Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/104

 It is the captain who can make or mar a club. He is the general officer in command of the forces, while the president (when such an extra official exists) is more of a field-marshal- enjoying efum cum dignifate at home, The qualifications upon which a captain is, or should be, selected by his club are, in the first place, personal merit as an oarsman and knowledge of his craft ; in the second, a due seniority, so that he may have proper influence, both socially and in an aquatic sense, over those whom he is appointed to command ; thirdly, tact and commion sense.

Deficiency in either one of these desiderata is often fatal ro a captain’s chances of success in his office. If he is a bad oar, and lacking in practical knowledge compared with those under him, it will little avail him to be a person of senior standing in the crews and of social position. He will fail to carry with him that prestige and confidence which should be the attri- bute of all commanders wha expect to lead men to victory. If on the other hand, he is a good oar, even the best of his club, and yet is a fledgling in age, he will find it difficult to maintain his command over sundry jealous seniors, and will, more than all, require the third requisite of tact, which is less Hable to be found in a mere lad than in a man of the world whe has well passed his majority.

A captain should be self-reliant without being obstinate ; he should be good-tempered but not facile ; he should be firm but not tyrannical, energetic but not’ a busybody. A captain has usually a host of counsellors, and he too well reatises the fallacy of the adage that in a multitude of counsels there is wisdom. If he were to pay attention to all the advice offered to him he would never be able to haye a mind of his own. And yet he will do well not to run to the opposite extreme, nor to decline to listen to anyone who yentures to offer him a sugges- tion, Ifhe is captain of a University crew he will find his bed anything but one of roses, The cyes of the sporting world are upon him from the commencement of Tent term. Daily he will receive letters from individuals of whom he has never