Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-14
AN EXPERTS OPINION.

1Er. ST. John Gives His Views ON the
Future of AquRtIcs.
In order to secure an experts opinion
ON the present condition and future
prospects of aquatics in this country J.
A. st. John was written to recently
for his ideas. He has forwarded them
and they will prove interesting reading
for every lover of the oar. Mr.. st. John
is q recognized authority on aquatics.
He says:
you ask my views on the present
condition in this country of rowing, anna
teur and professional. Never in the his
tory of this country has there been so
many good amateur and professional
Oarsmen or a greater interest taken in
aquatic sports. There has just been
concluded at Duluth the gr0ndest re-
gatta the country has ever seen, and no
where else in the world would 1t be pos
bible to get together body of better
men. The races in most cases were first
class and the time good. The attend
ance was large for so remote o point,
and considering the fact that horse
races were being given in st Paul the
success in every respect could not have
been better.
Boat racing has never been the pop
ular form of sport, as is baseball; its
patrons have always been limited to the
few who understand what rowing Is 1t
Is too scientific for the masses. Every
town and village has its ball teams,
wrestlers and boxers, because 1t requires
less natural ability to attain success In
either OF those GLASSES of sport than in
rowing. This is proven from the fact
that out of the thousands of sculleEs in
the world only very few have ever
reached the top or any where near 1t.
Gaudaur is really the only great man
this country has produced in ten years
and 1t may be many years before he has
an equal. Yet all the good men of to-
day are better than the best fifteen
years ago. Hanlan is rowing really fast
err than he ever was in his life, yet he is
to-day not even in the front rank Of SEQ
ond-class men. There has been gradual
Improvement OF the bulk, yet few stand
out prominent.
"If you ask what can be done to popu-
larize the sport, l can only repeat what
have already said upon the subject,
and which has been favorably COM
mented on by the English sporting pa
pers. 1t Is to made the races shorter,
so that they can be seen from start to
unlSnl AHA 10 compel men 10 VICAR prll1-
liant and well-defined ooIors, so that
every spectator can tell each individual
the entire length of the course.
1T suggested that the single scull
races be one-fourth mile straight away;
double scull races, one-fourth mile and
turn; four-oared races, one-half mile
and turn. This is AS far as men and
boats can be seen with any degree Of in
terest. 1t is far enough to test the
speed and staying power OF every man,
and with such short races as standard
events they could be given in every part
of the country, whereas there are CON-
paratively few places that can show q
good three-mile course. Within tho
last few months sprint races have been
given and have aroused the greatest en-
thusiasm. The National Association of
Amateur oarsmen has introduced the
event in its programme this season, and
its regatta committee will also insist
upon distinctive colors. am sure the
result will be success. chicago
Urfhnna