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this extreme doctrine； for she was herself far better equipped with
brain than muscles。 In fact； she was a large…headed； large…eyed；
long…eyelashed； slender…necked； slightly developed young woman；
looking almost like a child at an age when many of the girls had
reached their full stature and proportions。 In her studies she was
so far in advance of her different classes that there was always a
wide gap between her and the second scholar。 So fatal to all rivalry
had she proved herself that she passed under the school name of The
Terror。 She learned so easily that she undervalued her own
extraordinary gifts； and felt the deepest admiration for those of her
friends endowed with faculties of an entirely different and almost
opposite nature。 After sitting at her desk until her head was hot
and her feet were like ice； she would go and look at the blooming
young girls exercising in the gymnasium of the school； and feel as if
she would give all her knowledge； all her mathematics and strange
tongues and history； all those accomplishments that made her the
encyclopaedia of every class she belonged to； if she could go through
the series of difficult and graceful exercises in which she saw her
schoolmates delighting。
One among them； especially； was the object of her admiration； as she
was of all who knew her exceptional powers in the line for which
nature had specially organized her。 All the physical perfections
which Miss Lurida had missed had been united in Miss Euthymia Tower；
whose school name was The Wonder。 Though of full womanly stature；
there were several taller girls of her age。 While all her contours
and all her movements betrayed a fine muscular development； there was
no lack of proportion； and her finely shaped hands and feet showed
that her organization was one of those carefully finished
masterpieces of nature which sculptors are always in search of； and
find it hard to detect among the imperfect products of the living
laboratory。
This girl of eighteen was more famous than she cared to be for her
performances in the gymnasium。 She commonly contented herself with
the same exercises that her companions were accustomed to。 Only her
dumb…bells； with which she exercised easily and gracefully； were too
heavy for most of the girls to do more with than lift them from the
floor。 She was fond of daring feats on the trapeze； and had to be
checked in her indulgence in them。 The Professor of gymnastics at
the University came over to the Institute now and then； and it was a
source of great excitement to watch some of the athletic exercises in
which the young lady showed her remarkable muscular strength and
skill in managing herself in the accomplishment of feats which looked
impossible at first sight。 How often The Terror had thought to
herself that she would gladly give up all her knowledge of Greek and
the differential and integral calculus if she could only perform the
least of those feats which were mere play to The Wonder！ Miss
Euthymia was not behind the rest in her attainments in classical or
mathematical knowledge； and she was one of the very best students in
the out…door branches；botany； mineralogy； sketching from nature；
to be found among the scholars of the Institute。
There was an eight…oared boat rowed by a crew of the young ladies； of
which Miss Euthymia was the captain and pulled the bow oar。 Poor
little Lurida could not pull an oar； but on great occasions； when
there were many boats out； she was wanted as coxswain； being a mere
feather…weight； and quick…witted enough to serve well in the
important office where brains are more needed than muscle。
There was also an eight…oared boat belonging to the University； and
rowed by a picked crew of stalwart young fellows。 The bow oar and
captain of the University crew was a powerful young man； who； like
the captain of the girls' boat； was a noted gymnast。 He had had one
or two quiet trials with Miss Euthymia； in which； according to the
ultras of the woman's rights party； he had not vindicated the
superiority of his sex in the way which might have been expected。
Indeed； it was claimed that he let a cannon…ball drop when he ought
to have caught it； and it was not disputed that he had been
ingloriously knocked over by a sand…bag projected by the strong arms
of the young maiden。 This was of course a story that was widely told
and laughingly listened to； and the captain of the University crew
had become a little sensitive on the subject。 When there was a talk；
therefore； about a race between the champion boats of the two
institutions there was immense excitement in both of them； as well as
among the members of the Pansophian Society and all the good people
of the village。
There were many objections to be overcome。 Some thought it
unladylike for the young maidens to take part in a competition which
must attract many lookers…on； and which it seemed to them very
hoidenish to venture upon。 Some said it was a shame to let a crew of
girls try their strength against an equal number of powerful young
men。 These objections were offset by the advocates of the race by
the following arguments。 They maintained that it was no more
hoidenish to row a boat than it was to take a part in the calisthenic
exercises； and that the girls had nothing to do with the young men's
boat； except to keep as much ahead of it as possible。 As to
strength； the woman's righters believed that； weight for weight；
their crew was as strong as the other； and of course due allowance
would be made for the difference of weight and all other accidental
hindrances。 It was time to test the boasted superiority of masculine
muscle。 Here was a chance。 If the girls beat； the whole country
would know it； and after that female suffrage would be only a
question of time。 Such was the conclusion； from rather insufficient
premises； it must be confessed； but if nature does nothing per
saltum；by jumps；as the old adage has it； youth is very apt to
take long leaps from a fact to a possible sequel or consequence。 So
it had come about that a contest between the two boat…crews was
looked forward to with an interest almost equal to that with which
the combat between the Horatii and Curiatii was regarded。
The terms had been at last arranged between the two crews； after
cautious protocols and many diplomatic discussions。 It was so novel
in its character that it naturally took a good deal of time to adjust
it in such a way as to be fair to both parties。 The course must not
be too long for the lighter and weaker crew； for the staying power of
the young persons who made it up could not be safely reckoned upon。
A certain advantage must be allowed them at the start； and this was a
delicate matter to settle。 The weather was another important
consideration。 June would be early enough； in all probability； and
if the lake should be tolerably smooth the grand affair might come
off some time in that month。 Any roughness of the water would be
unfavorable to the weaker crew。 The rowing…course was on the eastern
side of the lake； the starting…point being opposite the Anchor
Tavern； from that three quarters of a mile to the south； where the
turning…stake was fixed； so that the whole course of one mile and a
half would bring the boats back to their starting…point。
The race was to be between the Algonquin； eight…oared boat with
outriggers； rowed by young men； students of Stoughton University； and
the Atalanta； also eight…oared and outrigger boat； by young ladies
from the Corinna Institute。 Their boat was three inches wider than
the other； for various sufficient reasons； one of which was to make
it a little less likely to go over and throw its crew into the water；
which was a sound precaution； though all the girls could swim； and
one at least； the bow oar； was a famous swimmer； who had pulled a
drowning man out of the water after a hard struggle to keep him from
carrying her down with him。
Though the coming trial had not been advertised in the papers； so as
to draw together a rabble of betting men and ill…conditioned lookers…
on； there was a considerable gathering； made up chiefly of the
villagers and the students of the two institutions。 Among them were
a few who were disposed to add to their interest in the trial by
small wagers。 The bets were rather in favor of the 〃Quins；〃 as the
University boat was commonly called； except where the natural
sympathy of the young ladies or the gallantry of some of the young
men led them to risk their gloves or cigars； or whatever it might be；
on the Atalantas。 The elements of judgment were these： average
weight of the Algonquins one hundred and sixty…five pounds； average
weight of the Atalantas； one hundred and forty…eight pounds； skill in
practice about equal； advantage of the narrow boat equal to three
lengths； whole distance allowed the Atalantas eight lengths；a long
stretch