Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-02
Mr.. Stroke
A Boating Story In Which
There Is Mystery
BY KINGSBURY WEIGH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By KINGsBuRY WEIGH
O-O-O-O-Oo-O-o-o-O

o-O-o-O-O-O-oO-O-O-O-O-O- 90
We were sitting In room above
where the bonts were kept. In easy
chairs. ell university men. talking
about boating incidents. oarSmcn and
the paraphernalla for rowing Tho mir
was thick with tobacco smoke princi
pally from pipes. the students favorlie
smoke. We had met TO talk over prep
arations for the coming season. which
was soon 10 begin. Having finished
that subject. we dropped. as ! have
said. into general chat on aquatic sub
jects and from this into stories OF feats
that had been performed at contests
on the water In days gone by. a col
legc. being constantly changing com.
munity. is not good place for handing
down legends. but occasionally n grad.
uate will return TO tell of some episode
that happened In his day and was at
the time the talk OF the institution
We had with US on this occasion a
man who had dropped in unannounced.
remarking that he was a graduate OF
the college of ten years standing ana
had In his day been member OF The
university crew. He must have been
graduated very young. for he looked
scarcely thirty. cast or some imper-
lection In his eye gave him an uncanny
look. and from the moment OF his ap-
pearance he was n damper on our spir-
its.
These old men, whispered Tom.
kins, sophomore. to me. who were
In college before the food are a nut.
sance. They're always trying to feel
that they are In their teens again.
and they only succeed In making us
feel as old as they are"
Did you ever pull In a regattaS" !
asked the alumnus
Yes" was the reply. II pulled in
one"
What year was that?" inquired.
Its not pleasant subject to talk
about; we lost the race"
ITO what did you attribute the fail.
ure" asked one of our number. There
Is always reason for every beating a
crew gets. One time 1t Is the stroke.
another the training. another the cock.
swain"
Il was the cause of the failure on
that OCCASION" replied the stranger.
Never were words spoken 10 more
melancholy tone. There was not a
man III the party who did not take his
pipe out Of his mouth. fix his eyes on
the speaker and feel cold chill pass
over him. The stranger continued:
We had been beaten by our great
rival In two successive seasons. aud
for this regatta had made every prcpa
ration. taken every precaution TO Sc
cure triumph. We had the best
coach the country afforded. a new boat
made on the most approved model. our
system OF training was perfect aud our
practice constant The betting began
Mt to 2 on our crew. and before the
race was on there were no takers at
. to !.
THE day OF the race was beautiful.
not cloud In the sky: just enough
breeze With plenty Of ozone In II for
IMMIGRATION When the hour for The
race came the temperature was quite
hot enough TO timber our joints aud
muscles.
''The scene along the river banks was
enhancing The bright colors OF the
girls dresses and parasols made per
feet flower garden. while on the river
boats bearing both girls aud boys were
shooting back aud forth like water
sprites
When we went out on the floating
platform 10 get into the boat there was
a mighty cheer from our hackers that
| can hear 10 this day. Rabcock was
No |. Aver .. Cameron 3. Bosworth 4.
Willmarth .. Frost q. Mayo ~
singular" remarked one of us. that
you should remember their names so
well"
Il shall never forget them
Yen eft oui the stroke said
Il was the stroke"
~ - hFNN fhttA VI hN tWuiA
muster pluck TO ask the man his name
don't know We all wished TO know
It, hut not man chirpcd
we stepped into the boat" contln.
ued the stranger. stripped TO the
waist Eight good men with not a
pound OF fat on any OF us aud In all
other respects In perfect condition.
had for months been absorbed IN what
had now come. For Il my studies had
heen neglected. and | would have 10
bone all summer To make up 'condi
tons but | cared nothing for that
My whole soul was merged IN the idea
II beating our opponents.
We pulled into position. the shot
was fired. and we made good start
On the first trial. our boat half n
length behind over the line. But we
made this up within n minute aud
were soon half length ahead.
heard none OF the wild cheers saw
neither the boat. the water nor the
shore dotted with waving handker-
chiefs. was conscious only OF the
mighty effort was making TO get
he boat over the course. Once ouly