LONDON PRIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2668, 17 August 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

LONDON PRIDE.

AN UNDESIRABLE "REVIVAL." [By James Greenwood, in Bristol Times.] Ax impressive scene, and one that at the time struck me as having a claim to be included in the category of curiosities of London Pride, challenged public criticism two or three weeks since in Fleet-street. As everyone acquainted with that worldrenowned thoroughfare is aware, its pavements are usually thronged, and should a shopkeeper place in his window any special novelty or object of interest, the current of the living stream immediately becomes impeded and ovorflows into the roadway.

Such a stoppage had occurred on tho occasion in question. There was something peculiarly attractive to be seen iu the window of au office wliera a sporting newspaper is published. One needed to take but a cursory glance at the faces of those there assembled to feel assured f hat, whatever it was on view, it was nothing to laugh 01* even to smile at. The spectators did not appear to be of the sentimental class. Chiefly working men and ladies, they elbowed for an eager peep. There was au expression of sorrowful sympathy on every visage while they contemplated the interesting exhibit, and when the/ turned away from it, it was

with a shake of the head that, freely interpreted, signified, " Ah, well! Such are the vicissitudes of life ! The mightiest among men, as well as the mere mites and midgets of humanity, must bow to the stern decrees of fate !"

And to what does the reader suppose all this was attributable ? A pugilist who has of late distinguished himself in certain circles, and who is the darling of the motley crew who hold that the pro* perest use a man can make of his fists is to bang auother man aboutthe head with them, had become temporarily incapacitated by bodily injury? While in training to face another prize fighter who had presumed to challenge him—at the very time, indeed, when he was practising on a stuffed dummy with a view to perfecting himself in the science of knock-down blows—he had inadvertently trod on a spike of some kind, which penetrated his boot and injured his foot. The renowned one's medical adviser having been hastily summoned, he insisted that the former should rest for a few days in a recumbent position, and to that strait he was still reduced.

The calamitous event had been duly chronioled in all the sporting periodicals at the time of its happening, but this did not meet all the requirements of the case. It was rightly conjectured at heudquarters that there was a large number of the injured hero's admirers who would like to possess for preservation, something more than mere typographical mention of his accident, and it was resolved to produce a photograph of the great man as he appeared when tho doctor had done his best for hira. It was this photograph that was attracting a crowd to the newsshop window. The invalided " bruiser " was shown extended comfortably on a oouch, feet foremost, so that the injured member, propped up and bandaged, might show to the best advantage! Times out of number fighting men of another mould have met with more disastrous mishap*. While in actual glorious conflict with the enemy, groat generals have been maimed by bullet and sabre on the battle-field; gallant captains on board ship have been bowled clean oIF their pins by cannon shot; but it never occurred to their grateful countrymen t) secure a photograph of the legless warriois' bandaged stumps for the picture shops. The experiment would probably prove a failure if it were tried. The only individual to whom such a delicat; compliment could be safely accorded is ho who has been dubbed champion of England, and as such, with all proper ceremony, has been begirt with the jewelled belt of supremacy. More fir«oious than a King's crown is this latter in the eyes of the lower multitude who believe in the '•L , .K."asa national institution that should be upheld and cherishcd before all others. Could they have their w.iy in the matter, t'le lion and the unicorn, as supporters of the Royal Ann?, would give place to symbols far more significant of British valour—a list and a flattened nose with thn gartered motto, In hoc nii/iio viiiccs.

But it is nut a subject th it should bo lightly treated. Everyday it is bee j:niu£ more alarmingly apparent that the prizefighting business is rapidly emerging from the ignominious seclusion to which a fen' years since it was consigned. It would be difficult indeed to account for the unwelcome arrival. Within the past twenty years the manly art of battering the human countenaueo had come to bo regarded as something that England, with her boasted highly-developed civilisation, might well shun and feel ashamed of. It was felt, and rightly so, that wliilfl a knowledge of boxiug should be included in every young man's athletic accomplishments, it wusanythiug but desirable that the ruflvm section of society should, under cover of it, make fighting a trade, and indulge their iustinctive inclination for brutality to the verge of manslaughter, and, not rarely, beyond. The shocking exhibitions in question became so fmpieut that, despite the Londoner's pride in tho powers and "bull dog pluck"of his chosen fistic representative—and which culmina ted ■vhen Mr Sayers hauled down the Stars ■iud Stripe* at Farningham—ho admitted that the time had come when fighting for :nonoy with naked knuckles should bo restrained by tho strong arm of the law. Everybody but the pugilists them-elves, >ind those who derived profit or enjoy. :neut from the spectacle of these barb irmn performances, agreed that the prohibition was justifiable, and certainly public morality suffered no deterioration by its onfurcemotit. The swarm of low cliss fisrhters, who sometimes combined with their professional pursuit one or two others, such as skittle "shatping" and " welshing " at race meetings, by vay of "king out their means of existence, disappeared, and their haunts and hidingp'aoes were known only to those who still hankered for the old sport, and sought for it in the shady regions where, to a limited extent, it was still carried on.

But within the past year or two fighting men of all grades have boldly come to the front again. It is no longer necessary for the patrons of the "noble ait" to seek the noble artists in their obscure retirement. Halls and theatres, capable of holding several thousand spectators, are now hired professedly for pugilistic purpo&es, and the walls in the heart ami centre of London are placarded with announcements of the "grand displays " that have been prepared, with the names of the men who will take part in the proceedings, their ungentle fists beimr delicately disguised beneath a veneering of boxing glove. It is no answer to those who regret the " revivalthat it is enormously successful, and that eve.i so large a building as the Agricultural Hall at Islington was not capacious enough to contain the thousands that flocked thither this week to witness a " boxing tournament" of six days'duration. It is quite true, as I cau vouch from my own eyewitnessing, that when it was known that men of mark would contest in the roped ring, there was but scant standing room in that portion of the enormous building, the charge for admission to which was only a shilling ; but that did not conclusively prove that the exhibition was a proper one, and afforded only harmless amusement to the spectators. It is perfectly wall-known that thero is, and always will be, a large number of persons in London—low-class, middling, and even high—for whom fisticuffs iii any form have an irresistible attraction; and for that reason the pastime, regarding it as suoli, is one that should be carefully watched and kept within reasonable bounds. It may be said that it can be 110 more hurtful to the morals of the people who witness a glove contest than their going to see a fencing or wrestling performance. But, unfortunately for that argument, the hard fact is that, dating from the period when the revival in favour of boxing set in, there has beeu a steady increase all over the country of lights foi money with naked fists. More than one of them have been attended with fatal results, and few indeed could claim tc have been entirely free from the gross brutality that disgusted everybody, and caused the interference of the authorities, a quarter of a century since. That is where the barm comes in. A boxing bout with gloves that are not mere make-believes may be witnessed, and even participated in, without any serious amount of mischief ensuing ; and the more public such exhibitions are made the belter. It is a pity that this last proviso cannot be enforced. While glove fighting is allowed at such places as the Agricultural Hall and the Aquarium, 110 other can be expected

Iml til,'it every " spoi l in:;" public hoi:so or lu'er.-Jtop preprint or cairyaig on business in the " > 111::>who can anyhow contrive a sparring-mom on bis pre mi y 0", will avail 11 illlL* of the same prolitablo privilege. It is at s::fh pb:ee.< the law, which .countenances glove contest* and prohibits combats with naked knuckles, is habitually broken. It is too easily managed. Tho landlord has but to make snro that friend* only are present, and everything is ready l<> hand, and the "I.'uls""iii'o ready; a reliable person is posted in the passage to give timely warning of tho possibly police, the substantial bolts of Iho door are made secure, and tho combatants go at it with ferocious vigour, until one or tlu other, horribly heatcu nnd bruinod, and blinded probably, is " knocked out of time," or, in other words, is quile unable to stand up, or raiso his anus to givo or parry a blow, and the revolting show is brought, to a conclusion. This, however, is not ordinary business, but a treat reserved for generous private patrons of tho iist.ie art, who regard a leu pound not.o as well invested if it. secures them, and a friend or two whoso tastes are congonial with their own, a thoroughly enjoyable ovening's entertainment. In regions where wicked husbands l'lllc their wives by power of foot -and fist, it cannot bo a good thing to encourage, pugilism, masked or avowed. Twenty years ago there was to be found, in every low neighbourhood in tho metropolis, at least ono hole-and-corner tavern whensparring was the nightly diversion. But the practice fell into general disrepute, and houses of entertainment For " pugs," and the puggishly disposed, became few and far between. The same, alas leannot be said now. Glove fights, or sparring exhibitions, as they are termed, .are as common as in the old times, even among the class that cannot alford to pay to witness the exhilarating performance. It is provided for them free, tho only expense being perhaps an extra penny impost ou their pint of ale. It 13 not a pretty sight. Indeed, in all my experience of till) luiuuts and habits of the natives of the "lower depths," I know of nothing so likely to exercise a bruta'.ising and depraving influence on those present ou such occasions. I have the scene fresh in my memory as I write, fur it is scarcely a week since I witne;.-cd it in tho "club room " of a public-hou.-o, in a back street, in Sboreditch. Tho dimensions of the room, which was upstairs, were probably thirty feet by twenty, and the quality of tho air we had to breathe may bo imagined when I mention that tho ceiling was low, there wero five flaring gaii-burners against the walls, tho only ventilation being the chimney, and an occasional opening of tho door. When seventy individuals had been admitted (I counted thern), and the closest packing would not yield another foot of standing room, tho door was closcd and bolted. The heat was suffocating, and tho odours indescribable; but in tho estimation of the audionce assembled, such trifling inconveniences wero amply compensated for by the delightful evening's entertainment foresliaddowed in the programme. There were to be ten separate sparring bouts, to say nothing of a " Merry little mill" between two budding pugilists, the landlord's little sous, aged respectively nine and eleven years. There was such a crush for " front seats " (a space about eight feet square in- the centre of the room was reserved for tho boxers), that those who had the good fortune to secure them were squeezed so close to the ropes ci tho arena they were in momentary danger, during the performance, of receiving a punch not intended for them ; while the pewter pots containing their beer were economically deposited in their hats, held between their knees. As far as one could judge, the company consisted chiefly of tho lower class of labouring men, who worked when they could for a honest living ; but the boxers were, I should say, the dregs of the brotherhood—unwholesome, dirty, puffyfaced, broken-nosed wretches — who looked as though they lived entirely on beer and tobacco, and being too poor to pay for a lodging, habitually slept at nights in a dust-hole. But they knew how to uso their lists, and the way in which they banged and bashed at each other drew deafening applause from the on-lookeis, who rewarded the man who first drew blood with quite a brisk little shower of pence and halfpence. There could be no doubt as to the spectators entering into the spirit of the tiling. With mouths ajar, and eager eyes, they watched every movement, and winced and twitched their own noses sympathetically whenever the usual organ of a " brusier " received an exceptionally painful visitation, Tho heat and excitement mado them so thirsty, that when the musclar and bate-armed waiter camo round after caeh bout for orders, there were few pols tlu.t wero not ready for replenishment. I waited until the two baby boxers, the landlord's little boys, heal, amidst intense acclamation, pummelled each other until the youngest fell, half-hinting into a corner, and then with dilliculby elbowed myself out of the place, not very deeply impressed by the conviction that boxing, taken in ail its bearings, is an institution London should be proud of.