wooded hill slopes down to a winding river, glimpses, of which can be
seen through the trees, and perspective and distance are given by the
range of mountains on the horizon. A large log marks the foreground, and
near the edge of the river can be seen figures of several boys about to
build a camp fire, the figures being quite small, and not so conspicuous
as to first attract the eye when looking at the picture. The point of
view was well chosen, and the picture would make an excellent color
study. The second-prize picture was entitled, "Here are cool Mosses
deep," and was a fine picture.
The first prize for figure studies was given to a picture entitled,
"Would you like a Piece?" and represents a young lady offering candy
from a box of fine bonbons to three little children whom she has
evidently met on her walk. The expressions on the faces of the children
as they bashfully accept the proffered sweets are excellent, and, if
they were posed for the picture, evidently entered into the spirit of
the scene. The second prize was given to a picture entitled, "I won't
stand still." The finishing of this picture showed much artistic taste
and originality. The artist made a crayon drawing of a scroll, pinned a
butterfly, a lace-winged fly, and two or three bugs on it, and
photographed the whole. He then printed the picture in the centre of the
scroll.
In the senior or "Open to All" competition the first prize in landscapes
was awarded to a picture entitled, "Sun and Shade," and the second prize
to a picture with no name, but showing a small stream in the foreground,
with a road leading off into a wood. Both prize-winners sent in many
other excellent specimens of work.
The first prize picture in figure studies was awarded to one entitled,
"He cometh not." A young lady in evening costume, with opera cloak and a
scarf, sits holding a watch, at which she is looking, evidently much
annoyed at the non-appearance of her promised escort. The subject,
though rather a hackneyed one, is well treated, the lighting, pose, and
expression being above the average of photographic work. The mounting
and finish of the picture are also very fine. The second prize was
awarded to a picture entitled, the "Checker-Players." An elderly man is
playing checkers with a young boy, perhaps his grandson. He has made a
move which puts the younger one in an unfortunate position, and the
puzzled look on the boy's face as he studies the game is very good. A
little girl, the boy's sister, sits at the side of the table, looking up
into her brother's face, as much as to say, "Now you are in a box sure!"
THE CAMERA CLUB FIRST-PRIZE WINNERS.
[Illustration: First Prize, Senior Class--Figure Studies.
By H. E. Murdock.]
[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Marine Views.
By Sir Knight Joseph Lovering.]
[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Figure Studies.
By Sir Knight Andrew M. Phillips.]
[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Landscapes.
By Sir Knight Frank Smith.]
[Illustration: First Prize, Senior Class--Landscapes.
By R. Hamilton Craig.]
[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]
Ice-boating is the sport that appeals most strongly at the present
season to those of us who live near a lake or a river and have even the
slightest knowledge of sailing. It is a sport that many people
discourage because of the danger supposed to be connected with it, but
as a matter of fact it is less dangerous to sail and handle an ice-boat
than it is to sail and handle a cat-boat. The only two things to be
guarded against while running an ice-boat are sailing upon weak ice or
near the edge of open water, and getting the runners caught in a
crevice. In the one case you risk drowning, in the second you will very
probably smash your machine and get mixed up in the wreckage yourself.
But, compared with the chances for a ducking when sailing a cat-boat,
the probabilities of a plunge from an ice-boat are very remote; and as
for getting the runners into a crevice, only the most careless or
incompetent helmsman need fear such a mishap.
The idea prevails among those unacquainted with the sport that, because
ice-boats skim along so rapidly over the frozen river, it is therefore
particularly dangerous. This, however, is an incorrect conclusion to
draw, for ice-boats are so easily controlled that they can be brought to
a stop almost instantly, and they answer their helms so rapidly that
they can be most easily steered and turned out of danger. As in
everything else of this nature, however, the sportsman, whether he be
young or old, must use judgment and care in the handling of his machine,
otherwise he is bound to come to grief. But such an individual would
undoubtedly come to grief on a bicycle or on skates, or even in walking
through the crowded streets of a busy city.
[Illustration: PLAN FOR HOME MADE ICE BOAT.]
The construction of an ice-boat is the point I want to touch on here,
rather than upon the improbability of suffering bodily harm from taking
part in the sport. Of course it is always possible to buy an ice-boat,
new or second-hand; but it is much cheaper and certainly more pleasing
and profitable to build your own craft, and it is by no means a
difficult task. The boat proper is a triangular wooden frame, partly
covered at the apex or stern. This covering, or deck, is necessary for
the accommodation of the crew. The frame is built to rest on three
skatelike runners, two of which are at the front--at either end of the
base-line of the triangle--and one at the stern, the latter being the
rudder. This rudder is controlled by a tiller, similar to the tiller of
a sail-boat, and it is with this that all the handling of the machine is
done, for the sails are seldom touched after they have once been set.
Many rigs have been tried on ice-boats, but experience has shown that
the simple balanced jib-and-mainsail rig is the best. As a rule the jib
sheet is set on a traveller, so that no trimming down is required for
going about. If it is possible to avoid it, an ice-boat should never be
made to run before the wind, because the craft cannot be made to behave
well under such conditions. There being no resistance to speak of, such
as a cat-boat meets in the water, the ice-boat behaves badly when
sailing free, runs up against the wind, and falls back continually. The
best plan when sailing one of these machines off the wind is to take a
zigzag course back and forth in the general direction of the wind,
instead of running directly before it.
The best material for the construction of an ice-boat is oak, but good
yellow pine will do for the frame if oak is found to be too expensive.
The platform should be built of light pine, with a low railing around
the edge. It is well to screw a few cleats and eye-bolts to this deck, to
which it may be found convenient to fasten straps and ropes to hold on
by when running fast or making turns. I give no proportions for
construction, because it is best for amateur carpenters to adapt these
to their resources. The general proportionate relation of the various
parts of the machine can be easily seen from the diagrams.
The frame of an ice-boat is subject to severe strain, and ought,
therefore, to be made as strong as possible. It should be put together
with bolts and screws. Nails may be used for the platform, but screws
are preferable. The mast should be of pine, and must be rigged with
strong stays--of wire, if possible. The bowsprit in the same way. When
it comes to the making of the rudder a blacksmith will have to be called
in. The tiller and rudder-post will have to be forged of iron, as shown
in the diagram, and should be carefully made, because much depends upon
their strength and durability. The head of the rudder-post must be
squared off, and the tiller fixed firmly upon it. The steering runner,
or rudder proper, underneath, is secured to the iron rudder-post by a
bolt, and it is advisable to slip a large iron washer over the post to
give it a smooth bearing.
[Illustration: RUNNER AND BLOCKS.]
For the runner shoes I should recommend soft iron. This becomes very
much heated, to be sure, when the boat is running, but the soft metal
chills rapidly as soon as the machine comes to a stop. This alternate
heating and chilling soon give the runner's edge a degree of hardness
fully equal to that of steel. (Let me caution novices at ice-boating
against touching their runners, for the metal becomes so heated that it
can inflict painful burns.) The runners proper--that is, the wooden part
before the metal shoe is put on--should be cut of stiff, heavy oak. They
should be carefully bored, and attached to the frame with bolts. The
blocks that hold the two forward runners should be firmly bolted to the
forward plank of the frame--the one that forms the base of the
triangle--and set so as to hold the runners firmly. The iron shoes are
screwed to the runners. The metal must previously be drilled, and the
screws which hold the shoes to the wood must be counter-sunk so that
their heads may not touch the ice.
To steer an ice-boat well considerable practice is required. There is no
perceptive "feel" to the helm as there is to that of a water craft. The
tiller turns so easily that great care and patience are required to
attain the proper "touch," but when this is once acquired it is
delightful to feel the power of a finger-touch over so great an engine.
The manner of stopping an ice-boat is similar to that of stopping a
sail-boat, in that you round up into the wind; but an ice-boat rounds up
much more quickly, and is held fast by jamming the helm hard down so
that the rudder lies parallel to the fore cross-beam--the base of the
triangle.
The majority of pictures of ice-boats that I have seen show the machines
keeled over and speeding along over the ice on two runners, with a lot
of terrified-looking passengers gripping beams and ropes. This is all
very well for purposes of illustration, but it is not in exact
conformity with fact. Ice-boats do sometimes "rear" as the pictures show
us, but it is not because the steersman desires such conduct. Rearing is
a thing to be prevented and not to be encouraged. Ice-boats have three
runners, and they are intended to run on three runners, not on two. A
good sailor will keep his boat down on all three runners all the time.
If the wind is so strong as to lift the windward runner, send a man out
on the end to hold it down with his weight. There is no danger in this
position, and considerable sport.
The speed of an ice-boat is greater than that of anything but a
locomotive, and under favorable conditions the boat can even distance
the engine. A mile a minute has frequently been made by such boats on
the Hudson River. I should not advise young ice-yachtsmen to attempt too
great speed, however, until they have become thoroughly familiar with
their craft; until they have learned every trick of the machine, and
have secured such control over the tiller that they are masters of the
ice-boat, and the ice-boat never master of them. Above all things, shun
thin ice as you would the open sea, and keep a constant lookout for
cracks and rough spots. Under such conditions you are beyond danger, and
you have at your command one of the finest of sports, and one of the
keenest of sensations--rapid travel.
OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
[Illustration: C. G. McDAVITT, President.]
[Illustration: H. I. PRATT, Vice-President.]
[Illustration: H. N. DUNBAR, Secretary.]
[Illustration: O. E. MICHAELIS, Treasurer.]
The officers or the National Interscholastic Athletic Association, whose
portraits appear this week, are all prominent workers in their
respective organizations. Mr. McDavitt, in addition to being president
of the National Association, is president of the New York I.S.A.A.; Mr.
Pratt is president of the Long Island I.S.A.A.; Mr. Dunbar is president
of the New England I.S.A.A.; and Mr. Michaelis is secretary of the Maine
I.S.A.A.
The address of the secretary of the National I.S.A.A. is H. Nelson
Dunbar, Esq., 552 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. All
communications on matters connected with the association should be
addressed to him.
Dr. White, of the Berkeley School, says that he feels sure "the
head-masters of the preparatory schools throughout the country will look
with anxiety upon the formation of a National Interscholastic Athletic
Association," and he gives his reasons for this belief in a letter to a
New York paper; but I believe a great many of his objections, if looked
at from a slightly different point of view, can be turned to the favor
of the new organization. Dr. White has, to a certain extent, condemned
the weaknesses of the young association, instead of suggesting
improvements and remedies. He begins, for instance, by saying that "the
avidity for athletic competitions among boys has already been fostered
too keenly," and he adds that "we already have so many contests of a
competitive nature that the schools cannot without danger stand the
pressure of still another and more engrossing series."
In advocating and encouraging the formation of a National Association,
the main object of this Department was to secure the organization of a
parent or controlling body that would bring order out of the present
chaotic state of interscholastic contests. The holding of an annual
field meeting was purely a secondary consideration, the principal desire
in urging the formation of the association being to secure uniformity in
the schedule of events contested at minor meets, establish a standard of
record, and to fix a cast-iron definition of what constitutes an amateur
with regard to athletic competition among schools. In favoring the
holding of a field day this Department believed, and still believes,
that the many smaller school meetings would be done away with, and that
interscholastic sport would thus be rid of one of its worst features.
Take New York city as an example. Almost every school in the local
League holds a field day previous to the big meet in May controlled by
the I.S.A.A. These little meetings could be done away with altogether. I
am heartily in accord with Dr. White when he says that "the avidity for
athletic competitions among boys has already been fostered too keenly."
That a National Association of schools can never be a representative one
I think is not true. It is certainly not true if the object of the
association is to be the promotion of pure sport, and the regulation of
events that interscholastic associations in every part of the country
shall compete in. And that, I hold, is the object of the association. I
repeat that an annual field meeting is purely a secondary consideration.
If it should be found convenient to hold one, the contest would be
beneficial, and would doubtless be attended by representative athletes
from widely separated localities; but such a contest would merely be a
small evidence of the good work the association had done. It would also
serve to establish a definite standard of record, which it is certainly
advisable to have. But I cannot say too emphatically that in urging all
these arguments I consider them as purely secondary to the main and
fundamental objects of the association. When Dr. White says that the
date fixed for the meeting (the last Saturday in June) would of
necessity exclude a large percentage of the best athletes from the
preparatory schools, I agree with him fully. This Department has already
gone on record as being opposed to that date, and has suggested to the
Executive Committee that an earlier time be chosen. This Department's
objection, however, was not based upon the probable absence of a "large
percentage of the best athletes," but on the ground that the date of the
meeting would come at a time when senior school-boys must be giving all
their time and attention to the college entrance examinations. Dr. White
refers to this, too; and I don't think he would find any more evil in
the holding of a national meet in May than in a league meet at about
the same date.
Where this Department fully agrees with Dr. White is in his objection to
the newspaper notoriety connected with a big meet, and to the evil
results of too much politics in the executive work. The latter is by all
means the worse of the two, but I have hoped it could be vastly
diminished by having the work distributed at centres so widely separated
from one another that the petty jealousies of local efforts would be
entirely done away with. As for the newspapers, they are a condition and
not a theory. It is the mode of the century to treat events by columns
rather than by lines, and I doubt if in the end (the small meetings
being eliminated) there would be more type set about interscholastic
matters to describe one great occasion than to record a swarm of lesser
events. It is well for the principals of schools to take an honest
interest in this new movement, and if the preponderance of opinion is
that the objects desired cannot be attained along these lines, there
ought to be enough wisdom among the older heads to point out the better
way.
A new track-athletic league has been formed by the larger
boarding-schools of the Eastern States, and it is proposed now to hold
an annual field meeting in the spring, alternately at New Haven and
Princeton. The present members of the new association are Lawrenceville,
The Hill School, Westminster, and Hotchkiss; and it is probable that
Worcester and Andover will join at the next convention of the managers,
which is to be held during the Easter recess. This league ought to prove
a very strong one, for the schools in it are all prominent in track
sports. If they should become members of the National Association, as
they doubtless will, they would send one of the strongest teams of any
association excepting New York and Boston.
Interest in the National I.S.A.A. seems to be general among these large
schools. The _Phillipian_, of Andover, has an editorial on the subject,
and urges the track athletes to go into training at once, closing with
the statement that a strong team is necessary this year, for "it means
not only competing in Boston, but also the chance of winning laurels for
Andover in the All-America competition in New York." If these large
schools, such as Andover, and Worcester, and Lawrenceville, and the most
important Boston schools, determine that a national championship is
something worth working for--as it certainly is--they will give the New
York athletes a hard tussle for supremacy, and the latter may as well
realize at once that it is none too early for them to begin hard
training.
Training for baseball has already begun in many quarters, especially at
the large schools in the country. As soon as space permits, this
Department will offer some suggestions for training and preparation
which may prove of assistance to captains and players.
The Long Island League has already arranged its baseball schedule for
this spring as follows:
April 18--Brooklyn Latin School vs. St. Paul School.
April 22--High-School vs. Adelphi Academy.
April 25--Pratt Institute vs. Polytechnic Preparatory.
April 29--Brooklyn High-School vs. Brooklyn Latin School.
May 2--Pratt Institute vs. Brooklyn Latin School.
May 6--Brooklyn High-School vs. St. Paul.
May 6--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. Brooklyn Latin School.
May 9--Pratt Institute vs. Adelphi Academy.
May 16--Pratt Institute vs. Brooklyn High-School.
May 16--Adelphi Academy vs. Brooklyn Latin School.
May 16--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. St. Paul.
May 23--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. Brooklyn High-School.
May 23--Pratt Institute vs. St. Paul.
May 27--Adelphi Academy vs. Polytechnic Preparatory.
June 3--Adelphi Academy vs. St. Paul.
It will be seen that their season begins early, this being necessitated
by the number of teams in the League. I hope the schedule will be
carried out completely, and that the unfortunate system of forfeiting
games--usually through fear of defeat--will not be carried on this
spring as it was last fall in football.
DICK GORHAM.--Maroon is the college color of St. John's, Fordham.
THE GRADUATE.
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Songs.
Franklin Square Collection.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to gather more features of
interest into a work of this kind. Not only are many of the best songs
and hymns in the English language here given--both old and new--but
there are also songs and hymns for children and the schools. There are
songs of home and of country, of love and fame, of heart and soul, of
devotion and praise, with their sad and sweet or lively melodies, and
with grand old chorals that stir the heart and lift it in worship.
Besides the words and music, explanatory and historic notes are given to
indicate their origin and significance. These books cannot fail to
become immensely popular.--_Lutheran Observer._
Sold Everywhere. Price, 50 cents; Cloth, $1.00. Full contents of
the Several Numbers, with Specimen Pages of favorite Songs and
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[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water]
[Illustration: BICYCLING]
This Department is conducted in the Interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.
[Illustration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.]