New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20

fateiui morning; but 1t was at least a noticeable
addition to the pageantry of the river
TO spend day at Henley padding up and
oowh the river with agreeable companions and
entertained by the general spectacle and the
languid excitement of the half hour heats is a
most delightful experience. Only half an hour
Will be required for learning the charac teristic
features Of this annual festival which are
amiability and enjoyment OF open-air life
There are races but nobody takes deep inter-
est in them, unless urgent demand be made
upon his patriotism by an International contest
There is no betting ring. and professional jeal-
ousies and unpleasant controversies are en-
cluded by common consent. Every one wants
to enjoy his outing in peace ard quiet. and ne
beeWs by virtuous resolution that come what
may he will not lose his temper over anything
give way to the slightest excitement Hour
after hour the boats running and humping
into one another. but nobody either scolds or
frets. swears. 1t is cheerful, restful. light
hearted holiday, on which grumbling the most
sacred privilege ~ the irritable Englishmap. is
the worst possible form
NATIONAL RECREATION.
days experience at Henley helps stranger
to understand why Craftsmanship art is
mastered by Englishmer and why it is so diff
cult for foreign crews to win victories on the
Thames Boating is one of the most popula:
recreations in England. Boys take to the water
like ducks and are rowing in good form before
they are more than ten twelve. Women are
expert in handling oars or paddles. and love
open-air life on the river. Engishmen are natu-
raj waterm.n. and never happier than they
are when padding on river There is hardly
reach Of the Thames above Hammersmith Bridge
which is not flied with boating parties every fine
summers evening Accustomed to the manage
ment of canoes. punts and skns, the holiday
crowds swarm into Henley every midsummer
and give themselves up to their favorite recrea-
ton Many boy in his teens was out yesterday
in his canoe or shell. and thousands OF
women were rowing or puntng. IT is the rive
life around London that makes TINS annual
water fete at Henley possible
1t is the same river life which gives to English
boys their love of aquatic recreation and their
training as natural watermen. They begin at an
early age and never lose their taste for rowing
They are good oarsmen when at fourteen they
enter the great public schools like Elton. and they
are experts when they go up to oxford or cam
bridge whereas the majority Of University oars
men at American colleges seldom until they
are eighteen. The Eton Oarsmen are known as
the best recruits for the University crews. be-
men If their experience and training tell in
their favor when they enter the lists for boating
honors in the Universities, why should not the
same elements have decisive influence when Eng
lish oarsmen meet rivals from American Uni
versites who are not natural watermen?
The sporting critics at Henley have complained
since Yale first appeared on the river that the
stroke was short; that the men snatched the
water at the beginning and bucketed forward
with a Jerk at the end that they used their arms
but not their legs and bodies, and that they ala
not allow their boat to run smoothly, put 1airiv
shook it to pieces. With these technicaitles
have little sympathy. AS athletes the Yale men
were superior to their English competitors, Dui
as oarsmen they were inferior. although profess
ing TO row in the same general style. They rowed
short-yes. but it mainly in the sense OF nav
ing a shorter experience and training as water
men The Leander and New College men rowed
a long stroke with many years of practice ana
river life behind X. l. N r