The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-08-07
YANKEE VERSUS BRITON.
Home Truths and Hard slogging.
a. " 49, o.. c.,

lEAOA IAO AfS" e
With Weston'B triumph, the cup Of
bitterness for the patriotic British
sportsman runneth over. Creedmoof
riaemen at the bulls eye, Bogardus at
pigeons, Parole on the turf, Hanlan
with the sculls-these were not draughts
unpalatable enough, and SO the Ashley
belt must travel again across the Allan
tic to join the many trophies gathered
here from British athletes and sport
lovers.
What make. the potion worse is that
there is nothing phenomenalabout these
victories of the past twelve months.
Had there been no Columbia at Hen
ley last summer, an equal or greater col
lege four could this year be sent. The
| Creedmoor rihemen who shot alone
last year, because the English, Scotch,
Irish, and Australian marksmen were
afraid to contend, demonstrahly.were
equal to the victors at Dollymount.
| O'Leary, who won Sir John Astley's
belt in London and lost it in New York,
has been quickly replaced by Weston;
and there are reserves of Panchots and
Guyons. Though Uncas did not win
the Derby, it is tolerably sure that
Spendthrift could have beaten the win
ner. Fine as Paroles career has been,
he went to England with a stable COM
panion, the Duke of Magenta, his SUI
perior. And, considering the big beat
ing that Wallace Ross gave to Emmett,
and the close race that Courtney pulled
with Hanlan, it is clear enough that
the latter is not the only man from this
side of the water who can win the En-
glish championship from any sculler of
the Thames or the Tyne.
In fact, the British sportsmen them
selves have furnished the proof that the
triumphs of their transatlantic cousins
are not regarded as exceptional or acct
dental. In the general rush of the
British oarsmen, from Elliott down, to
initiate the swivel row-locks, broad
sculls, and long slide Of Hanlan and the
Americans, they show that they are
beaten not by a nan alone, unprece-
dented though he is, but by a system.
In carefully drawing up the rules for
Henley SO as to bar out the Shoe-wae-
cae- mettes, they are not going to risk
again a defeat saved last year only by
accident. In Withdrawing from Parole,
at Ascot, the weight allowance which
British sense of superiority long
deemed necessary to give foreign horses,
in order that the latter might contend
with some little hope of success, the
British sense of superiority itself plain.
ly vanishes.
In fact, almost two months ago, O
long-headed thinker of the London
Sporting Life warned his countrymen
of their impending catastrophes. 81
particularly desire to state" he re-
marked, " that England, as q sporting
nation, is not what Aatterers and belief
in self would make her. Don't let us
disguise the fact, for nothing is to BIZ
gained by it, mat in rowing, running
trotting, shooting, yachting, and racing
America more than holds her own witt
u.s." Then he deepens and broadeni
into this reflection:
"Yet there are people who say tina
England is a great nation. Over-edu
cation, pampering, free trade, and thu
defeat of Ridotto are running the coun
try, and the sooner we come bacl
to home truths and hard slogging tn,
better"
Well, by timely need, England ma,
yet escape the national fate menaced %,
a Weston, a Bogardus, and a Parole.