TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON:-

I HAVE read with great pleasure the article by Mr. Crowninshield, and your remarks thereon, in the last issue of the Crimson, and, encouraged by the desire you express to hear from graduates concerning boating matters, I send you what follows.

Mr. Crowninshield's remarks meet my entire approbation, with the exception, perhaps, of that portion of them which relates to the rowing-weights. I can conceive that a moderate use of the weights, or, better, of the rowing apparatus may be useful, and need not be irksome. Just after the selection of the coach of last season's crew, I sat down and wrote out the very same ideas as now appear from Mr. C.'s pen, intending to send the article to one of the College papers; but I desisted for the reasons, first, that I could not write temperately concerning what I deemed stupid obstinacy on the part of Harvard boating-men; and, second, because I could not claim to have been a University oar. But now that the idol of the Harvard oar has received one square blow, I am tempted to endeavor to administer another, hoping thereby to knock said idol completely off its pedestal, and smash it into flinders. Complete iconoclasm is what is needed.

It was my custom, for many years, to watch the crew before the annual race; and for this purpose I went, once yearly, to the boat-house in Cambridge, and, many times to the Milldam in this city, opera-glass in hand.

Two years ago I gave up this custom in disgust at the adherence of Harvard to the worst faults in rowing. And this is a mild term to use, for I can truly say that I have never seen an individual member of a Harvard crew show that the first principles of a correct stroke were known to him. Finally I expressed the hope that Harvard would be badly beaten in the annual race for a series of years, believing that nothing short of this. would bring her to her senses. Now it appears that she is persuaded that something has been wrong, for we hear mention of a new stroke. Perhaps we may get it, but I doubt very much if it will be the stroke, for there is only one. Harvard's faults, or rather her complete ignorance of what the best stroke is, has become a transmittendum. The coach of each year inherits the infirmities of his collegiate boating ancestors. I believe in the complete extinction of the Harvard oar. My fear is that there will be some idiotic idea of improving the stroke by engrafting upon it, and that, should Harvard win the next race, the persuasion of the necessity of starting from a sound basis will be deferred for years. I believe it would be better to select, for the crew, men of suitable physique who have never had an oar in their hands, and to send them to the fountain-head for their rowing education. THIS IS ENGLAND. There is no mistake at all about this fact, and I lose all patience when I hear the talk about a "Harvard stroke" or an "American stroke." If a member of the London Rowing Club could be installed as coach to these new men, nothing would be wanting to insure their education in the best school; but this is undoubtedly impracticable, and English works on rowing must be resorted to. The men might be forced to select a coach from their own number, but this would be much better than to run the risk of having their stroke ruined by a Harvard oar.

Perhaps a better plan would be to begin with men of the Freshman class who shall not be expected to row in races till the Junior year. This would give them time to mature as to physique, and I deprecate, strongly, the practice of racing colts.

After all, my desire to see Harvard defeat Yale is secondary to my wish to see her exhibit scientific rowing for its own sake; and, if the annual struggle continues, I should prefer to see the flags awarded to the best oarsmanship, if it were practicable to come to a decision on such a basis. As it is, I am disposed to encourage races only so far as they encourage again a general use of the oar among the students as a means of improving the health.

Finally, I beg you to continue to impress the necessity of docility upon the boating-men of the College; they have been joined to their idols long enough. I enclose my card, and beg permission only to subscribe myself

'52.BOSTON, December 13, 1876.