The New York herald., 1869-08-28


try month ago tney brought with them two
boats Of American construction, which, although
very smartly built were the WORK Of maker VINO
had not been accustomed 10 manufacture boats TO
carry coxswains and who had therefore erred by
giving an excess Of length and weight. Finding
this to be the case when they came to compare them
with racing craft Of English build the Harvard four
after some days practice, accepted the oner made
by the London Rowing Club Of four.oared racing
boa. for their use until new ones could be built for
them by Salter, OF OXFORD one OF the most noted
builders OF the day, and Elliott an American build.
er who accompanied the Harvarda to England.
The practice in the English.modeed boats necessi
tated change In the position or the men, the Eng.
lsh boats being made for the stroke to take the
water on his right hand, the American the reverse.
1t was thought that when they FIRST appeared In
the London boat the Harvards made better
rate Of speed than they had accomplished In
their own. During every day of their practice
they were closely watched from the banks
and numerous aud varied were the criticisms passed
upon their performances by the public as well as
through the press. The Times, DAILY Telegraph and
Daily Netcs had each special representative to re-
port the doIngs Of the American four during the
whole time OF their training, and 1t was observed
that these were less marked in their structures on
the Harvard style than were the members OF the
sporting press.
The objections most strongly urged by Bel's LIE
and the Sportsman were that the gentlemen from
Harvard worked TOO much with their arms and did
not throw the weight and strength OF body into the
pull so effectively as English crews. Besides this
there was an infinite variety Of criticism on minor
points; but very little was said as to grace, and
strange as IL may appear, nothing seemed to be
known about the time It took the Americans TO
put 4 wae tod
that az compared with the highly trained ana
longexperienced four representing OXFORD
the Harvards lacked steadiness and unanimIty.
The depreciating remarks OF the London pressf In.
tended, a. some supposed to deprive the Americans
OF confidence, ana 80 damage their rowing to q
certain extent--faied entirely Of It's object az the
Harvards throughout went steadily to their work and
displayed throughout quiet, unostentatious spirit
which could not fall to win them admirers and
friends even among the river side Engshmen. The
unIrendly criticisms OF the press were, however,
only OF piece with the general uniairness exhibited
towards the Americans by their opponents, who
seem 10 nave been resolved from the nrst to the
last 10 take every ungenerous advantage of the Har
vards and to have everything their own way While
the Harvards were daily training, unattended by any
advisers, In the full blaze Of public criticism, the
oxford Grew were practising nrst at Eton
and then farther up the river at Sc.
Guided village called Pangbourne, "coached'
at the first place by Eton masters aud at the latter
place by Mr. Morrison, one OF the very best rowing
trainers of the day. The Oxonans were thus free
from observation, comment or criticism, and were,
besides comfortably located at the mansion Of Mr..
william, sr.. the father Of bow oar.
Notwithstanding the many drawbacks the Amcr.
can four had to labor under they were not dis cour.
aged. They did not fail to see from the first that
they had too much to contend with-change OF STYLE
change OF boat change OF men, change Of river, a
change OF land and prestige. These were few Of
the circumstances that at the outset started the
AIDA dead against them. The match was, however,
one which must at some time or other have been
made. The Harvard Collcgians having bravely
come-some Of them oO00 one Of them 1000 miles