The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-06
TALES Or THE. PERSEVERANCE CLUB BY GAMES ALBERT WALES.
BY GAMES ALBERT WALES.

at the clubhouse could see them coming up the river in the distance.
 Gradually the Stars increased their stroke till they were rowing at 30 clip. The Per severance boys did the same, holding them for the next quarter. The coxswains spoke to their men in encouraging tones, urging them to do their best and keep cool. The steady swish, swish of the oars and the rhyth- mic movements ofthe oarsmen as they moved forward and backward with perfect regu- larity showed how well both crows had learned their lesson.
 At the beginning of the last half the Star coxswain shouted: Hit 'er up, boys here's where we win by ten lengths!o Turning to the Perseverance crew, he shouted as the Stars increased their stroke and shot to the front: Come on, little boys; we'll show you the way home."
 Now, altogether, Perseyerancel' cried Joe Stein. "Take a little longer stroke, but keep that same even swing. Remember that our training Is going to count at the hnishV Captain George did not increase ms stroke. but took longer and more power ful stroke, which resulted in increased speed. The other boat was a little ahead ana gaining. Soon their stern apped the perseverance bow, for the Stars were row Ing 33 to the minute and squirting. Perse- Vefance kept to 30, and managed to prevent tne stars from increasing their lead. At -'%7t IhalltTf lHe oldFS were TOWl0E 1I ana making desperate efforts to keep in the iead. Perseverance still kept to 30, but soWed so evenly and powerfully that the stars were still hardly length ahead and could not gain.
 ihe long, steady swing of the Persever- ahce Doys exasperated the Stars, who were anAlous a.ous to win the race by several lengths. tome on! shouted their coxswain Let's leave these babies far behind Hit if m naster-you'v we got to go faster. I tell you!' 1he men responded, and gained few yards on Perseverance, but it was evident that tne long squirt was punishlng them. Their NO was groggy and rowed mechanically, With his eyes rolling. The coxswain had to pun the rudder slightly to one side to keen rom fouling the Perseverance crew. It was now the last 300 yards. Now. Doys get at 'em!s shouted Coxswain Joe Put everything you have in you into one last enort!' Col Col Col" Almost in stantly the, Perseverance boat seemed to leap out of the water and spurt ahead Tho boys hit up B clip, but lost none of tho strong, even sweep they had maintained throughout. Compared with the wearied Stars, they were fresh and in prime cond. ton. Steadily they gained till they were even with their rivals. The Stars were rolling wildly, yet they seemed to be stand.' ing still when the Perseverance boat swept by them like a whirlwind. No. 3 finally Tell over in his seat and lost his oar
 The Perseverance boys were rowing their 50 like veterans, steady and regular as clockwork. They did not let down, but crossed the line winners by seven lengths. perfect pandemonium of cheers greeted their spectacular finish. They rowed back to the float and showed but little signs of exhaustion. The crowd swarmed down to the float and seized the boys by force, carrying them into the clubhouse in tri- umph. The Stars came in not long after and aud II. .t.. deepest dejection. No one taunted them about their boasts--their appearance was sufficient humiliation. Some of them had to help others up the gangplank and into the house, for they were too used up to walk. That such great, strong fellows should have been beaten by such puny rivals was almost impossible to believe It was case of science against strength--brain against brawn. Had the Stars not attempted to force matters, and had they kept q steadier stroke, they might have won.
 When the boys were fully dressed they came out to the porch, where Mayor Bar clay was to give out the prizes Winners of first and second places in the swimming races received handsome ribbons. appro- priately ettered in gold. The winner of the duck chase was given the duck itself and the winner of the tub race got toy washing board
 No prize had been prepared for the barge idtts but lV cNtly Out SuIDIlSt tit UT held up a handsome silver cup, which he declared an unknown friend wished to pre- sent to the winning crew Ii was learned afterward that the "unknown friend" was none other than the modest Mayor himself few days later the cup was engraved with the name of the winning crew-Perse- verance-and placed in the glass case be- side the relay cup which had been won in the track and field games.
 Such a successful conclusion to q sue cessful days sport was very encouraging to the boys. They we're especially pleased because it was their farewell appearance till the fall and they liked the last impress sion to be pleasant one.
 The boys got everything in readiness for camping, and, the necessary equipment hav- ing been provided, they took the train one fine morning, bound for delightful time at Lake Glenwood, in the heart of the noun tains. Here they will have fishing, bathing, hunting, mountain climbing and good times of all sorts.
 And so we shall leave them, wishing them the best of good fortune and hoping that their sports may always be guided by the same principles as in the past-always true to the motto of the Perseverance Club.
 (The End.)