THE PRIZE RING. Its Good and Bad Points.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 9

THE PRIZE RING. Its Good and Bad Points.

Tiik Boston "Globe" lately printed the opinions of a number of public Americans in answer to questions sent them in legard to pugilism. Colonel T. W. Hegginson says he has yet to be satisfied that any great interest in pugilism is taken by sober and orderly Americans ; that the efiect ot pugilism on our yountr men is not merely brutalising, but utteily misleading, making them look for examples of couiagein the wrong diiection. Anthony Comstock says he does not regard those who hneak into a prize fight under the cover of night to witness these criminal proceedings as representing any decent element in society. They may have money and position, but they cannot fairly be suid to represent any decent portion of the community. James Parton, the historian, writes that he hates pugilism, but that he has fallen into the habit of taking the Darwinian view of those things, and tries to think that it is part of the system by which our mothernature preserves and improves our spheres. We have one Emerson, and possibly that is all that necessitates one Sullivan. Robei t Collyer, of New York, writes that it may be a good thing some day to be able to trounce a orute soundly for insulting a woman or for cruelty to a child. He Fays : "I have more than once wished I could uso my fists as well as I can use my tongue." Rev. Minot L. Savage, of Boston, says the reason why so much interest is taken in pugilism is because people are human. George YV. Cable writes from Northamp ton: "Not only does it put the lowest physical and the lowest mental graces toremost and exacb the idea of supremacy by force, but it is a test and display of skill in the infliction of ferocious cruelty." Dr. William A. Hammond, of New York, says the great interest in pugilism and pugilists taken by American and English people is inherent, and is due to hereditary transmission from ancestors who always, within the histoiic period, have taken pleasure in rough sports and personal combats. Richard K. Fox, of New York, thinks the moral effect is distinctly good, and the interest in pugilism is manifested because I it involves courage, skill and manliness. Bill Nye adds his mite after the following style : "I believe the interest in pugilism here and in England to be largely due to the fact that neither of us has had a full-blown war for some time, and I consider the indications to be hopeful. Some day the arbitration of pugilism will take tho place of grim-visaged war. Politics will be turned over to the sporting papers, and the Indian question will be placed in the hands of the pugilists. The daily papers will be largely given up to news, chaste humour, tariff, and international copyright. Territorial boundaries and the codfish embroglio will be settled in a fortyfoot ring 1 , and our future Minister Plenii potentiary, instead of being a successful [ wire-puller who spells God with a little ' g,' , will be a thoughtful man with a bust measurement of filty-seven inches, and massive skull like the intellectual end of a soupbone. Then swords will be turned into ploughshares and spears into pruning j nooks ; nation shall not rise against nation, and men shall learn to war no more."