We invite all members of the University to contribute to this column, but we are not responsible for the sentiments expressed. Every communication must be accompanied by the name of the writer.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, March 4, 1902.

To the Editors of the Crimson:

Will you permit an outside comment on the subject of the comparative effects of a three-mile and a four-mile boat race? This question has interested the rowing authorities at Cornell for some years and has been discussed at meetings of various representatives of the crews which row at Poughkeepsie. The opinion of the Cornell coach, Mr. Courtney, may be of some interest, as the Cornell crews under his care, although at times unsuccessful, have made the mile and a half record (at Philadelphia), the three-mile record (at New London), and the four-mile record (at Poughkeepsie). His experience therefore embraces a knowledge of the effects of the various distances upon both winning and losing crews.

The results of his observations, as communicated to me, may be summed up substantially as follows: In those races where the crews are so unevenly matched that when once the lead is gained the contest becomes merely a procession, the struggle might be prolonged for a distance anywhere from three to six miles without much danger to any of the contestants. When, however, the boats are fairly well matched, the crews will ordinarily row their best for nearly the full distance. In such cases a three-mile race is less exhausting to the competitors. The longer the race, the greater the strain on the men; and conversely, the shorter the race, the quicker the recovery afterwards. In many races it has been observed that the winning crew usually finishes fresher than its competitors. This happens not so much because the elation of leading and winning cheers and strengthens the crew, as because the winning crew commonly is originally in the best condition. The four-mile race also requires more training than is possible with due regard for the exigencies of university work. If crews could be trained with the view of rowing a waiting race, the four-mile contest would usually not seriously increase the strain and exhaustion. By a waiting race not such dilatory tactics, of course, are indicated as often render the beginning of bicycle and foot races tame, dull, and almost ridiculous; but that due preliminary husbanding of reserve force which leaves a reserve to be drawn upon for later spurts. As a matter of fact, however, one crew or another is likely to start at top speed, particularly when several are in the race, and therefore the crews must be trained accordingly. It is extremely difficult and sometimes inexpedient to hold a crew down to a slow normal stroke under such conditions. On the whole, therefore, having regard to the impracticability of expending a long period in training, and considering the deleterious after-effects which are not infrequently connected with the longer contests, the three-mile event would seem somewhat better adapted for our American intercollegiate rowing contests. H. S. WHITE, Harvard '73.