The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-29

4
Impressions count heavily. Thoughtfu
men appreciate their influence on the pub
lie mind.
Facts and figures are as a feather in tn
balance against the weight OF popula
Impression, no matter how ridiculousl,
conceived or how baselessly assumed.
Credits fall before impressions antagon
istic 10 them. The strongest business car
be made to totter by an impression OF
doubt, suspicion as to its stability. Re-
putations fairly crumble at the breath OF
hurtful impression.
No bridge can withstand the steady
tramp, tramp OF body OF men "keeping
step" across it, though it may safely sup
port thousands and thousands OF tons.
The fine yacht Defender is just now
the victim OF impressions, unwarranted
impressions, some OF them, perhaps, ma
liciously inspired.
In the language Of the day, people have
an idea that che Is hoodooed.
Something IS always happening to
her" TIE NEWSPAPERS, some Of them, are
full OF accounts OF these happenings The
impression from all the truck that has
been written about her is that Defender
is structurally weak, not so speedy al had
been hoped for, no fit boat to defend the
cup, unreliable-in short, a failure
AS matter OF fact these Impressions
are all nonsense.
But we do not expect them to be re-
versed, where they exist, until she has
successfully defended the cup. The i'm
pressions have been made by exploiting
error and accident OF minor consequence,
bnt the impressions are there. Even
though they are groundless, they exist
except where men think.
The thinking man knows that nothing
has happened to Defender to give any rea-
son to doubt that she will successfully
defend the Americas cup We know that
she Is the fastest boat on this side the |
Atlantic. We know that she is very much |
faster than vigilant, for instance-so |
much faster, indeed, that vigiiant is not |
properly in her class. And there is every
reason to believe that vigilant is tho best
boat in the world except Defender-and.
Of course, vaikyrie III, which we abso-
utely know nothing about. And we
know that Defender Is superior in all
orts OF weather and in all sorts OF seas.
The evidence Is, so far as it has been al
owable, that she can run away from VAL
'yrie III under any conditions except a
ighr wind and a fat sea-and, not i'm
she can do II then.
And she has given no indication that she
; In any danger OF breaking down or los
ng the race by default impressions to
he contrary, notwithstanding.
What has happened to her since her
-""NhiuSs Uhat hro the ihcts tnat are |
the bottom OF the Impressions?
She has met with just and only two &C.
dents. '
Two uncomfortable things are all that r
in be pointed out.
Her steering gear broke down; and
She slipped some OF her rigging.
The first would have probably been ia Il
in race OF consequence. The second V
ould have been serious N
Neither are likely to happen again II
n anything else; though no yacht can a
guaranteed against accident g
Was it Thistle or vaikyrie that carried Ct
Tay her topssil In an Americas e cup con. ss
IT?
Defender is all right. She will SAN in al
Tense OF the cup in fit shape, and Just as b
e as yacht can be. b'
Don't go back on the home boat and 81
MT hedge. &c
fouli probably be sorry IL you do. At re
1t there's no present reason for II. hi