The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-15
SERIES Of races between the
IL Constitution and the 1nde-
pendence together with the
oI Columbia Ia assured by an

~ Columbia Ia assured by an
announcement made yester-
day by Ralph N. Ellis. Woodbury. Kane,
and A. Cass Garfield, the regatta com
mittee of the Newport Yacht Racing
association, that the association would
hold three separate races for the cup
defender class, as they cel' 'he three
boats to take place off Newport on
July 2, 4 and 6. BY the terms separate
races II is understood to be meant
that each race will be entirely inde-
pendent Of the other and will be for
separte cup or trophy.
The association includes In its MEM
bership nearly all of the wealthy cot
tagers of Newport, including many
members of the New York and other
yacht clubs. A few years ago the or
ganization raised large fund. which
yields gOodly interest. from which
prizes have been bought annually.
Under the auspices of the association
the memorable and exciting races Of
the T0-footers were held last summer,
but the series between the cup defend
ers will be by all odds the most i'm
portant it has yet held in view Of the
rivalry that there is sure to exist be-
tween friends of the eastern boat, the
independence and those Of the Con-
stitution. and in view also of the fact
that the series will be practically trial
events to see which yacht shall de-
fend the cup.
The race of July . will in itself at
tract the greatest attention of any
yacht contest of American yachts for
years. in that it will be the first meet
ing of the new cup defenders. the In
4
moreover it will give the first oppor-
tunity Of a comparison of these two
new craft with the fleet Columbia.
which vanquished Shamrock I two
years ago.
The announcement of the series
Is Significant. inasmuch as it will
set at rest the seemingly unwarranted
discussion that is going on as to the
probability of Mr.. Lawson and his
yacht being ignored by the members
Of the New York Yacht club. Were
there any probability of such a condi-
tion of affairs Messrs. Ellis, Kane and
Garfield. the regatta committee of the
association, who are among the most
prominent and influential members OF
the New York Yacht club. never would
have arranged a series of races with
the particular object of having the In
dependence and Constitution contend.
The announcement simply means that
the best boat will he selected to de-
fend the cup and that it will receive
the loyal support of every yachtsman
in the country. whether it be the In
dependence or the Constitution, or
even the Columbia.
Mr.. Duncan, manager of the Consti-
tuition. and Mr.. Lawson, owner of the
Independence. have signified their will
Ingness to race for the Newport as
Sociation cups. The Newport Yacht
Racing association will soon announce
races for the 20 and 30-fOOter classes,
and a regatta for the middle of July.
At a dinner in his honor mechani-
cal inventor was asked: What comes
after the bicycle?" His reply was:
Gentlemen. there never will be any
successor to the bicycle" When asked
to explain so positive a statement he
said: There never can he less
amount of material put together with
greater skill that will answer the pur-
pose of human locomotion with greater
ease and pleasure. or at less original
cost ana less current expense to the
user. The bicycle is one of the most
consummate achievements of our me-
chanicai development and one Of the
most beneficent to civilization. 1t has
no rival, and it can have no successor"
Athletics. both amateur and prof.s-
sional. have grown to such importance
that athletic grounds in this city large
enough for the most important affairs
nave been hard to obtain. The Greater
New York Irish-American Athletic
club Is now in possession of grounds
where athletic tournaments can be
held, no matter how big the crowd or
what games or sports are demanded
Four years ago the club purchased
about nine acres at Laurel Hill. Long
Island City. The name given to the
grounds is Celtic park. The club
house, Including inclosed piazzas. is
lO4 feet wide by 12O feet long. The
basement is twelve feet high and has
bowling alleys and sitting rooms for
those desiring to watch the games; a
restaurant accommodating a thousand
persons, and a kitchen, with all the
latest fixtures. On the floor above is
the cafe, 40 feet long and 20 feet wide
In the center of the west end of the
building. on either side of the cafe, are
III iessing rooms, reception rooms and
private dining rooms. The track is a
circular quarter-mile one, and con-
structed for all kinds OF races. There
are fields for base ball. cricket, polo,
foot ball-in fact, accommodations for
all manner of sports. On the east side
of the track will be rifle range 300
feet long, with four ranges, for match
shoots.
An athletic field on the Cornell cam
pus is probable. At the recent meet
ing of the athletic council it was de-
cided to appoint a committee to look
into the desirability of grading field
on the campus, and it was voted to al
lew this committee an amount not to
exceed $500 for this purpose. For years
Comedians have regretted the expen-
diture OF money on Percy Field think /,
Ing that all such funds must be an alb
solute waste, for eventually it was
seen that the future field must be on
the hill. The improvements contem-
plated on Percy Field will be finished,
as the new field will not be ready for
some years.