The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-08

tail the international boat race between the Har-
ward and oxford Universities crews on the 2fth
of August on the river Thames. Notwithstanding
our very ample cable dispatches recording the event
the written statements will command attention, re-
Meeting as they do the exact state of opinion pre-
valling on both sides during the struggle and at the
conclusion.
The New England and Ola England Boat
Ruce-WiII Oxford Show Fair PLAY or the
White Feathers
LONDON. August IS, 1859.
The Harvard and oxford boat race, which was
won by the oxford crew yesterday was a godsend
to poor old England. 1t has given her something to
be proud of--something TO boast ana brag about in
her decrepitude. She sadly In need OF such q
solace Just at the present time. her princes ana
peers have brought her ancient arlstocracy
Into sad dsrepute; her House OF Lords
has Just been compelled TO eat humble pie;
ana her uecaying power has been made painfully
manifest In the shock given TO her system by the
''blatherskite" OF few Fenans. At the very mo-
ment when the French Emperor extends general
amnesty to all political Offenders the toothless old
British lion mumbles her jaws her Irish prison
ers and fears TO let another OF them loose. Ever
since crowd OF English roughs cut the ropes OF
prize ring to prevent their champion. Tom Sayers,
from being whipped out Of time by Hcenan, and
pistols while their champion lay dead to the cali of
the seconds, Engshmen have felt that they must do
something 10 redeem the character OF their country.
Their gallant yachtmen were not available, because
OF their aversion to rough seas and equinoctal
storms. but their bold University oarsmen were.
luckily equal to the situation, aud chivalrously
volunteered 10 stand up-or rather to sit down-fOr
the honor ofther country, in Satee rowing boat,
with young coxswain in the stern, and to pull
against four adventurous University men from
the other side Of the Atlantic. Fortunately, as
we have said, for poor Old England they
have won, come out Of the struggle Just FIVE seconds
ahead OF their Yankee opponents, ana now the Times
and other London journals declare that England is
satisfied; that she rest upon her aureis that the
hearts OF all her bold Britons have again been made
glad, and that she feels she may still defy the world.
All this Is owing to four young gentlemen from an
English university, who have, in the glowing lam
guage of the London Times saved Great Britain
from national Illumination and disgrace deeper
than she suffered when compelled TO lower her Dag
to America IN q more serious and deadly conflict
upon her own especial element.
Nor can the glory Of their achievement be denied.
The impudent Yankees who dared to challenge the
Oxfords TO rowing match were monsters of muscle
and power. They weighed on an average each
twenty-sx pounds less than the oxford crew, and
they had been for the last five years. according to
the English journals, training for this very race and
living upon nothing less strengthening than bears
meat and alligator steaks. They claimed the right,
too. to row with coXswain, which they
had never done BEFORE thus Initiating the
English "stylen and gaining decided advantage.
They rowed also upon the regular oxford course,
and as strangers were free from the prejudces and
fanctes that induce an Oxford crew to believe them
selves at home the Thames between Putney and
m frQah from
long sea voyage, refined down by sea sickness, and
rowed the before any OF them had got OF the
beneficial effects OF such journey. Two Of them
the oxonians. who MAD been laoofina In a boat
getner on the Thames for I've or six months before
the race. Their coxswain had been five weeks IN
practice. There Is q story Of mulberry schooiboy,
fourteen or fifteen years old, who could not answer
the Sunday school question. ''who made youYn
wheIeupon little four year old fellow was called to
the 'front.' M9 made o asked the teacher
the excuse OF the older Ounce, che ought to
know; he has not been made so long as l
have" The Harvard coxSwain not having been
must have known a great deal better how to steer.
Americans that lt Is surprising that the admitted
fears OF John Bull not realized, and his defeat
on his own muddy Cockney river rendered inev-
liable.
All honor. then to the oxford four for their gor.
Gus victory, and now what next2
The Americans must not nor will they CRY over
spilled milk but they have right TO ask when
shall the return match be played2 WIN oxford SIT
down conented with their five seconds victory, or
Will they venture to cross the Atlantic and 10 row
Harvard on their own Charles river, without a cox.
swain, In true American style2 Certainly, to make
have as yet won but half triumph; viii they steal
away with the few sprIgs of laurel they have been
30 fortunate as to secure or WIN they endeavor TO
gain whole chaplets Having wrenched victory
from the boldness and enterprise OF the American
rowers viii they button 1t up in their fob pockets
and refuse TO take any more chancesf
q of
Harvard on the simple condition that they should
have everything their own way the oxford crew
have virtually pledged themselves TO afford the
Americans an opportunity to contend with them on
the other side under similar circumstances we may
well anticipate, therefore, that the oxford four will
at once set the time for with Harvard without
coxswaln and on the Charles river Unless they
do thus their laures will have freshness and
vitality than yesterdays cabbage in London
market
1t has frequently been said on both sides Of the
Atlantic that the oxford and Harvard boat race had
nothing OF an International character, and this was
strictly true. IL was simply race between the
young men OF Two universities The Harvard men
were no more the representatives OF America than
was the yacht sappho year or 80 ago. Indeed.
the characteristic Of Americans Is never TO get
whipped, ana in this view the Harvards cannot be
recognized as representative Americans. Then they
have far more universityish than American all
through the AFFAIR and have certainly in some points
failed to show anything like American aptness and
tact. This mag probably arise from their New Eng
land education and associations. but as they have
been beaten 1t Is scarcely necessary to alude to what
might have been better done by the Harvard crew.
opportunity 70 do to oxford In America what OK
ford has done to them in England, and then there,
here, we can only say, "May the best men WIN" We
can see no other way for them out OF their present
scrape, unless, indeed, Senator sumner who Is
uncle TO one OF The beaten four should choose TO
make their defeat the basis tor the addition of an
extra l0),Oo0,00O in the wearisome Alabama SETTLE
meDt.
The London Times Account-Scenes on the
STRENGTHENING the Course-The Start and
First ssDip' Of the Oars--Strugsie, Work
and Moment of Victory.
from the London Times, August 2s.l
Nearly two years ago q challenge was sent over
from the University OF Harvard IN the United States
OF America, TO the University Of oxford to row q
four-oared race in this country on course to be
aaected at future time. For various moth
ing came OF the challenge for some time, the then
president OF the oxford University Boat Club not
feeling disposed to pledge his club TO any step
In which hia successor might not feel disposed 70