New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
4 WATER FETE.
.r0y INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS ARE
xor FAVORED AT HENLEY-CHANGES
N COSTUMES AND ARTS
TIC EFFECTS
TIC EFFECTS.


Henley July g
-ss serenity and good fellowship OF Royal
,,.oley have not been clouded this year with
i .srnationaI rivalry. An American is among
Z campetitors for the Diamond SculIs and
- putch oarsmen, from Ghent. have been
.ied out by a Cambridge pair for the silver
,,ats but the eights have been English with
4 exception Of the Toronto Argonauts, who
-. been striving to carry off the Grand Chal-
80 cup If the Canadians heartily ap
,avsed for their workmanlike performance.
- was a hospitable feeling that neither
j '-.Ionsv nor resentment could be excited within
- ta,nily lines of the empire. Mr.. Titus's dash
- - ne diamond Sculls and the appearance of
1,ntcb watermen on the river were not in
-.,ional incidents of sufficient Importance to
- artificial excitement. II was an ideal
-,,feY because nobody was interested in the
/ ding and everybody was indolent, amiable
| ,s bent upon enjoying in peace the most beau
81 water fete in the world a days expert
nos in paddling up and down the river with
rrseable companions. or in watching the gen.
al spectacle from the shaded lawns of Phyllis
| rourt suffices TO convince the foreigner that no
argent demand ought to be made upon any
todv,s patrfotism by an international contest.
The stewards Of the regatta were technically
,isbt in voting down proposals for the exclusion
- foreign crews It would have been a con-
,-ontible exhibition of British intolerance If the
..,,ests had been closed against American or
5.ber foreign oarsmen. The stewards upheld the
MINOR of British sportsmen in condemning pro-
.osals for reducing the regatta to series of in
s,lar contests. but while their decision was un-
snswerably right on the broad ground of Eng
lsh fair play, Henley is more characteristic.
enjoyable and restful without the heat of ma
.onal partisanship and the risks of professional
jockeying and strife.
Henley is a carnival Of pleasurable idling and
rollicking good nature. Between the wooded
island at one end of the course and the stone
bridge and the church tower at the other end
mere is a spectacle of variegated color, anima-
non. movement and innocent gayety and idling
such as cannot be seen in any other reach or
water Hour after hour the boats are running
and humping into one another, and nobody
either frets or scowls or swears. Every half
hour a bell is rung near the bridge, and there
is a scurrying of boats punts and launches all
along the course; and when the gun is fired
there is a flashing glimpse Of the crews in the
cleared water space outside the gay fotilla. The
interval required for a race varies from eight
10 ten twelve minutes; and when it ends. the
massed lines of boats, with in white flannel
and women in delicate muslins, are broken, and
the river from bank to bank is again a glitter
ing spectacle of color. It is a water fete Of
ever changing beauty and bewildering fascina-
zion. 1t is not the racing but the outing that
interests the thousands of idlers swarming into
Henley for the tranquil pleasures of open air
life. There is no betting ring, and professional
rivalries are excluded by common consent. 1t is
light hearted holiday, where grumbling is
considered the worst possible form. and where
everybody begins with a virtuous resolution that,
whatever may happen. he will not lose his tenn
civ 10 oft ,ir-or
life around London that renders this annual
carnival possible and thousands of men, women
and children take part in il, because they are
accustomed to the management of boats and
the handling of oars and poles, and never
happier than they are when padding up and
down Henley reach. or when entangled in the
ineKtTicabie mazes Of holiday river craft
have seen changes at Henley during my
own residence Of seven or eight years in Eng
land, and veteran English watermen complain
that the regatta has ceased to be an easy
going water picnic. where every one goes as he
pleases and dresses as he likes. The changes
which have observed are in the direction Of
rehnement of color in the decoration of the
h0useboat and in the costumes OF the pleasure
seekers. Veterans assert confidently that there
are fewer houseboats than there were twenty
years ago; bet this seems hardly credible, for
to-day there has been almost unbrOken line
sf them on one side of the course. There may
not be many steam electric launches as
there were in former years, for the extension
Of the club Enclosures with well kept lawns, and
the erection of spacious tents on each side Of the
river. have largely increased the facilities for
pleasure On shore. As the houseboats have de-
elned in utility centres of entertainment
during the regatta. they have gained in deco
rative effect They are converted into floating
embOwered in greenery and flowers. The con-
1rasts of colors are less violent than In former
years. and a freer use is made of green and
white paint The picturesque reach of tranquil
water filled with pleasure craft and bOrdered
With these floating gardens. with their hedges
O. roses. daisies, geraniums, and their festoons
o. pink japanese lanterns, is in harmony with
rs environment Of sloping hillside. low banks
sna elumps Of oaks, poplars and willows.
There are fewer yellows and purples among the
slnshades and gowns in the brilliantly colored
natia. and there are more natural blends of
rec white and green in the glorious spectacle.
ihe Costumes of the women not only softer
snd more tasteful in color. but also simpler and
more graceful than in other years. have never
seen lovelier Henley than the one this year,
sna the fascination of the pageant for me has
been the harmony of color in the splendid revel
Rom shore to shore.
Inc veterans admit the Improvement in deco
'suon ana dress, but complain that the oldtme
ctnse 10 do as one liked and TO be careful
seout nothing except making ones self comfort
asie mas been lost. II blazers with low collars
are no longer the fashion for men, and If blue
Srse has been discarded by women in favor of
husin, with its superior resources of delicacy
sno grace. it hardly follows that the holiday
7 1'ong is less comfortable than it was in the
l "e days. The dressmakers attempt every year
! "introduce Henley gowns approaching in pre-
Fnsens and cost the Ascot costumes, but when
II fhs ni.. IL,