The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-04
TRAINING FOR BOAT RACES.
Members of the Crews Are Put
Through Course of Iron Disci-
pIine and Self-Denlal.

There are but few people, save those
who have had experience of the work
of training for boat race, who can
form even the faintest idea of the iron
discipline, the self-denial, necessary for
adequate physical equipment. "It is
unnecessary for you to think; think
for you," says Mr.. Courtney, the in
structor of the Cornell men. And in
this one sentence is expressed the guild
ing principle emphasized and carried
out by all coaches from time beyond
memory.
"For my part" says Ellis Ward, the
coach of the University of Pennsylva-
MIA, 81 put my lads on their honor and
the honor of the university, and in all
of the many years that have trained
them 1 never yet found my trust
abused. The system of training boy
to row in races begins with his intro
duction to the rowing frame in the
gymnasium. The routine which you
have observed to-day represents the
system in operation during the two
months that precede the racing. The
men are in the hands and under the
contfol of the coach. He regulates their
food, their sleep, their awakening, their
hours of labor and supervises every
minute of their daily life until the race
is over. The system Is not at all alarm
ing to anxious mothers. The crews get
good, plain, wholesome food, meat and
vegetables and the like-no pastry, no
sweets, no oatmeal; nothing, In fact,
that can fatten them or cause inaction
of the liver. In the morning a little
fruit, eggs, milk, coffee, perhaps little
meat. In the afternoon the ordinary
everyday dinner. Supper at about $3.50,
q light, evenly balanced meal. Every
man in the crew is in bed and fast asleep
at o:45, to be awakened again at seven.
"The men are taken out on the river
twice a day." says Mr.. Ward, "in the
morning at II o'clock and again at
five o'clock In the afternoon. Many
coaches follow the rule, which could
never appreciate, of not touching the
full distance until the day of the race,
My men go over the entire course at
least once every day, generally in the
evening, when the sun Is going down.
In the afternoon they rest, doing just
what you see them doing now-loung-
ing about the rooms, taking short walks
or maps, writing letters and generally
following their own devices. But, OF
course, they do not cross the river OF
go into the town or get beyond the
bounds. Cigarette smoking destroys
morals as well as mind; it is sheer mad
ness to take chances with man who
has ever smoked cigarette. While he
keeps in condition don't permit him
to use beer or alcohol in any FORM"
"I agree with Mr.. Ward in his sys'
tem," said DIR. Poet, with this differ.
ence: am a firm believer in beer in
moderation. The Columbias get ale al
dinner and supper" Every practical
river man agrees that in physique
ability and fitness the crews sent tc
New London and to the Hudson will
more than compare with any that have
been seen on recent years. 1t is prob
able that among the collection OF
brawny boys there are future leader,
of men-leaders in finance, in stage
craft, in art, science, in the professions
But all the honors that may fall to them
in the years to come will fade into moth
ingness in the memory of having once
rowed in the university eighties
He's Weekly