New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-02
THE THINNING STROKE.

The superiority Of the style Of rowing in
which Yale oarSmcn are instructed year after
wear has been demonstrated once more on the
Thames in an impressive manner. The lesson
of many victories has been thoroughly learned
at New Haven, and the cause Of many defeats
is not likely t. be ignored much longer at Cam
bridge. A crew rowing the so-callcd Cook
stroke must prevail over "a crew rowing 4
different one when other conditions are fair
" equal because the principles which that
stroke embodcs are sound. In theory and in
fact it utilizes all the strength that is put into
it. No part of the energy which is applied TO
the propulsion of the boat is wasted, and the
superb vitality of the men who have been
brought to physical perfection by arluou>
training is not frttcIcd away in costly and
Intellectual effort This is the simple secret Of
the art of rowing. The stroke itself is not
simple but difficult and in a sense compIi
Gated. II combines many elements and a.
experience has occasionally shown no one Of
them can be safely spared. Yale crews which
have not thoroughly mastered the ant which
remarkably competent instructor has en-
dcayored to teach them have been defeated
at New-L London But their failure has not dis
credited the stroke. 1t has merely disclosed
their inefiiciency.
The proof of these things produced by Fri
days race is conclusive The Harvard oars
men were not weak nor deficient in courage.
They rowed an exceedingly plucky race from
start to finish under circumstances which dur
ing the last two miles wero extremely dis
heartening. Their ply steal condition was adj
mirabc, and in strength and weight they
slightly exceeded their antagonists. But their
Craftsmanship was faulty and no expenditure
of energy could remedy that initial defect
Their strength and determination could not
be completely utilized for the single purpose
of sending their boat through the water for
they were not scientifically applied. They OK
hausted themselves before their work was half
done and thereafter had no chance Of win
ming The Yale boat slipped away from them
not because the Oarsmcn who manned it pos
sessed more power and foritudc, but because
they had acquired the art of rowing.
We have said that the plain teaching Of
repeated defeats is not likely to be neglected
much longer at Harvard. 1t is certainly to be
hoped that this forecast will be verified The
constant supremacy of Yale is unfortunate, for
it must diminish interest in the annual race.
Indeed, it has already produced that effect
IL is in one sense an unnatural supremacy
Uary ard has more students than Yale their
average physical condition is not inferior, and
they have quite as many facilities for prepa-
ration All they need to win fair share of
aquatic honors is the adoption of the stroke
which Yale crews have rowed almost CON
tinuousy for eighteen years and which has
never failed crew that had thoroughly mas
tered it. Victory is, of course, ardcntly de-
sired by Harvard, and though Yale students
and graduates might find it impossible to wish
that their college would lose coming race
many of them do sincerely regret that the
record has been so one-sidcd in recent years