Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09

enough to know how to han die men in a boa
and get the best work out OF them that they
Can put forth. He does not drive them. but
appeals 10 their good sense. In the first place
he has been on the water as occupant of a
paper shell often enough to know how to sit
STILL and this Is the first thing that he teaches
his pupils. He makes them realize how i'm
pOrtant IL Is that they should be perfectly safe
frOLn tipping over in such fraIl thing a
shell. although when he takes hold of a crew
ne usually expects that they know some of the
nrst rudlments of the craft. Yet he saws that
be prefers to take absolutely new men, who
have never been in boat, than others who
have pulled just enough to get the idea that
they know il all and that further instruction is
useless Such men, he declares, are worse
than beginners, for they are apt to make but
little progress.
NOT OFTEN ENOUGH.
II has been q matter Of regret to Mr.. Court
ney that he has not been able to have the crew
out on the river more than once a day, for he
regards il as almost necessary that a crew
under training for race should get into the
boat at least twice day for month before
the race, especially a crew standing in need of
20 much coaching as this one They have to be
trained down to their proper weight, to
give the boat Its proper keel; they should be
made perfectly familiar with every other man q
stroke. so as TO be in harmony with him in his
every notion. and. lastly, although this is the
most important part Of all, this practice is no
more than sufficient to put the men in con-
dltion for hard pull of three miles against
the crack talent of the country. They have TO
acquire strength as we'll skill, muscles as
well as knowledge, and their wind has to be
improved So that they can he depended upon
10 row given distance at their hardest stroke
without giving out on account of a lack of
breath.
THE THREE REQUISITE.
These the three requisites. saws Mr..
Courtney: Harmony In the boat strength and
wind. All three are essential; none can be dis
pensed with, and it is for the purpose Of i'm
proving all at once. of developing each factor
10 Its highest pitch Of efficiency without de-
tracing from any of the others. that a period
OF training Is required. This may seem EASY
II may seem as though almost any one with anv
knowledge of a rowing she'll could induce men
10 train themselves up to this point but this is
of the delusIcns of athletics 10 be u trainer
one must have all the good points desired 10
obtain n the pupils. and must also be expert
enough in the art OF handling men to see that
they take good care of themselves and do their
best That Is the great point of Courtney $
work; he watches every movement the men
make while they are in the boat, with the idea
% correcting the faults that sure TO crop
out. even after the most careful drilling in the
way OF verbal instructions. Ii is difficult
matter tO see these faults. tor in boat every
thing - done so quickly that it takes tie keen
est Of ewes and the steadest Of nerves TO de-
that some one In the boat is not handling
himself or his oar properly, but it is far more
important % mud ont who that some one is so
that he may be taken aside and told quietly.
but plainly and emphatIc;.lly, of his error. Ii
Is one thing 10 discover the disease and still
another TO cure 1t. and upon the success OF the
remedy depends all the value Of the crew. while.
conversely. the successful application of tho
remedy rests entirely with the good sense and
Willingness of the man at fault. should he b.
4 asst de To L
LIs own way the only thing TO Ice done is TO nut
him out of the boat, matter how good an
OarsInan he Is or how much WING he has such
acase needs firm physician and Mr. Courtney
Is just the man for such troubles
COURTNEY ON THE RIVER
II Is his practice 70 go out upon the river.
either alone in company with John Bremen.
the boat house keeper. and pull up the stream
a half mile or so. Generating himself in the
weeds along the shore he waits. with a power
ful field glass IN his hands. for the embarka-
ton of the crew and from the minute thew
start until Ihey take their boat from the water
his eve never leaves them. As their backs are
turned TO him and only the cONsWaiu, who is in
league with him. knows his whereabouts every
man Is on the alert TO do his best There is
not a motion of the eight oars that is lost upon
the keen-eyed trainer who lies IN wait for
them and As the men make faults he lots them
down on a little reference sheet which he car
ries with hiIs showing the position OF each man
H. the boat and which he brings out for use
when he gets the oarsmen together again. by
means OF a eabalistic system OF marks be is en-
abled to cover almost all the possible fauts
which an oarsman makes. although sometimes.
h. says, there are blunders made in boat
which no one ever heard of before and for
which he has no sign.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MISTAKES.
There are all sorts OF mistakes made. such as