The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-01
A NIGHT AT ST. VALENCE'S.

BY MARK sHATTOCK, D.A.
"HAvE you made your bump, old
boy?"
"Bump! no."
Nonsense
"a fact, nevertheless"
And Shirley, the captain of the st.
yalence crew, turned sulkily away, and
was about to mount the stairs leading
TO his rooms, when laid my arm upon
his shoulder and stopped him.
Harry Shirley was an undergraduate
OF the College of st. Valence, in the
University of Cambridge. He had been
zip nearly three years, and was consc-
quently net far from his degree. He
was ine, well-made, handsome, open
faced fellow, and was a great favorlte
with every man in til. place. He had
been sent up to Cambridge, not for the
purpose of burning the midnight oil,
and toiling wearily at the dead Ian
guages, not for the hope of gaining a
high place in the tripOs, or competing
for fellowship, but that he might ac-
quire the last finishing touch to his edu-
cation, and reap the full benefit of those
advantages which Il life at the Univer-
sity so fully and eminently develops.
He was boating man, and was de-
cidedly a most favorable specimen of
that set. He was beyond doubt the most
powerful and effective Oarsman in the
college; had twice successfully rowed
against Oxford, and had for more than
year been captain of his club. More
over, he was peculiarly exempt from the
great failing, indeed the besetting sin of
all rowing men, both great and small,
viz: that of talking boating-shop" in
hall; and this particular good point In
his character never failed to carry its due
weight.
1t was brilliant May morning, the
last day Of the May races, and Shirley's
last Nav term. Several of his friends
had come up for the express purpose of
witnessing the races, of applauding his
prowess, and of hailing the triumph of
his boat. Among the ladies there was
one who stood to him in the convenient
relationship of cousin, whom we certain
ly expected soon to see bound to him by
a closer tie. Shirley, then, was doubly
anxious to do well on the river, and he
had spared no pains, and grudged no
trouble in training his crew, and getting
them in good order and condition. For
the first four races all went merrily with
the st. Valence: from sixth they had
risen to second, and on the last day they
were to make their grand effort for the
supremacy of the Cam. l had been in
London the previous evening, and had
lust come back when / met Shirley
and then was destined to learn to my
utter astonishment that st. Valence, in,
stead of making its bump, and so gaining
the proud position of head of the river
had been compelled to succumb to its
pursuer. However, as Harry Shirley la
conically answered my question, l sale
eagerly:
"How has this happened? How or
earth did the Trinity men manage II
keep away from you?
"Keep away? Wilford! we were
bumped-bumped by those confoundet
s. men. l feel so savage. cal
scarcely speak civilly to any one."
"But how did you manage to come t.
such utter grief?"
~ will tell you. You know Mantol
has been rowing stroke up to to-day
This morning at breakfast-time l got
note from him to say that he should no
be able to row this afternoon. / coul'
scarcely believe my senses. You cal
easily imagine my dismay. went u
to his rooms directly, and expostulatet
with him. begged of him to reconsid
.er his decision; for what on earth coui,
he done? But it was all to no purpose
/ could not alter his intention; of cours
he said he was very sorry, but he declai
ed it was impossible that he should row
i tried my utmost to induce him, but Il
was inflexible. We had to go down tn
river with Whitehurst as stroke, an
with new man in the boat. l antic
4. pated disaster, but l showed Dol
front, and l did my best to encourag
q. and assure the crew. l determined
make desperate effort at the start, an
.endeavored to cut down the Trinity me
d, In the first reach. 1t was just With
the range of possibility that we migl
succeed, but the chances We're grei
against us. We could not catch them
aud, though we lasted for more than
mile, we were caught in sight of Il
winning-post."
/ cordially sympathized with llarr
,ShirleJ's indignation against Manto
And on that day every boating-ma
was allowed to indulge in any amour
of "shop" in hall. The st. Valen
crew, though bumped, had neverthele
rowed most pluckily. AT the start the
had gone off at such tremendous pac
and every man had so thorough
thrown himself into his work, that
seemed as if pictory were about
crown their efforts,