The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-29

Harvard's very easy victory yesterday
gives new proof of what advantage in selec-
ton and care in coaching and training will
do. A trihe older than her rival, she ac-
tually outweighed her by hundred and
twenty-six pounds, and that of hard,
seasoned stuff, long and severely coached
and exceptionally skilful. 1t was emphat-
ically an instance Of "too much beef in the
other boat" Yale had not had the advan-
tage of nearly SO much coaching, and the
faults which stood out in her work yester-
day showed this again and again. The
long, careful winters work over a set OF
rowing weights set up in room especially
for the use of the rowers and adj
mrably adapted to their purpose, with
such men as Loring Watson and
Bancroft vigilantly watching every hand
and head and knee and back and forcing
each into its proper place until it would be
unnatural to put it elsewhere; then ever
since spring opened the same exercise from
the steam launch to the men in the very
places in which they are to row-that is the
way to make skilful oarsmen and to win the
important race which is to end the years
work If those heavy fellows had not been
sound all over these searching practice
pulls would have quickly exposed their
weak spots, and either have rooted them out
or their owners out of the boat But Yale
can soothe herself with one reflection, in
which there is more than little
consolation. She has not only had
for rival the heaviest and most powerful
university crew ever seen in America, but
unquestionably the most skilful as WELL
No wonder that Captain Cook wrote that the
Harvard team would compare favorably
with anything Oxford or Cambridge could
produce for, while as we'll off as the latter
for water coaching, their land drill was in
many points far superior to any known in
England. The Henley critics are free with
their patronizing words to Columbia, but
had Bancroft his best four there to-day the
talk might be different. On the 18th Of
January last the HERALD remarked:-'If
there is an American university four fit
to send to Putney it can probably be found
among the Harvard eight, but even they
would probably do much better year
hence" The force of these words will now
be seen.
Now as to next year Salc sas at last,
thanks to Mr.. Sheffield, thss hicL she has
long needed, steam launch. and she has
an excellent coach. But to win next sum-
mer it will not do to put of using these till
q few weeks before the race. 1t is race
all over the year now, as Harvard found ont
a good while ago. This same powerful
eight will doubtless be on hand next year,
save only Bancroft and Schwartz, and,
though they graduate now, they may join
one of the upper schools. and SO stay on.
Weak men must be weeded out mercilessly.
powerful ones put in and worked at least
as hard ms work the enemy, and with every
stroke rowed carefully. or else the crimson
thirteen to five Of to-day will simply be-
come the fourteen to five of 1879. Boat
racing may not be worth all this labor and
sacrifice; but it is good plan, if we row at
all, to row to win, and winning is not only
uncommonly enjoyable at the time, but
exceedingly pleasant to think Of always
afterward.