The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-26
The Crest Boat Race between tn'
auarxarss and Oxford Crews.

,oc;ded whether an American or an Eng
| fish university can turn out the best oars
non. 1t fortunately happens that in each
country the leading universities slmnita-
| ,cously boast the possession of an excellent
,rew. We know what Oxford can do-how
proud she is Of her repeated trlumphs,
| lespite twingc of respectful sympathy Tor
The pluck with which Cambridge annually
renews the contest. Harvard is, by curious
coincidence, in the same position rs Oxford
;bc has beaten her usual rival, to say nothing
# unlettcred professionals, until no more
rlory is to be got at home. The New "orld
conquered, there was nothing to do but seek
fresh laurels in the Old. The fame OF Ok
ford reached Harvard, and, with splrlt
worthy of the medieval Paladins, the Anne
leans resolved to measure oars with brl-
IONS. A great difficulty arose IN the style
# bootinr practicedk The Americans make
he bow oar steer. As nothing could induce
m Enrlish crew to adopt this fashion. while
The race would not have been fair if one
boat had four and the other five men, this
difficulty delayed the contest. However,
your true Paladins would rather fight on
INV terms than not at all, and the Harvards
.hivalrously accepted the English custom ms
The only compromise practicable. cox
swain is indispensable on our rivers, ana
he Americans, in carrying one, sacrlhce
what would have been an undue advantage
and do not incur disadvantage. We prefer
70 COMPROMISE because there seems to be
notion that Americans have conceded too
much for the race to be a fair trial OF
strength and skill between the representa-
Id Nr3,lng
preston is heightened by having gradually
,ssimilatcd their style OF rowing to that OF
The English. 1t is complained that this
Anplo-Amcrican race is not to be test OF
he relative merits Of the distinct national
tvles of rowing. the object which promised
20 he the chief source of interest, but to de-
eide which of the young men rowing happen
20 be the best This seems pedantlc way OF
putting the matter. Itmisinterpretsthec char
acter of the international struggle. What Is
The style of rowing compared with theten who
row ? When the fight between Hecnan and
Savers excited such a worldwide interest
he question was whether America Or Eng
land could turn out not the better style OF
boxing. but the better man. The same stake
is on this issue. Now, good rowing must be
the same all the world over, however acct
iental the circumstances. But there may
be q diversity of external characteristics.
The Harvards have not a water like the
Thames at Putney, and they have, therefore,
wisely modified their pulling to suit the
change. If the Ok fords went to Charles river
.hev would have to do the same thing. But
the essential qualities of skill, pluck, and
strength which have won for both crews their
many laurels, require no change, and will
be put with perfect fairness to the test.
Whichever wins must be recognized as the
better master. We do not wish in the
slightest degree to dctract from the high
praise descrvedlv due the Haryards for the
.hiyalrous spirit in which, throwing prcju-
iiccs to the winds, they have come to en-
counter the Oxfords on their own waters, in
their own way. Also for the prompt yer
satility. characteristic of their nation, with
which they have adopted their novel posi-
ion, 1t is impossible not to admire the
business-like, unpretentious way in which
they have settled down to their work, care
fully stunning opportunities OF parade and
publicity. They have done all they can
10 deserve success. If they gain ii, no
Englishman, however he may wish his own
side to win. will Crude it them. We trust
he hearty good will they from the first
received, and are still receiving, from all
classes will convince their anxious fellow
countrymen that there is no ground for ap-
prehcnsions of foul play. One OF the best
points about boat races is their freedom
from trickcry, which now diagraccs the Eng
ish turf. Boat racing has happily escaped
his foul contagion. There Is 10 danger
that ANYTHING but an accident will prevent
The race from being fairly rowed. We are
rlad to sec that the most stringent plecau-
tions to prevent accident have been adopted.
Only two steamers will follow the crews
while rowing, and the river will be kept
carefully clear. We arc not without cN-
pcctations OF seeing really good race. Not
withstanding this confidence with which
each party has predicted IN easy victory
for it's own side, we hope that the day will
find both crews come to the start in prime
condition and with equal pluck, and may
the best man win"
The Harvard men desire that contra
liction be made Of the rumors that they
have adopted the English style OF rowing.
They maintain that the match is to he q
contest Of styles as well az OF men. They
express themselves we'll pleased with all
the arrangements that have been made for
them. and are satisfied with the result OF
their practice on the Thames.
The Harvards have not yet decided wha.
boat they shall take for the race. Then
coxswain will be lighter i'll weight than the
Oxford's. The Americans propose TO invite
the Prince of Wales and Mr.. Motley, the
American Minister, to accompany the
crews on the day Of the race, and for that
purpose the use Of the Harvard launch will
| be rendered to them.