Life — June 24, 1886 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-LIFE-: HE probabilities in regard to the America’s cup races are becoming more and more mixed. If the Purttan had won the Atlantic Yacht Club's regatta, on Tuesday, pro- phecy would have been an easier matter. But the sudden forging to the front of the Préscé//a was a great surpris¢ to all those persons who have little faith in the efficacy of alterations in a boat. It is impossible to deny, however, that Mr. Cass Canfield’s “ iron pot” has been much improved by the changes made in her since last season. . . . HE problem of the race was how the Aé/antice and Priscilla managed to pass the Puritan after the three had rounded the Scotland lightship. Having watched the race carefully from beginning to end I have a theory on that point. The wind was very light when the three big sloops reached the point mentioned, and the swell was pretty large. They were all three butting head-first into the seas. Now the Puritan is unquestionably the lightest in weight of the three. Her hull is not as large as that of the A//antic, while of course the Przscz//a, being of iron, outweighs them both. Every one knows that a heavy vessel will keep her way through the water longer than a light one. When the three pointed their bows directly against the swells the Atlantic, by her weight. was able to keep the momentum given by the wind longer than the Purttan, and the Priscilla longer than both of them. The seas checked the Purstan. There is a simple and reasonable theory of the whole matter. . - . J F there had been a strong breeze the Purstan would have been driven ahead and her speed would have told. It was the peculiar combination of light wind and big swell that defeated her. Some one may ask, * Why did not the Genesta beat the Puritan last year under similar circum- stances?” That, however, is easily answered. The Genesta was unquestionably the heavier boat. But she was a cutter and had thirteen feet of depth to the Purztan’s eight, thus offering a much greater surface to be affected by the friction of the water. The three boats that sailed together on Tuesday were all of the same type. . . . HE race of the New York Yacht Club, however, brought in the Mayflower, an unknown quantity hitherto. It is simply impossible, as matters now stand, to-tell which will be the champion this year. One thing, however, is vety certain: We have four splendid yachts, and the Ga/atca is going to have a very hard row to hoe. . . . HE chances of the New York nine for the baseball championship are becoming small by degrees and beautifully less. It might be a good idea for some one, not 361 wholly unconnected with the management of that organiza- tion, to explain how it is that on one day they will defeat one of the best clubs in the League and the next day be beaten by one of the worst. Baseball is full of pretty chances, but not quite so full as that. . * : 4 Pe season for slaughtering woodcock will begin in a number of States on July 1st. Many “ sportsmen” will slip out of town a day or two before to get an early crack at the birds. The law as it stands ought to be repealed. The woodcock does not attain its full growth-before Septem- ber. The birds killed in June are young and not in full com- mand of their flying powers. They can be knocked over by the merest tyro of a shot. Killing them is cruel and cow- ardly, for they have little chance for their lives, and threatens a final extinction of the species. This bird is one of the noblest of all game birds. The law all over the country should prohibit shooting them except in the months of Sep- tember, October and November. Tricotrin. ROTHER GEORGE: Girls, did you hear what a sad thing happened to Fred Jones, yesterday ? Girls (in alarm) : No! What is it? Brother G.: The poor fellow had to have his arm taken off. Girls: Oh! how terrible! How dd it happen? Brother G.: Well, it happened on the tennis ground. He was sitting by Mrs. Smith; they were then alone, when sud- denly he put his arm around her. Girls: Well; goon. What then? What happened ? Brother G.: Well, it was then it had to be taken off. HE latest craze is to collect statistics about your an- cestors. Many aristocratic families find the results of their researches in this direction exceedingly embarrassing. ANOTHER FISHERY AGITATION. comicbooks.com