YALE ALUMNI EVV disc ee ee a MR. COOK'S WORK. He will Stay in New Haven Probably Until the Race. Boating at Yale has within the past week assumed a new aspect. The uncer- tainty which seemed likely to undo the splendid system developed during the past twenty years, has been practically dispelled. Mr. Robert J. Cook has again consented to take charge of the coach- ing, and it will be good news to all to know that Mr. Cook will be with the oarsmen constantly until the race on the Hudson, on June 25. This is Mr. Cook’s plan, and there is little doubt that he will be able to carry it out, Mr. Cook’s coming to New. Haven, one week ago, was not pre-arranged. Captain Bailey had not been able to get any definite answer from Mr. Cook and in fact was uncertain whether Mr. Cook could do any coaching this sea- son. The members of last year’s Hen- ley eight all seemed to have a different idea as to what sort of a stroke Yale ought to row, and although Captain Bailey was accomplishing all that hard work can in boating, a crisis seemed to be inevitable. Mr. Cook’s first announcement was that Yale would this year pursue the old policy in developing her crew which is based on the theory that the coach does the coaching and the oarsmen the rowing. He called both the Freshman and ’Varsity candidates together and reviewed Yale’s expedition to Henley and explained the results. He empha- sized the necessity of every man be- lieving in and following the instruc- tion of the coach. He-eurged any who could not conscientiously do this to withdraw from the crew, get up an eight and row their way in order to satisfy themselves and their friends as to who was right. ROBERT J COOK. Mr. Cook concluded his talks to the crews by outlining the changes which he considers necessary. He ex- plained in detail how Yale had little by little shortened up her stroke and lost her old time body swing. The expedition to Henley had shown how far Yale had drifted from the principles she Jearned from the English oarsmen 20 years ago. It was now necessary to go back if Yale was to hold her position in boating. Mr. Cook added that he did not ask the oarsmen to acept his conviction alone in this matter but also that of the best oarsmen in England and then read a letter from one of the greatest author- ities on boating in England, in which the l:tter agreed with Mr. Cook in every detail as to the changes Yale should make. The effect upon the oarsmen of Mr. Cook’s coming has been magnetic. Their enthusiasm has risen to such an extent that it seems likely they wil have to be restrained rather than urged on in their work. A more seri- ous and willing lot certainly never set out to win a victory for Yale. Capt. Bailey, in his eagerness, has had the candidates on the river almost every day since the training began and as a result the men have not only learned more boating than usual, but are in better physical condition than ‘Yale crews usually are by Paster time. The Freshmen are the most likely lot of novices in boating that Yale has prob- ably ever had. They are unusual in point of physique and accept coaching in a wav that is most egratifvine. Mr. Cook regards them as the back-bone of Yale’s boating for the next four years and is devoting a great deal of atten- tion to them. He is already satisfied that thev will sive the ’Varsity a hard rub before the end of the year, and with this ob- ject in view is pushing them ahead as rapidly as possible. There is enough material in the class for two good eights, and these, together with the two , *Varsity crews, now rowing, insure an unusually lively competition for both Freshman and ’Varsity boats. THE STROKE CHANGES. The nature of the changes that Mr. Cook will make may be briefly charac- terized by more body swing and a long- er reach on the catch. Yale will not adopt English boats or rigging. She . will, however, use the narrower bladed English oar and in all probability a cedar boat built on new lines. The seats will be arranged in the center of the boat as usual, and not on either side of the keel, as the English crews are seated. The English oars are not only narrower in the blade than Yale’s oars have been, but are longer. The buttons are arranged so as to give the oarsman greater leverage in-board of the out- rigger and thus permit more body swing and consequently greater reach on the catch, and a longer stroke in the water both fore and aft of the out-rigger. These changes will of course make a most perceptible difference in Yale’s style. No less attention will be given to form inside the boat but more stress will be laid upon watermanship and a clean, hard catch and drive through the wa- ter. The points Yale is searching for in regard to her boat are greater stiff- ness of the shell and the best model for attaining the highest possible speed. A great deal has been written in re- gard to the coming race between Yale, Harvard and Cornell as a contest he- tween the Cook stroke, the English stroke and the Courtney stroke. The race. on the contrary, will not be a test of different styles of rowing, but of teachers of the same style, namely the Enelish. Mr. Cook got his first ideas of boating in England and the stroke he will’ teach this year will be the En- elish stroke. Mr. R. C. Lehman. the Oxford coach, will of course teach Har- vard the English stroke. Courtney will do the same for Cornell. The latter’s experience with the Courtney stroke at Henley in 1895 caused her graduates to demand a change. Courtney was com- pelled to follow the English idea, and it was due to this course that Cornell won at Poughkeepsie last June. There -will of course be minor differences in regard to boats and rigging, but the principles of the strokes rowed by the eights will be based on the English method of rowing. and it will bea. question whether Mr. Cook, Mr. Léh- — man or Courtney can teach this method best. THE MAKEUP. It is of course too early to make con- jectures regarding the make-up of Yale’s ’97 eight. Bailey, Simpson and Langford of last year’s eight, the three substitutes, Whitney, Marsh nd Mills and Coxswain Clarke are again candi- dates. Langford will not be rowed at stroke owing to his increased weight but will be shoved back to No. 7, for which position he is better fitted. Simpson, last year’s bow, is being tried at stroke; Whitney at No. 6, Bailey at his old position at No. 5, and Mills at No. 4. D. F. Rogers, ’98, has been row- ing at bow. No. 2 and No. 8 are still open to all comers and a freshman is likely to get one of the places. In ad- dition to these candidates H. G. Camp- bell, .°97; H. H.: Parkhurst, °98, emgeS Patterson, ’97, are now at the training table. Negotiations are in progress for a race in New Haven waters with the University of Wisconsin crew which defeated the Yale Freshman crew of last year. The Wisconsin oarsmen are willing to come to New Haven again and in case a race is arranged both the "Varsity and Freshman eights. will probably be pitted against the West- erners. It is thought the contest would be a valuable experience for both crews. It would probably be rowed about June 1. With Mr. Cook in charge, for he, alone is capable of making the neces- sary changes and inspiring the great- est confidence, Yale has every reason to believe that she will make a credit- able showing at Poughkeepsie. The de- feat at Henley will be an invaluable lesson, greater by far than can be ap- preciated save by those who were with the crew in England and know of the insubordination and outside interfer- ence that should be a warning to all not di- rectly or practically connected with Yale’s boating interests. This season will be the most critical Yale has ever had to prepare for. ALBERT H. BARCLAY. WILLIAM FRANKLIN & CO, Importing Tailors 40 Center St., New Haven, Conn, a eesgpon e HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY’S NEW BOOKS. The Cambridge Lowell. Complete Poetical Works of James Rvus- SELL LOWELL. Cambridge Edition. Uni- form with the Cambridge Editions of Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and Browning. From new plates, large type, on opaque paper, and attractively bound. With a Biographical Sketch, Notes, In- dexes, a fine new portrait, and an en- graved title page with a vignette of Low- ell’s home, Elmwood. 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