River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-08-08
JUST BEFORE THE GLoAMINe.

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 bust
ness; and consequently the most APP
proved styles of rowboats can be found
at all of the boat houses. These boats
are fitted with the latest appliances
and can be rented by the hour or by
the day for practically a nom nal sum.
The attendants are usually afflble and
courteous persons who cheerf ally give
their patrons all necessary advice and
instruction for their pleasure and
safety. Moreover the principal re ason
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 prescrvers and as grace
fail 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 a result of the exercise which has
been taken, that, sitting on the cool
verandss or bedrooms of our homes,
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 men have blistered
hands and wellbrowned faces; the
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
h se4a md hY,f- ,fs,fr ahacrftr1lx-
endured because of the influence which
they may have upon the mind of
beauty. by inducing her to believe that
her swain is a gallant and hardy young
man. Many a Pyramus and Thisbe
learn lessons of Cupid on the river.
There is no better place on earth
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. II is perfectly safe
for the most frail craft to venture upon
its bosom. because land breezes seldom
ruffie il, and its current is so light that
any able bodied man or woman can
easily row against it. 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 PalisadUs of Georgetown; so that it
cannot be surpassed IN picturesqueness
by any 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 to
canvas II is not a narrow body of
water. but big enough for all; and it is
unusually safe, because there are no
rocks for any boat to run upon, save
those powders, the Three Sisters,
which are in plain sight. rearing their
crests far above the water at high tide.
The lonely lodges above Aqueduct
bridge can be seen for a mile or more,
and they are therefore not dangerous.
The shores are slopirg swards so that
landings can be easily and safely eff
fected.
Moonlight rides upon the river are
sometimes very exciting, and tragedies
have occurred which have never been
exclaimed On one oeca sion the son of
a senator went rowing with beautiful
widow 1t was rumored they were to
be married. The lady denied the report
to her friends She even declared that
she would never again receive the Wis
its of the young gentleman. But he
persisted in his attentions. and she
yielded to his entreatics. They went
boating. As they left the little wharf
Of the boathouse. the senator's son was
heard TO remark: 1--WE will set the day
for our wedding before we get back"
She retorted: Then we viii never get
back"
They never came back alive. Whether
there was a final and irreyoca bic quar-
rel or not is only eoniectured AS they