Boating is without doubt the college sport in which the liveliest interest by the outside world is taken, while on the other hand college men, especially at Harvard, know but little of the crew which is to represent them on the water, and it is not until within a few weeks, perhaps even a few days, before the race itself that much interest is awakened.

The proposition of "Bob" Cook that Yale, who is now at the top of the heap in boating matters, should go over to England this coming summer and row the winner in the Oxford-Cambridge race, might, if it was followed up earnestly, result advantageously to college boating in England and the United States. Any half-way attempt as, in case of our defeat, the sending of Yale across the Atlantic to row for this one season without any prospect of a renewal of the contest in after years, whould probably be profitless. But if an agreement between Yale and Harvard could be entered into whereby the winner of the race between them should be guaranteed funds sufficient for the international contest; and, on the other hand, if Oxford and Cambridge would make a contract with each other similar to the one between Yale and Harvard, then it would not be such a difficult matter to bring about a series of races which could be rowed one year in this country and the next in England, and so on alternately.

The benefits accruing from such an arrangement would be obvious, but a statement of a few may not be out of place. The interest in college boating would be increased enormously. A greater knowledge of the men and customs of the universities of England would be afforded us and the reverse would be true of Oxford and Cambridge. In meeting against a common enemy, Yale and Harvard would be drawn more closely together, and there would be less hostility in all our other athletic contests.

The undertaking seems difficult, but if the four universities in question could be made to believe in it, then the minor matters of detail could be arranged without question. The financial hindrance is not so formidable as it appears, for there are graduates, almost without number, who would be glad to assist in the promotion of a series of races, like the one proposed. Will the boat club move in this matter, if the suggestion seems valuable to them?