VETERAN'S ROWING FEAT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 4

VETERAN'S ROWING FEAT.

DR. FURNIVALL'S 86TH BIRTHDAY ON THE THAMES. Surrounded by a merry crowd of men and women, members of the English rowing club which bears bis name, Dr. Furnivall, the veteran Shakespearean scholar and oarsman, last month celebrated his 86th birthday. In tho morning the doctor and his "boys and girls" marched their boats down to the river from tho club-house at Hammersmith Bridge, preparatory to taking a thir-teen-mile spin to Richmond and back. First off were a "girls' eight." Then came a "girls' four," a polytechnic eight, two men's fours, a men's double, and lastly two men's singles. In one of tho men's fours Dr. Furnivall rowed bow.

In a little over an hour tho party reached Waite's Raft, just below the lock bridge at St. Margaret's. There the boats ware left, and Dr. Furnivall led his crews a brisk walk across a corner of the Old Deer Park te Valchera's Restaurant in Richmond High Street. After lunch a walk back to the boats, and finally the 6J-mile scull down stream to the boat-houso. One would havo thought that after such a display of athletic power at the age of 86 Dr. Furnivall; would have sought restful retirement for the remainder of the day. But this wonderful old gentleman had not by any means completed his prp- ; gramme for the day. At the club house ho entertained the members to a bumper tea, after which there were speeches. "Do I feel tired? Not a bit," eaid Dr. Furnivall te a. "Daily News" representative. "I could go on the river again ' to-night if necessary. People seem to think that I did a great thing in rowing thirteen miles to-day, but a-s a matter-of fact I do the same every Sunday, and there is no reason why every man,of my age should not bb able to do the same if ho takes , plenty 'of exercise during, his life, ani keeps off tobacco and alcohol. Yes, the Furnivall Rowing Club has grown a bit since I first started it in 1896. Then we had a membership of only some eight or ten girls and two mien; now we have close on a hundred, with slightly more men than girls. : "This eighty-sixth birthday of mine is notable for one thing, and that is that the cost'of the rent of tho clubhouse—about £40 a year—is now te be taken off my shoulders. ; At the instanco of Miss -Beatrice Harraden, author of 'Ships that Pass in tho Night,' and Miss Spurgeon, the wellknown lecturer on. English literatureat Bedford College, Mr. Jack Munrbe, an old member of the club, is-collect-ing subscriptions : to pay for the rent of 'the club-house during my life, and after my death a small committee will be formed to try and keep it on still." .He always rows bow, because he can see how his men are rowing, and coach them if they do not go right.,. • . At -Hie birthday tea party,r a t- : the clubhouse Dr. Furnivall. had a larra.birthday ■'■ cake. ::. Mr. G.. HrCE&d'ford)! M.P.,'at whoso election Furniv'all Row-" ing i Club men rendered considerable help, was among the guests, and made ia':-speech congratulating the, doctor. -Large crowds' assembled : on".-.the banks, and. the doctor received many congratulatory ... telegrams. .- Oho : was from Lord Ronald Sutherland Gower, and another from Mr. M'Kinnon; president of the Oxford University Boat Club. ■ ■ ' ■ .

"I am particularly glad to have received a wire from Mr. M'Kinnon," Said Dr. Furnivall, "as I am' a Cambridge man myself." ■ ■■• .;.-■