the
+other boat, otherwise he will in all probability steer into it, such is
+the apparent force of attraction exercised over a coxswain by the
+opposing crew. One coxswain should not "bore" the other. Boring is the
+act of one coxswain steering closer and closer to another until he
+gradually succeeds in pushing him out of his own water. This cannot
+take place when both coxswains engaged are equally skilful, and equally
+well acquainted with the course, for neither will give way. At the best
+it is not sportsmanlike, and there is no desire on the part of the
+majority of rowing men to win a race by the trickery of the coxswains.
+At the annual University Boat Race Dinner, when the old Blues and other
+friends assemble to do honour to the two crews, it is the time-honoured
+custom to drink the health of the coxswains. On one of these occasions,
+a well-known Oxford coxswain, who, in the fog that prevailed at the
+start of the race, had been pressed out of his course by the opposing
+crew, in returning thanks made a witty allusion to the subject in these
+words: "I have been," he said, "very much interested in this race, but I
+have also been very much bored." It was a speech meant for the occasion,
+and was received with the applause it deserved; but it was not meant
+seriously, nor was it taken so by his equally well-known Cambridge
+rival.
+
+I may at this point give a word of advice to a coxswain in a Bumping
+Race. He should, throughout the race, keep his true course, and not
+follow any vagaries of the boat in front of him, except with the
+immediate object of making his bump; he must never shoot for his bump
+when going round a corner, and ought always to make sure of his position
+before making a shot, so as not to waste the energy of his men by
+missing time after time, and zigzagging across the river. When he has
+been bumped, or has made a bump, he should at once clear out of the way
+to make room for the boats following. In all races he should encourage
+his crew at intervals with such expressions as, "Now, you fellows! Well
+rowed! On to it!" etc. But an incessant flow of language not only sounds
+ridiculous, but must be a nuisance to the crew themselves. In a
+ding-dong race, however, when neither crew can get away from the other,
+he will naturally urge them more strenuously to further exertions. He
+should watch the time as carefully as in practice, and call upon his
+crew to "Reach out," or "Keep it long," if he notices that they are
+getting short and scratchy; and he may quietly keep the stroke posted up
+in the doings of the opponents, telling him how they are rowing, how far
+ahead they are, and so on. In training quarters, especially if the crew
+are despondent, the more depressed they are, the more he should
+endeavour to cheer them up and inspire confidence in them.
+
+Finally, let me advise coxswains when steering to wear warm and
+waterproof clothing in cold and wet weather, and thus possibly save
+themselves much suffering from rheumatism and other complaints in
+after-life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD.
+
+_By C. M. Pitman,_
+
+New College; President O.U.B.C. 1895.
+
+
+If we try to examine the causes of success or failure, of a run of good
+crews or bad crews from one University or the other, it is impossible to
+overestimate the importance of good organization, good management, and
+friendly rivalry in the college boat clubs. In the long run, the success
+or failure of the University Crew depends in no small measure upon the
+amount of trouble taken and the amount of keenness shown by the various
+colleges in practising for their different races during the year. It is
+only by very careful coaching and assiduous practice in his college
+Torpid and Eight, that a man who has not rowed before going up to the
+University can ever hope to attain to a place in the University Crew;
+and it is only by trying to apply his learning to advantage in
+college races during the year that one who has just gained his blue can
+hope to be of greater value to the University in the following spring.
+
+[Illustration: A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+Only a small number of the men who take up rowing at the University
+attain to a seat in the Trial Eights, and fewer still, of course, get
+their blue. It is by rowing for their college, then, in Eight or Torpid,
+that the majority of University men gain their experience, and so it is
+but natural that even more interest is usually manifested in the
+practice of the Eights than in that of the University Crew itself.
+
+Most of the colleges at Oxford have now what is known as an "amalgamated
+club," which supplies the finances of all the various branches of
+athletics. That is to say, every undergraduate member of the college
+pays a fixed subscription to the amalgamated club fund, and the money
+thus collected is allotted proportionately to the different college
+clubs. The money thus allotted, with the addition in some cases of small
+sums received as entrance fees for college races, forms the income of
+the college boat club; and out of this income is paid a capitation fee
+to the University Boat Club, which varies according to the number of
+undergraduates on the college books, the rest of the money being devoted
+to providing boats, oars, etc.--the ordinary expenses, in fact, for
+carrying on the college boat club.
+
+A freshman, when he first comes up to Oxford, has, as a rule, made up
+his mind to which particular branch of athletics he intends to devote
+himself. If he intends to play football, and does not happen to have
+come up with a great reputation from his public school, he finds it
+somewhat hard at first, however good he may be, to make himself known;
+but if he makes up his mind to row, he finds everything cut and dried
+for him.
+
+At the beginning of the October Term, a notice is put up for the benefit
+of freshmen and others, that those desirous of being coached must be at
+the barge on and after a certain day, at 2.30. The coaching is
+undertaken by any of the college Eight of the preceding term who are in
+residence, and any others whom the captain of the boat club may consider
+qualified. The men are taken out at first in tub-pairs or heavy fours;
+and grotesque, to say the least of it, are the movements of the average
+freshmen during the first few days of his rowing career. The majority of
+men who get into a boat for the first time in their lives seem to
+imagine that it is necessary to twist their bodies into the most
+uncomfortable and unnatural it positions, and is hard at first to
+persuade them that the movements of a really good oar are easy, natural,
+and even graceful. It is not long, however, as a rule, before a
+considerable improvement becomes manifest, and, at the end of the first
+fortnight or so of the term, most of the novices have begun to get a
+grasp of the first principles of the art.
+
+About the end of the second week of the term the freshmen are picked up
+into Fours. These crews, which row in heavy tub-boats, practise for
+about three weeks for a race, which is rowed during the fifth or sixth
+week of the term. After a day or two of rest, the best men from these
+Fours are taken out in eights. No one who has not rowed in an eight with
+a crew composed almost entirely of beginners can imagine the discomfort,
+I might almost say the agony, of these first two or three rows. One of
+the chief causes of this is that the boats used on such occasions are
+usually, from motives of economy, very old ones, the riggers being often
+twisted and bent by the crabs of former generations, and the boats
+themselves heavy and inclined to be waterlogged.
+
+During the last day or two of the term, the captain, with a view to
+making up his Torpids for the next term, generally tries to arrange one
+or two crews selected from the best of the freshmen and such of the old
+hands as are available; and justly proud is a freshman if, having got
+into a boat for the first time at the beginning of the term, he finds
+himself among the select few for the first Torpid at the end of it.
+
+At the beginning of the Lent Term the energies of the college boat clubs
+are entirely devoted to the selection and preparation of the crews for
+the Torpids. The smaller colleges have one crew and the larger ones two,
+and in some cases three, crews each. No one who has rowed in his college
+Eight in the races of the previous summer is permitted to row in the
+Torpid, so the crews are generally composed partly of men who rowed in
+the Torpid of the preceding year, but who were not quite good enough to
+get into the Eight, and partly of freshmen; the boats used must be
+clinker built of five streaks, with a minimum beam measurement of 2 ft.
+2 in. measured inside, and with fixed seats.
+
+Although I do not propose here to say anything about the general subject
+of training, I cannot refrain from making one remark. It is in
+practising for the Torpids that freshmen generally get their first
+experience of strict training, and for this reason there is no crew more
+difficult to train than a Torpid. Most of the men after their first
+experience of regular work have fine healthy appetites, and, as a rule,
+eat about twice as much as is good for them, with the result that, even
+if they escape violent indigestion, they are painfully short-winded, and
+find the greatest difficulty in rowing a fast stroke. The Torpids train
+for about three weeks before the races, which take place at the end of
+the fourth and the fifth weeks in term. They last for six nights, and
+are bumping races, the boats starting 160 ft. apart. A hundred and sixty
+feet is a very considerable distance to make up in about three quarters
+of a mile, and at the head of a division a crew must be about fifteen
+seconds faster over the course to make certain of a bump.
+
+Of performances in the Torpids that of Brasenose stands by itself. They
+finished at the head of the river in 1885, and remained there for eleven
+years, until they were displaced by New College in 1896.
+
+The only other race in the Lent Term is the Clinker Fours. This race is
+rowed in sliding-seat clinker-built boats, and the crews consist of men
+who have not rowed in the Trial Eights or in the _first_ division of the
+Eights in the previous Summer Term. For some occult reason there is
+never a large entry for the Clinker Fours, although the race affords an
+excellent opportunity of seeing how the best of the Torpid men row on
+slides, and should thus be a great help to the captain of a college boat
+club in making up his Eight for the next term. With so small an entry
+for the Clinker Fours, most of the college captains devote their time
+after the Torpids, for the rest of the term, to coaching their men in
+sliding-seat tubs, the time at the beginning of the Summer Term being so
+short that it is absolutely necessary to get the men who have been
+rowing on fixed seats in the Torpids thoroughly accustomed to slides by
+the end of the Lent Term, and also to have the composition of the
+next term's Eight as nearly as possible settled.
+
+[Illustration: LENT RACES IN THE PLOUGH REACH.]
+
+At the beginning of the Summer Term, time, as I have said, is rather
+short, and consequently it is the custom at most colleges to make the
+Eight come into residence about a week before the end of the vacation.
+The _esprit de corps_ and energy which are shown during the practice
+are, perhaps, the most noticeable features of college rowing at
+Oxford--a circumstance to which may be attributed the fact that the
+crews turned out by the colleges at the top of the river are often
+wonderfully good, considering the material out of which they are formed.
+The Eights are rowed at the end of the fourth week and at the beginning
+of the fifth week in term, six nights in all. They start 130 ft.
+apart--that is to say, 30 ft. less than the Torpids. About the same
+number of boats row in a division in the former as in the latter, the
+bottom boat starting at the same place in each case; consequently the
+head boat in the Eights has a slightly longer course to row than the
+head Torpid.
+
+The start of a boat race is always rather nervous work for the crews,
+but the start of a bumping race is worse in this respect than any. A
+spectator who cares to walk down the bank and look at the crews waiting
+at their posts for the start cannot fail to notice that even the most
+experienced men look extremely uncomfortable.
+
+[Illustration: A START IN THE EIGHTS.]
+
+The start is managed thus: at the starting-point of each boat a short
+wooden post is driven firmly into the ground. These posts are exactly
+130 ft. apart, and to each is attached a thin rope 60 ft. long with a
+bung at the end, while by each post a punt is moored. About twenty
+minutes or a quarter of an hour before the appointed time, the crews
+start from their barges and paddle gently down to their respective
+starting-places, where they take up their positions alongside of the
+punts. Five minutes before the starting-time the first gun is fired as a
+sort of warning. These guns are fired punctually to the second, and by
+the first gun the men who are going to start the different crews set
+their stop-watches. The duty of these "starters" is to keep the crews
+informed of the exact time, by calling out, "One minute gone," "Two
+minutes gone," etc. The second gun goes one minute before the start, and
+as soon as it is fired, the waterman slowly pushes the boat out from
+the side of the punt by means of a long pole pressed against stroke's
+rigger, the coxswain holding the bung at arm's-length in his left hand,
+with the cord taut so as to counteract the pressure of the pole, and
+"bow" and "two" paddling very gently so as to keep the boat at the very
+furthest extension of the rope. "Thirty seconds more," calls the
+starter; "fifteen," "ten," "five," "four," "three," "two," "look
+out"--Bang! and, except for those who are doomed to be bumped, the worst
+is over till the next night. Directly a bump is made both the boat which
+has made the bump and the boat which is bumped draw to one side, and on
+the next night the boat which has made the bump starts in front of its
+victim of the preceding evening. The Eights are the last event of the
+season in which the colleges compete against one another on the river,
+and the interest and excitement of the college in the doings of its crew
+generally find their final outlet, in the case of a college which has
+made five or six bumps or finished head of the river, in a bump
+supper--an entertainment of a nature peculiar to Oxford and Cambridge,
+which is, perhaps, better left to the imagination than described in
+detail.
+
+It is a curious fact that, although the ideal aimed at by each college
+is the same, different colleges seem to adhere, to a very considerable
+extent, year after year to the same merits and the same faults. One
+college gets the reputation of not being able to row a fast-enough
+stroke; another, of being ready to race a week before the races and of
+getting worse as the races proceed, and, try as hard as they like, they
+do not seem to be able to shake off the effect of the reputation of
+their predecessors. So, again, one college gets the reputation of rowing
+better in the races than could possibly be expected from their form in
+practice, or of always improving during the races. The most notable case
+of late years, perhaps, was the traditional pluck of Brasenose. For
+eleven years in the Torpids and for three years in the Eights their
+certain downfall was predicted, but year after year, sometimes by the
+skin of their teeth and sometimes with ease, they managed to get home.
+The best performances in the Eights, as a matter of mere paper record,
+are those of Trinity and Magdalen, who have each rowed head of the river
+for four years in succession, the former in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864,
+and the latter in 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. Magdalen can also boast
+of not having finished lower than third in the Eights for some fifteen
+years. Brasenose have finished head of the river fourteen times since
+the races were started in 1836; University nine times, and Magdalen
+seven times. The best performance in any one year is that of New College
+in the season 1895-96, when they completely swept the board, being head
+of the river in Eights and Torpids, and winning the University Fours,
+Pairs, and Sculls. The only other college race besides those I have
+described is the Fours. This race is rowed in coxswainless racing-ships
+during the fourth week of the October Term. It is a "time" race, the
+crews, which row two in a heat, starting eighty yards apart, the
+finishing-posts being, of course, divided by the same distance. A time
+race is a very unsatisfactory affair compared with an ordinary "breast"
+race, but it is rendered necessary by the narrow winding river, for
+there is not room between Iffley and Oxford for two boats to row
+abreast. Oxford College crews, undoubtedly excellent though they often
+are, have been singularly unsuccessful at Henley. The Grand Challenge
+Cup has only been won by a college crew from Oxford twice within the
+memory of the present generation (_i.e._ by Exeter, in 1882, and by New
+College in the present year). Wadham, it is true, won it in almost
+prehistoric times (1849), and the tradition is handed down that they
+took the light blue in their colours from those of the crew which they
+defeated--a tradition which I need hardly say the members of the sister
+University always meet with a most emphatic denial.
+
+It may, perhaps, seem that so far I have described college rowing as if
+its organization were so perfect that there is little or no difficulty
+in managing a college boat club successfully. This is by no means the
+case. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, even though it be merely
+that of the captaincy of a college boat club.
+
+In the first place, it is not always as easy as might be imagined to get
+men to row. Men who cannot be induced to row when they come up to the
+University may be divided into two classes--those who refuse because
+they do not wish to take up any branch of athletics, and those who will
+not row because they wish to do something else. The former class (_i.e._
+those of them who, after a moderate amount of persuasion, will not come
+down to the river) are not, as a rule, worth bothering about. They are
+generally weak, soft creatures, whose highest ambition is to walk
+overdressed about the "High," and, if possible, to be considered
+"horsey" without riding--the class, in fact, generally known as
+"bloods." Or else they belong to that worthy class of beings who come up
+to the University to read and only to read, and imagine that it is
+therefore impossible for them to row. The "blood" is, or should be,
+beneath the contempt of the rowing authorities, and the "bookworm" is
+generally impervious to argument, in spite of the fact that he would be
+able to read much harder if he took regular exercise.
+
+With regard, however, to those men who refuse to row because they want
+to go in for something else, a little diplomacy and a little personal
+trouble on the part of the college captain, such as coaching men at odd
+hours, once or twice a week, when it suits their convenience, will often
+work wonders. Instances of this may be seen in the fact that many
+colleges have of late years been materially assisted by a sturdy
+football player in the Torpid or Eight, and in the fact that Rugby
+football blues have rowed in the University Eight during the last three
+years. Another great difficulty which the captains of the smaller
+college boat clubs have to face is that of procuring good boats with
+very limited finances. The usual practice is to save up money for
+several years to buy a new eight, and to continue to row in her long
+after she has become practically useless, and, indeed, positively
+incompatible with good rowing. This is a difficulty which can to a great
+extent be got over by getting second-hand boats. These can be bought for
+about half price when they have only been used one or two seasons by the
+University, or by one of the larger (and therefore richer) college boat
+clubs, which can afford to get a new boat as often as they want one. By
+this means a college boat club, however poor, can always have a boat
+which, if not quite new, is at least comparatively modern, instead of
+being a water-logged hulk some eight or ten years old, such as one often
+sees wriggling along at the tail end of the Eights.
+
+Yet another obstacle is there which it is not easy to overcome. It is
+often almost impossible to find a trustworthy coach. There is nearly
+always some one in residence who is considered capable of looking after
+the college Eight, but the ignorance of college coaches is often only
+too manifest from the arrant nonsense they may be heard shouting on the
+bank. There is only one remedy I can suggest. Let the college captain
+secure some member of the University Crew, or any one else who knows
+what he is talking about, to take the crew for a couple of days, and
+_make the College coach accompany him_. He will thus learn something of
+the rowing of the crew, and you will hear him the next day pointing out
+the _real_ faults to which his attention has thus been called.
+
+In conclusion, I must add that, keen though the rivalry between the
+various colleges always is, it is a rivalry which, by the encouragement
+it gives to rowing, confers good and good only upon the interests of the
+O.U.B.C., and never degenerates into a jealousy which might be
+prejudicial to the success of the University as a whole. The college
+captains elect as president of the O.U.B.C. the man whom they consider
+to be best fitted for the post, to whatever college he may belong, for
+they know that the president will select his crew absolutely
+impartially, will never think of unjustly preferring men who belong to
+his own college, but will always do his best to serve the interests of
+the University.[13]
+
+  [13] For further details of college rowing at Oxford and Cambridge, the
+  reader is referred to the extracts from the rules and regulations of the
+  two University Boat Clubs printed in the appendix to this book.
+
+[Illustration: THE GOLDIE BOATHOUSE.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+COLLEGE ROWING AT CAMBRIDGE.
+
+
+The casual visitor would scarcely imagine that Cambridge resembled
+either Macedon or Monmouth in the possession of a river. He sees in The
+Backs what looks rather like a huge moat, designed to keep marauders
+from the sacred college courts, and filled with discoloured water,
+destitute seemingly of all stream. This he knows cannot be the racing
+river. The innumerable bridges forbid the notion, although Ouida has, in
+one of her novels, sprinkled it with a mixture of racing Eights and
+water-lilies. He wanders on from college to college, and nowhere does he
+come across the slightest sign of the river of which he has heard so
+much. Indeed, a man may stroll on Midsummer Common within about a
+hundred yards of the boat-houses without suspecting the existence of the
+Cam. I can well remember convoying to the river an enthusiastic
+freshman who had just joined his college boat club. At every step I was
+asked whether we were yet approaching the noble stream. I answered
+evasively, and with an air of mystery which befits a third-year man in
+the presence of freshmen. At length we turned on to the common, which is
+bounded by the Cam; on the further bank stand the boat-houses. There
+were crowds of men busy in the yards, there were coaches riding on the
+nearer bank, but of the river itself there was no indication. We were
+still about two hundred yards away when a Lady Margaret Eight passed,
+the heads of the crew in their scarlet caps being just visible above the
+river-bank as they swung backwards and forwards in their boat. I felt my
+freshman's grip tightening on my arm. Suddenly he stood stock still and
+rubbed his eyes. "Good heavens!" he said in an awestruck voice, "what on
+earth are those little red animals I see running up and down there?
+Funniest thing I ever saw." I reassured him, and in a few moments more
+we arrived at the Cam, crossed it in a "grind," and solved the puzzle.
+Distance, therefore, can scarcely be said to lend enchantment to the
+view, since at anything over one hundred yards it withdraws the Cam
+altogether from our sight. It is not easy, indeed, to see where the
+attractions of the Cam come in. It has been called with perfect justice
+a ditch, a canal, and a sewer, but not even the wildest enthusiasm would
+have supposed it to be a running stream, or ventured at first sight to
+call it a river. Yet this slow and muddy thread of water has been for
+more than seventy years the scene of excitements and triumphs and
+glories without end. Upon its shallow stream future judges and bishops
+and Parliament-men--not to speak of the great host of minor celebrities
+and the vaster army of future obscurities--have sought exercise and
+relaxation; to its unsightly banks their memory still fondly turns
+wherever their lot may chance to be cast, and still some thousand of the
+flower of our youth find health and strength in driving the labouring
+Eights and Fours along its narrow reaches and round its winding corners.
+It may well excite the wonder of the uninitiated that, with so many
+natural disadvantages to contend against, the oarsmen of Cambridge
+should have been able during all these years to maintain so high a
+standard of oarsmanship. Time after time since the year when First
+Trinity secured the first race for the Grand Challenge have her college
+crews carried off the chief prizes at Henley against all competitors,
+until, in 1887, Trinity Hall swept the board by actually winning five
+out of the eight Henley races, other Cambridge men accounting for the
+remaining three. The record of Cambridge rowing is thus a very proud
+one; but those who know the Cambridge oarsman and his river will find no
+difficulty in accounting for it. The very disadvantages of the Cam all
+tend to imbue the man who rows upon it with a stern sense of duty, with
+the feeling that it is business and not pleasure, hard work and not a
+picnic, that summon him every day of the term to the boat-houses and
+urge him on his way to Baitsbite. We are forced to do without the
+natural charms that make the Isis beautiful. We console ourselves by a
+strict devotion to the labour of the oar.
+
+The man who first rowed upon the Cam was in all probability a lineal
+descendant of the daring spirit who first tasted an oyster. His name and
+fame have not been preserved, but I am entitled to assume that he
+flourished some time before 1826. In that year the records of Cambridge
+boat clubs begin. There is in the possession of the First Trinity Boat
+Club an old book, at one end of which are to be found the "Laws of the
+Monarch Boat Club," with a list of members from 1826 to 1828, whilst at
+the other end are inscribed lists of members of the Trinity Boat Club,
+minutes of its meetings, and brief descriptions of the races in which it
+was engaged from the year 1829 to 1834. The Monarch Boat Club was by its
+laws limited to members of Trinity, and, I take it, that in 1828 the
+club had become sufficiently important to change its name definitely to
+that of Trinity Boat Club. At any rate, it must always have been
+considered the Trinity Club; for in the earliest chart of the Cambridge
+boat races--that, namely, of 1827--in the captains' room of the First
+Trinity Boat-house, "Trinity" stands head of the river, and no mention
+is made of a Monarch Club. These ancient laws form a somewhat Draconian
+code. They are twenty-five in number, and eight of them deal with fines
+or penalties to be inflicted upon a member who may "absent himself from
+his appointed crew and not provide a substitute for his oar," or who may
+"not arrive at the boat-house within a quarter of an hour of the
+appointed time." There were fines ("by no means to be remitted, except
+in the case of any member having an _aegrotat_, _exeat_, or _absit_, or
+having been prevented from attending by some laws of the college or
+University") for not appearing in the proper uniform, for "giving orders
+or speaking on a racing day, or on any other day, after silence has been
+called" (exception being made in favour of the captain and steerer), and
+for neglecting to give notice of an intended absence. To the twelfth law
+a clause was subsequently added enacting "that the treasurer be
+chastised twice a week for not keeping his books in proper order."
+
+From the minutes of the Trinity Boat Club I extract the following
+letter, dated Stangate, December, 1828, which shows that even at that
+early date the first and third persons carried on a civil war in the
+boat-builder's vocabulary:--
+
+"Rawlinson & Lyon's compliments to Mr. Greene wish to know if there is
+to be any alteration in the length of the set of oars they have to send
+down have been expecting to hear from the Club, therefore have not given
+orders for the oars to be finished should feel obliged by a line from
+you with the necessary instructions and be kind enough to inform us of
+the success which we trust you have met with in the New Boat.
+
+                    we remain Sir
+                        Your ob^t Servts
+                            RAWLINSON & LYON."
+
+In 1833 it is curious to read, "towards the end of this Easter term six
+of the racing crew were ill of influenza, etc., when the boat was bumped
+by the Queens', which we bumped next race, but were bumped again by
+them, and next race owing to a bad start the Christ's boat bumped us
+immediately being nearly abreast of us at the bumping-post." Was this
+the _grippe_, I wonder? In the Lent Term, 1834, it is stated, "The
+second race we touched the Christ's after the pistol was fired the first
+stroke we pulled, and lost our place to the Second Trinity for making a
+foul bump." By the way, in the oldest minute-book belonging to the
+University Boating Club, extending from 1828 to 1837, I find the Second
+Trinity boat occasionally entered on the list as "Reading Trinity." It
+continued to enjoy this bookish reputation up to 1876, when a debt
+which continued to increase while its list of members as constantly
+diminished, brought about its dissolution. Its members and its
+challenge-cups were then taken over by First Trinity.
+
+In an old book belonging to First Trinity is preserved a map of the
+racing river, which explains much that would be otherwise inexplicable
+in the various entries. In those days the races began in the short reach
+of water in which they now finish. A little below where Charon now plies
+his ferry were the Chesterton Locks, and in the reach above this
+starting-posts seem to have been fixed for the various boats. When the
+starting-pistol was fired the crews started rowing, but apparently no
+bump was allowed before the bumping-post, fixed some little way above
+the first bend where the big horse-grind now works. Any bump before this
+was foul, and the boat so fouling appears to have been disqualified.
+This post once passed, the racing proper began and continued past
+Barnwell up to the Jesus Locks. It must be remembered that the Jesus
+Locks were not where they are now, but were built just where the Caius
+boathouse now stands, there being a lock cut in the present bed of the
+river, and the main stream running quite a hundred yards south of its
+present course, and forming an island, on which stood Fort St. George.
+This was altered in 1837, when the Cam was diverted to its present
+course, and the old course from above Jesus Green Sluice to Fort St.
+George was filled up.
+
+A few more extracts relating to the first beginnings of college
+boat-races may be of interest. In 1827 there were six boats on the
+river--a ten-oar and an eight-oar from Trinity, an eight-oar from St.
+John's, and six-oars from Jesus, Caius, and Trinity, Westminster. In
+1829 this number had dwindled to four at the beginning of the races on
+February 28; but in the seventh race, which took place on March 21,
+seven crews competed, St John's finishing head of the river, a place
+they maintained in the following May. Usually from seven to nine races
+appear to have been rowed during one month of the term, certain days in
+each week having been previously fixed. Crews were often known by the
+name of their ship rather than by that of their college. I find, for
+instance, a _Privateer_, which was made up, I think, of men from
+private schools, a _Corsair_ from St. John's, a _Dolphin_ from Third
+Trinity (which was then, and is still, the Club of the Eton and
+Westminster men), _Black Prince_ from First Trinity, and _Queen Bess_
+from the Second or "Reading" Trinity. The following regulations, passed
+by the University Boat Club on April 18, 1831, will help to make the old
+system of boat-racing quite clear:--
+
+"1. That the distance between each post being twenty yards will allow
+eleven boats to start on the Chesterton side, the length of the ropes by
+which they are attached to the posts being ten yards.
+
+"2. That the remainder of the boats do start on the Barnwell side at
+similar distances, but with ropes fifteen yards in length.
+
+"3. That there also be a rope three yards long fixed to the head of the
+lock, which will be the station of the last boat, provided the number
+exceed twelve."
+
+These arrangements allowed thirteen boats to start at once, and special
+provision was made for any number beyond that. Obedience to the properly
+constituted authorities seems from an early period to have
+characterized the rowing man. I find that in 1831 a race was arranged
+between the captains of racing crews and the rest of the University, to
+take place on Tuesday, November 29. On Monday, the 28th, however, there
+arrived "a request from the Vice-Chancellor, backed by the tutors of the
+several colleges, that we should refrain from racing on account of the
+cholera then prevailing in Sunderland. We accordingly gave up the match
+forthwith, and with it another which was to have been rowed the same day
+between the quondam Etonians and the private school men." The secretary,
+however, adds this caustic comment, "It is presumed that Dr. Haviland,
+at whose instigation the Vice-Chancellor put a stop to the race,
+confounded the terms (and pronunciations?) 'rowing' and 'rowing,' and
+while he was anxious to stop any debauchery in the latter class of men,
+by a _slight_ mistake was the means of preventing the healthy exercise
+of the former."
+
+The umpire for the college races seems never to have been properly
+appreciated. Indeed, in 1834, the U.B.C. solemnly resolved "that the
+umpire was no use, ... and accordingly that Bowtell should be
+cashiered. In consequence of this resolution, it was proposed and
+carried that the same person who had the management of the posts, lines,
+and starting the boats should also place the flags on the bumping-post,
+and receive for his pay 4_s._ a week, with an addition of 2_s._ 6_d._ at
+the end of the quarter in case the starting be well managed, but that
+each time the pistol misses fire 1s. should be deducted from his weekly
+pay."
+
+In 1835, in consequence of the removal of the Chesterton Lock, the
+U.B.C. transferred the starting-posts to the reach between Baitsbite and
+First Post Corner, and there they have remained ever since.
+
+Side by side with the college boat clubs, formed by the combination of
+their members for strictly imperial matters, regulating and controlling
+the inter-collegiate races, but never interfering with the internal
+arrangements and the individual liberty of the college clubs, the
+University Boat Club grew up. With two short but historical extracts
+from its early proceedings, I will conclude this cursory investigation
+into the records of the musty past. On February 20, 1829, at a meeting
+of the U.B.C. Committee, held in Mr. Gisborne's rooms, it was resolved
+_inter alia_ "That Mr. Snow, St. John's, be requested to write
+immediately to Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, proposing to make
+up a University match;" and on March 12, on the receipt of a letter from
+Mr. Staniforth, Christ Church, Oxford, a meeting of the U.B.C. was
+called at Mr. Harman's rooms, Caius College, when the following
+resolution was passed:--"That Mr. Stephen Davies (the Oxford
+boat-builder) be requested to post the following challenge in some
+conspicuous part of his barge: 'That the University of Cambridge hereby
+challenge the University of Oxford to row a match at or near London,
+each in an eight-oared boat, during the ensuing Easter vacation.'"
+
+Thus was brought about the first race between the two Universities. Mr.
+Snow was appointed captain, and it was further decided that the
+University Boat Club should defray all expenses, and that the match be
+not made up for money. It is unnecessary for me to relate once again how
+the race was eventually rowed from Hambledon Lock to Henley Bridge, and
+how the Light Blues (who, by the way, were then the Pinks) suffered
+defeat by many lengths. The story has been too well and too often told
+before. Each crew contained a future bishop--the late Bishop of St.
+Andrew's rowing No. 4 in the Oxford boat, whilst the late Bishop Selwyn,
+afterwards Bishop of New Zealand, and subsequently of Lichfield,
+occupied the important position of No. 7 for Cambridge. Of the remainder
+more than half were afterwards ordained.
+
+So much, then, for the origins of College and University racing.
+Thenceforward the friendly rivalry flourished with only slight
+intermissions; gradually the race became an event. The great public
+became interested in it, cabmen and 'bus-drivers decorated their whips
+in honour of the crews, sightseers flocked to the river-banks to catch a
+glimpse of them as they flashed past, and their prowess was celebrated
+by the press. It is not, however, too much to say that without the keen
+spirit of emulation which is fostered by the college races both at
+Oxford and Cambridge, the University boat-race would cease to exist.
+Truly a light blue cap is to the oarsman a glorious prize, but there are
+many hundreds of ardent enthusiasts who have to content themselves with
+a place in the college boats in the Lent or the May Term. Want of form,
+or of weight, or of the necessary strength and stamina may hinder them
+from attaining to a place in the University Eight, but they should
+console themselves by reflecting that without their patient and earnest
+labours for the welfare of their several colleges it would be impossible
+to maintain a high standard of oarsmanship, or to form a representative
+University Eight. Let me, therefore, be for a page or two the apologist,
+nay, rather the panegyrist, of the college oarsman, with whom many of my
+happiest hours have been spent.
+
+Before entering upon the serious business of life as a freshman at
+Cambridge, the youth who is subsequently to become an oar will in all
+probability have fired his imagination by reading of the historical
+prowess of past generations of University oars in races at Henley or at
+Putney. Goldie who turned the tide of defeat, the Closes, Rhodes,
+Gurdon, Hockin, Pitman the pluckiest of strokes, and Muttlebury the
+mighty heavy-weight, are the heroes whom he worships, and to whose
+imitation he proposes to devote himself. A vision of a light blue coat
+and cap flits before his mind; he sees himself in fancy wresting a
+fiercely contested victory from the clutches of Oxford, and cheered and
+f[^e]ted by a countless throng of his admirers. With these ideas he becomes
+as a freshman a member of his college boat club, and adds his name to
+the "tubbing list." He purchases his rowing uniform, clothes himself in
+it in his rooms, and one fine afternoon in October finds himself one of
+a crowd of nervous novices in the yard of his college boathouse. One of
+the captains pounces on him, selects a co-victim for him, and orders him
+into a gig-pair, or, to speak more correctly, "a tub." With the first
+stroke the beautiful azure vision vanishes, leaving only a sense of
+misery behind. He imagined he could row as he walked, by the light of
+nature. He finds that all kinds of mysterious technicalities are
+required of him. He has to "get hold of the beginning" to "finish it
+out," to take his oar "out of the water clean" (an impossibility one
+would think on the dirty drain-fed Cam), to "plant his feet against the
+stretcher," to row his shoulders back, to keep his elbows close to his
+sides, to shoot away his hands, to swing from his hips, under no
+circumstances to bend his back or to leave go with his outside hand,
+and, above all, to keep his swing forward as steady as a rock--an
+instruction to which he conforms by not swinging at all. These are but a
+few points out of the many which are dinned into his ears by his
+energetic coach. A quarter of an hour concludes his lesson, and he
+leaves the river a much sadder, but not necessarily a wiser man.
+However, since he is young he is not daunted by all these unforeseen
+difficulties. He perseveres, and towards the end of his first term reaps
+a doubtful reward by being put into an Eight with seven other novices,
+to splash and roll and knock his knuckles about for an hour or so to his
+heart's content. Next term (the Lent Term) may find him a member of one
+of his college Lent boats. Then he begins to feel that pluck and
+ambition are not in vain, and soon afterwards for the first time he
+tastes the joys of training, which he will be surprised to find does not
+consist entirely of raw steaks and underdone chops. Common sense, in
+fact, has during the past fifteen years or so broken in upon the foolish
+regulations of the ancient system. Men who train are still compelled to
+keep early hours, to eat simple food at fixed times, to abjure tobacco,
+and to limit the quantity of liquid they absorb. But there is an
+immense variety in the dishes put before them; they are warned against
+gorging (at breakfast, indeed, men frequently touch no meat), and though
+they assemble together in the Backs before breakfast, and are ordered to
+clear their pipes by a short sharp burst of one hundred and fifty yards,
+they are not allowed to overtire themselves by the long runs which were
+at one time in fashion. Far away back in the dawn of University rowing
+training seems to have been far laxer, though discipline may have been
+more strict, than it is now. Mr. J. M. Logan (the well-known Cambridge
+boat-builder) wrote to me on this subject: "I have heard my father say
+that the crews used to train on egg-flip which an old lady who then kept
+the Plough Inn by Ditton was very famous for making, and that crew which
+managed to drink most egg-flip was held to be most likely to make many
+bumps. I believe the ingredients were gin, beer, and beaten eggs, with
+nutmegs and spices added. I have heard my father say that the discipline
+of the crews was of an extraordinary character. For instance, the
+captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club used to have a bugle, and after
+he had sounded it the crew would have to appear on the yard in high hats
+and dress suits with a black tie. The penalty for appearing in a tie of
+any other colour was one shilling. The trousers worn on these occasions
+were of white jean, and had to be washed every day under a penalty of
+one shilling. The wearing of perfectly clean things every day was an
+essential part of the preparation."
+
+All this, however, is a digression from the freshman whom we have seen
+safely through his tubbing troubles, and have selected for a Lent Boat.
+I return to him to follow him in a career of glory which will lead him
+from Lent Boat to May Boat, from that to his college Four, and so
+perhaps through the University Trial Eights to the final goal of all
+rowing ambition--the Cambridge Eight. He will have suffered many things
+for the sake of his beloved pursuit; he will have rowed many weary
+miles, have learnt the misery of aching limbs and blistered hands,
+perhaps he may have endured the last indignity of being bumped; he will
+have laboured under broiling suns, or with snowstorms and bitter winds
+beating against him; he will have voluntarily cut himself off from many
+pleasant indulgences. But, on the other hand, his triumphs will have
+been sweet; he will have trained himself to submit to discipline, to
+accept discomfort cheerfully, to keep a brave face in adverse
+circumstance; he will have developed to the full his strength and his
+powers of endurance, and will have learnt the necessity of unselfishness
+and patriotism. These are, after all, no mean results in a generation
+which is often accused of effeminate and debasing luxury.
+
+A few words as to our scheme of boat-races at Cambridge. Of the Lent
+races I have spoken. They are rowed at the end of February in heavy
+ships, _i.e._ fixed-seat ships built with five streaks from a keel.
+Thirty-one boats take part in them. Every college must be represented by
+at least one boat, though beyond that there is no restriction as to the
+number of boats from any particular college club. No man who has taken
+part in the previous May races is permitted to row. In fact, they are a
+preparatory school for the development of eight-oared rowing. Next term
+is given up to the May races, which are rowed in light ships, _i.e._
+keel-less ships with sliding seats. No club can have more than three or
+less than one crew in these races. In this term the pair-oared races
+are also rowed, generally before the Eights. The Fours, both in light
+ships and, for the less ambitious colleges whose Eights may be in the
+second division, in clinker-built boats, take place at the end of
+October, and are followed by the Colquhoun, or University Sculls, and
+next by the University Trial Eights, two picked crews selected by the
+President of the University Boat Club from the likely men of every
+college club. The trial race always takes place near Ely, over the three
+miles of what is called the Adelaide course. Besides all these races,
+each college has its own races, confined to members of the college. But
+of course the glory of college racing culminates in the May term. Who
+shall calculate all the forethought, energy, self-denial, and patriotic
+labour, all the carefully organized skill and patient training which are
+devoted to the May races; for so they are still called, though they
+never take place now before June? Every man who rows in his college crew
+feels that to him personally the traditions and the honour of his
+college are committed. The meadow at Ditton is alive with a brilliant
+throng of visitors, the banks swarm with panting enthusiasts armed with
+every kind of noisy instrument, and all intent to spur the energies of
+their several Eights. One by one the crews, clothed in their blazers,
+with their straw hats on their heads, paddle down to the start, pausing
+at Ditton to exchange greetings with the visitors. In the Post Reach
+they turn, disembark for a few moments, and wander nervously up and down
+the bank. At last the first gun is fired, the oarsmen strip for the
+race. Their clothes are collected and borne along in front by perspiring
+boatmen, so as to be ready for them at the end of the race. The men step
+gingerly into their frail craft and await the next gun. Bang! Another
+minute. The boat is pushed out, the coxwain holding his chain; the crew
+come forward, every nerve strained for the start; the cry of the careful
+timekeepers is heard along the reach, the gun fires, and a universal
+roar proclaims the start of the sixteen crews. For four "nights" the
+conflict rages, bringing triumph and victory to some, and pain and
+defeat to others; and at the end comes the glorious bump-supper, with
+its toasts, its songs, and its harmless, noisy rejoicings, on which the
+dons look with an indulgent eye, and in which they even sometimes take
+part for the honour of the college.
+
+Happy are those who still dwell in Cambridge courts and follow the
+delightful labour of the oar! For the rest of us there can only be
+memories of the time when we toiled round the never-ending Grassy
+corner, spurted in the Plough, heard dimly the deafening cheers of the
+crowd at Ditton, and finally made our bump amid the confused roar of
+hundreds of voices, the booming of fog-horns the screech of rattles, and
+the ringing of bells. What joy in after-life can equal the intoxication
+of the moment when we stepped out upon the bank to receive the
+congratulations of our friends, whilst the unfurled flag proclaimed our
+victory to the world?
+
+To such scenes the mind travels back through the vista of years with
+fond regret. For most of us our racing days are over, but we can still
+glory in the triumphs of our college or our University, and swear by the
+noblest of open-air sports.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE.
+
+_By W. E. Crum_,
+
+Captain of the Boats, 1893; President O.U.B.C. 1896, 1897.
+
+
+In most books that have been published on rowing matters, a chapter has
+been devoted to rowing at Eton. But these accounts have been mainly of a
+historical nature, and have not, I think, dealt sufficiently with the
+career of an Eton boy, from the time when he passes through the ordeal
+of the swimming examination up to the proud moment when he wears the
+light blue at Henley, representing his school in the Ladies' Plate.
+
+Before any boy is allowed to go on the river at all, he is obliged to
+satisfy the authorities of his ability to reach the banks of the river
+safely if he should upset while boating. This swimming examination is
+held about once a week after bathing has commenced in the summer half
+at the two bathing-places, Cuckoo Weir and Athens, which are reserved
+for the use of the boys alone.
+
+On the Acropolis, a mound raised some ten feet above the water for
+diving purposes, sit the two or three masters whose duty it is to
+conduct the "passing." On one side a punt is moored, from which the boys
+enter the water head first as best they can. They have to swim a
+distance of about twenty yards, round a pole, and return, showing that
+they can swim in good style, and can keep themselves afloat by "treading
+water."
+
+When a boy has successfully passed this examination, he is at liberty to
+go on the river. As it is probably well on in the summer half before he
+has passed, and it is more than likely that he has never before handled
+an oar, we will suppose that he does not enter for the Lower Boy races
+that year, but has to learn by himself, with no coaches to help him, the
+rudiments of rowing and sculling on fixed seats. Always on the river,
+whenever he has an hour to spare from his school duties, the Lower Boy
+soon acquires that knowledge of "watermanship" for which Etonian oarsmen
+are famous.
+
+By the end of the summer half, he can sit his sculling-boat in
+comparative safety, and has learnt, perhaps, at the cost of several
+fines, the rules of the river, which are considered sacred by all Eton
+boys.
+
+The ensuing winter terms are devoted to football and fives, rowing not
+being allowed; and we may pass on to the next summer, when our Lower Boy
+will probably enter for both Lower Boy sculling and pulling (_i.e._
+pairs). These two races are rowed in boats almost peculiar to Eton. That
+used for the Lower Boy pulling is called a "perfection," of which the
+design is due to the Rev. S. A. Donaldson; it is an open, clinker-built,
+outrigged boat, which recalls the lines of the old Thames wherry. That
+used for the Lower Boy sculling is known as a "whiff," an open clinker
+boat with outriggers. On an average about a dozen competitors enter for
+these events, five or six boats being started together, the first and
+second in each heat rowing in the final. The course, which is about two
+miles long, begins opposite the Brocas, extending for a mile upstream,
+where the competitors turn round a ryepeck, and then down-stream to the
+finish, just above Windsor Bridge.
+
+If fairly successful in his school examinations, the boy whose career we
+are considering will, after his second summer, have reached the fifth
+form, a position which entitles him to be tried for the boats. He
+probably does not succeed in obtaining the coveted colour at the first
+attempt; and it is, say, in his third summer, that he first comes under
+the eye of a coach.
+
+For the last month of the summer half, as many as ten or a dozen eights
+are taken out by members of the Upper Boats every evening, and four
+crews are selected from these, put into training, and carefully coached,
+and after about a fortnight's practice race against each other from
+Sandbank down to the bridge, a distance of about three-quarters of a
+mile; the race is called "Novice Eights," and each crew is stroked by a
+member of the Lower Boats. Every boy who rows in this race may be sure
+that he will get into the boats on the following 1st of March; and
+having reached this important point in an Eton wetbob's career, I must
+endeavour to explain the meaning of the term "The Boats," which I have
+already frequently used.
+
+The Boats are composed of one ten-oared, and nine eight-oared crews,
+presumably made up of the eighty-two best oarsmen in the school; the
+boats are subdivided into two classes, Upper and Lower Boats.
+
+The Upper Boats comprise the ten-oared _Monarch_, and the two eights,
+_Victory_ and _Prince of Wales_; the Lower Boats are more numerous,
+consisting of seven eights, which have characteristic names, such as
+_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, _Hibernia_, and _Defiance_. Each of the
+Upper Boats has a distinctive colour just like any other school team,
+whereas all members of the Lower Boats wear the same cap.
+
+At the head of the Eton wetbob world there reigns supreme the Captain of
+the Boats, who is always regarded in the eyes of a small Eton boy as
+next in importance only to the Prince of Wales and the Archbishop of
+Canterbury. He is captain of the _Monarch_, and after him, in order of
+merit, come the captains of the other boats, who act as his lieutenants;
+these captains are practically appointed by the first captain of the
+previous year, and were probably all members of the Upper Boats in that
+year.
+
+At the beginning of each summer term the Captain of the Boats calls a
+meeting of his other boat captains; he has by him a list of all those
+who were already members of the boats the year before, and he knows
+pretty correctly the form of every one of them; thus, with his
+lieutenants' help he can assign to each oarsman the boat in which he
+considers him worthy to row.
+
+The first boat to be made up is the _Monarch_. Though nominally the
+first of the boats, the _Monarch_ is actually composed of those who,
+from their place in the school, or from their prowess at other games,
+deserve some recognition; in fact, I may best designate the members of
+the "ten," as good worthy people, who have tried to row well and have
+not succeeded.
+
+The next boat is the _Victory_, and here we find the pick of the
+previous year's Lower Boats. Though junior, and in order of precedence
+below all the captains of the various boats, these eight have just as
+much chance of rowing in the eight at Henley as any of the captains; for
+the younger oar, whose faults can easily be cured, is often preferred to
+his stronger senior, whose faults are fixed and difficult to eradicate.
+
+Similar to the _Victory_, though of rather a lower standard, is the
+_Prince of Wales_, or "Third Upper;" and this is composed of the
+remnants of the previous year's Lower Boats who are not quite good
+enough for the _Victory_. The great distinction in the present day
+between Upper and Lower Boats is that all those in the former may row in
+any boat on sliding seats, while to those in the latter only fixed seats
+are allowed.
+
+Having completed his Upper Boats, the captain has now to fill the seats
+in the seven Lower Boats. A few of the refuse, one may almost call them,
+of the year before are still left; refuse, because it is rarely the case
+that a boy who is more than one year in Lower Boats develops into a
+really good oar. To these are generally assigned the best places in the
+Lower Boats, and after them come, in order of merit, as far as possible,
+all those who rowed in the previous summer in the "Novice Eight" race.
+
+Thus, just as the _Victory_ is always better than the _Monarch_, so the
+_Dreadnought_, the second Lower Boat, is often better than the
+_Britannia_, which may be composed of old "crocks."
+
+On the 1st of March and the 4th of June in each year the boats row in
+procession, in their order, each boat stroked by its captain, up to
+Surley Hall, where, on the 4th of June, a supper is held. But I will
+leave a description of the 4th of June till later, and will return to
+where I left our successful Etonian, who has just received his
+Lower-Boat colours.
+
+During his first summer half in the boats he is practically never out of
+training. As soon as he has rowed one race he must begin practice for
+the next. The first race of the season is "Lower Eights." Four crews are
+chosen from among members of the Lower Boats, are coached for three
+weeks by members of the Upper Boats, and then race for a mile and a
+half. After this follow "Lower Fours," in which, again, four crews take
+part, chosen from the best of those who have raced in Lower Eights.
+These two races are rowed in order that those in authority may see how
+their juniors can race, and also that the said juniors may profit by
+efficient coaching. No prizes are awarded; they simply row for the
+honour of winning. After these come Junior Sculling and Junior Pulling,
+two races again confined to the Lower Boats. They are rowed in light,
+keelless, outrigged boats, with fixed seats, no coxswain being carried
+by the pairs. And here, again, much watermanship is learned, for the
+Eton course is a difficult one to steer, and only those who steer well
+can have any chance of a win. As many as fifty entries are sometimes
+received for Junior Sculling, for though an Eton boy may have no chance
+of winning a race, he will start, just for the sport of racing and
+improving his rowing, a proceeding which might well be imitated at
+Oxford or Cambridge. Each boy who starts in one of these races has to
+wear a jersey trimmed with a distinctive colour, and carry a flag in his
+bows; and it is extraordinary what ugly combinations some of them choose
+and think beautiful.
+
+These four races have taken our young friend well on into the summer
+half; but after Henley is over, he will probably have to represent his
+House in the House Four race. Perhaps at his tutor's there may be one or
+two who have rowed at Henley in the Eight, and with these, and possibly
+another boy in Lower Boats, he has to train for another three weeks to
+row in what has been called, in a song familiar to Etonians of late
+years, "_the_ race of the year." It is an inspiriting sight for any one
+who wishes to get an idea of an Eton race to see the crowds of men and
+boys, masters and pupils, wetbobs and drybobs, running along the bank
+with the race, some so far ahead that they can see nothing, some with
+the boats, some tired out and lagging behind, but all shouting for a
+particular crew or individual as if their lives depended on it.
+
+In the last few years another race has been established for the Lower
+Boats; but it has not met with the approval of many Old Etonians. It is
+a bumping race, similar to those at Oxford and Cambridge, rowed by the
+different Lower Boats--_Britannia_, _Dreadnought_, etc. It is claimed
+that by practising for this race many of those who would not otherwise
+get much teaching are coached by competent people, and thus the standard
+of rowing is raised; but the opponents of the measure object, and as I
+think rightly, on the grounds that the average oar in the Lower Boats
+has quite enough rowing and racing as it is, and that even if more
+racing were needed, a bumping race is the very worst that can be rowed.
+It is necessary at the Universities, on account of the narrowness of the
+rivers, to hold these races, for two boats cannot race abreast; but they
+must tend to make crews rush and hurry for two or three minutes, and
+then try to get home as best they can.
+
+So much for the Lower Boat races. And there is only one more point to
+add concerning the Lower Boats: at the end of each summer half a list is
+published called "Lower Boat Choices," comprising about twenty of the
+Lower Boat oarsmen; to these also is given a special colour; and it is
+in the order of these choices that places in the Upper Boats are
+assigned in the following spring.
+
+Having, therefore, in the next year, risen to the dignity of the Upper
+Boats, our Etonian has before him almost as many races as when he was in
+Lower Boats. His first is "Trial Eights." This takes place at the end of
+the Lent term, between two eight-oared crews, rowing on sliding seats,
+and chosen by the Captain of the Boats. It is from these two crews,
+picked from the Upper Boats and the boat captains, that the Henley Eight
+has to be chosen; and it is, therefore, the object of the first and
+second captains of the boats to equalize them as far as possible, so
+that they may have a close race, and that the rowing and stamina of
+individuals at high pressure may be watched. In the summer half come the
+School Pulling and Sculling, similar to junior races, but rowed on
+sliding seats, and confined to the Upper Boats. The winner of a school
+race, besides getting his prize, is entitled to wear a "School
+Shield"--a small gold shield, on which are engraved the Eton arms, and
+the name and year of the race won. To secure a "School Shield" is one of
+the greatest ambitions of every ambitious Etonian.
+
+These two races being over, practice for the Eight which is to row at
+Henley begins. Every day the Captain of the Boats, aided by one or two
+masters, who have probably represented their Universities at Putney in
+their day, has out two crews, composed of the best of those who are in
+Upper Boats. These crews are gradually weeded out till, perhaps, only an
+eight and a four are left; and then, at last, the Eight is finally
+chosen.
+
+It is difficult to say who should be pitied most while this process of
+choosing the crew is going on--the captain or those who are striving for
+their seats; the captain always worried and anxious that he should get
+the best crew to represent his school, the crew always in agony lest
+they should be turned out, and should never be able to wear the light
+blue. Of course, the captain has the advice of those much more
+experienced than himself; but if there is a close point to settle, it
+is on him alone that the responsibility of the choice falls.
+
+Once safely settled in the boat, there follows a period of five or six
+weeks of mixed pleasure and pain, for every crew, however good, must
+pass through periods of demoralization when for a few days they cease to
+improve, and periods of joy when they realize that, after all, they have
+some chance of turning out well.
+
+For the last three weeks of this Henley practice the Eight is in strict
+training; but training for Eton boys is no great hardship. The days of
+"hard steak and a harder hen" are over. The Eton boy is always fit, and
+the chief point he has to observe is regularity.
+
+His meals are much the same as usual--breakfast at eight, lunch at two,
+a light tea at five, supper together at eight in the evening, and bed at
+ten. There is no need to pull him out of bed in the morning, as at the
+Universities, for he has to go to school every morning at seven o'clock;
+he does not usually smoke--or, at any rate, is not supposed to by the
+rules of the school, and it is rarely that this rule is broken--and he
+does not indulge in large unwholesome dinners, after the manner of many
+undergraduates.
+
+Every evening at six o'clock he goes down to the river, and is probably
+tubbed in a gig-pair before rowing down the Datchet reach in the Eight.
+About twice a week the crew rows a full racing course, and is taken in
+for the last three minutes by a scratch crew, which goes by the name of
+"duffers," composed of five or six Old Etonians and masters, and one or
+two Eton boys, who are kept in training as spare men. The crew is
+coached from a horse by one of the masters--of late years Mr. de
+Havilland, who is certainly as keen for his crew to win as any boy in
+the school.
+
+For the last five years the crew has taken a house at Henley for the
+days of the regatta, and gone to Henley by train the afternoon before
+the races. Though much wiser, this departure from Eton is not as
+impressive as in older days, when the crew used to drive to Henley for
+each day's racing; when, filled with pride and shyness, the young
+oarsman used to issue from his tutor's, wearing for the first time his
+light-blue coat and white cap, and walk to Mr. Donaldson's or Dr.
+Warre's house, where waited the brake which was to convey the crew,
+with the cheers of the crowd, along the hot, dusty road to Henley. In
+1891, the last year that this drive was taken, the crew, before the
+final of the Ladies' Plate, had to drive no less than seventy-five miles
+in three days. They were only beaten by a few feet, and there is little
+doubt that but for this most tiring drive they would have won. Once at
+Henley, all is pleasure. No crew is more popular, none more cheered, as
+it paddles down the course to the starting-point and as it arrives first
+at the winning-post. The scene of enthusiasm, not only among Etonians,
+but among the whole rowing world, when an Eton crew wins the Ladies'
+Plate after a lapse of several years, is past description.
+
+After Henley come House Fours; and then the list of Upper Boat choices
+is made up by the Captain of the Boats. The captain, by this means,
+appoints his successor for the following year, for he arranges these
+choices in order of merit, just as Lower Boat choices are arranged, and
+the highest choice remaining at Eton till the next year becomes captain.
+Thus the power of the captain is absolute; he can appoint whomever he
+likes to be his successor, and it is seldom that the choice falls on
+the wrong boy. Besides being the sole authority in these matters, the
+captain has to arrange all the money matters of the E.C.B.C.; over five
+hundred pounds pass through his hands in a year, and this gives an extra
+responsibility to his post. Of course all his accounts are carefully
+audited by one of the masters, and the experience gained, not only in
+looking after money, but also in arranging dates of races, in choosing
+and in captaining his crew, and in judging disputed points, is well
+worth all the trouble and worry entailed.
+
+Our Eton Lower Boy has now reached the position of Captain of the Boats,
+and here I will leave him to go on either to Oxford or Cambridge and
+represent his University at Putney. A few words, however, may still be
+added.
+
+There is a great difference between teaching a boy of sixteen and a man
+of twenty to row, and this difference lies in the fact that it is much
+easier, and perhaps even more important, to teach your boy to row in
+good form. By good form, I mean the power to use all his strength
+directly in making the boat move so that no energy is wasted in making
+the body pass through the extraordinary contortions and antics often
+seen in an inferior college crew.
+
+It is easier to teach the boy of sixteen to row in good form, because
+his muscles are not yet formed, and his body still lithe and supple; it
+is more important to teach him, because he is not so strong as his
+elders, and consequently has not as much strength to waste.
+
+A description of best how to use your strength would be out of place
+here, for it will be found set forth in another part of this volume. Let
+me, therefore, pass on to a subject which lately has caused considerable
+discussion--the subject of the length of the course for the Junior and
+School races. All these races are held over a course of about three
+miles in length, and take some twenty minutes to row. They start
+opposite the Brocas, and continue up-stream round "Rushes," and then
+down-stream to Windsor Bridge. The contention of many is that the length
+of these races is too great, and that the trial put on boys of perhaps
+fifteen years of age is too severe. From this view of the matter I
+differ, for to any one who has rowed over both the Henley and Putney
+course it will be evident that the forty strokes per minute for a mile
+and a half would be more trying to a young boy than the thirty-four per
+minute for four miles.
+
+A short note on the proceedings of the wetbobs on the 4th of June, the
+great day of celebration at Eton, may have some interest.
+
+As I have said, a procession of all the boats takes place on this day.
+About five o'clock they start in order from the Brocas, and row to
+Surley Hall, where, in tents on the grass, a supper is prepared. After
+supping, they return to the rafts in time for a display of fireworks,
+the crews standing up in their boats and tossing their oars, whereby a
+very pretty effect is obtained. The dresses worn by the crews are quaint
+and old-fashioned on this great day. All are dressed in white ducks, a
+shirt of the colours of their boat, a dark-blue Eton jacket trimmed with
+gold or silver braid, and a straw hat covered with various emblems of
+their boat. The coxswains of the Upper Boats wear naval captain's
+clothes, while the Lower Boat coxswains represent midshipmen.
+
+So much for Eton rowing; and, in finishing, I must pay a slight tribute
+to three old Etonians, to whom the success of Eton rowing is mainly
+due. They are Dr. Warre, the Rev. S. A. Donaldson, and Mr. de
+Havilland; and I feel sure that out of these three, who have all done
+yeomen service for their school, I may single out Dr. Warre, and yet
+give no offence to his two successors. Before Dr. Warre came to Eton as
+a master, in the early sixties, the masters had taken little interest in
+the proceedings on the river; consequently the traditions of rowing,
+learnt mainly from the riverside watermen, were not of a very high
+standard. Eton had never rowed in any races, except against Westminster,
+and it was due to Dr. Warre's efforts that competition for the Ladies'
+Plate was first allowed. From this date till the middle of the eighties,
+Dr. Warre was always ready to coach when asked, but never till asked,
+for he believed, and still believes strongly, in allowing the boys to
+manage their own games as far as possible.
+
+How well he kept his principles of rowing up to date is shown in his
+pamphlets on rowing and coaching, for probably no one but he could have
+written so clear and concise a description as he has given.
+
+Besides being an eminent coach, he understands thoroughly the theories
+of boat-building, his ideas being well exemplified of late by the boats
+which won for Eton in '93, '94, '96, and '97.
+
+When the duties of head-master became too engrossing to allow him to
+devote as much time to the Eight as formerly, his place was taken, and
+well filled, by Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson was always a most keen and
+patient coach, and followed closely on the head-master's lines; and his
+cheery voice at Henley--clear above all the din of the race--once heard,
+could never be forgotten. He was very successful with his crews, and
+helped them to win the Ladies' Plate several times.
+
+In 1893 Mr. de Havilland first coached the Eight, and, since this date,
+has had an unbroken series of wins. In the first year of his coaching,
+fifteen-inch slides, instead of ten-inch, were used, and this, aided by
+his excellent advice, helped to produce one of the fastest Eights that
+Eton has ever sent to represent the school. Mr. de Havilland has that
+wonderful knack, possessed by some good coaches, of training his crew to
+the hour, and it is surprising with what speed his crews always improve
+in the last week or so of practice.
+
+I can only hope, in conclusion, that I have to some extent succeeded in
+explaining to the uninitiated the mysteries of the career of an Eton
+wetbob during the five or six happiest years of his life spent at the
+best of schools.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+AUSTRALIAN ROWING.
+
+_By E. G. Blackmore._
+
+
+A country which has produced such scullers as Beach and Searle, not to
+mention Trickett, Laycock, Kemp, Nielson, Stanbury, and many others of
+less calibre, may well claim a place in a work treating of the science
+and art of rowing. In the limits of a chapter it is scarcely possible to
+give an exhaustive account of Australian oarsmen and oarsmanship, and as
+the performances of the leading Colonial scullers are sufficiently well
+known, from their having competed on English waters, this record will be
+almost entirely confined to amateur rowing, as practised in Australia.
+
+That large continent, with the island of Tasmania, consists of six
+colonies, in all of which the art is cultivated, with more or less
+enthusiasm.
+
+The first record we can find of anything like boat-racing occurs in
+1818, when ships' gig races were rowed in the Sydney Harbour, while the
+first regatta was held in the same place in 1827. In 1832 an
+Australian-born crew, in a locally built whale-boat, beat several crews
+of whaling ships. Passing over a series of years, in which nothing of
+more than local and momentary interest occurred, we find that in 1858,
+in the first race rowed on the present Champion course, the Parramatta
+River, Green beat an English sculler, Candlish, in a match for [L]400. I
+am inclined to regard this as the real foundation of New South Wales
+professional sculling, which afterwards culminated in the performances
+of Beach and Searle. The mother colony is the only one of the group
+which has produced a professional sculler of any class. Amongst amateurs
+none has yet appeared who could be placed in the first rank.
+
+In all the Colonies there are rowing associations which regulate and
+control amateur rowing. Of these, New South Wales alone has attempted to
+maintain the amateur status on English lines. The other associations
+recognize men who would not pass muster at any regatta in the United
+Kingdom where the regulation definition obtains. To the New South Wales
+Association about ten clubs are affiliated. Under its auspices regattas
+are held in the harbour of Sydney, and one on the Parramatta River. The
+former water is utterly unfit for first-class racing, as it is
+exceedingly rough, exposed to sudden winds, and hampered with steam
+traffic of all sorts. In September--regarded as the commencement of the
+rowing season--there is an eight-oar race, the winners of which rank as
+champions for the ensuing year, and fly the "Premiership Pennant." On
+January 26 is held the Anniversary Regatta, which, founded in 1834, has
+been an annual event since 1837.
+
+The Parramatta River course, on which champion events are decided, and
+which Hanlan, Beach, and Searle have made classic ground, is 3 miles 330
+yards. It is practically straight, with a strong tide, the set of which
+is very difficult to learn. At times it is so affected by wind, as to
+render rowing impossible. The most perfect water is that of the Nepean
+River. Here a straight 3-1/4 miles course can be found, perfectly calm,
+and with no current. It was on this river that Beach beat Hanlan in
+1887.
+
+The Victorian Rowing Association holds three Championship events in the
+year--sculls, fours, and eights rowed in best boats on the Lower Yarra,
+and an annual regatta on the Albert Park Lake, though in former years it
+has taken place on the Upper and the Lower river. Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Colac,
+Nagambie, and Lake Moodemere. The length for Intercolonial and
+Championship races is 3 miles 110 yards, with the tide, which may be set
+at three miles an hour.
+
+The South Australian Association holds an annual regatta on the river
+Torrens, and has champion races for eights, fours, and sculls, on the
+Port River. The city course is one mile, that for the champion races,
+three miles. The Torrens is at the best an inferior river for rowing,
+while the Port Water is a broad tidal stream, exposed to south-west
+winds, and at times exceedingly rough.
+
+Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, like their sister Colonies,
+have associations, and hold regattas.
+
+The great event of the year is the Intercolonial eight-oar race, rowed
+alternately in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Western Australia is
+now (1897) entering the field, but her crew is composed almost entirely
+of former Victorian oarsmen. In the past the rowing of Victorian crews
+has been generally far superior to that of the other Colonies, and in
+1894 the Victorian combination was the nearest approach to English form
+that has yet been attained. South Australia has not so far been
+represented. Speaking generally, none of the picked eights of the
+Colonies have ever shown form or pace within measurable distance of the
+best college crews at Oxford and Cambridge, or the eights which may be
+seen at Henley. There is no approach to that systematic rudimentary
+teaching, coaching, and training, which proves so successful on English
+waters, and without which no crew can ever become that perfect human
+machine which a finished eight should be.
+
+
+_Public School Rowing._
+
+
+_Sydney._
+
+The principal rowing schools in New South Wales are the Church of
+England Grammar School, North Shore, the Sydney Grammar School, and St.
+Ignatius College. Under the "Athletic Association of the Great Public
+Schools" an annual regatta is held on the Parramatta River in May. The
+events are--"Schools Championship," Maiden Fours, Junior Eights, and a
+June Handicap Sculling Race. The association has fixed the distance at
+1-1/4 miles. The races are rowed in string test gigs; and 8 mins. 15
+secs. is considered good time for school crews, whose age, it must be
+remembered, does not equal that of English schoolboys. The boathouses of
+the two grammar schools are at Berry's and Woolloomooloo Bays, in the
+harbour; and they are at a disadvantage compared with St. Ignatius
+College, which, at Lane Cove River, has a splendid course and smooth
+water. The ten days of the Easter vacation are spent by the two former
+schools in "Rowing Camp," _i.e._ they migrate to the Parramatta River,
+where there are better opportunities of systematic work and coaching.
+Each club, notably St. Ignatius, has a good set of boats, those of the
+North Shore School being fitted with convertible fixed or sliding seats,
+carried on frames. The form of the two grammar schools is decidedly
+good, and conforms to the English standard much more nearly than that of
+most of the clubs.
+
+
+_Victoria._
+
+There are five schools approaching, as nearly as circumstances allow,
+the great public schools of England, viz. in the capital, the Church of
+England Grammar School, the Scotch College, Wesley College, St Patrick's
+College, and the Church of England Grammar School at Geelong.
+
+Two races are rowed annually, for first and second crews, each school in
+turn having the choice of course, which is either on the Upper or Lower
+Yarra, the Albert Park Lagoon, or the Barwon at Geelong. For first crews
+the distance is 1-1/4 miles, for second a mile, the boats being string
+test gigs, fixed seats. Of all the schools none has a record equal to
+that of Geelong, where rowing, in comparison with other sports, occupies
+the same position as at Eton. To the Cambridge Eight it has contributed
+four oars, including the well-known heavyweight S. Fairbairn; while in
+the memorable race of '86, when Pitman made his victorious rush on the
+post, the school had an "old boy" in each boat--Fairbairn rowing for the
+Light Blues, and Robertson, whose father had been in Hoare's famous '61
+crew, for Oxford. In the Cambridge Trial Eights seven "old Geelongs"
+have rowed; in the Oxford Trials only one; while the school has also
+been represented in the Grand Challenge and other races at Henley.
+
+The Public Schools' Race for first crews was established in 1868, and
+for second in 1878. Geelong first rowed for the former in 1875, since
+when it has twelve wins to its credit, and the same number in the minor
+event.
+
+The Boat Club was established in 1874, and at the present date has a
+roll of fifty-six members, an excellent boathouse, and nineteen boats.
+It holds an annual school regatta in June.
+
+Rowing at the other schools is very spasmodic, mostly confined to a few
+weeks' training for the above races.
+
+
+_South Australia._
+
+There are only two schools in South Australia which merit the
+designation of public schools in the English sense, viz. St. Peter's
+Collegiate School and Prince Alfred College, both in the immediate
+neighbourhood of the city.
+
+Adelaide is bisected by the river Torrens, where, by reason of a dam, a
+mile and a half of water is available for rowing. But the course is so
+tortuous that racing is limited to a mile. The accumulation of silt is
+so great, and the growth of weeds and rushes so rapid, that for some
+five months in the year the river is kept empty for necessary
+operations; and at the best of times the water is slow and sluggish. At
+the annual regatta, under the Rowing Association, the rivals have often
+competed in a special race; but they ran the chance of being drawn to
+row private schools. In order to make rowing as important a part of
+school athletics as cricket and football, the present writer, who was
+then chairman of the Rowing Association, instituted in 1893 an annual
+race between these schools for a challenge shield, to be rowed on the
+tidal river at the Port, over a straight mile course. The boats used are
+half-outrigged, clinker, keelless fours, fixed seats, with a
+twenty-six-inch beam. The crews practise on the home water, and finish
+their preparation on the scene of the contest. So far, St. Peter's
+College has won each event in the easiest style. A race has also been
+established with the Geelong school. Of three, each of which has been of
+the closest, Geelong has won once, St. Peter's twice. The boats used are
+full outrigged clinkers, with sliding seats.
+
+In spite of the inferior water, rowing at St. Peter's is becoming almost
+as popular with the boys as cricket and football. To this state of
+things their success against Prince Alfred and Geelong crews has
+materially contributed, as well as the institution of school regattas.
+The club has a good boathouse, with the right class of boats for
+teaching and coaching, viz. steady, roomy, half-outrigged, clinker
+fours, with keels, convertible as fixed or sliders.
+
+
+_University Rowing._
+
+There are three Universities of Australia--those of Sydney, Melbourne,
+and Adelaide. Racing was first instituted when Sydney and Melbourne met
+on the water of the latter in string test gig fours over a three and a
+half miles course. In the following year they met on the Parramatta.
+Melbourne won on both occasions. The race was then discontinued, but in
+1885 the Sydney University Boat Club was founded, and in 1888 the three
+Universities mutually agreed to establish the race as an annual event in
+eights, to be rowed in turn on the Parramatta, the Yarra, and the Port
+Adelaide rivers, over a three mile course. Of nine races rowed--in two
+of which Adelaide, and in one of which Sydney, did not compete--Sydney
+has won four times, Melbourne thrice, and Adelaide on two occasions. The
+presentation by Old Blues of Oxford and Cambridge of a magnificent cup,
+to be held by the winners, has given a great stimulus to the race, and
+invested it with an importance which otherwise would not have attached
+to it. It has served to establish the continuity of the contest, and to
+connect the local Universities with their more famous elder sisters of
+England.
+
+The Sydney U.B.C. undoubtedly takes the lead in prosecuting rowing. It
+promotes annual races for Freshmen, and intercollegiate fours between
+the three colleges of St. John's, St. Andrew's, and St. Paul's. Since
+their inauguration, in 1892, St. Paul's has won on every occasion except
+in 1894. In 1895 and 1896 the U.B.C. won the Rowing Association
+Eight-oar Championship.
+
+There is an annual race in eights between Ormond and Trinity Colleges of
+the Melbourne University, besides a few other less important events, but
+the rowing spirit is not in such evidence as in Sydney and Adelaide. The
+latter is simply a teaching and examining University, with members so
+few that it is rather a matter of finding eight men to put in a boat
+than of picking or selecting a crew from a number of aspirants. Its
+success and enterprise are the more remarkable.
+
+Speaking generally of University form in Australia, it is far inferior
+to that of a good college eight. Nor is the reason far to seek. There is
+no such recruiting ground as, for instance, Eton or Radley, not to
+mention other rowing schools, nor are there the opportunities for making
+oars such as the college clubs at the two great Universities present,
+with the successive stages of the Torpids and Lent races, the May and
+Summer Eights, Henley, and the Trial Eights. Coaching, as in England,
+from the tow path or a fast steam-launch, is practically impossible, and
+the number of those who have a scientific knowledge of oarsmanship, and,
+what is rarer still, the gift of imparting it to a crew, individually
+and collectively, is small indeed. Coaching in Australia is done from
+the stern, or from another boat, or by an occasional view from the bank,
+sometimes from a launch seldom fast enough to keep up, or range abeam.
+Pair-oar tubbing is of course utilized. Sydney University rowing is,
+however, far superior to non-University oarsmanship. The men sit up, use
+their backs and legs well, understand the knee work at the end of the
+slide, and do not rush their recovery. They are somewhat deficient in
+fore and aft swing, have a tendency to sky the feather, and rarely
+catch their water at the first. Melbourne rowing is wanting in body
+work, and conspicuous for absence of length. The men apparently are
+taught to discard on slides every approach to fixed-seat form, instead
+of to retain as much as possible. Thanks to a strong Oxford inspiration
+in Adelaide, and a belief in fixed-seat form as the foundation of good
+rowing on slides, an Adelaide school or University crew is conspicuous
+for length, reach, and swing. The pace of the eights is far behind
+English standard.
+
+
+_Boatbuilding in Australia._
+
+It was the opinion of Hanlan that in the matter of boats and sculls he
+had never been so well served as by Donnelly and Sullivan of Sydney, a
+judgment as regards sculls endorsed by Beach and Searle. Chris. Nielsen,
+the sculler, has brought out a boat which he claims to be faster than
+the ordinary wager boat, with, against, or without tide, in rough water
+or smooth. The dimensions for an 11-1/2 stone man are--length, 23 ft.;
+beam, 16 ins.; depth, 7 ins.; for'ard, 6 ins.; aft, 5-1/2 ins.; full
+lines throughout; height of seat from heel plates, 7 ins.; height of
+work from seat, 5-3/4 ins.; needs no fin, steers well, very light off
+hand; weight without fittings, 14 lbs. Riggers are bicycle tubing
+fittings, ordinary Davis gate; Colonial cedar, pine, and hickory
+timbers. The Australian-built boats are probably, so far as lines,
+general design, and workmanship, quite equal to the best English craft.
+For pairs, fours, and eights the Melbourne builders, Fuller, Edwards,
+and Greenland, are of the first class. They use a skeleton frame for the
+slides, built with angle pieces. This has all the rigidity of Clasper's
+more solid style, is lighter and stronger, and when the boat is being
+emptied allows the free escape of water. A Colonial eight is certainly
+lighter than those sent to Australia by Clasper or Rough. Probably the
+English builders have overestimated the weight of Australian eight-oar
+crews, which do not scale anything approaching a 'Varsity eight. Seating
+down the middle is generally preferred, which the present writer thinks
+has everything in its favour. The great drawback from which local
+builders suffer is the want of seasoned cedar. From this cause their
+boats do not last as long as English ones.
+
+
+_Times._
+
+I am not disposed to place much reliance on time as a test of a crew or
+a sculler, as conditions can never be so identical as to make comparison
+a safe guide. Still a certain interest attaches to records. It is
+contended that the Parramatta is a fifth slower than the Thames. The
+best trial with the tide that I know of is for a mile, 5 mins. 20 secs.
+with a four; 4 mins. 47 secs. with an eight. Over the whole course, 3
+miles 330 yards, an eight has put up 17 mins. 12 secs., one mile of
+which was compassed in 4 mins. 52 secs. On the Yarra the Victorian Eight
+of 1889 is said to have rowed two measured miles in 10 mins. 2 secs. At
+Brisbane, in 1895, the Sydney International Eight, with a strong stream,
+compassed three miles in 15 mins., but the distance is doubted. On the
+Nepean course, 3 miles 440 yards, Sullivan beat Bubear in 19 mins. 15
+secs., no current.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ROWING IN AMERICA.
+
+
+The sport of rowing, as I gather from Mr. Caspar Whitney's well-known
+book,[14] was in its infancy in America when it had already taken a
+prominent place amongst our amateur athletic exercises in England. The
+Detroit Boat Club, established in 1839, was the first rowing
+organization in America. Next came Yale University, which established a
+Boat Club in 1843, and was followed by Harvard University in 1846. The
+first boat-race between Harvard and Yale took place in 1852 on Lake
+Winipiseogee, New Hampshire, in eight-oared boats with coxswains. Other
+meetings between these two followed at intervals until 1859, when a
+College Union Regatta was instituted. This took place at Worcester
+(Mass.), on Lake Quinsigamond, in six-oared boats without coxswains, the
+bow oar invariably steering, and was continued, with an interruption of
+three years during the Rebellion, until 1870, when the course was
+changed to the Connecticut River. Up to this time two Universities only
+had competed besides Yale and Harvard; but in 1872 the number increased
+considerably, and in 1875 no less than twelve different Universities
+were represented in one race. These were, in the order in which they
+finished, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth (Hanover, N.H.),
+Wesleyan (Middletown, Conn.), Yale, Amherst (Mass.), Brown (Providence,
+R.I.), Williams (Williamstown, Mass.), Bowdoin (Brunswick, Maine),
+Hamilton (Clinton, N.Y.), and Union (Schenectady, N.Y.). The most
+eventful of these big regattas was that of 1874 at Saratoga, when nine
+boats entered. Harvard and Yale, having adjoining stations,
+unfortunately became engaged in a dispute as to "water," and were left
+disputing by several boats. Harvard got away from the entanglement
+first, leaving Yale with her rudder and one oar broken, and went in
+pursuit of the others; but in spite of the most heroic efforts, were
+beaten by Columbia and Wesleyan, who finished respectively first and
+second. In 1876 Harvard and Yale decided to withdraw from these crowded
+meetings, and in this and the following year they rowed a private match
+at Springfield in Eights with coxswains, and in 1878 on the Thames at
+New London, where they continued their annual contest up to and
+including 1895.[15] In that year there took place a break in the
+athletic relations between these two Universities, and in 1896 Harvard
+took part in a "quadrangular" race with Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania Universities. This was won by Cornell, Harvard being
+second, and was rowed on a perfectly straight four-mile course at
+Poughkeepsie on the River Hudson, where Cornell, Columbia, and
+Pennsylvania had decided some previous contests. In the present year,
+however, the differences between Harvard and Yale were happily adjusted,
+and a race was rowed at Poughkeepsie between them and Cornell, in which
+Cornell came in first, Yale defeating Harvard for second place. Harvard,
+Yale, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell possess at the present day
+the most important University rowing organizations, and at all of them
+the sport is practised with that intense keenness which characterizes
+the young American in everything that he undertakes. Especially is this
+the case with Harvard and Yale. Their rivalry has continued for many
+years, and a meeting between them in rowing, or in any other sport,
+evokes among their members an eagerness and an enthusiasm of which an
+Englishman can have little conception. Most of the Universities that
+took part in the contests of the seventies seem to have dropped
+altogether out of the rowing world. Last year saw a new arrival in the
+shape of the University of Wisconsin. These Westerners, in spite of
+their difficulties of climate, were able to form a very good freshman
+crew, which defeated the Yale freshmen in a two-mile race. This year the
+Wisconsin University Eight rowed a two-mile race against the Yale
+University Eight, but were unable to make much of a show against them.
+The United States Naval Academy at Minneapolis can also put a very fair
+crew on the water, though the course of their studies allows them but
+little leisure for practice. This year they were defeated by Cornell in
+a two-mile race. The chief rowing school of America is undoubtedly St.
+Paul's, at Concord, New Hampshire. It is divided into two boat-clubs,
+the Halcyon and the Shattuck, and the teaching and training of the boys
+are looked after by Mr. Dole, a man of great knowledge and experience in
+rowing matters. They practise on a large lake situated close to the
+school buildings, and show on the whole very fair form, though in this
+respect they cannot equal an Eton crew. Rowing recruits from this school
+are eagerly sought after by Harvard and Yale, in whose contests old St.
+Paul's boys have a very brilliant record. At Groton School, in
+Massachusetts, the boys row in Fours on the river Nashua, their coach
+being Mr. Abbot, a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford. Rowing,
+however, at Groton has not yet assumed the importance it has at St.
+Paul's, baseball being considered of the first importance, and the
+captain of baseball having the right to claim rowing boys for his team.
+Not a few Groton wet-bobs have, however, done well in Harvard and Yale
+crews. Besides these two rowing-schools, there is also the High School
+of Worcester (Mass.), whose Eight this year--the first, I believe, in
+its rowing history--rowed a severe but unsuccessful race against the
+Harvard freshmen on Lake Quinsigamond, and later in the summer won the
+race for Intermediate Eights at the National Regatta held on the River
+Schuylkill at Philadelphia.
+
+  [14] "A Sporting Pilgrimage" (published in 1895 by Messrs. Osgood,
+  McIlvaine & Co.), one of the best all-round accounts of English sport
+  that it has ever been my good fortune to read.
+
+  [15] For many of these details I am indebted to an article by Mr. J. A.
+  Watson-Taylor in the _Granta_.
+
+[Illustration: A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON AT POUGHKEEPSIE.]
+
+To an English reader, with his experience of Henley Regatta, it will
+seem strange that the Universities in America should take little or no
+part in any rowing contests except their own private matches, and should
+have no voice, and apparently no wish to have any voice, in the general
+management of the sport outside the Universities. But such is the case.
+The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen of America has more than
+sixty clubs affiliated to it, but neither Harvard nor Yale nor Cornell
+is amongst the number. The National Association holds a successful
+regatta every year in August, but no really representative Eight from
+Harvard or Yale has ever, I believe, taken part in it. With that
+exception, this Association corresponds to our Amateur Rowing
+Association, and in its constitution states its object to be "the
+advancement and improvement of rowing amongst amateurs." By Article III.
+of the Association an amateur is defined as "one who does not enter in
+an open competition; or for either a stake, public or admission money,
+or entrance fee; or compete with or against a professional for any
+prize; who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the pursuit of
+athletic exercises as a means of livelihood; whose membership of any
+rowing or other athletic club was not brought about, or does not
+continue, because of any mutual agreement or understanding, expressed or
+implied, whereby his becoming or continuing a member of such club would
+be of any pecuniary benefit to him whatever, direct or indirect;[16] who
+has never been employed in any occupation involving any use of the oar
+or paddle; who rows for pleasure or recreation only, and during his
+leisure hours; who does not abandon or neglect his usual business or
+occupation for the purpose of training, and who shall otherwise conform
+to the rules and regulations of this Association (as adopted August 28,
+1872, amended January 20, 1876, and July 18, 1888)."
+
+  [16] This clause is intended especially to prevent any so-called amateur
+  oarsmen being surreptitiously compensated for rowing, as, for instance,
+  by being furnished lucrative employment in sinecure positions.
+
+"Any club which shall issue or accept a challenge for the purpose of
+holding a professional race, shall be for ever debarred from entering an
+individual or crew in the Regattas of the Association, and such club, if
+connected with the Association, shall be expelled."
+
+In point of strictness, it will be noticed this Rule does not suffer by
+comparison with that of our own Amateur Rowing Association.[17] Indeed,
+in some respects it is both fuller and stricter. Practically the only
+difference is that whereas we disqualify as an amateur one who has been
+employed in manual labour for money or wages, or who is or has been by
+trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artizan, or labourer, or
+engaged in any menial duty, this exclusion finds no place in the
+American Amateur definition. The Laws of Boat-racing adopted by the
+Association are practically the same as our own.
+
+  [17] See Appendix.
+
+It may be interesting to contrast the organization and management of
+rowing at an American University with the systems that a long tradition
+has consecrated at Oxford and Cambridge. In our Universities, in the
+first place, each particular sport is entirely independent of all
+others. Each has its own club, its own funds, derived from the
+subscriptions of its members, and each manages its own affairs and
+arranges its own contests, except occasionally in the matter of
+convenience of date, without any reference whatever to the others. A don
+is usually treasurer of these clubs, but he has no special authority or
+control merely because he is a don. His experience and greater knowledge
+are placed at the disposal of undergraduates in matters of finance; that
+is all. Certain general University rules as to time of residence, etc.,
+have to be observed, but beyond this the dons assume absolutely no
+authority at all in the sports of the undergraduates. The undergraduates
+themselves, through undergraduate officers, elected by themselves, make
+all their own arrangements as to dates, matches, and everything else
+connected with their competitions; and a don would as soon think of
+flirting with a barmaid as of interfering with these matters in virtue
+of his donship. This point is really of capital importance. The
+responsibility of everything connected with the sports of the University
+thus falls upon the proper shoulders--those, namely, of the
+undergraduates who take part in them. The full glory of the victory is
+theirs, and a defeat they must feel is due to them alone. They cannot
+shift the blame to any don or committee of dons, and, as they must
+acknowledge themselves responsible, so the necessity of taking steps to
+restore the fortunes of their club is the more strongly brought home to
+them. The captain of a Boat Club is its absolute autocrat as regards
+work and discipline and the selection of his crew. The coach whom he
+asks to instruct them may possibly be old enough to be his father, but
+the coach, none the less, defers with an almost filial respect to the
+captain, through whom all executive orders are issued. In practice, of
+course, the wise captain is guided in most matters by his coach, but,
+should a serious difference arise between them, it is the coach who must
+give way to the authority of the captain. This uncontrolled management
+of their sports by the undergraduates is, it seems to me, no unimportant
+part of a University education; and a man may learn from it even more
+valuable lessons in conduct, self-control, and the treatment of his
+fellow-men, than from all the books, papers, and examinations of his
+University curriculum.
+
+At an American University a very different situation exists. I will take
+the case of Harvard, not merely because it is more familiar to me, but
+because it is typical in its general features, though not, of course, in
+all its details, of the position taken up by the authorities at most
+American Universities with regard to the sports of the undergraduates.
+From the earliest days of athletic exercises the Faculty, or Governing
+Body, of the University has kept a very tight control over them. It has
+issued rules and ordinances, allowing or forbidding certain
+competitions, deciding not only the number, but the date and place of
+matches in which it was allowable to take part, and regulating and
+controlling the conduct of those undergraduates who took part in
+athletics. This system, no doubt, originated at a time when the numbers
+at Harvard were comparatively small, and when the men entered College at
+an age considerably younger than is usual in England. But the numbers at
+Harvard have increased by leaps and bounds, and the age of
+undergraduates is now on an average the same as at Oxford and Cambridge.
+
+In recent years, indeed, a slight change has been found advisable. The
+control of all athletics, whether rowing, baseball, football, or track
+athletics, is vested in what is called an Athletic Committee, composed
+of three professors (_Anglic['e]_, dons), three graduates of the
+University, and three undergraduates. These nine, who are not selected
+on any representative system, promulgate laws, conduct negotiations,
+settle dates, and generally perform those details of business which in
+England are left entirely to the undergraduates. For instance, the
+negotiations for a resumption of athletic relations with Yale University
+were on the Harvard side managed by and through the Athletic Committee.
+Moreover, the Athletic Committee has in its hands the appointment of
+coaches for the crew, and for the football, baseball, and athletic
+teams. The captain of a crew or a team is, to be sure, elected by the
+undergraduates themselves, the established system being that the crew
+should, before disbanding itself, elect the captain for the ensuing
+year. But no election of this kind is valid until it has been confirmed
+by the Athletic Committee. From the above account, in which I have
+confined myself to facts, and have not attempted to criticize, it will
+be seen how profound are the differences between athletic organizations
+at English and American Universities.
+
+But there are further differences which have nothing to do with the
+system of control and management. An English University is composed of
+many colleges, each entirely independent, so far as the management of
+its affairs are concerned. An English University Boat Club is organized
+on the same principle. It is made up of representatives of all the
+College Boat Clubs, and combines these autonomous institutions for what
+may be termed Imperial purposes. College rowing at Oxford and Cambridge
+foments a keen and healthy rivalry, and to no small extent helps to keep
+up the standard of University rowing. In America, on the contrary, the
+University is one, and apparently indivisible. There are no colleges,
+and, therefore, there is no aggregation of College Boat Clubs such as we
+have at home. The want of this element is, no doubt, a serious
+disadvantage to an American University Boat Club. The only element of
+rivalry comes from the competition of the four different classes (_i.e._
+years, as we should call them--freshmen; second-year men, or
+"sophomores;" third-year men, or "juniors;" and fourth-year men, or
+"seniors") against one another in an eight-oared race in the spring.
+Beyond this there has been hitherto no internal competition between
+members of the University Boat Club. Compare this single race with the
+long series of contests in which an English University oarsman takes
+part. He may begin in October with the Fours, row in the University
+Trial Eights in December, and in the University crew in the following
+March. Then come the College eight-oared races in May or June, followed
+by Henley Regatta in July, to say nothing of pair-oar races, and
+sculling races, and College Club races, or of the various Thames
+regattas, in which he may take part during what remains of the summer.
+He thus gains invaluable lessons, both in watermanship and in racing
+experience, which are not open to his American cousin.
+
+For this absence of competitions in an American University Boat Club,
+the severe American winter, which closes the rivers from about the
+middle of December until early in March, is only partly responsible.
+During October and November the rivers are open; but up to the present
+very little advantage has been taken of these valuable months. At
+Harvard there has hitherto been no race or series of races for Fours or
+Pairs or Scullers, and freshmen, during their first term, have been
+exercised on a rowing machine, when they might, with infinitely greater
+profit, have gained instruction on the water.
+
+Early in January, when the undergraduates have returned from their short
+Christmas vacation, a "squad" for the University crew has generally been
+formed and sent to the "training-table," and the men composing it have
+been put into regular exercise, consisting of running varied by
+occasional skating, and of rowing practice every day in the tank. When
+the ice breaks up in March an Eight appears upon the water, and
+practises regularly from that time until towards the end of June, when
+its race against the rival University takes place. This long period of
+combined practice has many obvious drawbacks, which will at once strike
+an experienced oarsman. I believe better results might be obtained by
+allowing members of the University "squad" to take part in the Class
+races, and then, after a period of rest, selecting the University crew.
+
+[Illustration: COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON.]
+
+Notwithstanding, however, all these disadvantages, rowing at American
+Universities has reached a high standard--a result due to the
+extraordinary earnestness and enthusiasm of those who take part in it.
+The American University oarsman is in every respect as strong and as
+well-developed in physique as the average Englishman. All he lacks is
+the prolonged racing experience, which makes the Englishman so
+formidable and robust an opponent. There are men amongst the old oars of
+Harvard, Yale, and Cornell, who have made skilled rowing their special
+study, and whose knowledge of all points of the game is fully as great
+as that of our English oars. Yale, in particular, has, during the last
+ten years, been able to turn out some wonderfully fine and powerful
+crews; but the tendency amongst the American University oarsmen, during
+recent years, has been to sacrifice body-swing to the mere piston action
+of the legs on a very long slide. There is now, however, a reaction, due
+to the visits paid by Cornell and Yale to Henley in 1895 and 1896, and
+the long body-swing and general steadiness, which are marked features of
+English rowing, are now being very successfully cultivated in America.
+
+At the five chief rowing Universities--Harvard, Yale, Columbia,
+Pennsylvania, and Cornell--it is also customary to train a freshman crew
+every year, not merely for the local class races, but for competition
+against one another, the races taking place a few days before those in
+which the University crews compete. This year Yale defeated Harvard by
+something more than a length, Harvard being about three-quarters of a
+length ahead of Cornell. The race--a two-mile one--was very severe, and
+the crews, considering their material, showed, on the whole, better form
+than that displayed by the University crews. A week later the Cornell
+freshmen defeated those from Pennsylvania and Columbia over the same
+course. It is surprising to see what good results can be obtained from
+these freshmen crews. The men composing them have, for the most part,
+not rowed before coming to the University; they have had no graduated
+system of instruction on fixed seats. Up to March, all their rowing has
+been done on hydraulic machines in the gymnasium. They then launch a
+sliding-seat Eight and practise for the Class races at the beginning of
+May. After that they are carefully taken in hand, and trained for their
+race in June against the other Universities. It is from this freshman
+crew, and from the older hands, who may have been rowing in the Class
+races, that the 'Varsity crew of the following year will be recruited.
+
+The number of students at American Universities is thus stated in Mr.
+Caspar Whitney's book: Harvard, 3100; Yale, 2400; Pennsylvania, 2500;
+Columbia, 1600; Cornell, 1800; as against about 2400 at Oxford, and 2800
+at Cambridge.
+
+I ought to add that the use of swivel rowlocks is almost universal in
+America, and that all their Eights are built with the seats directly in
+a line in the centre of the boat. Boats of _papier mach['e]_ have had a
+great vogue, their builder being Waters of Troy; but there is now a
+reaction in favour of cedar boats, as being stiffer and more durable.
+The Harvard and Yale boats this year were built by Davy of Cambridge
+(Mass.), and were beautiful specimens of the art. American boats,
+however, cost at least twice as much as English boats. T. Donoghue, of
+Newburgh, N.Y., makes most of the oars that are used in first-class
+racing. They are lighter by a full pound than our English oars, and are
+every bit as stiff. It is a real pleasure to row with them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE
+TRAINING OF OARSMEN.
+
+
+It would not be right, I think, to send forth a new book on rowing
+without referring to the controversy that has recently been carried on
+in the columns of the _St. James's Gazette_ under the general title of
+"Are Athletes Healthy?" The discussion, which concerned itself mainly
+with oarsmen, is naturally of very deep interest, not only to them, but
+to the fathers and mothers who are anxious about the welfare of their
+energetic sons, and who, if the charges alleged against rowing can be
+proved, will, of course, do their best to dissuade their offspring from
+indulging in this pernicious exercise. I should have preferred to
+discuss the matter in the earlier chapters of this book, but the
+printing was already so far advanced as to render this course out of
+the question, and I am therefore compelled to deal with it somewhat out
+of its place in this final chapter.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 1.]
+
+It would be idle to deny that there was some reason for beginning this
+discussion. Within the past two years three magnificent young oarsmen,
+Mr. H. B. Cotton, Mr. T. H. E. Stretch, and Mr. E. R. Balfour, have
+died; the first after an illness of six months' duration, the other two
+after being ill for less than a fortnight. They were all Oxford men, had
+rowed in victorious races both at Putney and at Henley, and two of
+them--Mr. Cotton and Mr. Balfour--had been actually rowing and racing
+till within a short time of the attack that proved fatal to them. Mr.
+Stretch had not raced, except in scratch Eights at Putney, since the
+Henley Regatta of 1896, some ten months before he died.
+
+It has been asserted that these three untimely deaths were due directly
+to the severe strain undergone both in preparation for racing and in the
+actual races in which these oarsmen took part, and that had they been
+content with unathletic lives they might have lived on for many years.
+Can that be proved? I admit that I do not wish to think the allegation
+capable of proof, for these three were my familiar friends. I had
+coached and trained them all; with two of them I had rowed in several
+races; I had spent innumerable happy days in their society, and the
+sorrow I feel in having lost them would be terribly increased if I were
+forced to believe that our favourite sport had had any part in hastening
+their end. In these cases I will confine myself to stating facts within
+my own knowledge, and will leave those who read my statement to say
+whether on a fair view of the matter the exercise of rowing can be held
+blameworthy.
+
+I may begin by saying that it is the invariable rule at Oxford to send
+all men who may be required for the University Eight to undergo a
+preliminary medical examination. This examination is no perfunctory one.
+It is conducted by Mr. H. P. Symonds, a gentleman of very wide
+experience, especially amongst undergraduates, and I have known several
+instances in which, owing to his report, an oarsman has had to withdraw
+temporarily from the river, and has lost his chance of wearing the
+coveted blue. There has never been any question about yielding to Mr.
+Symonds's judgment. His verdict, if adverse, has always been accepted
+as final both by the oarsman concerned and by the president of the Boat
+Club. In all the three cases with which I am dealing, Mr. Symonds passed
+his men as perfectly sound in heart and lungs and in every other organ.
+
+I take the case of Mr. Stretch first, in order to eliminate it
+conclusively. The cause of his death was appendicitis, followed by
+severe blood-poisoning. It is quite impossible to connect this painful
+and malignant illness with rowing or with any other exercise. The
+_appendix vermiformis_, which is the seat of the disease, is an
+unaccountable relic in the internal organization of human beings; it is
+liable to be affected mysteriously and suddenly in the young and the
+old, and the only effective remedy, I believe, is by means of an
+operation which removes it altogether. Mr. Stretch had, as I said, not
+trained and raced for ten months, and up to the moment of his illness
+had been in the enjoyment of robust and almost exceptional health.
+
+Mr. Cotton, whose case I now proceed to consider, was an Eton boy, and
+had rowed a great deal during his school days, though he had not been
+included in the Eton crew at Henley. He was a man of small stature,
+beautifully built and proportioned, well-framed, muscular, strong, and
+active. On coming to Oxford he continued his rowing, and being a good
+waterman and a man of remarkable endurance and courage, he was in his
+second year placed at bow of the University crew. Altogether he rowed in
+four victorious Oxford crews, he won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley
+twice as bow of a Leander crew, he won the Stewards' Cup in a Magdalen
+College Four, rowed Head of the River three times, besides taking part
+in many other races more or less important. During his whole rowing
+career I knew him to be unwell only once, and that was in 1893, when he
+suffered from a sore throat at Putney. In 1895 he rowed bow of the
+Oxford Eight for the fourth time. The training of this crew was a very
+anxious one. Influenza was very prevalent, and one after another the
+Oxford men were affected by this illness. There were only two
+exceptions, and one of these was Mr. Cotton, who was never sick or sorry
+for a single day during the whole period of practice. Shortly after the
+race he came to stay with me. He was then perfectly strong, perfectly
+healthy, and in wonderfully good spirits, and showed not the least sign
+of being stale or exhausted. He told me himself, on my congratulating
+him on having escaped the influenza, that he had never felt better or
+stronger in his life than he did at that time. On the Easter Monday he
+bicycled from Bourne End to Oxford and back (a distance of nearly
+seventy miles as he rode it), and, as he had had to battle against a
+strong cold wind on the return journey, he was very tired on his
+arrival. On the following morning, however, he appeared perfectly well.
+Towards the end of that week he complained of feeling "very
+lackadaisical and having a bad headache," but he attached no importance
+to these symptoms, and soon after went back to Oxford with a view to
+rowing in the Magdalen Eight. The tired feeling and the headache,
+however, continued, and eventually got so bad that he had to take to his
+bed with a high temperature and all the other symptoms of violent
+influenza. This illness, neglected at the outset, almost immediately
+settled on his lungs, both of which were congested with pneumonia.
+Owing, as Mr. Symonds himself told me, to his good general condition and
+his great strength, he fought through this, but in the mean time signs
+of consumption had declared themselves, and of this he died at Davos
+Platz in the following October.
+
+With regard to Mr. Balfour, the facts are these: He was a man of
+Herculean build and strength. He played in the Oxford Rugby Union
+Football team for two years, 1894 and 1895. In 1896 and in this year he
+rowed in the University Eight, and last July he rowed at Henley in the
+Leander Eight, and won the pair-oared race with Mr. Guy Nickalls. I can
+answer for it that during all his races he was absolutely fit and well.
+I saw him daily at Henley, and, though I knew him to be strong and
+healthy, I was surprised not merely by his improvement in style, but by
+the great vigour he displayed in rowing. On the morning after the
+Regatta I saw him for the last time. He was then in splendid health and
+spirits. On the 12th of August he shot grouse; on the following day, in
+very cold wet weather, he went out fishing, and came home wet through,
+complaining of a chill. On the following day he took to his bed in a
+high fever, with both lungs congested. The illness next attacked his
+kidneys, and soon after his life was despaired of. However, he rallied
+in an extraordinary way until symptoms of blood-poisoning declared
+themselves, when he rapidly sank, and died on August 27th. Now, this
+illness was due either to an ordinary chill or to influenza, or, as I
+have since heard, primarily to blood-poisoning, caused by leaky and
+poisonous drains at a place where he had been staying before his
+shooting excursion. A subsequent examination of these drains revealed a
+very bad condition of affairs immediately underneath the room that Mr.
+Balfour had occupied. In any case it does not appear--and the strong
+testimony of the doctors who attended him confirms me in this--that Mr.
+Balfour's death was due to his rowing. But an objector may say, "It is
+true that neither in Mr. Cotton's nor in Mr. Balfour's case can death be
+_directly_ attributed to rowing; their exertions, however, so exhausted
+their strength, the soundness of their organs, and their powers of
+resistance to disease, that when they were attacked they became easy
+victims." To this I oppose (1) the report of Mr. H. P. Symonds, who
+examined both these oarsmen before they rowed in their University
+Eights; (2) my own observation of their health, condition, and spirits
+during practice, in their races, and afterwards when the races were
+over; and (3) the reports of the doctors who attended them during their
+last illnesses, and who declared (I speak at second hand with regard to
+Mr. Balfour, at first hand with regard to Mr. Cotton) that they were
+both, when struck down, in a surprising state of strength, due to the
+exercise in which they had taken part, and that in both cases their
+powers of resistance were far greater than are usually found. Do I go
+too far in asserting that any doctor in large practice could find in his
+own experience for each of these two cases at least twenty cases in
+which non-rowing and non-athletic men have been suddenly carried off by
+the same sort of illness? I am not concerned to prove that rowing
+confers an immunity from fatal illness: my point is that in the two
+cases I have considered, and in all cases where it is pursued under
+proper conditions of training and medical advice, rowing does not in any
+way promote a condition favourable to disease.
+
+I pass from these particular cases, the discussion of which has been
+painful to me, to the general question of health amongst the great mass
+of those who have been, or are, active rowing men. It may be remembered
+that some twenty-five years ago Dr. J. H. Morgan, of Oxford, moved to
+his task by a controversy similar to that which has recently taken
+place, instituted a very careful inquiry into the health of those who
+had taken part in the University Boat-race from 1829 to 1869. Their
+number amounted, if I remember rightly, to 294, of whom 255 were alive
+at the date of the inquiry. Of these 115 were benefited by rowing, 162
+were uninjured, and only in 17 cases was any injury stated to have
+resulted. And it must be remembered that this inquiry covered a period
+during which far less care, as a general rule, was exercised both as to
+the selection and the training of men than is the case at the present
+day. I may add my own experience. Since I began to row, in 1874, I have
+rowed and raced with or against hundreds of men in college races and at
+regattas, and I have watched closely the rowing of very many others in
+University and in Henley crews. I have kept in touch with rowing men,
+both my contemporaries and my successors, and amongst them all I could
+not point to one (putting aside for the moment the three special cases I
+have just discussed) who has been injured by the exercise, or would
+state himself to have been injured. On the contrary, I can point to
+scores and scores of men who have been strengthened in limb and
+health--I say nothing here of any moral effect--by their early races
+and the training they had to undergo for them. I could at this moment
+pick a crew composed of men all more than thirty years old who are
+still, or have been till quite recently, in active rowing, and, though
+some of them are married men, I would back them to render a good account
+of themselves in Eight or Four or Pair against any selection of men that
+could be made. Nay more, in any other contests of strength or endurance
+I believe they would more than hold their own against younger athletes,
+and would overwhelm any similar number of non-athletes of the same or
+any other age. As contests I should select a hard day's shooting over
+dogs, cross-country riding, tug-of-war, boxing, long-distance rowing,
+or, in fact, any contest in which the special element of racing in light
+ships has no part. For such contests I could pick, not eight, but eighty
+men well over thirty years old, and if the limit were extended to
+twenty-four years of age I could secure an army. Is there any one who
+doubts that my rowing men would knock the non-athletes into a cocked
+hat? For it must be remembered that the bulk of rowing men are not
+exclusively devoted to oarsmanship. A very large proportion of those
+that I have known have been good all-round sportsmen.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 2.]
+
+As to the general effect of rowing on strength and health I may perhaps
+be pardoned if I cite my own case, not because there is anything
+specially remarkable in it, but because it bears on some of the
+questions that have been raised, and I can speak about it with
+certainty. In early childhood I had a serious illness which considerably
+retarded my physical development. At school, however, I took my part in
+all sports, played three years in the Cricket XI. and in the Football
+XV., and won several prizes at the athletic sports. I went to Cambridge
+in 1874, when I was three months short of nineteen, and immediately took
+to rowing. I was certainly not a particularly strong boy then, though I
+had a fair share of activity. I rowed persistently in Eights, Fours and
+Pairs, at first with labour and distress, but gradually, as time went
+on, with ease and pleasure, and I found that the oftener I rowed the
+greater became my powers of endurance. I ought to add that I never rowed
+in the University Race, but I have borne my share in thirty-six bumping
+races, as well as in numerous other races ranging in distance from
+three-quarters of a mile to three miles. I believe that the six
+consecutive races of a May Term call for endurance at least as great as
+the single race from Putney to Mortlake. My actual muscular strength,
+too, increased very largely, and has ever since maintained itself
+unimpaired. I have found that this exercise has, in fact, strengthened
+and consolidated me all round; and I can think of no other exercise that
+could have had upon me the same salutary effect that I am justified in
+attributing mainly to rowing--an effect which has enabled me to endure
+great exertion, sometimes in extremes of heat or of cold, without the
+smallest ill result, and has brought me to middle age with sound organs,
+a strong constitution, active limbs, and a good digestion. There are
+hundreds of other men who could, I doubt not, give a similar account of
+themselves.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 3.]
+
+Out of this main discussion on the health of athletes there sprang a
+subsidiary one, which proved of even greater interest to rowing men. It
+was started by Mr. Sandow, the eminent weight-lifter and modern
+representative of Hercules. Mr. Sandow, stimulated by a disinterested
+love for his fellow-men in general, and for those of Cambridge
+University in particular, wrote an article in the _St. James's
+Gazette_ in which he put forward his own peculiar views on the proper
+system for the training of athletes. He ended by declaring that if he
+were allowed to train a Cambridge crew according to his system (it being
+understood that rowing instruction was at the same time to be imparted
+to them by a properly qualified teacher), he would guarantee to turn out
+a crew the like of which had never before sat in a boat. We were to
+infer, though this was at first sight not obvious, that this crew would
+easily defeat an Oxford crew trained on a system which Mr. Sandow
+evidently considered to be absurd and obsolete.
+
+According to Mr. Sandow's system, as he subsequently developed it, the
+members of this crew were to have complete license in all things. They
+were to eat what they liked, drink what they liked, smoke as much as
+they liked, and, in fact, make their own good pleasure the supreme law
+of their existence. All that Mr. Sandow stipulated was that for some two
+hours a day during a period of several months these men were to put
+themselves in Mr. Sandow's hands for the purpose of muscular development
+all round according to the methods usually employed by him. Any spare
+energy that might then remain to them might be devoted to the work of
+rowing in the boat.
+
+Now, in the first place, there are certain elementary difficulties which
+would go far to prevent the adoption of this experiment. The crew is not
+selected several months before the race; and even if it were, it would
+be practically impossible for the men composing it to spare the time
+required by Mr. Sandow. After all, even the most brilliant of us have to
+get through a certain amount of work for our degrees. There are lectures
+to be attended, there is private reading, not to speak of the time which
+has to be devoted to the ordinary social amenities of life at a
+University. Sport has its proper place in the life of an undergraduate;
+but it does not, and cannot, absorb the whole of that life. Yet if a man
+is to spend two hours with Mr. Sandow, and about two hours and a half (I
+calculate from the moment he leaves his rooms until he returns from the
+river) on the exercise of rowing, it is not easy to see how he will have
+sufficient vigour left to him to tackle the work required even for the
+easiest of pass examinations. I can foresee that not only the man
+himself, but his tutors and his parents might offer some rather serious
+objections.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 4.]
+
+But I am not going to content myself with pointing out these preliminary
+difficulties. I go further, and say that the whole proposal is based
+upon a fallacy. The method of training and development that may fit a
+man admirably for the purpose of weight-lifting, or of excelling his
+fellow-creatures in the measurement of his chest and his muscles, is
+utterly unsuited for a contest that requires great quickness of
+movement, highly developed lung-power, and general endurance spread over
+a period of some twenty minutes. It does not follow that because a man
+measures forty-two inches round the chest, and has all his muscles
+developed in proportion, he will therefore be better fitted for the
+propulsion of a racing-boat than a man who in all points of development
+is his inferior. If I produced Mr. C. W. Kent _incognito_ before Mr.
+Sandow and asked whether it would be feasible to include this gentleman
+in an eight-oared crew, Mr. Sandow would probably laugh me to scorn. Mr.
+Sandow could doubtless hold out Mr. Kent at arm's length with the
+greatest possible ease. I am perfectly certain that Mr. Kent--if he will
+pardon me for thus making free with his name--could do nothing of the
+kind to Mr. Sandow. Yet I am perfectly certain, too, that, in a severely
+contested race, Mr. Kent--admittedly one of the finest strokes that ever
+rowed--would, to put it mildly, be more useful than Mr. Sandow. All
+gymnasium work, and even the modified form of it patented by Mr. Sandow,
+must tend to make men muscle-bound, and therefore slow. Skilled rowing
+consists of a series of movements which have to be gone through with a
+peculiar quickness, precision, and neatness. To be able to go through
+Mr. Sandow's eight weight exercises, to lift weights, to carry horses on
+your chest, may indicate great muscular strength, but it has absolutely
+nothing to do with being able to row. If a rowing man requires some
+exercise subsidiary to rowing, he would, in my opinion, be far better
+advised if he devoted some of his spare time to boxing and to fencing,
+exercises which necessitate immense quickness and perfect combination
+between brain, hand, and eye, than if he were to spend time in building
+up his body with such exercises as are included in the Sandow
+curriculum. But, in the main, rowing must develop for itself the muscles
+it requires. It is an exercise which, when all is said and done, can
+only be learnt effectively in a boat on the water. It is thus, and thus
+only, that a man can acquire the necessary movements, and perfect
+himself in that sense of balance and of rhythm which is as necessary to
+a rowing man as muscular strength. My experience leads me to the
+conclusion that men who, though naturally well-framed and proportioned,
+are not afflicted with excessive muscle, are more likely to be useful in
+rowing than the pet of a gymnasium or the muscle-bound prodigies made in
+the image of Mr. Sandow. I may cite as examples such men as Mr. R. P. P.
+Rowe, Mr. R. O. Kerrison, Mr. W. Burton Stewart, Mr. W. E. Crum, Mr. J.
+A. Ford, and Mr. C. W. Kent.[18] All these men acquired their
+unquestionable excellence as oarsmen by the only possible method--that
+is, by long practice of rowing in boats. Even an exercise so nearly
+resembling actual rowing as the tank work practised in the winter by
+American crews has very serious disadvantages. It might be supposed that
+it would exercise and keep in trim the muscles required for actual
+rowing; but its effect is to make men slow and heavy, faults which they
+have to correct when they once more take to the river.
+
+  [18] The photographs reproduced in this chapter are those of active
+  rowing men. No. 4, whose muscular development is the slightest, is one
+  of the most brilliant oarsmen of the day. See also photographs of Mr.
+  Kent and Mr. Gold in Chapter V.
+
+[Illustration: ROWING TYPES.
+
+NO. 5.]
+
+With regard to Mr. Sandow's revolutionary proposals about diet, smoking,
+and hours, I have only this to say. We rowing men have shown time after
+time that by adhering to what I do not hesitate to call our common-sense
+system of rules tempered with indulgences we can bring our men to the
+post in the most perfect health and condition, absolutely fit, so far as
+their wind and powers of endurance are concerned, to take part in the
+severest contests. What has Mr. Sandow shown that should avail, with
+these results before our eyes, to make us exchange our disciplined
+liberty for his unfettered license? In the mean time we shall very
+properly hesitate to take the leap in the dark that he suggests.
+
+I trust that the President of the C.U.B.C. will, in future, conduct the
+practice of his crew according to the methods that have proved their
+efficacy over and over again, and that he will not listen to the voice
+of Mr. Sandow, charm he never so unwisely. _Non tali auxilio_ are
+boat-races to be won.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA.
+
+_Secretary_: J. F. COOPER.
+
+QUALIFICATION RULES.
+
+
+THE GRAND CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any University or public school,
+or who are officers of Her Majesty's army or navy, or any amateur club
+established at least one year previous to the day of entry, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize.
+
+
+THE STEWARDS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Grand Challenge Cup.
+
+
+THE LADIES' CHALLENGE PLATE, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+Any crew of amateurs who are members of any of the boat clubs of
+colleges, or non-collegiate boat clubs of the Universities, or boat
+clubs of any of the public schools, in the United Kingdom only, shall be
+qualified to contend for this prize; but no member of any college or
+non-collegiate crew shall be allowed to row for it who has exceeded four
+years from the date of his first commencing residence at the
+University; and each member of a public school crew shall, at the time
+of entering, be _bon[^a] fide_ a member "_in statu pupillari_" of such
+school.
+
+
+THE VISITORS' CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The same as for the Ladies' Challenge Plate.
+
+
+THE THAMES CHALLENGE CUP, FOR EIGHT OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Grand
+Challenge Cup; but no one (coxswains excepted) may enter for this cup
+who has ever rowed in a winning crew for the Grand Challenge Cup or
+Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes as per Rule II
+excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cup and for the
+Grand Challenge Cup, or Stewards' Challenge Cup, at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP, FOR FOUR OARS.
+
+The qualification for this cup shall be the same as for the Stewards'
+Challenge Cup; but no one shall enter for this cup who has ever rowed in
+a winning crew for the Stewards' Challenge Cup; and no one (substitutes
+as per Rule II excepted) may enter, and no one shall row, for this cap
+and for the Stewards' Challenge Cup at the same regatta.
+
+
+THE SILVER GOBLETS, FOR PAIR OARS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+THE DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS, FOR SCULLS.
+
+Open to all amateurs duly entered for the same according to the Rules
+following.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+_Revised December 1st, 1894._
+
+
+_Definition._
+
+I.--No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler or
+coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or
+    entrance-fee.[19]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+    professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+    athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+    labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages, a mechanic,
+    artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [19] This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any otherwise
+  duly qualified amateur who previously to June 23, 1894, has rowed or
+  steered for a stake, money, or entrance-fee, in a race confined to
+  members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+
+_Eligibility._
+
+II.--No one shall be eligible to row or steer for a club unless he has
+been a member of that club for at least two months preceding the
+regatta, but this Rule shall not apply to colleges, schools, or crews
+composed of officers of Her Majesty's army or navy.
+
+
+_Entries._
+
+III.--The entry of any amateur club, crew, or sculler, in the United
+Kingdom, must be made ten clear days before the regatta, and the names
+of the captain or secretary of each club or crew must accompany the
+entry. A copy of the list of entries shall be forwarded by the secretary
+of the regatta to the captain or secretary of each club or crew duly
+entered.
+
+IV.--The entry of any crew or sculler, out of the United Kingdom, other
+than a crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the Union des
+Soci['e]t['e]s Francaises de Sports Athl['e]tiques, or of the Deutscher
+Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche Roeivereenigingen, must
+be made on or before the 31st of March, and any such entry must be
+accompanied by a declaration made before a notary public, with regard to
+the profession of each person so entering, to the effect that he has
+never rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee;
+has never knowingly rowed or steered with or against a professional for
+any prize; has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+athletic exercises of any kind for profit; has never been employed in or
+about boats, or in manual labour for money or wages; is not, and never
+has been, by trade or employment, for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or
+labourer, or engaged in any menial duty; and is not disqualified as an
+amateur in any other branch of sport; and in cases of the entry of a
+crew, that such crew represents a club which has been duly established
+at least one year previous to the day of entry: and such declaration
+must be certified by the British Consul or the mayor, or the chief
+authority of the locality.
+
+The entry of any crew or sculler belonging to a club affiliated to the
+Union des Soci['e]t['e]s Francaises de Sports Athl['e]tiques, or of the
+Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche
+Roeivereenigingen, must be made on or before the 1st of June, and any
+such entry must be accompanied by a declaration in writing by the
+secretary of such Union, or Verband, or by the Council of the club from
+time to time appointed by the Verbonden Nederlandsche
+Roeivereenigingen, with regard to the profession of each person so
+entering, to the effect that he has never since the institution of the
+Union des Soci['e]t['e]s Francaises de Sports Athl['e]tiques, or the
+Deutscher Ruder Verband, or of the Verbonden Nederlandsche
+Roeivereenigingen, as the case may be, either rowed or steered in any
+race for a stake, money, or entrance fee; or knowingly rowed or steered
+with or against a professional for any prize; has never taught, pursued,
+or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises of any kind for
+profit; has never been employed in or about boats, or in manual labour
+for money or wages; is not, and never has been by trade or employment,
+for wages, a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial
+duty; and is not disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of
+sport; and in cases of the entry of a crew, that each member thereof is
+and has been for two months a member of such club, and that such club
+has been duly established at least one year previous to the day of
+entry.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary unless accompanied
+by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--Entrance money for each boat shall be paid to the secretary at
+the time of entering, as follows:--
+
+                                         [L]   _s._  _d._
+  For the Grand Challenge Cup             6     6     0
+     "    Ladies' Challenge Plate         5     5     0
+     "    Thames Challenge Cup            5     5     0
+     "    Stewards'    "                  4     4     0
+     "    Visitors'    "                  3     3     0
+     "    Wyfold       "                  3     3     0
+     "    Silver Goblets                  2     2     0
+     "    Diamond Challenge Sculls        1     1     0
+
+IX.--The Committee shall investigate any questionable entry,
+irrespective of protest.
+
+X.--The Committee shall have power to refuse or return any entry up to
+the time of starting, without being bound to assign a reason.
+
+XI.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered shall, seven
+clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of the regatta a
+list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to compete, to
+which list the names of not more than four other members for an
+eight-oar and two for a four-oar may be added as substitutes.
+
+XII.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XIII.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the
+crews entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a
+copy of the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or
+secretary of each club or crew entered, and in the case of pairs or
+scullers to each competitor entered.
+
+
+_Objections._
+
+XIV.--Objections to the entry of any club or crew must be made in
+writing to the secretary at least four clear days before the regatta,
+when the committee shall investigate the grounds of objection, and
+decide thereon without delay.
+
+XV.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary at the earliest moment practicable. No protest
+shall be entertained unless lodged before the prizes are distributed.
+
+
+_Course._
+
+XVI.--The races shall commence below the Island, and terminate at the
+upper end of Phyllis Court. Length of course, about 1 mile and 550
+yards.
+
+XVII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+
+_Stations._
+
+XVIII.--Stations shall be drawn by the Committee.
+
+
+_Row over._
+
+XIX.--In the event of there being but one boat, entered for any prize,
+or if more than one enter, and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+
+_Heats._
+
+XX.--If there shall be more than two competitors, they shall row a trial
+heat or heats; but no more than two boats shall contend in any heat for
+any of the prizes above mentioned.
+
+XXI.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, the same crews shall
+contend again, after such interval as the Committee may appoint, or the
+crew refusing shall be adjudged to have lost the heat.
+
+
+_Clothing._
+
+XXII.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders
+to the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+
+_Coxswains._
+
+XXIII.--Every eight-oared boat shall carry a coxswain; such coxswain
+must be an amateur, and shall not steer for more than one club for the
+same prize.
+
+    The minimum weight for coxswains shall be 7 stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 10-1/2 stone and under 11 stone to carry not less
+      than 7-1/2 stone.
+
+    Crews averaging 11 stone or more, to carry not less than 8 stone.
+
+    Deficiencies must be made up by dead weight carried on the
+      coxswain's thwart.
+
+    The dead weight shall be provided by the Committee, and shall be
+      placed in the boat and removed from it by a person appointed for
+      that purpose.
+
+    Each competitor (including the coxswain) in eight and four-oared
+      races shall attend to be weighed (in rowing costume) at the time
+      and place appointed by the Committee: and his weight then
+      registered by the secretary shall be considered his racing weight
+      during the regatta.
+
+    Any member of a crew omitting to register his weight shall be
+      disqualified.
+
+
+_Flag._
+
+XXIV.--Every boat shall, at starting, carry a flag showing its colour at
+the bow. Boats not conforming to this Rule are liable to be disqualified
+at the discretion of the umpire.
+
+
+_Umpire._
+
+XXV.--The Committee shall appoint one or more umpires to act under the
+laws of boat-racing.
+
+
+_Judge._
+
+XXVI.--The Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose decision as
+to the order in which the boats pass the post shall be final.
+
+
+_Prizes._
+
+XXVII.--The prizes shall be delivered at the conclusion of the regatta
+to the respective winners, who on receipt of a challenge prize shall
+subscribe a document of the following effect:--
+
+"I/We A (B C D, etc.) (members of the club), having been this day
+declared to be the winners of the Henley Royal Regatta Challenge Cup (or
+diamond sculls), and the same having been delivered to us on behalf of
+the stewards of the said regatta, do (jointly and severally) agree to
+return in good order and condition as now received the said cup (or
+diamond sculls), to the stewards on or before June 1st next, and I/we do
+also (jointly and severally) agree that if the said cup (or sculls) be
+accidentally lost or destroyed, or in any way permanently defaced, I/we
+will on or before the date aforesaid, or as near thereto as may be
+conveniently possible, place in the hands of the said stewards a cup (or
+diamond sculls) of similar design and value, and engraved with the names
+of the previous winners (their officers) (and crews) as now engraved on
+the present cup and base./case. In witness of which agreement I/we have
+hereunto subscribed my/our (respective) name./names."
+
+_Committee._
+
+XXVIII.--All questions of eligibility, qualification, interpretation of
+the Rules, or other matters not specially provided for, shall be
+referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
+
+XXIX.--The laws of boat-racing to be observed at the regatta are as
+follows:--
+
+                    (_The same as the A.R.A. Laws._)
+
+
+
+
+THE AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.
+
+_Hon. Sec._: R. C. LEHMANN, 30, Bury Street, St. James's, S.W.
+
+_Revised, April 23rd, 1894._
+
+
+CONSTITUTION.
+
+I.--This Association shall be called "The Amateur Rowing Association,"
+and its objects shall be--
+
+    1. To maintain the standard of amateur oarsmanship as recognized by
+      the Universities and principal boat clubs of the United Kingdom;
+
+    2. To promote the interests of boat-racing generally.
+
+II.--The Association shall consist of clubs which adopt the following
+definition of an amateur, viz.:
+
+No person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler, or coxswain--
+
+    1. Who has ever rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money or
+      entrance-fee.[20]
+
+    2. Who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a
+      professional for any prize.
+
+    3. Who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of
+      athletic exercises of any kind for profit.
+
+    4. Who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual
+      labour, for money or wages.
+
+    5. Who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic,
+      artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.
+
+    6. Who is disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of sport.
+
+  [20] N.B.--This clause is not to be construed as disqualifying any
+  otherwise duly qualified amateur who previously to April 23rd, 1894, has
+  rowed or steered for a stake, money or entrance-fee, in a race confined
+  to members of any one club, school, college, or University.
+
+III.--Any amateur club willing to bind itself to observe the rules of
+the Association may become affiliated upon making application to the
+Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A., and being elected by a majority of two-thirds
+of the meeting of the Committee.
+
+Every affiliated club shall have at least one vote at General Meetings.
+Any club having more than two hundred full members shall have in
+addition one vote for every hundred or part of a hundred members in
+excess of two hundred; but no club shall have more than six votes.
+
+Every affiliated club shall, when required, send to the Hon. Sec. of the
+A.R.A. a list of its members and a copy of its last balance-sheet.
+
+The Committee shall not consider an application for affiliation from any
+club previously refused, until after the expiration of twelve calendar
+months from the date of such refusal.
+
+IV.--Each club shall pay to the expenses of the Association an annual
+subscription to be fixed by the Committee; such subscription not to
+exceed one guinea.
+
+V.--The government and management of the Association shall be vested in
+a Committee of twenty-five members, who shall meet once at least in
+every six months, or as often as may be required. At the first meeting
+of the Committee in each year a chairman shall be elected, who shall
+remain in office until the next General Meeting. At all meetings of the
+committee the chairman shall preside, and in his absence a chairman
+shall be elected for the occasion; seven members shall form a quorum,
+and the chairman shall have a casting vote.
+
+VI.--For the purpose of electing the members of the Committee a General
+Meeting of the representatives of the affiliated clubs shall be held
+once a year at a date to be fixed by the Committee. Ten days' notice of
+this meeting shall be given.
+
+Each club shall notify to the Secretary in writing, not less than three
+days prior to the Annual General Meeting, the names of its authorized
+representatives, the number of whom must not exceed the number of votes
+to which such club is entitled; but should a club nominate one
+representative only such representative can record the number of votes
+to which his club is entitled.
+
+VII.--Five members of the Committee shall be elected at each Annual
+General Meeting, and shall remain in office for three years. The
+Committees of the Cambridge University Boat Club, the Royal Chester
+Rowing Club, the Kingston Rowing Club, the Leander Club, the London
+Rowing Club, the Molesey Boat Club, the Oxford University Boat Club, the
+Thames Rowing Club, and the Twickenham Rowing Cub shall each nominate
+annually a member of the Committee, and such nomination shall be sent to
+the Secretary prior to the General Meeting. The Hon. Sec. of the A.R.A.
+shall be an _ex officio_ member of the Committee of the A.R.A. In the
+year 1894, in order to complete the number of twenty-five, the fifteen
+members of the Committee elected and nominated as hereinbefore provided
+shall meet and co-opt the remaining ten members, and the business of
+that meeting shall be confined to this object alone. Five members of the
+Committee shall retire annually by rotation, but shall be eligible for
+re-election. Five of the co-opted members shall retire in 1895, the
+remaining five in 1896. The Committee shall have power to fill up any
+vacancy that may occur during the year amongst the elected members, but
+any vacancy amongst the nominated members shall be filled up by the club
+affected.
+
+VIII.--The Committee shall have power to affiliate clubs to the
+Association, to appoint officers, to make or alter rules, to suspend,
+disqualify, and reinstate amateurs, and generally to determine and
+settle all questions and disputes relating to boat-racing which may be
+referred to them for decision. And further, the Committee shall take
+such other steps as they may consider necessary or expedient for
+carrying into effect the objects of the Association.
+
+IX.--The Committee shall have power on due cause being shown to suspend
+any affiliated club or to remove it from the list of affiliated clubs.
+
+No motion for the suspension or removal of a club shall be considered
+except at a Committee Meeting specially called at not less than seven
+days' notice for the purpose. Such a motion shall not be deemed carried
+except by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee present.
+
+A resolution for the removal of a club must be confirmed at a subsequent
+meeting of the Committee specially summoned at not less than seven days'
+notice for the purpose.
+
+X.--The hon. sec. shall be elected by the Committee; he shall keep a
+proper record of the proceedings of the Committee and of General
+Meetings, and shall be responsible for the books, accounts, and funds of
+the Association.
+
+XI.--No member of any club affiliated to the Association shall compete
+in any regatta in England which is not held in accordance with the rules
+of the Association.
+
+XII.--No addition to or alteration in these rules shall be made except
+by the vote of a majority of two-thirds of a meeting of the Committee
+specially summoned at not less than seven days' notice for the purpose.
+Such notice shall state the alteration or addition proposed.
+
+
+LIST OF AFFILIATED CLUBS.
+
+N.B.--The figures denote the number of votes to which each of the clubs
+is entitled.
+
+  (1) Albion Rowing Club.
+  (1) Anglian Boat Club.
+  (1) Ariel Rowing Club.
+  (1) Avon Rowing Club.
+  (1) Barry Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bedford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bewdley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Birmingham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bradford Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Bridgnorth Rowing Club.
+  (1) Broxbourne Rowing Club.
+  (1) Burton Rowing Club.
+  (6) Cambridge University Boat Club.
+  (1) Cardiff Amateur Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cecilian Rowing Club.
+  (1) Cooper's Hill Boat Club.
+  (1) Gloucester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Henley Rowing Club.
+  (1) Irex Rowing Club.
+  (1) Iris Rowing Club.
+  (1) Ironbridge Rowing Club.
+  (1) Kensington Rowing Club.
+  (2) Kingston Rowing Club.
+  (6) Leander Club.
+  (1) Leicester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Liverpool Rowing Club.
+  (6) London Rowing Club.
+  (1) Marlow Rowing Club.
+  (1) Medway Rowing Club.
+  (1) Mersey Rowing Club.
+  (1) Molesey Boat Club.
+  (1) North London Boat Club.
+  (1) Nottingham Rowing Club.
+  (6) Oxford University Boat Club.
+  (1) Pembroke Rowing Club.
+  (2) Pengwern Boat Club.
+  (1) Reading Rowing Club.
+  (1) Redcliffe Rowing Club.
+  (2) Royal Chester Rowing Club.
+  (1) Royal Savoy Club.
+  (1) Staines Boat Club.
+  (1) Stourport Boat Club.
+  (5) Thames Rowing Club.
+  (1) Twickenham Rowing Club.
+  (1) Vesta Rowing Club.
+  (1) Warwick Boat Club.
+  (1) Worcester Rowing Club.
+
+
+RULES FOR REGATTAS.
+
+I.--The laws of boat-racing adopted by the Association shall be
+observed, and the Association's definition of an amateur shall govern
+the qualifications of each competitor.
+
+II.--The Regatta Committee shall state on their programmes, and all
+other official notices and advertisements, that their regatta is held in
+accordance with the rules of the A.R.A.
+
+III.--No money or "value prize" (_i.e._ a cheque on a tradesman) shall
+be offered for competition, nor shall a prize and money be offered as
+alternatives.
+
+IV.--Entries shall close at least three clear days before the date of
+the regatta.
+
+V.--No assumed name shall be given to the secretary of the regatta
+unless accompanied by the real name of the competitor.
+
+VI.--No one shall enter twice for the same race.
+
+VII.--No official of the regatta shall divulge any entry, or report the
+state of the entrance list, until such list be closed.
+
+VIII.--The Regatta Committee shall investigate any questionable entry
+irrespective of protest, and shall have power to refuse or return any
+entry up to the time of starting, without being bound to assign a
+reason.
+
+IX.--The captain or secretary of each club or crew entered, shall, at
+least three clear days before the regatta, deliver to the secretary of
+the regatta a list containing the names of the actual crew appointed to
+compete, to which list the names of not more than four other members for
+an eight-oar, and two for a four-oar, may be added as substitutes.
+
+X.--No person may be substituted for another who has already rowed or
+steered in a heat.
+
+XI.--The secretary of the regatta, after receiving the list of the crews
+entered, and of the substitutes, shall, if required, furnish a copy of
+the same, with the names, real and assumed, to the captain or secretary
+of each club or crew entered, and, in the case of pairs or scullers, to
+each competitor entered.
+
+XII.--Objections to the qualification of a competitor must be made in
+writing to the secretary of the regatta at the earliest moment
+practicable. No protest shall be entertained unless lodged before the
+prizes are distributed.
+
+XIII.--The whole course must be completed by a competitor before he can
+be held to have won a trial or final heat.
+
+XIV.--In the event of there being but one boat entered for any prize, or
+if more than one enter and all withdraw but one, the crew of the
+remaining boat must row over the course to be entitled to such prize.
+
+XV.--In the event of a dead heat taking place, any competitor refusing
+to row again, as may be directed by the Regatta Committee, shall be
+adjudged to have lost.
+
+XVI.--Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulders to
+the knees--including a sleeved jersey.
+
+XVII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more umpires.
+
+XVIII.--The Regatta Committee shall appoint one or more judges, whose
+decision as to the order in which the boats pass the posts shall be
+final.
+
+XIX.--A maiden oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta; (B) who has never been a competitor in any
+International or Inter-University Rowing Match.
+
+A maiden sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta; (B) who has never competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or
+for the Amateur Championship of any country.
+
+XX.--A junior oarsman is an oarsman (A) who has never won a race with
+oars at a regatta other than a school race; a race in which the
+construction of the boats was restricted; or a race limited to members
+of one club; (B) who has never been a competitor in any International or
+Inter-University match. No oarsman who has won a race at a regatta in
+which the construction of the boats was restricted, shall compete as a
+junior in any such race after the end of the current year.
+
+A junior sculler is a sculler (A) who has never won a sculling race at a
+regatta other than a race in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted; or a race limited to members of one club; (B) who has never
+competed for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, or for the Amateur
+Championship of any country.
+
+N.B.--The qualification shall in every case relate to the day of the
+regatta.
+
+XXI.--All questions not specially provided for shall be decided by the
+Regatta Committee.
+
+
+LAWS OF BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--All boat races shall be started in the following manner:--The
+starter on being satisfied that the competitors are ready, shall give
+the signal to start.
+
+II.--A boat not at its post at the time specified, shall be liable to be
+disqualified by the umpire.
+
+III.--The umpire may act as starter, or not, as he thinks fit; when he
+does not so act, the starter shall be subject to the control of the
+umpire.
+
+IV.--If the starter considers the start false, he shall at once recall
+the boats to their stations, and any boat refusing to start again shall
+be disqualified.
+
+V.--Each boat shall keep its own water throughout a race. A boat
+departing from its own water will do so at its peril.
+
+VI.--A boat's own water is its due course, parallel with the course of
+the other competing boat or boats, from the station assigned to it at
+starting, to the finish.
+
+VII.--No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat or boats committing
+a foul shall be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--It shall be considered a foul when, after a race has been
+started, any competitor, by his oar, boat, or person, comes into contact
+with the oar, boat, or person of another competitor; unless, in the
+opinion of the umpire, such contact is so slight as not to influence the
+race.
+
+IX.--A claim of foul must be made to the umpire or the judge by the
+competitor himself before getting out of his boat.
+
+X.--In case of a foul the umpire shall have power--
+
+    (_a_) To place the boats not disqualified in the order in which they
+      come in.
+
+    (_b_) To order the boats not disqualified to row again on the same
+      or another day.
+
+    (_c_) To re-start the boats not disqualified according to his
+      discretion.
+
+XI.--The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat's own water and due course
+during a race, and he may caution any competitor when in danger of
+committing a foul.
+
+XII.--The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all questions as to a
+foul.
+
+XIII.--Every boat shall abide by its accidents, but if during a race a
+boat shall be interfered with by any outside boat, the umpire shall have
+power, if he thinks fit, to re-start the boats according to his
+discretion, or to order them to row again on the same or another day.
+
+XIV.--No boat shall be allowed to accompany or follow any race for the
+purpose of directing the course of any of the competitors. Any
+competitor receiving any extraneous assistance may be disqualified, at
+the discretion of the umpire.
+
+XV.--Boats shall be held to have completed the course when their bows
+reach the winning post.
+
+XVI.--Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision of the umpire, or
+to follow his directions, shall be disqualified.
+
+XVII.--The umpire, if he thinks proper, may reserve his decision,
+provided that in every case such decision be given on the day of the
+race.
+
+XVIII.--The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over a race and all
+matters connected with it, from the time the race is specified to start
+until its termination, and his decision in all cases shall be final and
+without appeal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A brief explanation of some points arising out of the Rules and
+Regulations of the A.R.A. may be useful.
+
+
+"PROFESSIONAL."
+
+Up to 1894 the A.R.A. gave a very wide interpretation to the term
+"professional," which was held to include "any person not qualified as
+an amateur under A.R.A. Rules." Mechanics, artisans, labourers, men
+engaged in menial duty, or employed in manual labour for money or wages,
+were, therefore, not merely disqualified as amateurs, but were
+considered to be professionals, and competition against them for a prize
+involved disqualification to the amateur so competing. In 1894, however,
+the whole code of A.R.A. was submitted to the revision of a
+sub-committee, and their report, subsequently adopted by the full
+committee, laid it down that from this time on the word "professional"
+must be interpreted "in its primary and literal sense," _i.e._ one who
+makes money by rowing, sculling, or steering. An amateur rowing, or
+sculling, or steering with or against a professional for a prize is
+still disqualified, but the amateur status of one who rows or steers
+with or against mechanics, artisans, etc. (provided, of course, the
+race is not for a stake, money, or entrance fee), is not affected. At
+the same time it must be remembered (Rule I of Rules for Regattas) that
+at regattas held in accordance with A.R.A. rules no mechanic, artisan,
+etc., can be admitted to compete, and by Clause XI. of the Constitution
+no member of any club affiliated to the A.R.A. is permitted to compete
+at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules. The result would
+seem to be, therefore, that whereas an amateur who is not a member of a
+club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against mechanics, artisans,
+etc., at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules without
+incurring any penalty, a member of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can
+compete against this class only in a private match. Any member of an
+affiliated club transgressing Clause XI. would unquestionably render
+himself liable to suspension under Clause VIII. of the Constitution.
+There are now, therefore, three classes of oarsmen, viz. amateurs,
+non-amateurs, and professionals.
+
+
+NON-AMATEURS.
+
+The A.R.A. holds that "apprenticeship is no disqualification." Nobody,
+therefore, is to be disqualified for serving an apprenticeship, even if
+it involves (as in the case of engineers or nurserymen) manual labour
+for a money payment. But such manual labour on the part of one who has
+passed through his ordinary apprenticeship and still continues at the
+work for a year or two would disqualify.
+
+The committee has held that disqualification attaches, for instance,
+to--
+
+(1) A watchmaker's assistant who works, or has worked, at the bench.
+
+(2) A baker's assistant who not only helps to make bread, but also
+delivers it.
+
+(3) Engravers and etchers.
+
+(4) A man having an interest in a boat-letting business, _and_ taking in
+or starting boats at a raft.
+
+But not to--
+
+(5) A 3rd engineer, sea-going, who goes to sea and works for money,
+where such sea-service it necessary to qualify him for passing his
+examinations for the position of chief engineer.
+
+(6) A draughtsman in an engineering firm, though working for wages.
+
+Decisions 3 and 6 are not easily to be reconciled.
+
+
+REGATTA. JUNIOR OARSMEN AND SCULLERS.
+
+Doubts have occasionally arisen as to what is the correct meaning of the
+word "Regatta" in Clause XI. of the Constitution, and in Rules 19 and 20
+of the Rules for Regattas. The committee has held that any meeting,
+whether or not called open, at which more than one club, or members of
+more than one club, compete, is a regatta. This decision does not cover
+a private match, but does cover a regatta where, for instance, the
+competition is limited to certain clubs, specially invited by the club
+or committee who arrange and manage the regatta. Thus, if a junior
+competed and won, either as an oarsman or sculler, at a regatta limited,
+say, to members of the London, Kingston, and Thames Rowing Clubs, he
+would by so winning cease to be a junior, provided the race was neither
+a school race nor one in which the construction of the boats was
+restricted.
+
+The committee has decided that a man who rows over for a junior sculls
+race, even though he receive no prize (the committee not awarding one in
+any race in which there was only one starter), ceases to be a junior
+sculler.
+
+A junior sculler may be a senior oarsman, and _vice vers[^a]_.
+
+
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE CLUB.
+
+I.--That the CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT CLUB consist of the members of
+the several boat clubs in the University.
+
+II.--That the affairs of the club be under the management of a
+president, a vice-president (who shall also be hon. secretary), a
+treasurer, the captains of all boats rowing in the regular University
+races, and all those who have been members of the University crew. The
+president and vice-president shall be elected at the first meeting in
+each term, and those only to be eligible who shall have been members of
+a University crew. The treasurer shall be a resident graduate of the
+University, to be elected annually at the first meeting of the Easter
+Term.
+
+III.--That to assist the officers in case of extraordinary and pressing
+business, a small committee be formed, consisting of the president,
+vice-president, treasurer, and three extra committee-men, who shall be
+elected at the last meeting of the C.U.B.C. in each term. That members
+of the Committee shall have the right of attending meetings of the
+C.U.B.C. and voting at the same. That at meetings of the committee all
+except the treasurer must be present in person or by deputy. The
+treasurer must attend all meetings of the committee on financial
+questions.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VIII.--That all cases of dispute be referred to the president or his
+deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs in
+their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute: whose
+decision shall be final. That representatives of the clubs concerned be
+present at the meeting.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XVIII.--That the secretary of each boat club do send in to the
+assistant-secretary of the C.U.B.C. a balance-sheet of the receipts and
+expenditure of his club for the past year, within three weeks of the
+beginning of the October Term. That the penalty for neglecting this Rule
+be one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That every club do pay to the C.U.B.C. a subscription in
+proportion to its receipts for the previous year.
+
+XX.--That the rate per cent. of this tax be fixed by the treasurer of
+the C.U.B.C., and, when confirmed by the Finance Committee, levied in
+three equal instalments.
+
+XXI.--That all moneys, however obtained, be included in the receipts of
+a College boat club, except such as are specially subscribed towards the
+expenses of a crew going to Henley.
+
+XXII.--That any club neglecting to pay the subscriptions or arrears due
+to the C.U.B.C. within six weeks of the beginning of full term be fined
+one guinea; and that no captain be allowed to vote whose club is in
+arrear.
+
+XXIII.--That medals be given by the C.U.B.C. to each member of such
+University crews as shall be winners of the University match with
+Oxford. Also to each member of those College crews which shall be head
+of the river at the end of the Lent and Easter Term races; and to each
+member of the Trial Eights.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all boats, except tub-pairs, used for coaching purposes be
+obliged to carry an india-rubber ball fixed to the nose of the boat.
+That the penalty for neglecting this Rule be one guinea.
+
+
+REGULATIONS FOR BOAT-RACING.
+
+I.--That none but members of the C.U.B.C. be allowed to row or steer in
+the C.U.B.C. races.
+
+II.--That there be regular eight-oared races in the Easter and Lent
+Terms, and that the days on which they shall take place and the number
+of races be appointed and declared at the last general meeting of the
+preceding term respectively. That in these races two umpires be
+appointed by the president or his deputy; that in all other C.U.B.C.
+races one umpire be appointed.
+
+III.--That the number of boats be limited in the Easter Term to thirty,
+rowing in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen respectively, including
+the sandwich boat, and in the Lent Term to thirty-one, rowing in two
+divisions of sixteen each, including the sandwich boat.
+
+IV.--(1) That in the Lent and Easter Terms the two divisions be named
+respectively first and second division. That in the Lent Term both
+divisions shall row in clinker-built boats not more than 57 feet long,
+with not less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed
+4-1/2 inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. before they can be used in the
+races. That in the Easter Term the first division shall row in racing
+ships on sliding seats, and the second division in clinker-built boats,
+as above, and sliding seats.
+
+(2) That every college boat club have the right to be represented by at
+least one boat in the Lent races; and by at least one, and not more than
+three, in the May races.
+
+V.--That during the races no person shall row or steer in both divisions
+(the crews of the last boats in a division excepted), except under
+peculiar circumstances, to be decided by the president or his deputy and
+the four senior captains in residence who are not concerned, which
+decision must be obtained before the crew or crews in question be
+allowed to start.
+
+VI.--In the races in the Lent Term no one be allowed to row or steer who
+rowed or steered respectively in any race of the previous Easter Term.
+
+VII.--That no one be allowed to row in the Lent or May races, or Fours
+or Pairs, after more than four years have elapsed from the first term he
+came up, unless he keep in residence three-fourths of the term in which
+he desires to row.
+
+VIII.--That each crew be chosen from one club and college in the case of
+Trinity and St. John's, and from not more than two clubs or two colleges
+in the case of other colleges; and that the crew of the two colleges
+joining be considered as a fresh one, and start from the bottom.
+
+IX.--That in order to take a boat off the river the captain must give
+notice to the hon. secretary of the C.U.B.C., who shall place lists of
+the boats entered for the races, arranged according to their order, in
+the different University boat-houses, at least a week before the
+commencement of races in each term, and on every race day during the
+term.
+
+X.--(1) That in the Easter Term any club desirous of putting on a second
+or third boat shall have the right to challenge the lowest
+non-representative boat to a bumping-race, but if successful shall start
+at the bottom of the river. That if there be more challenging crews than
+one, they shall row a time race amongst themselves, and the winner shall
+row the challenged boat. That the entrance fee for such races be five
+guineas; that the date for them be fixed at the first general meeting
+of the term, and that at least ten clear days' notice be given to the
+secretary of the C.U.B.C. by the captains of crews desirous to compete.
+
+(2) That no man who has rowed in the successful challenging boat shall
+row in a higher boat during the following May races, except as in
+Chapter III., rule 7.
+
+XI.--That the boats row down to their stations in reversed order, the
+last boat of each division starting first.
+
+XII.--That on racing days in the Lent Term a gun be fired at the Railway
+Bridge, at 3 p.m., as a signal for the last boat of the second division
+to row down; at 3.15 p.m. for the first boat of the division; and a
+third at 4 p.m. for the first boat of the first division. That in the
+Easter Term corresponding signals be fired for the second and first
+division boats at 5, 5.15, and 6.15 p.m. respectively. That boats
+starting late be fined one guinea.
+
+That at the close of each race of the second division in the Lent Term,
+and of the second division in the Easter Term, a gun be fired at the
+Bridge; and that until this gun be fired no boat of the other racing
+division shall pass below the Ash Plantation under penalty of one
+guinea. That the umpire be responsible for the punctual firing of these
+guns. That any racing boat, leaving so late as to be obliged to pass the
+first boat of its division below Ditton Corner, be fined one guinea by
+the captain of the latter on behalf of the C.U.B.C. That the captain of
+the first boat starting late, or neglecting to act as this rule directs,
+be fined one guinea.
+
+XIII.--That the races be bumping races, and the starting posts be 175
+feet apart. That the last post be at Baitsbite-lock, and the
+winning-posts at the Big Horse-grind and the first ditch above the
+Railway Bridge.
+
+XIV.--That the first seven boats in all divisions be obliged to go up to
+the further post at the Big Horse-grind, and the other boats be obliged
+to stop at the nearer post at the first ditch above the Railway Bridge;
+also that the eighth boats have the option of stopping at the nearer or
+going on to the further post.
+
+XV.--That each boat start with the coxswain holding a line 36 feet in
+length attached to its post (or, if he by chance lose the line, with No.
+7's rowlock opposite the post); that otherwise it cannot make a bump,
+but is subject to be bumped and to be fined one guinea.
+
+XVI.--That if a boat miss a race, the boat behind it shall row past its
+post and be allowed the bump, and that the boat missing the race be
+fined one guinea.
+
+XVII.--That the boats be started by three guns: the first gun shall be
+fired when the head boat shall have arrived at its post, the order being
+given by the captain of that boat; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last gun one minute after the second.
+
+XVIII.--That a boat be considered fairly bumped when it is touched by
+any part of the boat behind it, before its stern is past the
+winning-post; passing a boat being equivalent to a bump, providing the
+passing boat draw its whole length in advance. (The word boat includes
+the ship, crew, and oars, if in rowlock). That the coxswain of a boat so
+bumped shall immediately acknowledge the bump by holding up his hand,
+and that the crew making the bump immediately cease rowing; that any
+crew neglecting this rule be fined one guinea.
+
+XIX.--That when one boat bumps another, both shall immediately draw
+aside till the racing boats have passed; that the last boat carry a
+white flag in the bows; that any boat neglecting this rule be fined one
+guinea.
+
+XX.--That if one boat bumps another they exchange places, whatever may
+have been their position before starting. That any boat making a bump
+may row up after the race with its flag hoisted; as also the boat rowing
+head.
+
+XXI.--That in order to claim a bump, the captain, on arriving at the
+Goldie Boat-house, must bracket the bump, state where it took place, and
+sign his name on the secretary's list; if the bump be not bracketed he
+shall be fined one guinea, but that the bumps shall, on sufficient
+evidence, be allowed; and that no bumps can be claimed after six o'clock
+in the Lent Term, or after nine in the Easter Term, or disputed after
+nine on the following morning.
+
+XXII.--That all cases of disputed bumps be referred to the president, or
+his deputy, and the four first-boat captains, in residence, of the clubs
+in their order on the river who are not concerned in the dispute, whose
+decision shall be final; and who shall have the power, in all doubtful
+cases, of causing the boats concerned to row the race again, starting
+from their original posts; and that there be representatives at the
+meeting of the clubs interested in the dispute.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That watermen be allowed to coach members of College boats in
+tub-pairs only till within a fortnight of the first day of the races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVII.--That breaches of Regulations issued by the officers of the
+C.U.B.C. be liable to a fine of one guinea.
+
+
+LENT TERM RACES AND TIME RACES.
+
+I.--That all clubs wishing to put another boat on the river must enter
+such boat with the secretary of the C.U.B.C. on or before a date to be
+appointed by him at the beginning of the Lent Term.
+
+Entrance fee, three guineas, to be paid at the time of entry.
+
+II.--That the Rules for these races be the same as those for the
+"Getting-on" races in the Easter Term, and that the races be under the
+management of the C.U.B.C. or their deputies [see chapter II., rule 10
+(1)].
+
+III.--That no first boat of a club be obliged to row for its place.
+
+IV.--That these races be rowed on days preceding the Lent races.
+
+V.--That no man shall row in these time races (1) who has rowed on any
+night of the previous May races, or (2) who does not comply with Chapter
+II., rule 7.
+
+VI.--That no man who has rowed in the successful boat or boats during
+these trial time-races shall row in a higher boat in the following Lent
+races, except under peculiar circumstances, to be decided upon by the
+president, or his deputy, and the four senior captains in residence who
+are not concerned.
+
+VII.--That when more than two boats start in a heat to race for getting
+on the river, such heat be started by three guns: the first gun to be
+fired when the last boat to come down shall have arrived at its post,
+the order being given by the umpire; the second gun three minutes after
+the first, and the last one minute after the second. That chains 36 feet
+in length be provided 100 yards apart. That each boat start with the
+coxswain holding the chain allotted to it (or, if he by chance lose the
+chain, with No. 7's rowlock opposite the post), that otherwise it is
+liable to be disqualified.
+
+VIII.--That in time races, under the management of the C.U.B.C., the
+pistols at the winning-posts be fired by University men, who shall be
+called on to do so in the following order:--
+
+The president, secretary, and committee of the C.U.B.C.; then the first
+captain of the boats in their order on the river, or deputies from their
+own clubs; provided that no one of the same club as any of the
+competitors shall fire a pistol in any race in which such competitor of
+his own club is rowing; and that no one need, by reason of this rule,
+refuse to umpire. And that to prevent all difficulties of a pistol
+missing fire, a second person be appointed by the President or his
+deputy to stand at each winning-post and hold up a white flag, which
+shall be dropped the moment that the nose of the boat passes the post.
+
+IX.--That in time races no boat draw more than one bye.
+
+X.--That if in any time race any boat touch any part of, or pass on the
+course, or be in any way inconvenienced by any boat in front of it, and
+the boat so touching, passing, or being inconvenienced, shall not come
+to its post first in order, such boat shall be allowed to start in the
+following day's race, whether the same would otherwise have been a final
+or a trial heat, and shall start on the same footing as regards drawing
+for stations, etc., as the other boats left in.
+
+Or the boat so impeded shall row again with the boat coming in first.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY CLINKER FOURS.
+
+I.--That the University Clinker-built Fours be rowed as time races over
+the Colquhoun course.
+
+II.--That the race be open to crews from any club, such crews to be
+composed solely of men who did not row in the first division of the
+previous May races.
+
+III.--That no "Blue" be allowed to compete.
+
+IV.--That the coxswains must be members of the clubs they steer, and
+must weigh not less than 7st. 7lbs.
+
+V.--The definition of a clinker boat is as follows:--That no boat have
+less than five streaks on a side, none of which shall exceed 4-1/2
+inches (outside measurement). All such boats must be passed by the
+president and secretary of the C.U.B.C. at least one week before the
+commencement of the races.
+
+VI.--That the entrance money for each boat be one guinea.
+
+
+LAWS OF THE MAGDALENE SILVER PAIR-OARS AND UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION CUPS.
+
+I.--That watermen be allowed to coach and steer for these races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+IV.--That any member qualified to pull in the C.U.B.C. races be
+qualified to start for these oars.
+
+V.--That the crews need not consist of members of one club.
+
+VI.--That no winning pair be allowed to enter together a second time.
+
+
+REGULATIONS OF THE "COLQUHOUN SILVER SCULLS."
+
+III. That only those members of the C.U.B.C. who have not exceeded five
+years from the date of their first commencing residence be allowed to
+start, on complying with the terms herein specified.
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BOAT
+CLUB.
+
+
+GENERAL RULES.
+
+I.--That the club be open to all members of the University on the
+following conditions:--
+
+II.--That any graduate of the University by paying two pounds, or any
+undergraduate by paying three pounds ten shillings, may become a life
+member.
+
+III.--That any member of the University by paying one pound may become a
+member for one term, not being thereby qualified to row or steer in any
+of the University races unless he has paid four such terminal
+subscriptions.
+
+IV.--That the subscription must be paid before the admission to the
+club.
+
+V.--That this club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association, and
+that members are therefore bound to observe the A.R.A. rules.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That the officers of the club consist of president, secretary, and
+treasurer; who, with two other members of the club, shall form a
+committee.
+
+VIII.--That no member who is not strictly residing be on the committee.
+
+IX.--That the president, secretary, treasurer, and committee be elected
+by the captains of College boat clubs, or their representatives.
+
+X.--That the election of the president and secretary take place at the
+first captains' meeting in the Summer Term, that of the treasurer and
+the other members of the committee at the first meeting in the October
+Term.
+
+XI.--That the president have the entire supervision of the property of
+the club; that he preside over all captains' meetings; have the sole
+selection and management of all University crews, and that he have
+absolute authority and entire responsibility in all matters immediately
+concerning the University boat; that he have charge of the president's
+book, and make such records in it as shall be interesting and useful to
+the future of the club; and that he keep the official records of all
+University races.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXV.--That if Henley Regatta do not take place at such a date in
+relation to Commemoration Day as is convenient to the O.U.B.C., the club
+reserves to itself the right of withdrawing its subscription.
+
+XXVI.--That the racing boat last purchased be not let or sold under any
+circumstances whatever.
+
+
+RULES FOR RACES.
+
+I.--That all future members of the O.U.B.C. shall show a certificate of
+having passed a satisfactory swimming test before being allowed to row
+in University races.
+
+II.--That such certificate be either (1) that of some public school
+approved by the committee, or (2) a certificate from Dolley's Baths,
+signed by the bathman, and countersigned by the captain of the College
+boat club.
+
+III.--That any College boat club rowing a member who has obtained a
+certificate unfairly shall be fined five pounds, and lose one place on
+the river for each night on which he has rowed.
+
+IV.--That each college shall have its own punt and waterman during the
+races.
+
+V.--That the captain of each boat club shall, so far as possible, fix
+upon the maximum number which his punt is able to carry, and that this
+number shall in no case exceed twelve, and that the fine for
+overcrowding be five shillings.
+
+VI.--That each barge shall be furnished with two lifebuoys.
+
+VII.--That the bows of all racing Eights and Fours, both keel-less and
+clinker-built, and of all racing pair-oars and sculling boats be
+protected by an india-rubber ball, and the penalty for violation of this
+rule be, in the case of Eights and Fours, one pound; in the case of all
+other boats, ten shillings.
+
+VIII.--That all Challenge Cups which are the property of the O.U.B.C.
+shall either be taken home by the captain of the boat club which holds
+them, or be deposited at Rowell and Harris's during the vacation.
+
+
+THE EIGHTS AND TORPIDS.
+
+I.--That all gentlemen rowing or steering in the races must be life
+members of the O.U.B.C.
+
+II.--That no boat be allowed to start in the races with more or less
+than eight oars.
+
+III.--That all boats starting in the races carry a coxswain over the
+whole course.
+
+IV.--That the names of the crews be sent to the treasurer at least one
+day before the races begin, and that afterwards no change can be made,
+unless notice is given to the president at least one hour before the
+races begin, under a penalty of one pound.
+
+V.--That every club neglecting to send in the names of its crew to the
+treasurer, and pay the entrance money, five pounds, into the Old Bank,
+on or before the day previous to the first race in which they intend to
+row, shall forfeit five shillings; and that every club entering a boat
+after the races have begun shall pay one pound for every night of the
+races on which it has not had a boat on.
+
+VI.--That no club start a boat in the races till all its arrears are
+paid, whether of fines, entrance money, or annual subscription.
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start in the races which shall have
+employed any waterman in capacity of coach or trainer within three weeks
+of the first race.
+
+VIII.--That no college be allowed to enter more than one boat for the
+Eights, unless it has had on a Torpid in the same year.
+
+IX.--That each boat start from a rope held by the steerer, and fastened
+to a post on the Berkshire shore; the rope to be 50 feet in length.
+
+X.--That the last boat be stationed above Iffley Lasher; and that 130
+feet be the distance between the posts.
+
+XI.--That the boats entered for the races be divided as equally as
+possible, and row in two divisions; that the second division row first,
+and never contain fewer boats than the first division; that the head
+boat of the second division may row again with first division; and that
+the last boat of the first division start head of the second division on
+the following day.
+
+XII.--That the president provide a starter, who shall fire a signal gun
+for the boats to take their places; after four minutes another gun; and
+after the interval of one minute another gun for the start; after the
+third gun the race be always held to have begun.
+
+XIII.--That any boat starting before the gun goes off do lose a place
+forthwith.
+
+XIV.--That when a boat touches the boat or any part of the boat before
+it, or its oars or rudder, it be considered a bump; and also if a boat
+rows clean by another it be equivalent to a bump.
+
+XV.--That both the boat which bumps and the boat which is bumped
+immediately row out of the course of the other racing boats; and in case
+any obstruction be caused by culpable neglect of this, the offending
+boat be fined five pounds.
+
+XVI.--That after every bump the boat bumping change places with the boat
+bumped, whatever be their orders before starting; also in a bumping race
+no boat can make more than one bump, but of four boats, A, B, C, D,
+should B bump C, then A may bump D, and the next race A and D change
+places with each other.
+
+XVII.--That in the case of any boat not starting, the boat immediately
+behind them do row past their starting-post and be considered to have
+bumped the other boat.
+
+XVIII.--That all boats stand by their accidents; and that, in case of
+dispute, boats must take the place assigned them by the committee.
+
+XIX.--That an umpire be appointed by the first six colleges of each
+division in rotation, who shall sit and vote on the committee to decide
+disputes on the day on which he is in authority.
+
+XX.--That the races finish at the lower of the white posts to which
+Salter's barge is moored, on which a flag is to be hoisted, and that a
+boat is liable to be bumped till every part of it has passed that post,
+and that a judge be appointed by the president.
+
+XXI.--That if any boat after passing the post impedes another which has
+not passed the post, it be fined five pounds.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVI.--That all disputes concerning bumps, etc., arising out of the
+races, be referred to the committee on the day of the race, who shall
+decide the point before the next race.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+XXVIII.--That the College races take place in Easter or Act Term, and be
+six in number.
+
+XXIX.--That no non-resident member of the University may either row or
+steer in the races, unless he has resided in Oxford at least ten
+consecutive days before the races commence. That this rule apply to all
+University races, viz. Eights, Torpids, Fours, Pairs, and Sculls.
+
+XXX.--That no one may be allowed to row or steer in the races for a
+college or hall of which he is not a _bon[^a] fide_ member.
+
+XXXI.--That a man may be held to have rowed or steered in the Eights or
+Torpids when he has so officiated for three days.
+
+
+TORPID RACES--SPECIAL RULES.
+
+That the Torpid races be regulated by the above rules as far as they are
+applicable: but
+
+(1) That the races take place in the Lent Term, and be six in number.
+
+(2) That no one who has rowed or steered in the Eights may officiate in
+the same capacity in the next Torpid races.
+
+(3) That no one be allowed to row in his Torpid who has exceeded sixteen
+terms from his Matriculation.
+
+(4) That unless a college has had an Eight on the river more than three
+nights during the previous year, it be not permitted to start a Torpid,
+unless it engage to put on a distinct Eight in the ensuing Eights.
+
+That in this case the distinct Eight
+
+    (_a_) do contain five men, at least, who have not rowed in the
+      Torpids.
+
+    (_b_) be compelled to row more than three nights, under penalty of
+      [L]10.
+
+(5) That the committee have power to relax this rule at their discretion
+in the case of boats in the second division.
+
+(6) That these races be rowed in gig boats, of the specified mould,
+measuring inside at the gunwale not less than 2ft. 2in., clinker-built
+of not less than 5 streaks.
+
+(7) That the distance between the starting-posts be 160 feet.
+
+(8) That no Torpid be allowed to use sliding seats.
+
+(9) That if more than twenty-five Torpids enter, the races shall be in
+three divisions; the boats to be divided as equally as possible, so that
+a higher division shall not contain more boats than a lower one.
+
+
+FOUR-OAR CHALLENGE CUP.
+
+I.--That the Cup be open for competition to members of any one college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually, in the Michaelmas Term.
+
+  .        .        .        .        .        .
+
+VII.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer within three weeks of the first race.
+
+
+CLINKER FOURS RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "Clinker Fours" race.
+
+II.--That the race take place annually in the Lent Term.
+
+III.--That it should be open for competition to members of any college
+or hall who have not exceeded eighteen terms from their Matriculation,
+and who have not rowed either in the University Race at Putney, or the
+Trials, or rowed in a College Eight which finished in the upper division
+of the summer races in the previous year, sandwich boat reckoning as
+Second Division.
+
+IV.--That the race shall be rowed in keeled clinker-built boats with
+slides of not more than 12 inches, having not less than 5 streaks in
+each side, exclusive of saxe-board. The streaks shall not be more than
+4-1/4 inches in breadth. The maximum inside width of each boat shall not
+be less than 24 inches, measured on the top of the gunwale. No
+batswings, false outriggers, splayed-boards, or other device will be
+allowed to take the place of saxe-boards, and the committee of the
+O.U.B.C. reserve the right of determining in each instance whether these
+conditions have been fairly carried out or not.
+
+V.--That no boat be allowed to start with more or less than four oars
+and a coxswain.
+
+VI.--That no crew be allowed to start which has had any waterman in the
+capacity of "coach" or trainer.
+
+
+RULES FOR THE UNIVERSITY TRIAL EIGHT RACE.
+
+I.--That the race be called the "University Trial Eight Race."
+
+II.--That the race take place in Michaelmas Term, and subsequent to that
+for the Four-Oared Challenge Cup.
+
+III.--That the crews be selected by the president.
+
+IV.--That the crews be in practice not less than twelve days.
+
+V.--That each member of the two crews pay ten shillings entrance money.
+
+VI.--That a silver medal be presented to each of the winning crew.
+
+VII.--That any member of the two crews who refuses to row in the
+University Eight if called upon to do so, be suspended by the committee
+from rowing in any University race till the end of the Summer Term,
+unless he shows reasonable grounds for refusal.
+
+
+PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+  _November, 1897._
+
+  NEW & RECENT
+  BOOKS PUBLISHED
+  BY
+  A. D. INNES
+  & COMPANY
+  BEDFORD ST.
+  MDCCCXCVII.
+
+
+                   DRAWING-ROOM PLAYS FOR CHILDREN.
+
+
+_Just Ready._
+
+  Cinderella. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper wrapper, 6_d._
+
+  Beauty and the Beast. By SANTOS. Crown 8vo. Paper Wrapper, 6_d._
+
+                  HALF-HOUR PLAYS. By AMABEL JENNER.
+
+  Rumpelstilskin.
+  Tommy Trout and the Owl.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Silverlocks and the Three Bears; and the Snow Queen.
+  Little Prit.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
+    Volume, Cloth, 2s. 6d._
+
+
+TERRA-COTTA PLAYS. By C. M. PREVOST.
+
+  The Sleeping Beauty.
+  The White Cat.
+  Jack and the Beanstalk.
+  Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs.
+
+    _Each Play in Paper Wrapper, Price 6d., or bound together in a
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+
+
+LONDON: A. D. INNES & CO., 31 and 32 Bedford Street, Strand.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+                                31 & 32, BEDFORD STREET,
+                                      STRAND, W.C.,
+                                            _November, 1897_.
+
+                             NEW BOOKS
+                            PUBLISHED BY
+                         A. D. INNES & CO.
+
+
+                      HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, ETC.
+
+    By F. H. S. MEREWETHER.
+
+Through the Famine Districts of India.
+
+    Being an Account, by Reuter's Special Correspondent, of his
+      experiences in travelling through the Famine Districts of India.
+      Profusely illustrated. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._
+
+    By Sir JOSEPH FAYRER, Bart., K.C.S.I., M.D.
+
+The Life of Sir Ranald Martin, C.B.
+
+    A Brief Account of the Life and Work of the great Sanitary Reformer
+      in India. Crown 8vo, cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    From the Letters of Major W. P. JOHNSON.
+
+Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life.
+
+    Edited by his Widow. Being an Account of the experiences of a Major
+      in the Native Irregular Cavalry in India and elsewhere. Crown 8vo,
+      cloth, with Portrait, price 6_s._
+
+    By Professor W. C. LAWTON.
+
+The Successors of Homer.
+
+    Being an Account of the Greek Poets who followed from Homer down to
+      the time of Aeschylus. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, price 5_s._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B.
+
+The Coldstream Guards in the Crimea.
+
+    Being a Sketch of the Crimean War, treating in detail of the
+      operations in which the Coldstream took part. With numerous Maps.
+      Crown 8vo, cloth, price 6_s._
+
+                       SECOND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+The Sepoy Revolt.
+
+    A Critical Narrative, covering the whole field of the Indian Mutiny,
+      its causes and course, till the final suppression. With numerous
+      Maps and Plans. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s.
+
+_The picturesque aspects of the Indian Mutiny have been frequently
+treated. The purpose of this volume is to convey in a clear and
+compendious form the underlying causes as well as the immediate
+circumstances which led up to the Revolt; and the true relation and
+importance of the various phases._
+
+    By General Sir CHARLES GOUGH, V.C., G.C.B., and ARTHUR D. INNES,
+      M.A.
+
+The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars.
+
+    With 13 Maps and Plans. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16s.
+
+_An account of the rise of the Sikh State; of the struggle with the
+British, the most stubborn in our Indian record; and of the subsequent
+Annexation. With especial reference to current misapprehensions as to
+Lord Gough._
+
+    By Lieutenant-Colonel ROSS-OF-BLADENSBURG, C.B., late Coldstream
+      Guards.
+
+             Dedicated, by permission, to H.M. the Queen.
+
+A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1885.
+
+    With numerous Coloured Plates, Drawings, and Maps by Lieutenant
+      NEVILE R. WILKINSON. Crown 4to, cloth, gilt top, two guineas net.
+
+_An account of the famous regiment since Waterloo; with the history of
+the political events and the campaigns with which it has been
+associated._
+
+    By A. HILLIARD ATTERIDGE, Special Correspondent of the _Daily
+      Chronicle_ with the Dongola Expeditionary Force.
+
+Towards Khartoum.
+
+    The Story of the Soudan War of 1896. With numerous Maps and
+      Illustrations from Photographs taken by the Author. Demy 8vo,
+      buckram, price 16s.
+
+_Mr. Atteridge's letters to the "Daily Chronicle" contained no more than
+the skeleton of the present work, which is in no sense a reprint of
+them._
+
+    By C. R. B. BARRETT.
+
+Dedicated, by permission, to General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.
+
+Battles and Battlefields in England.
+
+    With an Introduction by H. D. TRAILL, and profusely Illustrated by
+      the Author. Super royal 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 18s.
+
+_Compiled from a thorough examination of the authorities, and personal
+inspection of the ground._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                    RECENT WORKS OF HISTORY, ETC.
+
+    By G. BOISSIER (de l'Acad['e]mie Francaise).
+
+Cicero and his Friends.
+
+    Translated by A. D. JONES. Crown 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+_M. Boissier's work in the French is familiar to historical students;
+but it has been felt that a translation would make it available for many
+more readers. The addition of an index and analytical contents increase
+its advantages for reference._
+
+    By J. S. RISLEY, M.A., B.C.L.
+
+The Law of War.
+
+    A Study of the Legal Obligations and Conditions applying to
+      Belligerents or Neutrals in Times of War. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
+_Compiled primarily for the use of the ordinary reader rather than the
+technical student._
+
+First Review.--"The book ... is admirably done. It avoids technicalities
+and ... is admirably suited to serve as a guide and first introduction
+to a most instructive subject."--_Scotsman._
+
+                       NEW AND REVISED EDITION.
+
+    By Lieutenant-General MCLEOD INNES, V.C.
+
+Lucknow and Oude in the Mutiny.
+
+    A Narrative and a Study. With Numerous Maps, Plans, etc., and an
+      Index. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._ net.
+
+_A critical narrative of the causes and course of the Mutiny, with a
+full account of the operations in Oude and the siege of Lucknow, from
+personal knowledge._
+
+"A most valuable contribution to the history of the great
+crisis."--_Times._
+
+"Recent literature concerning the Indian Mutiny has brought us nothing
+so valuable.... His knowledge of India and her people is accurate and
+profound.... The facts are marshalled with consummate skill. In this
+book General Innes has rendered invaluable service in regard to the
+military history of the Mutiny and the Indian Empire."--_Army and Navy
+Gazette._
+
+    By Dr. WILHELM BUSCH, Professor at the University of Freiburg, in
+      Baden.
+
+England under the Tudors.
+
+    Vol. I. Henry VII. (1485-1509). Translated from the German by Miss
+      ALICE M. TODD and the Rev. A. H. JOHNSON, some-time Fellow of All
+      Souls College, Oxford, under the supervision of, and with an
+      Introduction by, Mr. JAMES GAIRDNER, Editor of the "Paston
+      Letters." Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._ net.
+
+"Since a body of Oxford Tutors published a translation of Ranke's
+English History just twenty years ago, no more important step has been
+taken to give English readers access to recent German work on English
+History than in the book now before us.... The general value of what we
+hope will ultimately be the best general text-book of Tudor History is
+too well known to scholars to make it worth while to dwell upon it
+here."--_Speaker._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A., Author of "Seers and Singers," etc.
+
+Britain and her Rivals.
+
+    1713-1789. A Study dealing chiefly with the Contests between the
+      Naval Powers for Supremacy in America and India. With numerous
+      Plans, Maps, etc. Large crown, buckram, 7_s_. 6_d_.
+
+The _Pall Mall Gazette_, in a review headed, "History as it Should be
+Written," says: "The book is indeed just what was most wanted: ... a
+great deal more than a popular work in the usual sense of the term,
+seeing that it is accurate and thoughtful, besides being eminently
+readable."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                    NEW AND RECENT BELLES LETTRES.
+
+Eighteenth Century Letters.
+
+    Edited by R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON, with Introductions by eminent
+      scholars. Illustrated with Photogravure Portraits of the writers.
+      Crown 8vo, half-parchment, gilt top, price 6_s._ each volume.
+
+    VOL. I.--SWIFT, ADDISON, STEELE. With an Introduction by STANLEY
+      LANE POOLE.
+
+    VOL. II.--JOHNSON AND CHESTERFIELD. With an Introduction by GEORGE
+      BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L.
+
+    By MAIDIE DICKSON.
+
+The Saga of the Sea Swallow.
+
+    Illustrated by J. D. BATTEN and HILDA FAIRBAIRN. Fcap. 4to, cloth,
+      gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The narrative is told with the most engaging circumstantial vividness,
+and it held us as we read."--_Academy._
+
+    By COSMO MONKHOUSE.
+
+In the National Gallery.
+
+    The Italian Schools from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century.
+      Illustrated with numerous examples specially prepared for this
+      work. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+"One of the most popular handbooks yet issued on the development of
+Italian art as exemplified by the works in our National Collection. The
+author's name is a guarantee of the precision of the facts he produces,
+and of the excellence of the writing by which they are connected. The
+book is illustrated by a good number of excellent reproductions of the
+principal pictures."--_Magazine of Art._
+
+    By A. J. BUTLER.
+
+Dante: his Times and his Work.
+
+    A Popular Treatise dealing with the great Poet. Crown 8vo, cloth,
+      gilt top, 3_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+"The work should be interesting and profitable both to every Dante
+student and to every general reader who wishes to acquire a knowledge of
+a most interesting epoch of modern history, and one of the most
+interesting figures of any epoch."--_Illustrated London News._
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A.
+
+Seers and Singers.
+
+    A Study of Five English Poets (BROWNING, TENNYSON, WORDSWORTH,
+      MATTHEW ARNOLD, and MRS. BROWNING). Cloth antique, extra gilt top,
+      5_s._
+
+"Never were great poets and their gifts to us dealt with in a more
+reverential and yet discriminating fashion. Comments and criticism are
+alike delicate and suggestive. All followers of the great five should
+posses this little book, whose dainty get-up is still its least
+charm."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+    By CLIFFORD HARRISON.
+
+The Lute of Apollo.
+
+    An Essay on Music. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 5_s._ net.
+
+"No real lover of music will fail to give an easily accessible and
+honoured corner on his or her favourite bookshelf to this little volume.
+It has a unique charm which no words of mine can properly define or
+describe."--_Ladies' Pictorial._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                       RECENT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
+
+    By GWENDOLEN TRENCH GASCOIGNE.
+
+Among Pagodas and Fair Ladies.
+
+    Being an Account of a Tour through Burma. With numerous
+      Illustrations from Photographs. Medium 8vo, buckram, 12_s._
+
+
+    By G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, F.S.S., F.R.G.S.
+
+A Naturalist in Mid Africa.
+
+    Being an Account of a Journey to the Mountains of the Moon and
+      Tanganyika. With numerous Illustrations from Photographs and
+      Sketches by the Author, and Three Coloured Maps. Medium 8vo,
+      buckram, 16_s._
+
+
+    By ROBERT K. DOUGLAS.
+
+Society in China.
+
+    An Account of the Everyday Life of the Chinese People, Social,
+      Political, and Religious. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._ (Library
+      Edition, with 22 Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth, 16_s._)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                  Theological and Devotional Works.
+
+    By Rev. W. F. COBB, D.D.
+
+Origines Judaicae.
+
+    An Inquiry into Heathen Faiths as affecting the Birth and Growth of
+      Judaism. Demy 8vo, cloth, 12_s._
+
+"We cannot help feeling very grateful to our author. He has obtained a
+competent knowledge of what recent investigation has revealed in
+Egyptology and Assyriology, and he has brought his stores of knowledge
+to interpret the Old Testament religion and history, and by his
+conception of 'Menotheism,' if not by the coining of the word, he has
+brought a welcome illumination to the obscure subject of the primitive
+Hebrew religion."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+    With an Introduction by the Very Reverend F. W. FARRAR, D.D., Dean
+      of Canterbury.
+
+The New Life in Christ Jesus.
+
+    Essays on Subjects relating to Spiritual Life. Edited by JULIAN
+      FIELD. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, 5_s._
+
+
+Prayers, Penitence, and Holy Communion.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. Bound together in one volume. Royal 16mo, cloth
+      extra, bevelled boards, with red edges and silk book-markers,
+      4_s._ 6_d._
+
+     _The three parts may be had separately, price 1s. 6d. each._
+
+Daily Text-Book.
+
+    Selected from the Writings of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. By E.
+      H. and F. H. With Preface by the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF
+      LINCOLN. Square 16mo, cloth, 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+On the Catholic Faith. Notes and Questions.
+
+    Compiled from the Works of the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. With
+      Preface by the Rev. Canon CARTER. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._;
+      or in paper wrapper, 1_s._
+
+The Spiritual Combat; with the Path of Paradise; and the Supplement; or,
+the Peace of the Soul.
+
+    By SCUPOLI. (From the Italian.) Edited by the late Rev. E. B. PUSEY,
+      D.D. Post 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Sufferings of Jesus.
+
+    Composed by FRA THOM[E'] DE JESU, of the Order of Hermits of S.
+      Augustine. Translated for the first time from the original
+      Portuguese. In two parts. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 5_s._; or separately,
+      each 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+The Soul's Hour Glass.
+
+    Translated from the Horologium of Drexelius. Edited by the Rev.
+      Canon ATKINSON; being a Book of Devotions for the Twenty-four
+      Hours. Printed in red and black. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 3_s._
+      6_d._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         NEW AND RECENT VERSE.
+
+    By GEORGE COOKSON.
+
+Poems.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By A. E. HILLS.
+
+Elfinn's Luck, and Other Poems.
+
+    Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By MOSTYN T. PIGGOTT.
+
+Songs of a Session.
+
+    A Volume of Political Verses. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 2_s._ 6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By E. H. LACON WATSON.
+
+Verses Suggested and Original.
+
+    Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+    By ROBERT GEORGE LEGGE.
+
+Songs of a Strolling Player.
+
+    Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1_s._ net.
+
+
+    By the SAME AUTHOR.
+
+Player Poems.
+
+    Fcap. 8vo, parchment wrapper, 1_s._ net.
+
+
+    By the late JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
+
+Last Poems.
+
+    Being the Last Unpublished Poems written by the late JAMES RUSSELL
+      LOWELL. Crown 8vo, gilt top, buckram, 4_s._ net.
+
+
+    By CLIFFORD HARRISON.
+
+On the Common Chords.
+
+    Verses by CLIFFORD HARRISON. Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 4_s._
+      6_d._ net.
+
+
+    By ARTHUR D. INNES, M.A.
+
+Verse Translations from Greek and Latin Poets.
+
+    Large post 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 5_s._ net.
+
+
+    By W. J. ROBERTSON.
+
+A Century of French Verse.
+
+    Being a Series of Translations from the French Poets since the
+      Revolution, with Biographical Notices and Appreciations. Fcap.
+      4to, buckram, gilt top, 6_s._ net.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                         The Isthmian Library.
+
+VOL. I.
+
+    By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON.
+
+Rugby Football.
+
+    With Chapters by FRANK MITCHELL, R. H. CATTELL, C. J. N. FLEMING,
+      GREGOR MACGREGOR, C. B. NICHOLL, and H. B. TRISTRAM. Illustrated,
+      post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. II.
+
+    By A. C. PEMBERTON, MRS. HARCOURT WILLIAMSON, C. P. SISLEY, and
+      GILBERT FLOYD.
+
+The Complete Cyclist.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. III.
+
+    By E. F. KNIGHT.
+
+Sailing-boats and Small Yachts.
+
+  Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._      [_In Preparation._
+
+VOL IV.
+
+    By R. C. LEHMANN.
+
+Rowing.
+
+    With Chapters by GUY NICKALLS and C. M. PITMAN. Illustrated, post
+      8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. V.
+
+    By R. ALLANSON WINN.
+
+Boxing.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL. VI.
+
+Ice Sports.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+VOL VII.
+
+    By MONTAGU S. MONIER WILLIAMS.
+
+Figure Skating.
+
+    Illustrated, post 8vo, cloth, 5_s._
+
+
+  _Other Volumes are in preparation, and will be duly announced._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                        New One-Volume Novels.
+
+    By A. E. W. MASON.
+
+Lawrence Clavering.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRED T. JANE.
+
+The Lordship, the Passen, and We.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By LADY HELEN CRAVEN.
+
+Katharine Cromer.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By C. M. CAMPBELL.
+
+Deilie Jock.
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+Sunlight and Limelight.
+
+  Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._               [_Ready January, 1898._
+
+
+By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+The King's Chamber.
+
+  Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._               [_Ready January, 1898._
+
+
+    By ESTHER MILLER.
+
+Shadows of Guilt.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+
+    By FRED T. JANE.
+
+To Venus in Five Seconds.
+
+    Demy 12mo, cloth, 2_s._; or in paper wrapper, 1_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+Only an Angel.
+
+    Demy 12mo, half-parchment, yellow edges, 2_s._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+                      RECENT POPULAR 6s. NOVELS.
+
+    By J. C. SNAITH, Author of "Mistress Dorothy Marvin."
+
+Fierceheart the Soldier.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Snaith has given us a resource that for terse, pregnant phrasing,
+exception character, and recurring and vivid depiction of dramatic
+situation, is the best thing of its kind we remember to have seen for a
+long time."--_Observer._
+
+
+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
+
+Christine of the Hills.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Assuredly he has never written anything more fresh, more simple, more
+alluring or more artistically perfect."--_Daily Mail._
+
+
+    By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+Lying Prophets.
+
+    _Third Edition._ Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"An excellent novel.... A place of serious and admirable work.... Not
+unworthy of a place with George Eliot's 'Adam Bede' and 'Mill on the
+Floss.'"--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+
+    By ISABEL CLARKE.
+
+The Episode of Alethea.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The author deals with admirable taste and tact with the situation....
+The story is one of high merit from beginning to end."--_Scotsman._
+
+
+    By ESTHER MILLER.
+
+The Sport of the Gods.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"It is very well told.... The novel is exciting, and preserves its
+interest to the end.... Excellent story."--_Athenaeum._
+
+    By E. F. BENSON, Author of "Dodo."
+
+Limitations.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Benson has written an interesting and truly human book. His range
+is much wider than it was: his character-drawing has gained in depth,
+delicacy, and precision; while the sparkling dialogue which we enjoyed
+in 'Dodo' has lost none of its old brilliancy."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+The Lower Life.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A very remarkable novel, well thought out, well sustained, and inspired
+from first to last."--_National Observer._
+
+
+    By G. B. BURGIN.
+
+Tomalyn's Quest.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Burgin has just scored a second shining success with 'Tomalyn's
+Quest,' a tale of the keenest interest."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By W. L. ALDEN.
+
+The Mystery of Elias G. Roebuck.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Mr. Alden has the true gift of honour.... It is impossible to read the
+collection of short stories without genuine enjoyment."--_Times._
+
+
+    By C. R. COLERIDGE and HELEN SHIPTON.
+
+Ravenstone.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The love interest of 'Ravenstone' is twofold, and is admirably
+sustained throughout this bright, vigorous, and refreshing
+story."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+    By X. L., Author of "Aut Diabolus aut Nihil."
+
+The Limb.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+MR. GLADSTONE writes: "Pray accept my thanks.... I was so imprudent as
+to read it at once, and since that act have found great difficulty in
+laying it down."
+
+"'The Limb' is unquestionably one of the most fascinating books of the
+season."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
+
+A Stolen Mask.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A capital story, and Mrs. Roma White tells it with a delicate humour
+and a spontaneous brilliancy as rare as they are delightful. 'A Stolen
+Mask' is a novel that stands high above the average, and can be strongly
+recommended. It is a long time since we have come across anything so
+thoroughly fresh and bright."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+
+    By FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
+
+The Things that Matter.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Is an extremely psychological study."--_Times._
+
+"It is a very amusing novel, full of bright satire directed against the
+new woman and similar objects."--_Speaker._
+
+
+    By G. B. BURGIN.
+
+The Judge of the Four Corners.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A delightfully humorous sketch, full of the purest fun, and
+irresistibly laughable."--_Saturday Review._
+
+
+    By EDEN PHILLPOTTS.
+
+My Laughing Philosopher.
+
+    Illustrated by GEORGE HUTCHINSON. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"We commend to the notice of any one wanting a good laugh 'My Laughing
+Philosopher,' whose varied character-sketches amply prove Mr. Eden
+Phillpotts to be endowed with those two excellent gifts of humour and
+imagination."--_Spectator._
+
+"The book will be welcome to every one who likes a book from which a man
+can get a good laugh."--_Scotsman._
+
+
+    By LESLIE KEITH, Author of "The Chilcotes," "'Lisbeth," etc.
+
+For Love of Prue.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Plot and incident in this present story are alike remarkable ...
+altogether we heartily commend 'For Love of Prue' as a sensible,
+humorous, and thoroughly wholesome book."--_Speaker._
+
+
+    By DOROTHEA GERARD.
+
+Lot 13.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"A bright, buoyant, and bustling story, with plenty of local colour
+derived from the scenery and the society, black and white, of a West
+Indian plantation."--_Times._
+
+
+    By the late Mrs. J. K. SPENDER, Author of "Thirteen Doctors," etc.
+
+The Wooing of Doris.
+
+    Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"Has much to commend it to novel-readers. A clever plot: well-drawn
+characters--such are the leading features of a novel by which the
+reputation of its much-regretted writer is fully sustained to the
+last."--_World._
+
+
+    By J. C. SNAITH.
+
+Mistress Dorothy Marvin.
+
+    A Romance of the Glorious Revolution.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"The author has succeeded in making his story intensely interesting....
+One of the very best adventure stories we have had for a long time
+past."--_Speaker._
+
+"'Mistress Dorothy Marvin,' most delightful and winsome of women, and
+one of the freshest and most unhackneyed heroines whose acquaintance we
+have had the pleasure of making for a very considerable period.... Mr.
+Snaith has a great gift of observation, and his book is a remarkable
+picture of the age it is intended to depict."--_World._
+
+
+    By STANLEY WEYMAN.
+
+My Lady Rotha.
+
+    A Romance of the Thirty Years' War.
+
+    Illustrated by JOHN WILLIAMSON. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"No one who begins it will lay it down before the end, it is so
+extremely well carried on from adventure to adventure."--_Saturday
+Review._
+
+
+    By FRANK BARRETT, Author of "The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane."
+
+A Set of Rogues.
+
+    A Romance of the Seventeenth Century.
+
+    Illustrated by S. COWELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6_s._
+
+"He has related the adventures of a set of rogues ... with so pleasant a
+tongue and in such attractive fashion that it impossible for mere flesh
+and blood to resist them. His set of rogues have won our entire
+sympathy, and his narrative our hearty approval."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+"Another capital story.... Strongly recommended. Stirring tale this,
+without a dull chapter in it, and just enough human sentiment in it to
+soften down the roguery.... Let the honest reader procure the
+book."--_Punch._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+                      SCARLET NOVELS.
+     A SERIES OF POPULAR NOVELS BY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS.
+  _Crown 8vo, uniform scarlet cloth, 3s. 6d. each Volume._
+
+
+ANTHONY HOPE'S SOCIETY NOVELS.
+
+Comedies of Courtship.
+
+"He is undeniably gay in the best sense of the word, now and then almost
+rollicking. An admirable example of what we mean by gaiety in fictional
+literature."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+Half a Hero.
+
+"The book is delightful to read, and an excellent piece of
+work."--_Standard._
+
+
+Mr. Witt's Widow.
+
+"A brilliant little tale.... Exhibits unborrowed ingenuity,
+plausibility, and fertility in surprises."--_Times._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    By MAX PEMBERTON.
+
+A Gentleman's Gentleman.
+
+"This is very much the best book that Mr. Max Pemberton has so far given
+us."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+
+    By RICHARD PRYCE.
+
+The Burden of a Woman.
+
+"The conception and execution of this interesting story are excellent. A
+book to read and remember with pleasure."--_Lady's Pictorial._
+
+
+    By C. R. COLERIDGE.
+
+Amethyst.
+
+"Extremely amusing, interesting, and brightly written."--_Guardian._
+
+
+    By F. FRANKFORT MOORE.
+
+Two in the Bush and Others Elsewhere.
+
+"Carry the reader on from page to page till criticism is forgotten in
+enjoyment."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+
+    By ROMA WHITE.
+
+Punchinello's Romance.
+
+"We give Roma White the warmest of welcomes into the world of
+fiction.... Admirably and irresistibly comic, without anything in the
+nature of force or even of apparent exaggeration, ready at the least
+moment to run into equally true pathos."--_Graphic._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+There is some text missing between Page 64 and Page 65: the beginning of
+paragraph (4) with an opening quotation mark is missing, as shown by
+'[(4) "...]'. ([(4) "...] Watch the bodies in front of you as they move,
+and mould yourself on their movement.")
+
+
+Factual errors were noted as follows:
+
+Page 273: Reference to "Minneapolis" instead of "Annapolis" (The United
+States Naval Academy at Minneapolis ...)
+
+
+Changes to the text are as follows:
+
+Title page: added comma after "C. M. PITMAN" ( ... C. M. PITMAN, W. E.
+CRUM, AND E. G. BLACKMORE)
+
+Page xii: added missing line in the List of Illustrations (LENT RACES IN
+THE PLOUGH REACH 200)
+
+Plate "Henley Regatta" originally facing page 157: changed "Heart fo" to
+"Heat for" (A Heat for the Diamonds.)
+
+Page 258: changed "Warnambool" to "Warrnambool" (Important meetings are
+also held at Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, ...)
+
+Page 339: changed "captain's" to "captains'" ( ... at the first
+captains' meeting ...)
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rowing, by Rudolf Chambers Lehmann
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROWING ***
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