[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Undoubtedly . Ouida never wrote
the words " all rowed fast but none so fast as stroke." This is a wicked invention by Andrew Lang But in Under Two Flags . she did write about " the Seraph," the languid but Herculean Guardsman, who refused to train if he rowed in the University Eight.
" I'll help you thrash Cambridge if you like," said this stout fellow to the Oxford cox. (of all people !), " but train I won't for you or all the University. I've been Captain of the Eton Eight ; but I didn't keep my crew on tea and toast. I fattened 'em regularly three times a week on venison and champagne from Christopher's. Very happy to feed yours too if you like. You should have seen his face ! Fatten the Eight t He didn't let me do that, of course ; but he was very glad of my oar in his rowlocks, and I helped him beat Cambridge without training an hour myself, except so far as rowing hard went."—Yours faithfully,
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