Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-26
The Henley Race

Presently the boatS were slowly max.
ing their way along the crowded river
toward that most graceful landmark of
Thames. Henley Bridge. Above it was
packed with II procession Of ears, motor
bicycles and people Surging into the
town. Below. th" jam of punts had
begun. Slowly (bccausc each craft
was going AT different spccd,. steadily.
because each had the same aim, the
gay tlotilla passed up TO line the course.
Clear of the bridge. they reached the
boom, that five hundreds yard long line
Of logs laid in the water and fastened
together 10 keep clear that cleaning
Thames track that is bordrred on ono
side by the bank, on tn" other by shift
ing boats ten deep. Where they
pressed. for yards together, no water
was visible. Punt poles. oars, paddles.
mad" one thicket. The cushions of the
skiT Driasel We're inextricnbly squashei
against the cushions of the skin Mine
sahir. Timb"rs Jared timhers as the
punts dr"v" closer together. making one
h"aving, swinging floating floor. Across
il straddlrd the white flannrlrd legs Of
men who. with honey"d apology and
courteous manner. strode sometimes the
breadth of eight punts manned by per-
feet strangers. All around was
radiant, faces of those whom Sandal
described as "Britiah's Best '-sports-
men. soldiers. out of doors young Eng
lshmen of every profession, together
with their girl-kind: pretty English
maidcus. wholesome English mothers,
here and there stared n baby held in
some mnslined lap. Airplancs swooped
and scared in the blue above it all
Glover saw none Of this.
Nor did she hear the many accented
noise Of Royal Henley.
Ware skiff.; ware skff.
Thanks awiully: dyou mind. sir. if
| come alongside. sorry, ] say,
can W., m"nng" to slip in mere.
in there. Fish. Ware canoe.
sorry, sir d'you mind oh,
beg your pardon " War" skiff.'
"Bang,' \ pistol shot. Tn" races
had begun.
"Therc'r" off They're Off"
A distant roar. Crrscendo tumuit
along the crowded boom ~ the boats,
arrow shift, flashed into sight.
"Who are they, can you see? Who's
leading? Mngdalen: Come on.
Mug .daleu Magdalen~. Well
rowed IA ," - - ah," as
the rrowd closely followed by the
launch Slrovc up 10 thc winning post.
One moment shows that crew uS one
frantic rhythmic effort, their cox one
stimulating incarnntr yell: second
later they fell forward on their oars
done, silent, heaving, rowed out.
Glover did not see it,
4 habbr of comment broke out
ground "Nlose race Oh, very close
race. Did you get snap Of that
l.ord, she's taken two on one iilm).
Now then. what's the nexty
Trinity and Royal Chester? No.
" five bob on Caius. Right oh.
= My boy says they're sure to.
-" Has anybody got pencil TO mark
the papers for the sweep? Hasn't any
body? Clover dear. have you?'
Then Clover Carmichael pulled her.
self together she dived into her yell
low satin sack, found a pencil. laughed
and made her bets with the Others, ad-
iustrd more firmly her mask of the
graceful, interested enjoyment worn by
a young woman Of the world She
told herself not to be SO abjectly ride
ulous; she willcd herself to forget
everything but the gayety, good fellow
ship and briliancc of this day she
looked about.
rDNpI>rI'I,I, Tn\InDpnur