Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-20
THE GREAT FIGHT

Pers are never seen, that the fight between
oayers and Heenan, called the Benicia Row is
10 take place on the day named; and it is evil
oeht 10 every one who observes what is D assinp
society, that both in Great Britain and the
united States this battle is regarded with an
unusually deep and extensive interest. The
explanation OF this rhange of sentiment to-
wards Prize-fghting, is to be found, we think,
IN various circumstances. In the first place
the International character which has, been
ascribed to the approaching contest gives
10 II an Importance which an ordinary match
for the benefit of a few sporting publicans.
could not claim We are by no means sure
that this match has not attained its world
wide fame contrary to the intention of the par
ties principally concerned. 1t is of course the
business OF Tom Sayers as Champion of Eng
land, to answer all worthy challenges; but we
Deleve that his oppontn. tI,r 1ecli o the
nonor winch has been thrust upon him OF rep
resenting the pugilism of America He is re-
ported to have said that he has come to Eng
land to fight Tom Sayers, because he wishes to
night him, and for no other reason Neyerthe-
less, the public appears to be determined to
look upon the Benicia Boy as the Champion of
the United States, and to treat the issue of this
fight as matter Of national Importance But
IL seems to US that there is another and deeper
reason why prize fighting is likely to regain
some OF the considerations which it enioyed
nifty years ago. The truth is that the minds of
men are being carried more and more every
day toward the subjects which chiefly interest
ed them when the Ring wss supported by the
wealthy and noble, just as openly and as gen.
orally as the race course now is. Amid the
din of prolonged war, prize-fghting reached
Its highest, as in the slumber of profound peace
II sunk to the lowest point. There is much in
the modern proceedings of the Ring which no.
body can defend, and much more which many
dislike; but as soon as it is felt that fighting in
sober earnest may possibly become every mans
highest duty, any imitation of actual battle
which calls forth courage, skill and persever-
ance, Is certain to acquire popularity in spite
OF adJuncts which are coarse and brutal. and
such as sensitive natures shrink from with in
tense disgust. In a country where it is known
that honor and property are only safe as long
as Its citizens are ready to fight in its defence,
the nature which loves fighting for its own sake
will always command respect A man like
Iom Sayers, who left his business as brick
layer from mere devotion to boxing, possesses,
we may say, character which, in proportion
as 1t prevails among Englishmen, will make
TINS country feared abroad and safe at home
We hope and believe that there are MANY
thousands like him in strength and spirit, but
sticking to their business, whatever it be,
steadily, and yet ready for a fight with any
one who may think fit to challenge them, and
AO0nAnS uPon luo use VI dTInS, not as QlSa-
greeable duty, but as a pleasant interlude in
the daily routine of life. 1t may surprise
some persons, but it is nevertheless true, that
Tom Sayers and the Benicia Boy furnish at the
present moment an example which deserves to
be generally initiated. For what, let us ask
Is the course of training which these cham
plons must undergo at their country quarters
during the weeks which precede the fight
he first principle to be observed is " to keep
temnerAnca nd oboS
uty. The boxer knows that he is nothing
without training, and accordingly he trains
diligently. But, as the Oracle of the Ring
puts it, the mass Of mankind who indulge in
excesses of every kind-in too much eating,
drinking, sleep, sloth, smoking, &c,-wouid
60 through the task Of life, would discharge
their respective duties much better, far quick
er, and with vastly greater ease to themselves
did they submit to training" We believe
this is true of every one of life's duties: but it
Is In an eminent degree true of duty which
many men have lately undertaken to perform
we mean the duty of volunteer riiemen. A
great part of the doubt which veteran officers
entertain as to the utility of volunteers would
be dissipated if the precepts laid down for gem
eral training in fstiana were diligently acted
upon during the next three months. We
should then see bodies Of active, patient
volunteer soldiers, ready to bear at least as
much fatigue as any regiment of the line,
and to bear it with more cheerfulness at
Is not demanded of professional men that they
should train rigidly like the boxer. Their
occupations would not permit it; but to
initiate his mode of training as far as cir
cumstances will allow" Tho training which
is here recommended depends only upon
diet and exercise. A man who had habitually
practiced it, lately showed himself able at more
than 20 years of age, to walk from London to
Canterbury. depend upon it," says the au-
thor OF Fistiana, "that man had been temper
ate. sober, nay. chaste man." He bids his
readers look for their examples to the savages
of North America, "whose lives from childhood
to old age were long hard course of rigid
training" Those savages, he says, were ever
watchful, ever exercising themselves They
commanded their passions. They became as
tough as the ash of their mountains They
consumed what nature required, and no more
And this is the model which the boxer must set
before himself in training, and which should
also be studied by every Englishman who de-
sires to serve his country with the full capacity
which Heaven has given him. The boxers
mode OF life ought to be so simple and natural
that it is to be feared that in London only
distant Imitation of it would be possible. He is
10 rise with the sun, and in summer time he is
also to 90 to bed with it. His food is to be beef
and mutton, plainly cooked, countrv-made
bread, and a very moderate allowance Of genu-
Inc home brewed beer. If possible, let him
avoid tea and coffee altogether; but if the habit
OF taking them cannot wholly be laid aside, he
must be content to drink them cold But he
VIII DO tar better to give them up entirely. and
70 take at bis breakfast water Cruel. cat any
hour OF the day or night, let no man who seeks
health deny himself all-potent water Cruel. :"
Perhaps We cannot better convey a notion of
the strictness of the precepts set forth in Fisti
ana, than by saying that water cruel is the
only luxury with regard to which the author
omits to insist upon his golden rule of mode
ration, moderation, moderation" Such, then.
are the limits Of sensual enjoyment prescribed
to the combatants in the interval before the
fight. Of the active duties of boxer in train
ing-of his walking, running, sparring with his
preceptor, pummeling away at the stuffed sacks
and welding clubs and dumb belis-;t is
enough to say, that when the day of battle
comes, it is often felt as a relief from the more
severe punishment of the preparation Many
pugilist has exulted in his escape from his
trainers hands into his adversary's, just as, in
armies where a severe discipline prevails, the
actual duties Of a campaign some to be looked
upon as sort of holiday. And We believe,
from the character of the mon, that the 10th of
April will be awaited by Sayers and Heenan in
the same cheerful spirit. 1t is to be hoped that
the Americans demand for fair field and no
favor will be conceded.