FAMOUS BOAT RACE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 673, 30 May 1914, Page 7

FAMOUS BOAT RACE.

The Oxford and Cambridge boat race which was rcwed on the Thames, sceir.s to have produced an unusually large crop of reminiscences and coincidences. One of the most remarkable of the coincidences is the subject of a note in the Westminster Gazette. On one of tho steamers following the race Canon C. P. Roberts, w ho rowed in tho Oxford boat in 1864, met a country gentleman of upright carriage and healthy eye. who hovered around him for Bome minutes, ami then taking his courage in both hands, asked, "Did you happen to row in this race fifty years ago?" "I did," was the answer. "Are you Roberts?" "I am; who are you?" "Kelly." "You rowed bow to my three?" "That's right." Through the fifty years of their journey through life, theße two elderly enthusiasts had never met since the boat race of 1864 till the boat race of 1914. The reminiscences are of the same order, though necessarily not so striking. The announcement that one of the members of this year's victorious crew had been ordained within a few days of the race re called many clerical associations in connection with the historic contest. Of the men who took part in the firßt race, two becama bishops—Wordsworth and Selwyn, wose Bun was both a "blue" and a bishop—one a perbendary of York, one a chancellor of the diocese of Manchester, and three deans. In all, four bishops have rowed in the race. Rowing appears to develop the muscular kind of Christianity that makes its way in the Church.