The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-09

-------- MfkeiT-S
JUST BEFORE THE GuoAMIEG,
clubs Upon the upper banks Of the
Potomac, near Georgetown. the club
houses of the Columbias, the Potomacs
and the Analostans are beautifully
situated; and beyond them, toward the
Aqueduct bridge, boating houses for
the benefit OF the general public are
very well patronized The Potomac
boatmen long since learned that the
best boats were the most attractive and
would, if kept in readiness for general
use, increase the profits of their busi-
ness: and consequently the most ap-
proved styles of rowboats can be found
nt all of the boat houses These boats
arc fitted with the latest appliances
and can be rented by the hour or by
the day for practically a.nominal sum.
The attendants are usually affable and
courteous persons who cheerfully give
their patrons all necessary advice and
instruction for their pleasure and
safety. Moreover the principal reason
for the enjoyment of this sport is that
the Americans have invented many
varieties of small boats which are
absolutely safe and as comfortable as
they can possibly be made, while they
are at the same time so light and easy
of propulsion that even a child can
send them racing over the water at
pretty good rate of speed. They are
as safe as life preservers and as grace
f.ll as swans.
Rowing is claimed to be one of the
most healthful of sports. because when
one rows properly almost every muscle
Is brought into play. The regular and
necessary motions strengthen the back,
harden the limbs, and the muscles of
the arms are brought into active play,
and accordingly strengthened The
general physical condition is, thus
made more healthy and strong, so
that the fatiguing and lassitudinous
heat of the summer can be the better
withstood. There is danger, however,
in this climate, when one returns from
a row Up the river with the skin aglow,
as result of the exercise which has
been taken, that, sitting on the cool
verandas or bedrooms of our homes, a
severe cold may be taken. Indeed,
| some of our young men have thus
carelessly stepped from robust health
and strength into incurable disease.
Toweling and massage should always
| follow a row-bOat excursion.
In the early part of every season our
| brawny Young mcn have blistered
/ -ln,nt,-r,aH f1pnG.
| blistered hands come from the oars,
| the Drowned arms and bronzed faces
are caused by rays of the sun; but
Drawn and beauty go together. and the
! blistering and burning are cheerfully
endured because of the influence which
they may have upon the mind of
beauty, by inducing her to believe that
her swain is gallant and hardy young
man. Many a Pyramus and Thisbe
learn lessons of Cupid on the river.
! There is no better place on Garth
than upon the broad. smooth waters. OF
the Potomac for boating, rowing and
sailing. In every way that nature could
aid it the Potomac was perfected In the
prehistoric days as a resort for lovers
of aquatic sports. 1t IS perfectly safe
for the most frail craft to venture upon
It's bosom, because Lard brceZcS seldom
rufie it, and it's current is so light that
) any able bodied man or woman can
easily row against 1t. The wooded
shores of the upper Potomac are close
to the city, and the stream flows be
tween the historic hills of Virginia and
the Palisades of Georgetown; SO that 1t
cannot be surpassed IN pictureSqucness
by anv river in the world. The shores
upon either hand present landscape
subjects which the greatest of artists
might be proud to be able to transfer &c
canvas. 1t is not q narrow body Of
water, but big enough for all; and it is
unusually safe, because there are nc
rocks for any boat to run upon, save
those bowlders, the Three Sisters
which are in plain sight, rearing then
crests far above the water at high tide
The lonely lodges above Aqueduc
, bridge can be seen for a mile or more
and they are therefore not dangerous
The shores are sloping swards so thaf
landings can be easily and safely CT
, fected.
Moonlight rides upon the river arr
sometimes very exciting, and tragedie'
, have occurred which have never beer
explained. On one occasion the son o
a senator went rowing with beautiful
> widow. It was rumored they were tt
be married. The lady denied the repor
, to her friends. She even declared tha
: she would never again receive the Wis
, its of the young gentleman But h'
; persisted in his attentions, and sh'
8 yielded to his entreaties. They wen
! boating. AS they left the little whar
: of the boathouse. the senator's son va
heard to remark: 1--WE will set the da,
for our wedding before we get back.
She retorte6: ''Ther we will never ge
back"
They neEer came back alive. Whethe
there was final and irrevocable quar-
/, rel or not is only conjectured- As the
overcoming through the narrow pas
sage between the stone piers of th
bridge the boat capsized. He was a
excellent swimmer. There was nc
enough water in the Potomac to drow