Evening journal., 1911-07-18
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Fear That Kept a Fam
Gus Novelist From Visit
ing America
BY Holland

The first great captain of r Harvard
University crew was Frederick Loring,
He was. in fact. the first of all Ameri-
can college oarsmen 10 master the
science Of rowing and TO show the
manner Ia which the mere brute
strength Of a rover can often be out
rowed through the use of skill and
science
Captain LorinE drilled a Harvard
crew IN 1867 which gave as fine an ex-
hibition OF college rowing as had been
seen UP to that time The crew rowed
away from the Yale University boat
with perfect ease over the course at
Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester
Mass. And when Captain Lnring, who
stroked the crew. stopped rowngi
thus giving the signal TO his crew 10
cease. every man in the boat was as
fresh, apparently. as he was at the
moment when he entered IT,
Again the next year. and once more in
1863. Loring stroked his crew to vic
tory; and so famous did the Loring
six-oared crew become that Harvard
decided 20 send four-oared crew un-
der Loring 20 London 10 enter into a
race with the Oxford crew which had
won the annual race With Cambridge
IN March OF that year. Curiously
enough. II was this incident which
made It possible TO learn the reason
why Charles Reade never visited the
United States,
II seems that Mr. Reade, who was an
athlete. who had roWed with his col
lege crew and who was fond Of
cricket, had read reports in the Eng
Itch r.f In which
Captain Loring had developed rowing
al Harvard He was greatly pleased
when he heard that Captain Loring
was 10 bring his crew to London to
race against Oxford. Reade's alma
mater. and as soon as Loring and his
men had arrived In London and got
settled I'm their quarters who should
appear 10 welcome them but the author
Of The Clolster and the Hearth, then
at the height Of his fame as a novel
list. The Harvard men felt greatly com
plimented; and when, after a brief
call, Reade invited the entire crew TO
visit him at his country place near
London, the invitation was accepted
with the greatest delight
After the dinner, which was the
GROWING event Of the visit of the crew
TO Reade's country place, the talk
turned on tho United States.
Il should greatly like to visit the
United States, said Mr. Reade, II
think if I went there / might stay a
long time. | am as proud of the United
States as It IS possible for any one toI
be. ] feel especially tender towards 1t
because the people of the United States
accepted my play Masks and Faces
with great cordiality. ] am told that
your comedian, William Warren, Of
Boston. plays the part Of 'Triplet' in
Mask and Faces with exquisite art
Then, too, the United States received
my novel, It is Never Too Late to-
Mend, as enthusiastically as it was re-
ceived in England"
One member of the crew said to Mr..
Reade: why don't you come to the
United States? We can promise YOU a
reception as enthusiastic as that which
Dickens on Thackeray received.
,-"I once asked Dickens. IL when he
crossed the Atlantic he suffered much
| from the weather" said Reade. II was
referring to bis first visit TO the States.
He told me that he was shut in his
state room for the better part Of four
days and suffered excruciatingly. He
/ did not know why I asked him that
question. did II because was at that
time thinking seriously Of visiting the
United States and staying there per-
haps two or three years. But I shall
never go know I would be received
most cordially And / should like to
visit your far western country; I think
I could get material there for a story
But | shall never 60"
why not, Mr.. Reade?" he was asked
"Ill tell you the reason, ! don't be
lieve I would live TO cross the Allan
tic was the reply. Il am not timid
man about most things, but I am an
abiect coward about the sea--not that
/ fear storms, but ] suffer horribly
from seasickness even in the hour il
takes 70 cross the English channel
Yes, the only reason why I do not visi
the United States Is because ! am NOR
ally certain that I should never live e
cross the sea-that ] should die of sea
sickness"
Copyright. 1911. by r. J. Edwards. AL
Rifhts Reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell o
sWhat Proctor Knott Thought Of thu
Speech that Gave Him Fame"