Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
pouGHKEEPs1E, N. Y. June 81

OdTSnen, COdCneS anu inc liouedHoS VI
spectators gathered here for the annual
intercollegiate regatta were unanimous
on the question this morning. No magi-
clan, no matter how great his mythical
powers over the elements. ever brought
forth on the wings Of the morning the
promise Of q more perfect day for row.
Ing regatta. From horizon to horizon the
sky was blue vault from which the early
forenoon sun shone with calm inten-
sity that was somewhat annoying to those
spectators who were overburdened with
raincoats ana umbrellas. The broad ex-
panse Of the river down which the five
rival clubs were to race later In the day
for the premier aquatic honors Of the
world looked like the traditional mill
pond. Hardly ripple marred its CLASSY
like surface. and the trees and shrubbery
which gave an emerald setting to the
picture scarcely stirred, SO light was the
breeze. Unless q thunderstorm should de-
velop before the first race Is started at
o'clock this afternoon, the day will go
down in rowing history as the one really
perfectly prepared for the oarsmen and
an example from which to pattern all
others in the future.
II it was quiet and strictly business
like last night, all that was pushed down
out Of sight at an early hour this morning.
for that part OF the crowd usually
termed tho 'rah rah'' element began %
arrive even before last nights bettors had
finished their morning coffee. When the
advance guard Of flag vendors had ap-
'peared around the courthouse and de-
ployed through Main and Market streets.
the town began to assume a real regatta
day appearance, and by 10 o'clock there
was a jam Of collegians and just plain
citizens in front OF the Nelson House and
the Morgan House. which only q flying
wedge formation could penetrate success
fully. There was little or no organized
roofing during the forenoon. but there
.n It
plain that the days excitement had
started we'll.
Poughkeepsie is certainly fortunate in
having good weather for the preliminary
thunder squall does dampen the outer
castings OF the crowd and cause post
ponement OF the races nearly every year.
This day was no exception. and the scene
was as brilliant as even the most irnag-
NATIVE artists could conceive.
One Of the most picturesque features Of
the gathering of the race crowd here Is
the great assortment Of colors that wave
over the upper strata OF hats. Every col
lege that rows on the Hudson has stand
ards Of vivid hues. and while solid and
sober colors Of other universities may
make 4 more dignified showing en- masse.
the effect produced by the sharply con-
trasted red and white OF Cornell, the far
ing orange Of Syracuse. the delicate blue
and white OF Columbia and the red and
blue Of the Quakers with the cardinal Of
Wisconsin IL O symphony in itself. It
would not be thought that those colors
could be grouped without a discord; but
!ningling as they do with many colored
hat bands Of the men and the pale-hued
dresses Of the girls they produce the most
vivid sights Of any public gathering. Just
before the throng starts down the hill for
the ferry comes the climax Of color mix
Ing. for then the plaza before the court
house 10 packed from curb to curb After
ward. when the west bank Of the river
and the observation train are reached
there Is moro or less attempt at grouping
the colors. but even then the train and
river banks look like a color chart
the trains on both sides OF the river came
the parasites Of college sports as well.
There were ticket SPECTATORS. flag VEN
ders, soft-cushion sellers. button peddlers
s sna sve Sher kind soues
every individual spectator had his per-
sonal attendant in the ranks of shouters.
II they could have been trained to yell
in chorus the real collegians with their
"Rah-rah. Syra-ah-cuse' and the "I-yell-
yell-yell Cornell would have skunk away
In shame and despair. Perhaps 1t was be-
cause their bread and butter was at stake
that they worked their vocal cords so
bravely. At any rate. they had the frog
chorus Of Aristophanes faded to a fraz-
zled whisper. They hemmed the specta-
tors in on all sides and thrust 81 observa-
ton seat tickets in their faces. offering
to sell them at a paltry SO each. The
ever-familiar cry Of Buy your winning
colors' assailed them. and. at the same
time, to make the bedlam complete. soft
Of the crews. miniature oars and other
things meant to produce enthusiasm and
comfort. were virtually thrown at them
in a manner to recall to mind a descent Of
only Poughkeepsie college regatta could
produce.