Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-19
ESsLIsn YACHTING ss. HORSE


The London Times insists that horse
racing is called the national sport OF
England by an abuse of language.
Proprietors IF racing steeds form an
in6nitesmal part of The sportsmen OF
the nation, while frequent yacht regat-
tas remind one that aquatic sports
come as naturally TO Englishmen and
Islanders as ducks take to water. Birds
much on the wing have strong pectOral
muscles, and men raised by the sea.
shore and on the banks of rivers have
arms and spines trained to working
oars.
This is especially the case in England
The Phunderer wakes eloquent as 1t re
lates how Englishmen astonished the
natives of the Rhine, the Maine and
the Danube, as the crew Of the Watel
Lilies exhibited their feats with light
racing boat, which was a curiosity
everywhere on the continent. For un'
known ages the sea has been the har'
yest-field of Englishmen, and then
bread was obtained by blowing among
pillows and breakers.
Fortunes acquired by commerce and
trade, and in other ways, encourage
yachting. The Times says on this
point: Although its enjoyments must
necessarily be limited to much smallei
circle of amateurs yachting, IN its way
is becoming, if it has not already be.
come, as popular as boating, and, il
ANYTHING, it is even more deserving OF
announcement. 1t is not given to ev'
ery one to sail to Corinth; to launch a
Yacht and fit her out and ship crew;
but the rapid increase Of the national
wealth has given the sport a most sat
isfactory impulse. The royal squadron
has found imitators and rivals by the
score; some forty clubs are duly en-
rolled. and on their lists they number
between 1000 and 5000 vessels of diff
ferent classes and very various burden
After all, although yachtman should
have a certain easy income, he may al
ways bring his expenses down to hlf
means, and have very pleasant time
of it. The people who make haste to
be rich begin to recognize the wisdom
of intelligent holiday-making, and IN
few ways can you buy health cheaper
| than in the excItementOf short yacht
ing cruise. The smaller the craft the
greater is the excitement. Moors, for
ests, and Norwegian salmon streams
are being run up to fabulous rents
by competition, which grows keenel
| every year; it is difficult to estimate
even approximately, your Incidental
expenses, and your sport must depend
on unforeseen contingencies. Charter
ing a yacht, you may cut your coat ac,
cording to your cloth. Change OF
scene and habits you have without
stint. You need not be gliding lazily
along in the calm, gnawing your heart
In counting the capriciOus puffs that
play over the water at catspaws, as Is
too often the case at the regatta. Nov
you are stretching away before favor
able breeze, inhaling the very freshest
of ozone, and with your spirits as bouy
ant as the dancing planks beneath you
feet; now you are beating about IN
gale. with all made snug above anC
| everything secured below, the wavei
occasionally making a clean sweep o
the decks, and the shock of The heavI
seas shaking everything from stem t.
stern. If there is danger in the ex
perience, you are all the better for it
| it calls for skill, courage and presenc
of mind in men who lead, in ordinary
sedentary, or luxurious lives. YACHTING
is &, thoroughly pleasant mode of travel
and none the less so that you must Oc
crsionally have hard times on board.