THE JOHNSON-JEFFRIES FIGHT PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 10

THE JOHNSON-JEFFRIES FIGHT PICTURES.

Sir, —May I bo allowed to make' a few remarks re the above subject. In my humble opinion tho exhibition of these pictures certainly would have a bad cSleet on the morals of the younger generation. There is already too much in present-day entertainments that panders to the "animal" in mankind, and which causes untold mischief. Does prize-fighting pander to tho animal instinct? I think most fair-minded people will say yes. The sole idea, of each contestant is to "out" his opponent, so that'he may bo able to stylo himself "champion." Where is the "sport" in two men standing up to knock each other about? 'Tree Thinker" says it is-"mercly an exhibition of the method of using man's primitive means of defence." At that rate, then, he is a supporter of bullfighting, as "an exhibition of the mothod of using a bull's primitive means of defence.". When two men train for several weeks for tho purpose of seeing which has mere of the "brute" in him, I fail to see the "sport" in it. Because other pictures that are shown here have a bad influence on tho morals of the young, is it any reason w_hy • those of the recent fight should also be shown? "Free Thinker" finishes his letter by saying, "Of course, tho reason for there not being many letters in tho defenco may be that the matter is.treated by broad-minded people with. amused tolerance, as being merely the fad of a few bigoted parsons." A pity there arc not more "bigoted parsons" about. Personally, I believe immorality and drink aro tho causes of most of the poverty and crime, and any man who seeks to lessen tho power of these evils deserves great praise. I hope to see tho day when gambling, betting, drinking, lust, and kindred vices shall be in the minority, and when purity and all that is best in man shall hold sway. Prohibit tho pictures of this brutal and degrading "sport" and there will be one less evil influence at work in tho lives of the young.—l am, etc., T , CYMEII. Otaki, July 24, 1910.