The New York herald., 1876-01-02
THE QUARREL OF THE OARSMEN.


alumni line" Continuing the metaphor conclude
thai many have already fallen, yet finding myself for
the present, least unhurt / would devote my last
shot 10 the believe be just Il with diff
denoe confess myself member OF the Harvard Uni
versity Boat Club and that at the meeting IN
question used my infuence-one vote-n favor
Of withdrawal This done without thought;
in fact II said the by OF that If the
alumni had taken much when they stood our
places perhaps would have been needed,
and so lively Of the honor Of Harvard
that really believed would be best consulted If we
accomplished end and withdrew her from the Row
Ing Association OF American Colleges
In the first place, what is this association? Harvard
founded il by her influence in 1871 not having Yale to
race with, and-she beaten Then every college in
the country seems to have snuned the battle from
altar; many applying for admission were admitted
only give place other applicants who weredn turn
admitted, until the problem, how when and where can
regatta take place? becomes yearly difficult to
solve Experience has shown that the less college men
have do with It's management the more apt II IS 10
be called successful The time seems TO be fast APP
preaching when all arrangements viii necessarily de-
volve upon some college but entcrprising
individuals who viii convert it into spectacular
drama" If IS already, with an
efficient corps Of supernumerares" recruited from
among men, presumably gentlemen-a state Of affairs
not particularly conducive the dignity Of the
testants or the honor Of their colleges. AS for the
conventions preceding these regatas, are thev either
sensible honoTableI DO they approximate the one
or The otherf Are they not scrambes Tor ohces,
intriguing between colleges is at a premium,
bodes unable to challenge 'our English cousins" IN
gentlemanly wayS The last act IN the late Convention
being transformation scene, an auction room IN
which the Convention TO be sold 10 the highest bid
der, after which We may suppose the delegates sep
arated TO make cold blood such accusations against
one another as appeared IN letter oi Mr. Chandler
the Boston AdUeFitSer
would ask the aumnus who "frees himself'
happilyn IN the letter copied into the HERALD If the
elective idea between "honOr and dshonor" IS not
good thing after all, and whether he would not, after
finding out that h s influence could not be effectively
eXerted q proper manner 10 keep the Convention
with his convictions; whether, repeat, be
would eicct" honor and withdraw, leaving others
10 transform themselves into body OF statesmen"
IN miniature and delight the hearts Of hotel keepers
and sghtsecr terrible expense OF their own self
respecty II not far TO hold any one college respon
ble for this state OF things; but 10 say that me Con
ndulgcs itself IN this way ls warranted by the
facts. Honor is the principal thing and should be
spoken of hrst; after II other considera-
tons upon which stl. think the ASSOCIATION e&erts
bad influence.
The tendency is at present to develop in college
set LED 10 suppose that rowing 50 I'M
portant that II be made primary consideration
They must tram Ike professionals" no matter what
the strain for Their opponents names are legion, and
the sUcceasiu! regatta thus far was practically
rowlLg against time with perhaps dreaded
rival out OF sight and almost out of mind No thought
Of general ph ysca culture likely enter their heads
those of the college community under such crcum
stanCes-nothng but the the race 10 be decided
iu than twenty minutes tho sight Of shouting and
betting spectators the number really interested il them
growing yearly less
An TINS seems contrary the true spirit OF college
rowing or athletics OF any kind having been done
year the right direction by the establishment of
the rowing clubs at Harvard 10y means oI Whch every
avail himself Of this exercise at small ex- |
pense) Than would have been the case had We more
than dozen reeattas III the manner described lhere
remains specific remarks IN letters IRON gradu-
ates, TO which exceptions NAV be taken
gentleman, writing TO the Boston Trdreter says !
will be difcult 'to find any member OF Haryard's |
successful crews who viii advocate d Withdrawal from
the ASSOCIATION until the claim Tor superiority made
good ia shape more victories over all com
pettors II IS the opinion OF majority OF |
old Harvard oarsmen that an insufficient amount Of
work been done Cambridge OF late years, and he
also remarks that the resut" OF former regattas las
been ''moruying.o
Now am not aware that any "claim for superiority
is made Withdrawing from the association, and even
supposng there had been lone or more victories over
all competitors would more real reasons Tor with |
drawing exist than there are at present. Could not the
otnor colleges very properly say 1T s true you have
beaten us time but the chances you cannot do
So again Every year there has been new winner
The boating position OF college does not depend upon
the victory year but upon IT'S average position for
several years In leaving u now your action s more
dshonorable than II you bad honestly made up your
mind TO withdraw long ago, and had done so then y
We have generally supposed that uic amount of work
done by Harvard Of late mCsh as could be
bestowed upon by men N n university con
sianv raising the standard Of her proper work
price Of her degree IL certainly much that two
Of last years have gwen mp their places IN the
boat tins year in order 10 devote the time saved 10
their courses
AS for the "members of Harvord's successful crews
who 90 not advocate a withdrawal" and depore The
OF feeling Cambridge they should be reminded
that the antdote they propose Is sometimes considered
bane zone at time" rs good old rule OF ath-
letic contests The conditions OF racing between coll
leees have changed somewhat since $50 These grad
uates plited against one, or AZ the most four
competitors Their manner OF rowing hey determined
with their antagonists with niue expense ol Time
or trouble; they subject 10 the DEGREES
OF a convention, neither knowing nor caring what was
best for their boating interests and hkcy TO change tho
10 their wishes Their training rendered more
trying by the element of chance. prominent
agent regattas which It foolish to defend with the
remark that fair for for another. That Is
the question we try 10 settle
A mistake the choice OF quarters m a town with
which they not acquainted bad position drawn
hy lot; adversary be watched at the distance OF
eighth Of mile false start m an luormlnab.e
line; dlsheartehn ne postpohemeht a''cr weeks oi
nervous PREF araton the boredom OF nqusitve VISIT
ors the dlsncnaton of most Of their friends TO make
SO expensive TRIP 10 looN lor tHen rowing
amid mass OF other boats-al these con
siderations affect the college oarsman during
hs training and fail 20 give him that confidence IN him
self important for success al last Let the
fu remember TINS yearly and novel strain upon
constantly changing crews before they Judge the
youngsters too harshy. Having attended the last
three regattas confess to feeling OF disappointment
but have reserved nv modification some OF the at
tendant circumstances 10 the merry graduate who adj
dresses the Boston Advertiser would say strike! but
hear me"
l. Il possible DO you think that those "who are in
favor OF giving up the struggle tho FIRST place
be satisfied that We have reasonable chance of
or not satisfied on this phnt. would not our de-
cison he equally dishouorabl4 we did not consider
the position and proper influence ofour university ''in
the hrst place " and fairly and squareiy meet that
issue and when you ask 'what Viii become OF our
reputation for pluck ~ it can be SAID ia reply that
there several kinds OF ''pluck, - among others
moral pluck" What would have become of that H.
contrary to their CONVICTIONS the majority OF the
H.U sc. had voted TO stay 10 this association
Would they not have lost u. and thus have inflicted
upon the graduates and themselves "a cruel piece Of
injustice"
But one word more. Why ''woud it be hardly ad-
visable for Harvard 10 attempt 70 organize eight
cared crew until they have shown first good oarf'
without stopping TO show that Harvard has ''shown
good sx-osrn continue, Would IL be hardly advisa-
ben for a man to change his coat because did not
M him, and he ready and able 70 pay Tor avothcr
by competent judges TO be better garmentS
The Engishmen. who love exercise for It's sake
and for The health aud skill IL brings With IT, clam Tor