Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-22
PAUL PRY" AT HENLEY
WITNESS THELEANDER-coRNELL RACE"
A Vivid and Interesting Sketch of the Scene on the Water-The Only
 Regret.
To the Age-Iferald:


 Henley -on-Thames Regatta of 1895, des- tined to be memorable owing to the pres ence of very strong contingent of stran- gers, who made this years boat racing between Temple Island and the Phyllis court international in every sense of the word. The disappointment of our Cor fnell crew in not being permitted to enter the Regatta some four years since, after an outlay of tremendous expense, merely on account of some small detail over looked. make yesterdays race of still greater moment. Then, too, crew from Amsterdam had created great deal of talk and eager expectancy.
 Our little party took an early start, and like all Americans we were enthusiastic with interest and pinned on not only our American flag, but the Cornell eolors as well. We reached Henley, a distance of some thirty-five miles, by 10 o'clock. We saw Windsor in the distance, a stately pile, and the flag floating, which denoted the queens presence. Eton, too, we passed on our way and Stoke Pogis, and saw the spire of Gray's church. The races did not begin until 12 noon, so we had ample time to take in our surround ing and distance views It was perfect day; early it was cool and little cloudy; later the sun shone out gloriously, lend HIS u lllc SGcIle. l ihiAh l iii0J be pardoned for saying it was the pret- tiest scene l ever witnessed; but then l had never seen any of our own boat races at home.
 Richard Harding Davis, in "Our Eng fish Cousins describes the Henley roy al regatta very minutely and with great deal of sentiment and enthusiasm; but description can give no idea of the picturesque beauty of the scene, as it opens like a panorama of varied, bril- liant coloring before the eyes of the Vis- itor The Scene stretches for miles down the Thames-or up, as it is always re- versed from the way we would call it. Henley is quite a noted watering place, and there are lovely summer homes all along the banks Then, too, house boats," that are so numerous here, and which are just beginning to be used at home, made the scene one of beauty, as they are of bright and varied colors and trimmings, and then decorated most law ishingly in their own distinguishing tint ed flowers, which, as we looked down the Thames for a couple of miles, furnished an indescribably beautiful sight, thrown into strong relief by the dark green foli- age and pastures of the banks, and "Thel crystal Thames wont to glide in silver channel down along the lee.' over which floated I think I may safely say, thou sands of gaily decorated canoes, punts, slSiffs and gondolas, made gorgeous and picturesque by brightest-hued natural flowers, flags and daintily dressed occu- pants. English people prefer to witness the regatta from these tiny boats; they literally cover the Thames, but as the ringing of the bell is heard the "conser- Vancy boats steam along, and in a twinkling the course is all cleared be- tween the stakes which mark it. This was so quietly and deftly and quickly done that it rather amazed we Ameri- cans; then the cannon boomed and the race began. We had seats on the grand stand very small place, and we were amused to hear American gentlemen dis cussing the size of grand stand Ameri- cans would have built on such an occa- sion; but the attendant replied that they were afraid they could not dispose of more seats. 1t was really only another instance of what we have already ob- served in England-a close prudence that we Americans, in the prodigality of our preparations, cannot appreciate.
 We found that Americans, and Cornell people in particular, gathered at this stand, and 1t was good to see stylish, we'll dressed American girls again-how you can pick them out wherever you see them. English women dress handsomely, but they do not carry their clothes well, and hence do not look stylish. We had beautiful view of the river and the starting point, one and quarter miles away. We were just at the finish and be- side us the umpire's station with all the grand challenge cups, gobets, etc. on exhibition. Just across from our stand was Phyllis court, a lovely summer house, and anchored along the bank was St. Johns college barge, in blue and white and how Justify they did "bravo" for their crew. Then next was Mignon- cite, the steam launch of Hon. w w. Astor Mir. F. D. Pullman, Lord Charles BereSford and hundreds of others all in gala attire and crowded with eager spec tators, some flying American flags, some college flags, etc.
 In our stand were only about two Eng Ishmen One was particularly pleasant in pointing out things of interest, and he laughed and laughed over so many American flags and colors and gravely asked If we always took them in our trunks to have them on hand for such oc- casions. We as gravely said: Why. yes we put them in our trunks the first thlng. But 1t is a great joke on our American exuberance of spirit and noisy expression of excitement that the first race went off before we knew it was a race-one between the London Rowing club and Trinity Hall, Cambridge in favor of the latter-a few "bravos" for Cambridge and that was all Then the enthusiasm began, and interest warmed when the fifth race came on. between the Lady Margaret club, Cambride. and the Nerens Boat club of Amsterdam un- iversity. .
 Robert Louis Stevenson speaks in one of his books of riding near Amsterdam in his boat and being pulled ashore and entertained whether he would or no by boat club, which proved to be the "Nerens club" and a thousand questions asked of the English crews how many strokes to the minute. No matter how the talk turned some one would put in again about English crews. They pro- posed to accompany him next morning on his journey, but he slipped off early. not caring to talk of English crews any further. Well, the Dutch boys won the race, and it was a lovely sight. We had heard how differently they rowed and of their peculiar toss of the head with each stroke of the oar, and expectancy was tip-toe and they won. Next on the list was Cornell. We wanted lunch, but our interest and intense excitement was too great. We waited with breathless impatience the half hour between the heats. Bets, they say. were 4 to 1 in fla vor of Cornell, though the papers had talked of our boys being bare to the waist and the regulations required them to be clothed. So that in itself was a little disadvantage.