The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-21
HARVARD os. OXFORD.

HARVARD 0S. OXFORD.
A CABLE despatch informs us that the Harvard
University boat crew, which is to row match
with the Oxford crew on August 81, has
arrived safely in London, in good health and
spirits. We hope that these young men will
win the race, and return home to receive all
the congratulations and honors that are
usually bestowed on such occasions 1t is
well, however, for themselves and their frieads
not to have too many expectations, as the
chances are two to one against them. English
men make boast of their "fair play;" but,
in sporting matters especially, this term has
pretty nearly become obsolete. Even if the
parties themselves be disposed to act fairly
and there is no reason to believe that the
Oxford crew intends anything else-the whole
betting fraternity will throw its influence
against the Americans; and how powerful
this influence is has been fully shown on
other occasions. If the affair gives the ap-
pearance of tolerably easy victory for the
Englishmen, their antagonists will probably
be unmolested; but if it comes to close
contest, it is almost certain that the Ameri-
cans will be prevented from winning
Independently of these considerations, the
Harvard crew are at a disadvantage: the Ok
ford men refused to make any concessions or
to meet their challenges on equal terms.
They would not enter the contest unless the
Americans consented to adopt the British
method of rowing and carry the dead weight
of a coxswain. Besides this, the race course
is narrow, winding river in which all the
advantages are on the side of those who are
accustomed to it, 1t has indeed been pro-
posed that the race should take place upon
one of the lakes, but this innovation on Bri-
tish custom was discountenanced and there is
no probability that it will be acceded to. In
fine, the English crew would not enter the
race except on their own ground and on their
own conditions; and the very fact of such a
proposition being made at all seems to have
struck them as most "owdacious."
The Americans showed genuine pluck in
following up their challenge in the same spirit
that it was made, and in accepting all the dis
advantageous conditions. If they win, under
the circumstances, it will be little short of a
miracle, and if they seem likely to win it will
be remarkable if they end the race without
getting their heads broken.
In fact, such contests serve no good end, and
are not to be encouraged 1t is great mis-
chief that rowing, ball playing, and other
athletic amusements, that ought to be used
only for healthful recreation, all, sooner or
later, come under the control of the betting
fraternity; and then the confidence and inte-
rest of legitimate spectators vanish, and
there is no real belief in the honesty of the
best contested matches. SO long as young
men row, and play ball solely for their
own amusement no harm is DONE and they
are to be commended, but as soon as they
begin matches and contests they fall under
the supervision of blacklegs and gamblers
They are encouraged to play tricks that gen
tlemen would be ashamed of, and the whole
matter falls into disrepute While we would
like to see the Harvard crew win, it would
probably be better for themselves and for
other young men if they should be badly
beaten, as it would discourage others from
entering upon such contests another time.