"The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain. "The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory--and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses--are some of the events worthy of record." Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception. CHAPTER VII THE REGATTA There was still one great event before the closing of the academic year of the Diana Seminary Seniors, in which the class had taken extraordinary interest. It was the first time in the history of the Seminary that students were to take part in aquatic sports against male contestants. The day for the great handicap regatta--a four-oared affair--between the Senior class of the Seminary and the Sophomore class of the West Point Military Academy followed directly after graduation,--the class grade being the handicap allowed to the Seminary girls. Aurora and Margaret, after their avowal and covenant, were again in normal condition, cheerful as of yore, and as they were the most available pair for the aquatic contest, from the beginning they had been chosen unanimously as the exponents of the class of 1960, and they went into the execution of the sport with vim and enthusiasm. As the event was a unique one, it had become the most lively topic of conversation among the people, and long before it took place had caused widespread interest in the country. Having been advertised and exploited extensively in the daily press, it is needless to say that an unusually large concourse of visitors had arrived by land and water to witness the classic and unusual contest. The course of the race was laid near Poughkeepsie and was in the shape of a heart, that is, starting at a given point, side by side, they raced about half a mile abreast, then one crew turning to port and the other to starboard, diverging in a parabolic circle, passed each other in the center within a short distance of the starting point, and making counter-circles started on the home run, again abreast. (See diagram, page 90.) The personnel of the Seminary crew consisted of the following young ladies: Aurora Cunningham, coxswain; Margaret MacDonald, stroke; Horatia Seymour, number one; Eunice Ward, number two; and Norma Southworth at the bow. When the preliminary signal to make ready was given, both the crews rowed gracefully to the starting ground and began to manoeuvre. At the sharp report of the signal gun, the two shells shot past the line almost abreast, amidst deafening acclamation from the spectators on the shore and the shrill tooting and whistling of the sailing craft of every description that had formed almost a compact circle around the course.