Charlie was a college athlete of considerable accomplishment. Those skills were a part of getting a Rhodes Scholarship and Charlie was set to play sports on his arrival. There were plenty to choose from, and he tried his hand at several, even as he looked for ways especially to fit in tennis, one of his main sports.
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There is a good deal of talk already of a base ball game between the two years. Hardly anyone is going in for football and most of the people for rowing. Guess the latter will about catch me. Five of last year’s men made their college crews. I haven’t much hope being too short to do the best but at present expect to try anyhow. [10/7/05]
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Charlie reported quite a bit more on baseball in the spring term. More on that in another post.
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Athletics here are great. They go in for exercise instead of a reputation and almost without exception everybody does something. I’ve rowed four times now. Am doing a little better but it’s very slow work and there is sure a lot to learn. There are a great many more Rhodesmen rowing than any other thing. In fact that is the sport here. [10/19/05]
I am still in the boats. The second weeding out this morning left Alburn and me among the survivors. Don’t know how much longer I’ll stay. Hope not much. It’s getting to be rather hard work and dreadfully monotonous. [10/30/05]
It is very fine to see the eights. Boat is about 18 inches wide and 60 feet long and absolutely as light as possible, but carries 9 men. 8 oars and coxswain. I’ve been out in the fours for about a week. Have some races the last of this term and then next term they commence to train in eights. The varsity’s the eight I’ve seen of course, it trains the year round.[10/30/05]
I cut the boats over a week ago, and am at present prevented from doing any athletics by a lame foot. Was working on the track and my running shoe made my foot so sore I’ve had to lay off for about three days. Is not well yet either. [11/12/05]
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Charlie reported later on the rowing tournaments that were a ritual at Oxford. He was no longer rowing, but these events were a big deal around the colleges.
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One has to do some athletics here and track work is about the nicest. Can go when you please and be your own boss and besides it’s by far the least expensive of any of the games. Cost only about a pound a year for use of the grounds whereas everything else costs from two to five pounds per term. [11/12/05]
I’ve been playing tennis about twice a week all the time. The last time I played Kendall, I put it over him O.K. Am playing with Mohler most of the time now. We are both entered for the freshmen singles. I drew a bye in the first round i.e. don’t have to play that round and in the second am to play a Ch. Ch. [Christ Church College] man only the first two rounds are to be played off this term so you see it’s rather slow business. Besides that the only courts that can be played on this time of year are gravel and there are only two so one doesn’t get to play much. [11/12/05]
The other afternoon I was down at the running ground when it commenced to sleet and the only ones who went into the club house on that account were a few Americans. Had on only running suits too. Tennis and rowing go on all the time and there is more track work done in the winter term they say than any other. After a man gets in and takes a good hot bath tho he feels fine. [11/19/05]
We had our local track meet Friday, St. John’s I mean. Go to Cambridge for a meet with Christ’s Coll of that place Tuesday. I’m expected to do the broad jump. We have a dandy team in most of the events so things look O.K. yet. The half mile, which is the event I wanted went in 2:1. Most too good time for an Oklahoman. My tennis match was postponed until the last of next week too. [11/26/05]
Just got in from Cambridge. We lost the meet and I didn’t do anything special in the broad but had a fine time and got to see a good deal too so I don’t care. Nobody cares over here when he loses anyhow, just so it is in a sporting manner. They make a great deal of being a sportsman in the proper sense. [11/26/05]
They [Christ’s College, their opponent for a track meet] gave us a dinner that so far as eating goes had the best of any I’ve seen here. [11/26/05]
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Sports meets often had a dinner after for the participating teams, hosted by the home team. The dinners included printed menus with seating plans. Opposing team players signed each others programs.
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Did I tell you I won my match in the freshers’ [tennis] tournament? Have several chances to get beaten yet tho before the finals. [12/15/05]
