Year: 1869

All five o'clock this afternoon the great inter-


national boat race between the crews OF Har-


ward University and Oxford University will


take place on the Thames, the course being


from Putney to Mortlake. Considerable ex-


element has existed for some time past as to


the issue of this friendly contest between the


bone and snew, the skill and mastership of
the oar Of the two universities. The Harvard
crew are the champion oarsmen In American
waters. The Oxford men carry the palm on


the Thames. 1t is, therefore, contest be-
tween the recognized best oarsmen on each
side Of the Atlantic and hence it is that it be-
comes purely International in its character.
And hence, also, the event Is exciting because
of the national pride involved in the result.
Probably no one will be very much disap-
pointed at that result, whatever 1t may DO, ex-
cept those who have money siaked on it-and
they are leglOn-but still we feel an interest
deeper, perhaps, than we care to express in an
event which touches us all.


Two weeks ago the bets in England were five
to one on the Oxford crew. Yesterday the
odds had fallen to the moderate figure of two
to one on the English University boys. In
New York not many days ago five to one was
offered on Oxford but yesterday the
odds were very small on the English
crew. This change can probably be ao-
counted for by the influence which the
opinions expressed by such experts as Kelly,
the champion oarsman of the Thames, and Wal
ter Brown, the American oarsman, who has
gone over to try his mettle with the famous
Renforth, produced upon public sentiment here
Both ofthese skilled boatmen, as well as the jolly
young watermen of the Thames, are reported
to have said that the Harvard boys can hardly
be beaten if their ooxswain gets them safely
and skilfully under Hammersnlith bridge,
which is about half way through the course,
ahead Of their adversaries After that comes
into play muscle and endurance, the athleti-
csm of the contest, if we may so call 1.-THE
test between the long, sweeping stroke Of the
English oarsmen, where the weight Of the
body and the power of the muscles of the back
are added to the strength of the arms, and the
short arm stroke, from the shoulder, of the
American boys. Then will be demonstrated,
probably, some indication Of the difference in
training and in blood between men of the
same original stock, but varying in their d.
rect lineage. For example, the sons Of an
cestors on this side of the Atlantic, who were
bred to labor and lived by their own energy
and industry, contend on one side, and the
scions of an aristocracy which has been for
generations nurtured in ease and luxury, on
the other. There may not be much In this
idea, because the Oxonians are doubtless as
muscular and well proportioned as the Ameri-
can crew; but yet popular prejudice turns in
that direction, and the question has been
mooted as in favor Of the Americans upon the
score Of endurance.


We are speculating upon the probabilities,
however, only few hours in advance of the
certain result. As we have said, the race will
come off at FIVE o'clock to-day. 1t will proba-
bly, be decided within twenty-five minutes at
hlrthest, considering that the Harvard men
have already gone over the distance In few
seconds more than twenty-one minutes on one
of their trial trips. Therefore we may expect
to learn the~result by cable, if there is no
delay, between two and three o'clock,
New York time, or two hours before the boats
start, according to London time.


1t Is needless to say that the result of this
international trial Of skill will be looked for
with much interest. It is a far more pleasant
incident in the way Of news from Europe than
the result of bloody day at Sadows or Sol
ferino. There will be no memories Of sorrow
connected with it, although there may be some
twinges of disappointment and some unloosing
Of purse-strings. The tone of the English
press, we notice, has of late been rather favor
able to the Harvards, guaranteeing, at least,
q fair field and no favor, and inclining to the
honest English toast, MAY the best man
win" And 80 say we.