HOW TO GET STRONG
straight—twice as wide as the Putney-to-Mortlake course; undisturbed by tide or passing vessel; near a large railroad centre; and so well sheltered that crews can practise there at any hour they like, with practically a great private track all to themselves—and that is on the Connecticut, a little below Springfield. But an hour and a half from Yale, two and a half from Harvard and from Boston, and three from New York; near the greatest bicycle-racing centre in America; with many railroads, and good accommodations for guests at Springfield and at Hartford, not an hour away. Since the changes in the Enfield Locks, there is water enough for a fleet of eights to battle for the championship of the world. Pick out now from these men of great achievements and renown, not two eights, but four. Give them, of course, the fleetest ships, the most nearly perfect oars and rigging known to the waterman's art. Make the men contemporaries—take each at the best year of his life—when all his powers were at their acme; train them to row—and to row together—not one year—for no really great oarsman was ever made in one year—but for three full years of wise, skilful preparation, till every man came up to the line fit to row for a kingdom;—in as superb condition as were the best men in all Greece when, a nation looking on, they agonized for the mastery. Make the distance five miles. If you like, select two eights from non-college men and two from the Universities—the "Townies" and the "Gownies." You might sort them thus:
| First crew. | Second crew. | |||||
| Socrates, Bow. | Luther, Bow. | |||||
| Jackson, | No. | 2 | Wellington, | No. | 2 | |
| Wallace, | {{{1}}}„ | 3 | Chalmers, | {{{1}}}„ | 3 | |
| Peter, | {{{1}}}„ | 4 | D. Webster, | {{{1}}}„ | 4 | |
460
