New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-11
FOR A THREE-MILE RACE.
THE AGITATION AGAINST THE present
URSE-HARVARD-YALE GAMES
inN SATURDAY


Considerable agitation is going on at Harvard and
Yale Just now as to the expedency Of shortening
the four-mile straight-away race on the Thames TO
three miles. At Harvard President Eliot has
come out In a letter advocating three-mlle race,
and number of well-known alumni have taken the
same stand There appears to be an equally large
number who are in favor OF allowing the race 20
stay just II is. 1t may be remembered that the
intercollegiate races something over twenty years
ago were for three miles: then the distance was
increased to four miles, which Is just about the
distance that Cambridge and Oxford row, and IL
has remained at this ever since. Not infreQuently
people have declared that the four-mie race IS
such a terrific strain as TO be Injurious, and now
and then It been suggested that the distance be
cut down The matter has not been strongly pushed
however, but now It seems to have taken consid-
cradle hold the arguments being that 80 races
out Of 100 decided by the time the thiro
mile has been rowed and that the fourth mile IS
not necessary for the test OF SKILL but on the otner
hand Is merely a strain on the human frame. ANY
one who has followed close in the wake OF the
eight-oared crews IN their course down the Thames
at New-Iondon can testify to the frightful
tension under which the last mile or the race Is
always rowed. The writer has frequently Followed
the down the course 80 closely as TO be able al
most to toss a biscuit into the Shells ana the APP
parent agony depicted on the mems faces In the
last mile is not pleasant sight In fact the oars
last mile of the race simply ION their nerve" In
view of these facts would seem that the subject
is one that Is certainly open to discussion ana
that the people who insist upon adhering to the
present distance have not all the arguments on
their side.
The college athletic world Is now looking forward
eagerly to the annual track and field games that
will be fought out between Harvard and Yale at
New-Haven on Saturday. II Harvard comes out
ahead this season, 1t will mean that she OBTAINS
permanently the cup which the TWO uniTer r is
and for the reason also that yale always
makes up her mind to win the % ia, yoS n
night, and now experts on track and held athletic
matters state that the chances Of the blue triumph
ing over the crimson are first rate The outlook TOT
the Ellis has improved it Is declared 100 per cent
in the last few DAYS. and the trainers at New
Haven have turned squad Of raw youths into
finished athletes This statement should be dis
counted considerably, but at the same time It seems
certain that Yale has taken big stride forward:
She is counting greatly upon the performance OF OF
show a clean pair of heels to the Cambridge men
IN several of the fiat distances. Harvard Is gen,
sTsn, saa Nv hs S Be Su upeT IN the The
events desperate efforts are being made to bring the
PtSss inc Including the Rev MI cutien who
played football last fall, beins taught 10 swing
the And 20 Sss W hS IRON viii Te aE
place on Yale Field. will attract goodly number
ciais are leading members OF the New-York Ath-
ietic Club.
Cycling Association will be held June at Berke
ley oval. This association is now distinctly sep,
arate from the organization which manages the
the members Of the intercollegiate Athletic Assoc
citation are members Of the cycling ASSOCIATION n;
the meet but Princeton. Pennsylvania Yale. Cor
nell Rd sGuD S M the Be
won the cycling races last year. but almost all the
Princeton is making a strong bid for some of the
races, her men have improved greatly