The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-05-30
THE GREAT PRIZE FIGHT.

Now that that the fire and smoke of
the battle has cleared away, and the pub
lin mind has become somewhat Gained
from its morbid eagcrness to hear the re-
suit of the great International Prize
Fight, and know who Of the twain is en-
titled to the appellation, pugilistically
considered, Of the Worlds Champion"
il may be well for us TO look at the NOR
al influence Of the overland, rs to that,
il would seem that no two opinions can
prevail with those who delight in the
prevalence of good morals, and correct
tastes of propriety and decency in COM
munity. 1t can not be doubted that this
nose-snubbing, eye-blackening, mouth
hitting and body-pomeling feat, of the
two most celebrated pugilists of the world,
will do more harm, morally, not only in
our country and Europe, but throughout
the civilized world, than the influence of
the bible and tract societies, and the SER
mons of the most able divines of our
country can counteract for the next twelve
months, or at least until the Juror of prize
fighting, just awakened, shall have subsid-
ed. Whatever serves to lionige, no mat
ter how disgusting and reprehensible,
twill take," and will be practiced by the
"snobish' everywhere. Who has not
noticed the little boys practicing bones
rafting in the public streets, and singing
scratches" of negro melodies, and imiia-
ting the comicalities and "y-a-h, yah"
laughter of the darkies as represented in
the performances of q band of wandering
Ethiopian Minstrels, for months and
months after such an exhibition? And
why? Because there seemed to be an
impression on their youthful mind that
there was q I" lionizing" virtue in the act,
for the mean time, and something meri-
torious. And again, who has not wit
messed the " clownish'' acts and sayings
of the said juveniles after being thorough
ly edited with the great learning and
smartness exhibited by the clown in a
one-horse circus, and have not seen them
trying to initiate tho rolling, tumbling
and balancing Of the performers, for long
time thereafter, for the simple reason that
sort of merit was, in their mind, attach
ed to those feats of agility, and if they
could only excel therein it would make
them sort of lion" among their COM
panions. After Mr.. BLoNDIN had per-
formed his world-renowned feats of rope
walking, at Niagara Falls, the sports o.
the juveniles throughout tho country par
took largely Of the "ropo walking" from
its =" lionizing" tendency.
And now, judging of tho future by the
past, prize fighting will become popular
with the young and others. Even among
the inmates of our public schools, and
those youth who are barely street walker:
it will not be matter of surprise if many
n well contested fist battle is fought
should not stern discipline interfere, fol
the reason that tho Champion" would
at once be, aud continue to be, "lionized.
And even among the older, the "hangor
on" in community, prize fighting, Will
its attending evils of liberal betting
drinking, and n loose morality generally
will assume a popularity never before wit
messed, and the influence will be bad, very
bad, throughout community.
1t is TO be regretted that fist warfare
hitherto considered low and degrading
should have become to so great an extern
"popularized" by the recent oncounte
between Sayers and Heenan, particularly
that portion of community who arc al
ways agap for something of an exciting
nature, no matter how despicablo, ever
though it may consist in barely gottin.
up dog fight, and then witnessing tn,
battle with genuine gusto. But ever
pcacemakcr, moralist and religionist sho'lC
meet promptly the evil, and by word o
mouth stigmatizo and frown upon tn
practice of prize fighting.