All sorts of fancy arrangements are in the wind for the complete success of the Spring Regatta, but as yet affairs are shrouded in mystery, and are being kept as close as any Japanese military movoment.
All eights have improved during the past week and several changes have been effected by the different captains, The Scotch are now being stroked by one Chicken, and a good young bird at that, a powerful oar and well backed-up by plenty of beef and muscle; the crew are doing well on tea and jam and thoroughly enjoy their evening meal in the Pre Boathouse. They are not delicate by any means. The Germans are also a well-formed crow and are rowing in much better style than any of their opponents, but require to work off a certain amount of adipose tissue. The English eight are improving, and their captain, after having tried three men at No. 7, now appears to be satisfied with his choice. I should like to see a longer stroke throughout the boat with more work up in the bows.
With regard to the International fours, far as Team judge at present, there i likelihood of six boats competing in this event—Germans, Scotch, Irish, English, French, and Danish—the two last-named have as yet never before entered for the Tnternstional races, and their entries on this occasion are welcomed most heartily by all rowing men. The French are being captained by our friend Monsieur Chapeau, one of the keenest oars in the Club. The Danes are a very well set-up crew and are being trained for all they are worth by Julius Timm, a cox who has steered many boats to success.
Of griffins there are a goodly crowd, and every evening they are to be seen pad-dung and_ rowing alternatively up and down the river, to the shouts and yells of their coxes, who for the most know the game, but are 24th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.