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CHAPTER XIV.

THE AMATEUR, IIS HISTORY AND DFSCRIPTION,

TueE old theory of an amateur was that he was a ‘gentleman,’ and that the two were simply convertible terms. The amateur of old might make rowing his sport, so long as he did not actually make it his ostensible means of livelihood. The Leander oarsmen who matched themselves against University crews between 1830 and 1840 did not consider that they lost caste by rowing for a stake.

In 1831 Oxford and Leander rowed at Henley for 200/, a side, with watermen steering them, Much later than this it was not considered improper for two ‘gentlemen’ to row a match (or race one) for a mutual sfaée (not a bet). Until 1861, when the conditions of the Wingfield Sculls were remodelled at a mecting of ex-champions and old competitors, it had been the custom for all entries for that prize to pay a fee of 57, and