The Columbia Freshman Crew.

The defeat the Columbia freshmen received at the hands of Harvard last year has not in the least discouraged them; on the contrary they are this year making greater efforts than ever before to have victory come to them, and thus gain some honor for the blue and white. They formerly rowed in the gymnasium belonging to the Columbia Grammar School; this, year, however, on account of the increased number trying for positions on the crew, they were forced to abandon their old quarters and look around for larger and more suitable accommodations. They have rented Wood's gymnasium for the entire season, and are to be seen rowing there every afternoon at half past four o'clock. In order to accommodate the crew, a raised platform has been erected at the further end of the gymnasium; it is about nine feet from the floor, and about four and a half feet wide. Upon this platform eight rowing machines have been placed in position, and fastened to the walls are the weights. Although everything is very simple and unpretentious when compared to our large and well equipped rowing room, the work accomplished in the New York gymnasium is not inferior to that done by the Harvard freshmen. A visit to Wood's gymnasium is only required in order to see with what will and determination the Columbia freshman handle the oars; they have been defeated so many times by Harvard, that this year they are making extraordinary efforts to wrest victory from her. They are at present rowing eighteen men, and all are trying for positions on the crew. They are undergoing systematic training, being coached while at work by some "'varsity" man. They row about twenty minutes every day, run a slow mile and a fast half mile, and pull the weights. Their movements at the weights are entirely different from those at use at Harvard; they have a greater variety of exercises, thus causing changes to be more frequent. Their training on the whole is more thorough than heretofore, and it would be well for the Harvard freshmen to bear this in mind. In order to win next June they will have to continue the good work they are now doing in the gymnasium. Harvard, '89, has a larger and finer set of men than Columbia, and they are likewise heavier, but it has often been shown that "beef" is not absolutely essential to make a good rower. If the Harvard freshmen continue their good work throughout the year, there is no reason why '89 should not score a victory over Columbia as did Harvard, '88, last year.

S. A. B.