The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-06
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.
Probabilities Of Cambridge and Oxford Meet
ing in FOurs at Philadelphia.
purxrY. March 23. ls76.


II il amusing 70 observe the tone almost bordering
indignation in which daily journals here regard
the increasing interest taken in boat racing and
particularly In the annual contest between repre-
sentative University crews and how they look back
with something akin TO regret on the good old days
when the now absorbing "wacr Derby" was witnessed
by only few enthusiasts and professional watcrmen
II hard to them that temporary mania las they
rcgsrd ~ OF the public mind should necessate the
mastering OF entirely dictionary OF slang by
happy journalists, and see article in one OF our
daily papers OF which the writer evidently prides him.
self his ignorance Of all terms and phrases connected
with the gnobe pasms, and thinks that II the public
In their senses they would do the Horse
racing Is national sport carried pretty nearly all
the year round, and honored by two or
three columns OF each journal every day; 1T
Is noby and widely patronzed and therefore must be
held OF vital importance independent OF intrinsic
merit and the OF the pen, therefore, thinks IL an
Engshman's duty to DO well up In all stable 'lingo"
Boating however, is very different 10 his mind. Match
Ing the bodily prowess and powers Of endurance OF
eight gentlemen against eight In contest OF four
and half miles, where no landsharks bookmakers
dare attempt an interference with view to getting
'thc straight tip doctoringn OF the COMPETE
tors sinks below all comparison with the performances
OF member OF the brute creation though 1t BIO the
nobest In those the bookmaker may safely stake
his capital on tho assurance that, in the
worst event. he "managen the jockey
'sdoctor" the likely winner and tho sport
becomes exciting from the additional uncertainty
as to whether best animal will ba the winner. The
fact that high strung and unwholesome excitement
Of this kind has almost eliminated from fashionable
sports the only elements that elevated them, skill
and endurance and substituted for the healthy
exercise OF body and mind wearing and
degrading influence However, disrcgarded and dcs-
pissed though be among certain classes Of country
men, yet sufficient interest has been created by tho
rival of
TIE cRxws PurSRY
to draw thousands to the banks OF the Thames
the middle OF binding snow storm, TO witness the
debut Of the light and dark bluea The Oxford men
put in appearance on Monday last at about twelve
O'Clock, taking up their quarters at the Fox and
Hounds former occasions They lost time in
launching their Casper and at three O'Clock In the
afternoon started from Mortlake strong ebb tide,
increased BY land-water, to do the whole course OF
four and half miles which they completed In 2lm.
sos, uncommony fast for first attempt
DARK BLUES
Thoy row together like ono man, and seem no more
troubled by tho rough water than II they propel
ling an-of-wars gig. Lord Londesborough has
kindly chartered steamer for thor coach to lecture
them from. They have brought with them two
ships, both built by Claspcr. and it is still uncertain
which OF them they will employ the day of the race
but they nearly possible alike, and there
little choice Claspers boats famous for the 'sti
ness' OF the build and unsurpassed for travelling
buoyantly through heavy sea- that If tho sth OF
April happens to DO rough tho oxonans will have q
decided advantage their craft No change has been
mado in the crow since onr last letter was sent,
ccpt that Williams has boen removed from No. 7 TO
No and Marriott has taken his place. No. thwart
to produce awkwardncss In Its occupant, who
In the construction The slide seems to DO hardly
opposite the work, and this may possibly be the
cause Mercer, who oficiatcs MS No. 2 finds
the long course and hard work como heavily on him.
and looks each day amer he returns from exercise
as u he had had about enough OF It. The other men
look well trained and of powerful calbre, and there
subdued air Of conscious superiority about them that
assures ono that they have little doubt in their
minds as to tho result OF the coming race.
THE cANrAns
were somewhat later in their arrival on Monday but
they did allow the grass to grow under their feet
notwithstanding. After setting themselves down for
hour at private house in 1.-THE Cedars - Put
ney which they have rented for the occasion, they
proceeded to the river and made trial OF the Thames
about half-past three. The ship they present
using has been built for them by Scarc OF Cambridge
and London under the superintendence OF Dunton Mr.
ScarIcs foreman, who has now gained great reputa-
ton constructor Of still and fast boats The craft
measures Cd feet from stem to stern and is inches
deep at No 6s thwart, easing OF to inches
At the bow and at tho stcrnpost She
Is "a inches in beam at tho widest place, and
taken Altogether is . credable piece OF workmanship
Messrs Swaddie 4 Winship "a name familiar to you
have been engaged on second ship for them, which
Is now finished and, we eapect, WIN reach Pu,ney
parts OF the much Is scarcely to be expected
IRON them In the matter OF "iorm" as from the OK
onans, considering that only two members OF pre-
vious contest to DO found in II rs against tho
Oxford boat Consequently a great deal Of loose and
encounter rough water their appearance is such
draw remarks ervolen dlsapprobation from tho
spectators on the bank. Those, however, who look
more closely into the merits OF the team do not think
despairingy Of thcm and when allow for the
that hitherto they have been performing compare
lively smooth water the Cam being screened by trees
10 find them inferior to their adversarics during
the hrst week OF their practice on rough water The
Oxonans IL must BE- remembered, have had high winds
and waves to battle with all the time OF their six
weeks training previous TO this so the Thames at pres
cnt Is In comparison smooth TO them.
THE CAMBRIDGE STROKE
The light blues, however, have great number or
redeemns points Their stroke Is long and sweeping,
and II they could manage TO put little more dash
the beginning, would be uncxceptonable. Some OF
the men, Nos. aud .. for instance, scarcely drive
the straight through the water, while No has
never eradcatcd his besettng sin OF deepening his
as he goes back thus taking up volumes OF
water on 1t aud consequently rendering his recovery
difficult Such faults these are Of course aggra-
waited and made more observable by the change 10
rough water but three weeks training the Thames
may be trusted TO make great Improvements In this
respect Taking
AS A WHO'LL,
ana supposng they progress pdrt pdsSu the
present time there be lltle doubt but that oxford
will win the day; however, the more room there for
Improvement In such affairs the more rapid that I'M
provemcnt generally expect the light blues
take more expeditions strides In that direction in
their case there certainly Is no lack OF room, the
odds on Oxford, which nj 10 T. will, without
doubt down considerably before the day OF trial
arrives. Taking matters they stand people
pin their faith TO Oxford out dare say shortly after
tbss reaches you the flash of tho wire will have shown
you the truth or fasi,y of their surmses
PROBABILITIES OF TWO UNIVERSITY CREWS ROWING
rnE CENTENNIAL
As regards the answers TO the invitation for Pha-
dciphia this summer, have had two interviews with
Mr.. Close, the Cambridge University Boat Club PrcsI-
dent, on the subject From my conversation with him
gather that there is certainty OF four-oar AZ
least gong over, but whether that will be an
Official and representative from the university or
private undertaking the part OF the Under
graduates, or, II may be. one from each OF these
sources viii depend altogether the result or this
race Men do not Ike 10 venture on expedition so
important and expensive until they have nrst found
out what sort Of metal they have available From, OK
ford the answer Is much TO The same effect They al