Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15

on tnls Drldge, which o1ered view Vi Ih'
race was charged half a guinea for. Ii
many locations chance at window wal
let for twenty-five shillings, and the from
floor of an available house, rented for a
many guineas. At Fulham on the opposite
side of the river from Putney, Fulham-
home Of the Bishops and the lorettes o.
London-there was great excitement.
can't say what the bishops thought on the
subject, but from our boat we could see
over the walls, upon the lawns of many
luxurious villas, where the " Formosas" oi
to-day hold court-large assemblages oi
the fashionable bloods of the great city
anxiously watching the course, while the
gay mistresses of the villas slipped ices OF
firted with some new visitor as she prone
naded in her stylish carriage. From Full
ham church to Crab Tree cottage | do not
think there was any person who could not
be said to belong to the upper classes. The
aristocracy seem to have chosen that as
their resort this year, and shone with their
accustomed splendor.
As the chimes in Putney and Fulham
churches were echoing to each other across
the river the Joyous hour Of fve-hour Gu
I
men hung trembling-a boat shot out from
the Surrey side of the river and came rap
idly toward us, amid tremendous explo-
sion of applause.
The little boat that had Just left the
shore soon proved to be the Oxford's, who
it seems had won the Surrey side of the
river. and were to give the Harvards the
additional danger of rowing on the " in
side" to combat against, as well as their
only recently acquired knowledge of the
course. They were clad in simple tight
fitting flannel shirts and flannel trousers.
Their arms were bare and so were their
heads during the race Presently, amid
an equal storm of cheers, came out the
Harvards, coming slowly to their position,
and it was at least ten minutes before they
were settled into place. Two barges, Just
behind the Oxford and Harvard boats,
were manned by people who pulled back
the contesting boats until they were ex-
actly even.
And then there was a great pause, and
the hum of the crowds on the banks seemed
to grow faint and far off, and at last to
die entirely away. Even the two-penny
showmen forgot 70 shout. Loring and
Simmons bent to their oars, and neither
looked to right or left. Capt. Time toyed
with the rowlock, then suddenly looked
toward the shore then up at the umpire,
and finally fixed his eye on Mr.. Blaikie,
who had advanced to the side of the boat
and was about to call the start.
Oxford is said TO be always bad on a
start-that Is, has been in the previous
University races. Although the men do
not seem to be Aurried, there is some OBJ
stacle to their making what is called
sharp "spurt,' and they never effect it.
They are dubious, too, about whether they
are ready or not, and Blaikie had to re-
peat the important question three or four
times on this occasion before the Oxford
men said " Yes"
Four noble English student youths, sit
ting quietly in little bark, which under
their control can 20 ike the swiftest wind
four champions 4 the course on which
they wei - now u contest four vIctors of'
at least a dozen different contests; four
in the art of rowing, rich in
experience, crafty in expedients by which
to regain lost ground, frugal Of their
strength in the outset, and employing 1t
gradually, calling fibre by fibre almost into
action, separately, as one Is needed to as
sist the other four desp-chested, straight
backed, huge-handed, well-trained gentle
men, with natures nobility written on their
brows, and the frmness of a purpose in
their eyes four As thoroughly trained
men as any four in the universe.
Four glorious American youths, repre-
a..
er than all England and her colonies four
of the oldest and noblest
university America possesses; four repre-
sentatives of good families aud stern and
pure American training; four splendid
bronzed heroes, with muscles like whip
cords, and veins which stand out on their
broad foreheads with excitement; four
men who are bound to win, sooner or later,
one of whom has come 5000 miles, and all
the others 5000 for this occasion, and who
will not let the chances of defeat discour-
age them; your Yankees, if you please,
with the very blood and energy of the new
America tingling in their veins from top to
toe, and surging now and then in great
currents of hope and fear to and from the
hearts which so deserve the comfort of
But are they outwardly cool ? Ay, not
even a muscle stirs in the boat until after
the many Are you readys ?'' the magic
word " Co." comes loudly from Blaikie's
lips, and both crews give one lean forward,
then rise to their oars and the great strug-
gle is begun.
The banks at once take on more of the
g hon Ia
| have seen before Myriads of persons
are running, shouting in rage and dismay
for Harvard is ahead. Harvard started
ahead and Harvard bids fair to keep
ahead The Americans are rowing forty
five strokes to the minute in the American
boat which Elliott built for them, and they
are rowing American style. Great heavens
suppose they should lead Oxford all the
way now they have so good start. Past
the Willows, five boats lengths ahead at
least, Simmons and Loring toiling with the
energy of demons, and the coxswain labor
ing beautifully and keeping the course
perfectly Now the Harvards make a
more brilliant squirt than any yet, and the
Oxfords are forced to take their water and
pull behind. But Oxford is cooler now,
and gains trifie ; so that they both go by
the Crabtree, which L have described pre-
viously for you, in five minutes fifteen
seconds from the time of starting. Ok
ford's coxswain now begins maneuvering,
and tries to get the best of the water as
the crews approach Hammersmith But
he fails, and Harvard again beats the
water with those magnifcently rapid
strokes, as deep, despite English opinion
to the contrary, as those of the Oxford,
and no deeper. Harvard is still further
ahead now, and the Oxford men on Ham
mersmith Bridge yell with dismay to their
favorites, Pull out, Oxford :"
Oxford does pull out. 1t awakes from