Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-06-05

men from the Torpid on "SlldlnCseatS,
by way of preparation for the next
term practice for the eight
VT now come to the summer or MAY
term. the pleaSanteSt term of all as far
rs boating is concerned. The most inn
portant races during this term are those
in which the college Fights compete.
They are carried out in exactly the
same manner as the TorpidS described
above, the only difference being in the
Kind of boat used. The Torpies row
IN what are called clinker-built or gig
boats, which have a small keel and of
which the seats are fixed; whereas the
''eightS' are rowed in smooth, keellesS
boatS-the bottom somewhat resem-
bling that of a small canoe-and fitted
with sliding seats. by which the stroke
can be heightened and more use made
of the legs. The eXtremities'of the boat
are covered with canvas, to prevent
the water washing in over the side. The
crew of a college eight is composed Of
the best men the college can muster,
all of course being members of the col.
lege.
The races, as we mentioned before,
are arranged in the same way as those
in which the Torpids compete, though
perhaps more interest is shown in the
cightS; and as they come off at a
pleasanter time of the year, and are
undoubtedly one of the sights of the
university, the spectators include many
more strangers. The varsity ''scullS'
and the varsity ''pairs'-the former
open to any member, and the latter to
any two members of the varsity boat
club-conclude the rowing at Oxford
for this term; though it should here be
mentioned that two or three of the
boats that have shown themselves
above the average in the eight-oared
races, often kecpin practice for Henley
regatta, which takes place soon after
the close of this term,
We have now given a brief descrip-
ton of a years college rowing at Ok
ford, that is, rowing in which a college
completes with members of its own or
other colleges, Starting again with
the October term, we propose saying
something about rowing for the var
sity, the chief event in which is the
annual ace with Cambridge. There
is, however, II college race not yet
mentioned, which takes place in the
October term-namely, the varsity
''Fours,' open to all the colleges.
For this event there are not gem
orally more than from six to eight
boats entered, as considerably more
skill and workmanship are re-
quired than for the college eight. The
boats used, though of much the same
construction as the latter, are of course
smaller, and therefore more difficult to
sit; moreover, they do not carry a
cOckSwain, the steering being done by
one of the crew with his feet, by means
of wires connecting the rudder with a
lever attached to his stretcher, so that,
by moving this lever with his foot to
one side or the other, a corresponding
motion is given to the ruddcr. This
race takes place in the first half of the
term, and Immediately afterwards the
work of selecting a crew for the inter
university boat-race is commenced.
With this object in view, the names of
two or three of the best men from each
college are received by the president;
and the remaining weeks of his term
are spent in testing on the river these
fifty or sixty men and selecting from
them the best sixteen; these, again, are
divided into two regular crews, which
are known by the name of the Trial
Fights race takes place at the end
of the term between these crews; they
are coached by the president, and their
rowing is carefully watched by him and
his advisers. Those who have displayed
the greatest ''staying-powers' and the
most perfect style, or are likely to de-
velop into the best oars are picked
out, and, along with any members of
the last years crew that may be avail
able, form the material out of which
the VARSITY eight is composed. The
processo of selecting the actual crew out
of these men that have been chosen
from the Trial Fights and arrang-
ing them in the places they are best fit
ted TO occupy, takes up the first few
weeks of the next or Lent term. Their
strength and ''staying-powcrs' are
tested by long rows to Abingdon and
back, and at the same time they are
coached ny the president, or by some
"old-blue" who has come up TO help
him.
BY the middle of the term the crew
Is generally settled upon, and on Ash
Wednesday they 90 into strict train
ing. The old theories of training ON
raw meat, etc, have quite died out; a
plentiful supply OF plain, well-cookcd
food is allowed, but only Il very mod
crate amount of liquor. and smoking
must be entirely Knocked off. For
breakfast and dinner the crew meet
together in each Others rooms, each
man entertaining the rest for one dav
in turn while they are still at Oxford.
Lunch is only a light meal. The row.
inc is almost entirely done during the
afternoon. Ten DAYS or a fortnight
before the time fixed for the race, the
crew 90 up TO Putney to complete their
practice on the tidal water and the
course over which the "a is to be
rowed. Their doings here and the
race itself need no description in this
paper. Their daily practice on the
London water, the time they occupy in
rowing oyer the course, even their
very movements are watched and re-
corded by the daily press. Suffice it
TO say that this notorioty is not at all
desired by the members of the crews.
and that, owing to the inconvenience
and obstruction it sometimes causes to
their practice, the proposal to hold the
race on other and q%uieter waters has
been morc than once discussed
Chambers JOurRdi.
A NEW "SClENCE."