The New York herald., 1873-09-10
THE SARATOGA REGATTA.
The Residents and Visitors on the
Tiptoe of Expectation.
Tho course Of Saratoga Lake-Tardy Arrival Oh
the Oarsmen-What the President OF the
Saratoga Rowing Association Has to
Say on the Coming Aquatic
Carnival and the Sup
uression of Gambling.
SARATOGA, Sept. Q, 1878.


and groups OF lovers sit mufiied in their shawls
around the roaring fres conversing in mono
syllabes and waiting. Waiting for whats Surely
each of the smiling brght-eyed girls who sit so
alarmipgly close Ito George or Augustus are not
waiting Tor another lover. No, they have
brought down their birds. can swear it,
for I last night heard one OF them
say, as l passed along the balcony 1--WE are
engaged now; amt we, George" Crhe "are''
should be put in snail capitals; not that there is
any doubt but that these persons may BY engaged,
but because the tone OF voice in which this word
was spoken might seem to indicate that such was
the fact.) The few ladies OF more mature years,
who have learned to despise all such foilles, are
not surely lingering for conquests, which she uld
have been made not weeks but seasons since.
WHAT IS HE wAITISG FOR ?
That portly broker VINO walks up and down the
long and desolate verandah, munied to the chin,
with his hands thrust into the deepest recesses OF his
pockets and who Is violently hewing the end OF
cigar as he curses alike the cold which makes him
uncomfortable aud the i'll luck which Keeps him
here-what can he be staying here to see The
horse races are over; the troubled stare OF the
stock market would seem to require his presence
In Wall street. know this broker so will ask
him, and let his answer serve for all the others.
Approaching, greet him in q friendly way and eX-
press my surprise at finding him here so late. 1
do not have to ask anything more, for,
shaking himself from head to loot, as he relghts
his extinguished cigar, he exclalms -"Why. damn
It, Pm waiting for the regattal" OF course he is.
Now see it clearly. There is printed copy Of the
rules and regulations and card OF admittance to
the grand stand. Quite favor to have a seat on
the grand stand; of course he would stay week
SO TO oblige ais friend Jones. Then notice
that the young ladies wear regatta hats and that
the other ladies sport festive parti-colored bows
not beauX--on their bOsoms. To be sure they are
all waiting ior the regatta am to use nauti-
cal expression, Sin the same boat; :" I'm waiting
for the regatta.
The ebOny-cheeked porter who dragged me from
the omnibus seized my baggage, conducted me
nrst to the windy and barn-like ofice and then to
cold and cheerless room, finished me up by ask
ing "If did not want pitcher Of ice water" Yea,
verify, he did even more; he waited just five min
utes until he got quarter. ''lce waier!n was at
last able to exclaim as washed the cinders out OF
my eyes and shivered from head 10 foot. mo, no,
no. Do you. understand the English languages If
you do, gO!" That fellow Is evidently waiting for
the regatta or something else to turn up.
THE LAKE.
II must be said, in full justice to the Regatta
Committee that everything possible is doing to
make the affair a success. Early and late the men,
bers OF the Saratoga Rowing Association are EN-.
poyed on the lake shores IN lifting up the boat
houses in building launching RATS and in receiving
the oarsmen as fast as they arrive. Every train
brings one or more ot the contestants. and by to-
morrow evening all win be on the ground.
asked Commodore Brady why the crews were
30 SLOW IN putting in an appearance. He explained
It at practically and satisfactorily by saying
the course on Saratoga Lake did not have TO be
learned. There is no current, consequently no
eddiea. ShOal water cannot be found within
oars length OF the shore. II is a broad, smooth
course, through absolutely still water. Therefore,
not necessary. The boys train and practice
At home, come here IN the evening, get into
straight for the turning stake and back They do
not have to follow the bends Of q river, nor does
the bow oarsman have to devote the most OF his
time to laying out the course. There is any
thing in 'front.' but shell boats and these have to be
0vertaken after they have once gained the lead.
A SAD CONTRAST.
true boating man would give year OF his life
almost to see eleven suclD crews started here as
pulled over the shallow course on the conn ectcut
with 100 feet between each. The starting point
would only have to be put further up the lake.
There will be great prOmptness in starting the
crews in this regatta. President Conkling has
secured twelve-pound cannon to give the signal.
Ii seems to be the determination OF every one in
any way connected with the regatta that there
shall not be any blunders.
called upon John Il Gonkfng, President OF the
Saratoga Rowing Association, this morning. He Is
very hopeful regarding the entire success OF the
present regatta, and expresses himself as thor
Oughly In earnest regarding the suppression of all
the obnoxious features OF this summer resort.
"Our club numbers about 200 members, COM
posed of the most respectable, influential and
wealthy permanent residents OF the CITY," said
Mr.. Conking. Eve are determined to convince
the people OF this country who really take
lake they will nnd the best course, and that from
this association they will have the most cordial
reception 10 be found IN the United States. The
September regatta is to be made permanent an
nual carnival Hereafter 1t will take place in the
first week OF the month. The prizes now ofrered
are a. fine as were ever given in an amateur rowing
regatta, and next year the association intends TO
do vastly more for the crews WHO enter for the
iaces than they are now doing"
Tine chief objections urged against Saratoga by
the friends oil the College Rowing Association are
that The young men will be .roped' into the gam
bling houses; do you consider this valid objec-
iectlOnf' asked.
1T will, of course. be impossible 90 prevent pri-
sate bets from beng made but can assure you, IN
the name OF some Of the best citizens OF the state
that there will not be any pool selling the lake
There is state law folbidding this species OF gam
biing, and the association, desiring the entire fu
TUE success OF their regattas, will compel is en-
tOrcement.
THE GAMBLING HOUSES ARE ALL CLOSED,
ana VIII not be opened, so that this obstacle can
not be urged against the september regatta. The
college regatta will come earlier i'll the season to
be sure, but am convinced that the association
possesses influence enough TO compel the closing
OF every establishment OF this kind in town during
tne stay OF the students and their friends. We
sEali not make any other efforts 10
secure the college regatta next season
within the mower oil gentlemen, lovers OF aquatic
sports 10 receive provide boat houses for and enter
entered for the races. We deprecate all under
handeo abuse OF other cities alike Jealous Of The
nohoI vi having lne regatta. We SIMPLY say
'Gentlemen OF the American colleges, We the citi-
Zens OF saratoga Springs, have a good rowing
course, ample motel accommodations, and we wl
provide every requisite, such as poat houses ana
noats. as well as secure good quartz ers for each of
the crews at mere nominal rate. If you come we
siiail De glau TO receive you The teeth OF the
'nger' snail De drawn peaceably ii possible with
tue help OF the law If necessarily
"HARD To TEACH AN OLD poG,-
"WhO are the people VINO gamble mere; are they
the young men y' asked.
mo citizen OF Saratoga who cares anything for
sfIG on unft
houses here or ever risks a dollar therein | viii
tell you who the supporters OF these establishments
are. They are New Workers, Bostonians ana resi-.
dents Of all the large cities who gamble at home
They do not put Their money on the or jack be.
cause they are IN saratoga, but because they
would do IL somewhere else Just as readily.
~ have more faith in the moral tone OF the col
iege men under every temptation. II the regatta
were to be held on the Huuson at New York. do
you suppose that the people OF Springfield, for in
stance would think OF caIit0nlng the boys against
the thousands OF gambling houses and dives OF a
much da angel Gus character which exist therep or
course not but there the worst men and women
walk the streets with impunity at all hours OF the