Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02
ALL EYES ARE ON
BIG THAMES RACE
Rosy Reports From Across the
Pond-HoW About Those
Time Trials.

The attention Of the American intercol-
legiate world will be focused next Satur-
day on the effort Of Harvard's eight-oared
crew to defeat Cambridge on the Thames
river, England. Such rosy reports have
been coming from the other side the last
few weeks that great many persons think
that the American crew is going to win.
Harvard may triumph. but II so the vic
tory will be a great surprise to the experts
on both sides Of the water. The great con-
hdence now being expressed in the ability
OF the Harvard crew to beat the Britons is
due to the fast time trials Harvard As said
to have rowed during the last week. One
OF these was faster than anything Cam
bridge had been able to do, this being ac-
companfed by the statement that Harvard
had merely padded over the course.
The principal reason for not expecting
Harvard to win Is the fact that the Amer
lean crew stands no better than fourth on
this side of the water. Based solely on
their work during the last season, it ap-
pears that had Harvard rowed at Pough-
keepsie her crew would have finished no
better than fourth, with Cornell, PennsyI-
vania and Syracuse in front. 1t was really
no feat for Harvard to beat Yale, for the
Blue, with almost the same crew that,
rowed at New London, lost to the naval
cadets.
If the race were to be rowed in this
country there might be some reason for the
belief that Harvard could win from Cam
bridge, but in an English climate, and being
obliged to undergo another period of hard
training SO soon after the spring season
here, the strain Is bound to tell on the Har-
ward crew. The published statements that
Cambridge could not equal the time trial
of the Harvard crew should be taken with
a few grains of salt. But If Cambridge
should win 1t will probably be by small
ms mi a wi Nv var fayUl lone he
will add to the excitement and make the
Harvard men feel that their trip was worth
while after all.
Yale Forgot About It.
1t now develops that Yale had planned to
challenge Cambridge to a race this sum-
mer had they beaten Harvard at New Lon
don. But the Blue failed dismally and de-
cided to forget all about the challenge. A
good many unsophisticated persons will
probably note with some surprise the great
friendliness shown between Harvard and
Cambridge, and contrast this with the re-
fusal Of Harvard and Yale to meet the
Poughkeepsie crews every year. A good
many people deplore the fact that the two
New England colleges seem to show more
friendship toward the English collegians
than they do toward their own countrymen.
1t now begins to look as though Cornell
would retain Charles Courtney as rowing
coach after all. Courtney, who resigned for
the third time this summer, has returned to
Ithaca and, as far as known, has not signed
a contract with any other college crew. In
fact 1t is doubtful If many eastern colleges
would sanction his engagement as coach.
1t is not considered the proper thing now
adays for one college to take coach from
another. That Courtney will remain at Cor
nell is believed from the further fact that
he has not disposed Of his house there.
Cornell alumni and undergraduates are
unanimously in favor Of making all kinds
of concessions to Courtney, If this will keep
him at Cornell.