The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-18
SOME OF THE new BOOKS
LawsOn's Extraordinary History OF
the America Yachting Cup.


Yachting is a sport that is not in itself Of
absorbing interest 10 an inland public. but
when contest between English and Amer
lean boats gives il an international i'm
portance all wideawake citizens OF the
States regardless Of their distance from
the ocean. are on the alert and eager 70
know the outcome Therefore every news
paper reader viii recall the Lawson cpl
sode in the cup races OF last year. Mr.
Lawson, who is a wealthy resident OF Bos-
ton, built a yacht OF the cup-defense class,
which he called the Independence and
which he purposed sailing in the trial
races. The New York Yacht Club claimed
that no one not a member OF the club
could enter his vessel, and refused to allow
his boat TO take part. Shortly after. Mr..
Lawson had the Independence broken up
and thrown upon the junk heap. He now
issues a volume containing the history OF
the American cup-the record covering a
period of fifty years-and including the ac-
count OF the affair In which he figured He
has spared no pains or expense in preparing
this work. The earlier historical record is
the work OF Winfield NJ Thompson, a Bos-
ton newspaper man; he contributes fifteen
chapters, but Mr.. Lawson has written the
chapters covering his personal experiences
and opinions, and gives his name TO the
volume. 1t Is "Lawson's History Of the
American Cup" Naturally IL is TO his
division Of the volume that the reader first
turns Here he sets forth his story OF the
fight with the New York Yacht Clug and ex-
presses his opinion Of that body in vigorous
terms. He plainly intimates that those in
control OF the club are not only dishonest
and corrupt, bat he reflects upon
the mental qualities of the members and
their social standing. "A scanning OF the
clubs membership list OF 1901" he says,
reveals the numerical smallness OF this
powerful cabal mushroom aristOcracy)
controlling the destinies OF the club and
casting the shadow of dishonor on the
America cup" He then analyses the MEM
bership, showing the occupations represent
ed, from agents and auctioneers, down
through brewers. builders. butchers. clerks
ana dancing masters, 10 piano movers.
pocket handkerchief dealers, tailors and
wine merchants.
The substance Of his contention is that a
cup contest can in no sense be information
al while only those boats whose owners are
members of a club limited in number and
arrogating 10 itself an authority TO which
ii has no right are allowed to be defenders.
This contention certainly seems TO be
sound, and the opposition will need 10 pre-
sent very forcible arguments indeed 10
convince an unbiased investigator that the
opposite is the case. Whether one is con-
cerned with Mr.. Lawson's personal quar-
rel or not, the fact that his charges, If true.
reflect on American honesty and honor in
general gives them Importance and
leads TO the hope that the agitation viii
clear the way to placing the next interna-
tiOnal cup race above suspicion. If. as re-
ported. the yacht club is preparing TO bring
suit against Mr.. Lawson for libel il may
be regarded as a step in this direction.
Apart from Mr.. Lawson's individual in
terest. he has done an excellent work and
| a real service TO the many persons inter-
ested in the subject in preparing SO COM
plete history Of yachting. His dedication
reads thus:
ITO sportsmen-manly men, men of gentle
mind and simple heart, brave men. fair
men; TO men who say TO the weak. May
/ 10 and to the strong, 4 willr-to men 10
whom sham is dishonor and truth a guiding
star; TO men who look upon the sea- the
plain, the forest, the mountains, the rising
/ and the setting sun. and the immutable
/ heavens with deep sense of their own lit
! tleness in the great scheme of things-I
dedicate this book"
1t is a magnificent volume that he offers,
not TO the public. but to 5000 persons whom
/ he wishes to favOr-fOr it is issued for pri-
/ vate distribution only. 1t As a large book,
! the workmanship on which is the best that
/ publishers supply. 1t is bound in white
] duck, its title is stamped on the cover in
! gold, and il is embellshed with many hand
/ some illustrations some Of them in color.
/ Whether the one who turns the pages is
| in sympathy with the author or not he can
/ assuredly congratulate him on producing
/ book of such elegance and value.