The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-17

ToWlAS. Mucn enthusiasm was aroused
short time ago among the wielders of
the spoons" by the suggestion of an
American Henley. The project excited
favorable comment from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. All broad minded oars
men Immediately Endorsed the scheme
and for awhile indications were that
there would be something doing" The
pressure of other matters, however
caused the prime movers to give pre-
cedence to current affairs. The advo-
Gates of an American Henley have re-
vlved the subject and it is now almost
certain that definite lines of procedure
will be initiated.
The founding of an American Henley
would prove a wonderful stimulus to
rowing in the United States 1t would
bring together all crews in the country
collegiate and club organizations
allke-as has been for many years the
case in England. The regattas of vari-
Gus associations, the National in par
ticular, are all right, but they fail to
interest the college crews, which have
always been considered the equals, if
not the superiors, of the club crews
which win medals and honors in the re-
gattas OF the National association
Such being the case an American Hen
ley would serve the purpose of deter
mining the real American rowing cham
pions.
Undoubtedly the college crews are
given far more attention in preparation
than is ever bestowed on the members
OF Clubs no matter how fast they may
be. With men of the right age and with
such training as is given the college
40 -l,1
cope with any of the crews now wearing
medals emblematic of the amateur
championship of this country.
In Fights the college crews are con-
coded to be trif1e better than club or
CARNATIONS. Harvard tours and Fights
have competed very often with crews
from the boat clubs in and about Bos-
ton. These races have always been
closely contested. AS the best Fights
have never been matched against the
Boston harbor boats it is reasonable to
suppose that the crimson could turn
of the Boston men.
With the American Henley as an an
nual incentive, oarsmen all over the
United States would vie for the honor
of competing in the great regatta In
event would attract just as much at
tention as it's namesake in England.
The captains of the college crews
have completed the wedding out proc
ess, and the men who are to represent
their alma matters in the major events
this season have, as rule, been decid-
ed on. The races thus far held have
proved first class trial heats" and the
various coaches have been enabled in a
measure to find out where they are at"
The universities of Pennsylvania and
Harvard at present seem to have the
better prospects. The Quakers, under
the guidance of Coach Ward, have been
rounding into form very rapidly. The
crew picked to go to Poughkeepsie COW
cred three miles of the national course
on the Schuylkill short time ago in
less than II minutes. This was done
simply in practice, without the crew
having any knowledge that the time
was to be taken. This augurs well for
Pennsylvania's chances throughout the
summer
The work of PENIS Henley crew has
justified the prediction that the uniyer-
sity will send to England in June the
fastest eight that have ever represented
her. In the boat are five members of
last years champion crew. The other
three men have had at least one years
work in a Ward boat and may be de-
pended upon.
Yale, Cornell and the University of
Wisconsin crews have been doing we'll
thus far The many changes in the
make up of the formers eight, while
somewhat demoralizing at first, appear
to have benefited the crew considerably.
Coach Fred Allen is the right man in
the right place. His advice has been of
inestimable value to the rowers of Old
Eli.
Experts on Craftsmanship have long
held that the stroke is one of the most
important men in the boat. On his
work oftentimes depends the gaining or
losing OF the few seconds necessary to
win the race. In consequence, the de-,
Velopment of man to face the cock
swain has assumed paramount impor-
lance in the minds of the coaches
During practice good stroke is one
who is regular in his rowing and easy
to follow. He must give the big men
plenty of time in which to finish the
stroke, and he must keep them swing
ing steadily In trial over the whole
or over a portion of the course he must
get every possible ounce out of them so
that they are entirely rowed out with
out having got short winded or Hurried
on the way.
In race the stroke must know the
capabilities of his crew and must be
able to feel how they are going, when
they want easing off and when they are
capable of higher pressure. Above all,
he must have that degree of generalship
which will enable him to know when to
put on the pressure in order to take ad-
vantage of station at a certain point of
the course; when to ease off, if he can
hold his opponent at slower rate of
stroke, and how far it is necessary for
him to save himself for a squirt at the
finish. He should also observe, espe-
cially in a close contest, the exact mo-
ment at Which he should make what
was described by the Belgian crew at
Henley last year as the "grande at
taque."
The rival baseball leagues are now
getting deep into the second chapter of
their fight. Part first ended when the
umpires called PLAY ball'' in the open
ing games. for then practically all the
tickle minded players had been corralled