The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-16
THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT
RACE

LONDON, April l.-For the last week Lon
don seems to have submitted to stupendous
sys,,m Of dyeing. All the azure that hnds no
room in ito Jumbo" colored skies has fallen
like a mantle into its streets. Every shade OF
blur. running through the whole gamut from
tho nearly white to the almost black, meets the
owe nt every turn. Shop windows displny 1t IN
ties. hosiery. millinery. stationery gloves. and
shoes: confoclioncrs ice their daintes with 1t.
dangerously blind to the consequences OF ceru-
lean cdiblcs; omnibus drivers, cabmen. coster
mongcrs. sweeps the very bcggars flaunt their
own particular bit of blue. dwinding at times
to the minutest speck. but still guerdon OF
their opinions and craftsmanship. The richest
costumes. or the plainest dress. from Fenelon
shoe TO painted sunshade. are OF the one uni
form, prevailing color. Black eyes are at dis
count and pencils for tracing veins on temples
are more openly advertised. All this has point
ed to he boat race. the boat race par excel
lcncc the event OF the nautical year. the rival
Of the national Derby. the elder sister Oh the
Elton and Harrow cricket match. WORKING
themselves up by degrees to the great climax
all the idlers OF all grades have within the last
month sought the banks OF the river TO watch
the progress OF the aquatic fever from its IN
cipient stages giving and taking ODDS, betting
heavily on the result. Day by day the shores
Even the sudden snowstorm Of last week fol-
lowed by heavy gales and more than March like
showers did not deter the votaries from watch
ing at their SHRINE. The cloud of blue small as
a mans hand has grown and deepened till 1t
reached the intensity Of to-day.
A deep-drawl breath OF relief ran through
the land when 1t was known that the race. In
stead Of being rowed ct the unreasonable ma
tutinal hour OF 7 80 A. NJ. as II was last year.
would occur some time after noon. 1t became
worth while. then. to shake out and don the
most elegant dresses. to indulge In fashions
which would have been questionable II worn
before breakfast and it was allowable to provide
ones self with luncheon hampers and cham
payne to charter four-in-ha or steam
launches. andto prepare for the fifteen minutes
event by laying in q store OF edibles capable OF
vctualling beeaguered fortress for month.
The weather. so often a traitor. proved itself to-
day trustworthy accomplish. spite Of some
ugly clouds which rather sharp east wind dis
PEELED at the right. moment laughing to scorn
umbrellas and waterproofs lying in undignihed
heaps on nearly every carriage seat
More prominent than usual was the pale blue
yictions Of the majority ranged with Cam,
bridge but because the more delicate tint had
seemed to suit the unusually early spring and
the blossoming trees better than the stern
dark oxford blue. All the pretty blonde women
who wear II are silently thankful that they did
untrue for once to the traditions OF British con-
scryutism, exchanged her original pink. or
she has adopted Let them thank Eton for the
conversion. MS 1t is in honor OF that school that
the university sports the light blue, instead OF
the pink which came to ii from Westminster.
The contest Of the university boats has lasted
thirty years. One or twice il was rumored
least not allow it to be rowed on the Thames
SO near London; loud uproar OF indigna-
ton arose from all sides. and it became a ques-
aencss we're vS aauiety set as By the Patrons
ruled ed the Objection that university men who
bonted were not fulfilling their object in being
university men: they loudly averrsd that
rule. So be it, then, Still. many mothers and
Der with dread and dark forebodinss tho Oft
recurring sight which met their eyes. when they
s on the CAM or Is ow one or oher OF
them would be laid on the grass. pale and cold.
his chest heaving under his wet jersey with the
bounds of his overworked heart, while brandy
was being poured between his drawn. blue lips;
just as those dwelling in houses looking on the
meadows SACRED to football seldom fail to see
after u match some player carried off the field
with broken leg or fractured ankle. Truly. 1t
Is hard " say by what misappllcation Of endur-
ance and energy in either case these facts are
hushed up or denied; harder still to prevent the
after effects Of the undue strain from being felt
Among the hundreds OF thousands who pour
the teeming flood of life through all the arte
ries leading to the Thames. few i any; give
great. big. smoky town. encroachipg, on it with
often pretty and not unirequently quite rural.
But whetherthe short journey is performed un-
dsg as Sy glare OF s ss
the binding SHOWS OF tagging winter, all heads
are craned all eyes are strained to catch a
r,rf.a fhA tVrn Ion sNfp-
like canoes, with their automatic crews fash
ing, on the scarcely troubled bosom OF the river.
1art,ng out Of sight almost as soon as
seen. The. most picturesque nook. the
tnirest combination OF tender green and
glance away: Who in the motley. hurrying
crowd cares for the quiet churchyard Of Kew
side? 4 large hat with feathers named after
the first and framing a curly head. might per-
haps win a look; but meyer the artist who
lake might indeed be the Dead Lake. from
which il derives its name. for any interest it
awakens; and even when CromwcllS house
was still standing. as it did n few years ago. IL
aroused no memory OF the Protector. or even OF
spts in his myss glass for 70 oasen
Year by yearathe pleasure seekers stream on.
multiplying their startling toilets and pass the
SaSpsas Shssa rss@rd Shs r r.
taity." cover the ashes OF Foscolo. the
exile OF genius. and dearer to all English
hearts entomb the remains Of William Ho-
garth with an epitaph by Garrick. Dust to
dust earth TO earth Most emphatically so. for
to the dead celebrities are greatly preferred
the barrow of the costermonger the ginger
beer yeulers trOlly hen commanding view.
literally q bird's-eye view, of the coming race.
Tho smallest peep is worth its space in gold.
Some idyls are 10 be seen enacted, some love
scenes played gratis TO II large audience. Some
youthful couple out for holiday balance them
seIyn, unsteadily on the edge of lettering cart.
The girl finding u convenient and readily tender
81 support in the close embrace OF her sweet
heart. Further on two prOmessi sposi" suck
the same orange or drain the same beaker OF
penny ice everywhere the crowd il in the main
good tempered. notwithstanding a strong adj
mixture OF roughs' and the rude sort OF horse
pay which obtains on these occasions.
Tho most incOn.ruouS elements mixed to-
Path"r compose the hybrid gathering. Negro
Minstrels, with all the negro wear ing OIL (;
tLmDie riggcrs gypsies Of pure British breed.
who volunteer the information that you may
be led but not druv, and that - you will pick
up a BROW with your toe and throw it of with
your eel" for, sIpencr: three-card men, and
Punch and Judy al jostle each other under the
wheels OF the tail barOuche and taller break. on
whose cushions the midday lneai is spread. A
nice sradatiqn Of dignity and contempt is kept
W, and. following the example set by their
enployers, tho powdered iootman LOOKS with