The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-18

ITSELF They catch the water and are gone.
Now one Is In 'front.' and still gaining but
we know that the relative position win be reversed
at least once before the long FOUR miles arc done.
There Is something very unsatisfactory about THIS
Some persons argue that those VINO miss the first
mile or tSo Of the race must altogether miss the
racing, iIasmuch as the latter part Or the course
Is stern chase for one party or the other. But
that IS wrong way OF viewing the matter. The
beaten crew never coniesses itself beaten nor
acts as though II were beaten until the pIstol shot
has sounded which salutes the winner. on the
contrary they make unceasing and desperate
efforts TO retrieve themselves; ana 1t Is IN sucn
desperate efforts, though we may feel them TO be
vain, that tue true thrill and excitement OF the
contest lies. II, as soon as they felt themselves
overmatched, they were to .easy aln and paddle
philosophically back 10 Putney again. then, in
deed, the Putneyites would have good reason for
their preference. But so long as hope springs I'm
mortal IN the oarsman's heart and sympathy
CLOVIS in that or the spectators so long as oars
may snap or bloouyessels burst or boats swamp
or 'spurts avail-so long, Ia fine, as the future Is
hid and mankind mortal-so long will Mortake
not lack patronage on regatta days. Besides, IL
must always be more satisfactory 10 see the con-
test won and lost with our own eyes than to hear
about Its termination from other people.
OTHER PLACES.
vi COuTses butIC pitnJ Vi
points OF vantage, but they only present in dilu-
ton the concentrated merits Of the TWO extremi-
ties OF the course. IL Is undeniaoly, delightful to
be a member or lawn party at one OF those
charming villas which give on the river; but this
consideration ought to nave no weight with genu-
Inc aquatic enthusiasts, who come TO see, not
society," but rowing. Moreover, there are such
villas in the immediate vicinity OF Mortlake. The
neghborhood Is rather pleoeian; level meadows
constitute the left bank OF the river, while the
right is occupied by the "Ship Inn" and a variety
OF even less pretentious buildings. towparh
skirts the waters edge, built up with stone from
nigh water mark TO height OF five or SIX feet.
legion ofravenous watermen besiege this embanK-
menr continually and voclerously adjuring the
close packed crowd winch stands upon II, TO let
themselves be ferried to the other side for the
nominal sum Of half q crown per head. The gen.
eral tendency OF the crowd 10 avail itself OF the
tempting offer cannot IAN to interest the psyche
logic student, should the latter happen TO be on
hand The side 10 which they are transported IS
50 plainly inferior. in every respect. TO that
they are on, that IL seems as II their object In
going hither must be tue philanthropc one OF CIV
ing more ebow-room TO such as remain. This
would be much 10 their credit, especially In view
OF the fact that the passage, during the last hour
or two before the race, Is excessively dangerous
not alone from the imminent risk OF collisions, but
because the skin in which the passage is effected
is generally overcrowded ana by a set OF passen-
gers not precisely accustomed to contend with the
perils or the deep. Nevertheless, great majority
or them do escape drowning. though seemingly
only by the provldentlal violation OF some natural
law.
THE "sHIP.n
Well, 1t was at Mortlake, not far from the
'Snlp," and on near the stone-emo an ked tow
likewise that the arguments proving this spot 10
be the most desirable one on the course were not
either conceived or worked out until chance and
my own negligence had rendered It impossible for
me to get anywhere else. | arrived late-tnat is,
about twelve o'clock-at Mortake. having UNDER
estimated the length or the way. Every road and
lane Tor miles out had been alive with teams and
foot passengers. all heading toward point Gar
liant gentlemen on horseback, with opera glasses
sluug over their shoulders; family carriages full OF
blue silks and sains, blue neckties and hatoands,
smiling iaces pates de oie gras and black bottles;
country wagons bulging with creatures OF the
same general make aud aspect as the former, but
socially antipodal TO them; graceful pony pnae-
TONS driven by eAquisitely dressed and faultessly
complexioned young ladies' who received the
salutes only OF disengaged gentlemen ana were
icly ignored by all persons otherwise conditioned;
sturdy pedestrians. dusty and tired, hut full OF
enthusIasm-all these, and more, mad accompa-
MED followed or outstrfpped me on my rIverward
Journey Every driver had . blue ribbon his
whip; and not q horse-were he Int a coster-
monger's donkey-was without his rosettes A
sentiment OF good fellowship had. therefore, gen.
orally prevailed. Remarks we're exchanged be.
tween strangers. aud lev OF us refused q smile 10
the dulest or tnreadDarest wItticlsn These blue
badges are promoters OF humane emotions. and
inculcaie democratic doctrines they are badges
OF q common feeling regarding ONLY the aquatic
interests OF oxford or Cambridge. Ifevery human
aim ana latin were In a similar manner outwardly
beriDboned with certain colors. doubt the Irat-
nization OF mankind would be greatly adj
vanced.
A PICTURE
arrived at Mortlake late. and, having pressed
resolutely through q alsorganized preliminary
throng emerged on the river bank. on mr.
left jutting almost into the river was the "Snip
Inn,n all over the roof cnlmneys, doors win
dows, balconies and approaches OF which peo.
PIE were clustered dark and thick as IRON alinRs
on a magnet. Crowds always look dark no
matter how much color there may De in them.
As 10 the towpath It was so tnIckiy overlaid
win humanity, tnat not Tor some ume was |
aware or It's existence-tt appeared a solid pop
ulous mound. Two or three barges we're moored
at intervals, a few yards out from the shore,
and on the opposite side OF the river was
almost a continuous line OF them, and these also
we're densey settled. You could not have
dropped a. stone anywhere over the surface OF
the water without hitting q boat or a human
being, and the ceaseless shifting In and out
OF this countless notllla, ike a swarm OF fright.
ened ants was digging to oenold. The bat.
tanon OF watermen were IN full CRY and &C
sivity. bearing on victim after victim
ana stil clamoring insatlabiy for more.
prass band on the further bank were doing
their utmost 20 harmonic matters with some
undlsunguishsbe overture, and. q few moments
ate. my advent rival orchestra at the "Snipn
launched into a tumultous ocean Of melody. There
was no getting anywhere or doing ANYTHING OF
ones own viii; almost no thinking OF anything at
nrst. After moving, or being moved along the
nank for a snort distance, came 70 q standstin