The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-19
ROWING.
WHAT Is THOUGHT IN ENGLAND OF THI4
AMERICAN AMATEUR QUESTION"

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AMERICAN AMATEUR QUESTION"
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BASED upon the dennition Oh an amateur, as iateT
adopted by the National Amateur Rowing Assoclaton4
OF America Bells Life February s. has ihe following
a,,,o,,a,
Inc great amateur question: mas even pcnetrate9
to the United States where the social creed OF Yankee
lrshmen, that every man Is as good as his fellow4
and damned sight better, one would think had pref
GUIDED sucn invdious dlmcultles The feeing OF cas9
insinuates itself into bery, equality and raernity
through many secret ways BY means OF the distincf
ton between amateur aud professional our American
friends may lay down one ofthose social stepping stones
winch are dear 70 the heart OF man IN every climate
England the word gentleman" Is already used id
sporting parlance as equivalent TO amateur" Mr.
Justice Grove said the other day that If man or md
occupation" could not be described 'gente4
man" 1t was, at least difficult, now that 'gente4
man" has lost Its sense OF "wel BORN" to
suggest any other name by which he might "smel1
as sweet" II does not, however seem that any
notion OF upsettlng the law OF general handshakin9
that prevails in America was primarily present IN thd
minds OF those whom the National Boating Associaj
ton of America deputed to settle definition OF thot
amateur oarsman In view of the contemplated inter-
come to some understanding as TO who should com7
pete whether rightly or wrongly the principal amaS
teur rowing clubs in England Will not under any cr
cumstances, row race against waermen Some OF
our readers may remember the fuss-in our opinions
quite unnecessary-th That was maze when Mr Weodj
gate, With the laudabe design of measuring the
strength OF amateur against professional scuierst
roWeu match Win lom hoare. why sucn coh,esH
match between gentlemen ana players OF race int
"nicn eenteher yoeAeys uieet proessi"naIs we csn
not determine however the TACT remains certain thab
there IS IN England clearly marked line OF demar-
cation between amateur ana professional rowersJ
when rs SO wei understood ana SO Jeaousiy guarded
that dmcutes between the Two classes are almost un
Known IL would De extremely AWKWARD II oxford ano
cambridge men VINO take part IN the fniaueipna reg
gatta-as we nope tney VIII oo-were opJected 10 an
the next Henley meeting on account OF iheir navin9
rowed against professionals For tnis reason as wei
as ior the purpose Oh settng the question oetweeni
ther native cuos became hitting that the American
association should decide the social status OF the1
own crews. Unoer tnis compulson ana perhaps, az
we nave nnteo WIN ne UNCONSCIOUS tnougnt mat herq
was happy opportunity (which the Young America o.
tue present Time wouu De Ioaln 70 iosol OF iostng on
an unsuSpcctns aemocracy some european ana aris-
tocratc "cussedness, the committee appointed "
.ne association nave oIawn up q oennitlon o.
tne ~oru amAteur WnIcn sounus AZ eAhausuv9
as Tue series OF gonerat Woros 10 conveyance o.
land Iher aenniuon IS as ionows;-An amateu4
~ one woo uoes not enter IN an open compe1
Ieon OF ior etneI stAke pubic OF ADMISSION money!
or entrance Zee or completes with or against profes3
sona lot any prize mas never taught pursued or as1
., stvu ~ le puss s " hn ~ s ineAn
Vi LNchuOOu, Wuoso membership VI auy hO"lnB On