The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-26

, The agriculturists from Cornell won
about the finest boat race in American
history yesterday, defeating the two New
England colleges. which by general con-
sent have been credited with being the
highest representatives of college aquatics
on this side of f'the ocean. Cornell's vic
tory was stunningly complete. Her crew
gave the remarkable exhibition Of win
ming race almost from the start and
actually without being pushed to squirt
of any consequence going over the course
rot the less at their own pace because
they made excellent time since there was
no second, Yale and Harvard being left
to fight il out between themselves as II
they were all alone on the Thames at
New London. The victory is inspiring
from many points of view that will read
lily suggest themselves, though we of New
England may DO disposed 10 take IL
triile hard. One thing is plain in fu-
ture as representing the American college
championship on tho water victory be-
tween only Harvard aud Yale will have
no weight, will be of no further conse-
| quence, and the general public will take
no stock at all in the pretense that has
been sustained for so many years. From
| 1876 TO 1895 Yale and Harvard have car
ried on their exclusive matches for pop
ularly conceded, but purely fictitious.
chamI nship in college rowing, the
! Centennial year marking the departure
from the annual college event that was
open TO ell without distinction. And it
has not been possible 60 bring about a
match between the winner of the Thames
race and Of the intercollegiate regatta to
demonstrate supremacy as between the
respective champions Cornell, however,
has for n long time maintained a prestige
over her rivals in the annual intercol-
legiate event, much as Yale has over Har-
ward, while in 1896, Yale being then in
training TO go to England. Harvard met
Cornell and was defeated, the Ithacans
establishing at the time new four mile
record besides.
Most likely we have seen the last of the
long series OF Harvard Yale matches.
Tsey can have little popular interest In
future The old exclusiyeness of 20 years
endurance is brokon as it is with good
many other cherished New England no
tions. 1t is not matter for regret II
New England can't beat the worldsin col
lege aquatios. or in anything else, the
quicker we find it out the better, so thai
we may get ourselves In shape to accom-
plish it,
IL Is no small part of the general con
tent that New England may feel with tn,
Cornell triumph that we jingoes may
claim It for Americanism Harvard, which
years in stroke and training methods, has
tened for this rage to adopt everything
English doubtless with confidence inspired
by the failure OF both Cornell and Yale
TO cut any figure in competition with oui
British cousins Even sturdy Bot
Cook admitted that he had learned
something by his experience at Hen
Icy and he wavered and modified his
long successful method. Very likely
thore was English in Cornell's train
ing, too. since all progress is by com
promise But coach Courtney seems no,
to have been greatly influenced to throw al
his experience TO the winds because Of tn,
failure of his boys on their English trip.
The fact is, ut any rate, that with less
change IN STYLE the lightest weighted and
the least muscular of tho three crews wor
without supreme effort yesterday. Fow
examples exist where victory may be So
readily traced directly TO training
methods, the style of the human ma
chinery that propels the boat.
| n na,nocr,,ts are beginninp to admit thai