Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-28
Goal Oil.
THE REAT FIGHT-

Il is evident TO every one who observes what
is passing In 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 change Of sentiment
towards prize.hghting is to be found, we think,
in various circnmstnees. Is the first place, the
international character which has been ascrib-
ed to the approaching contest gives to il an i'm.
pOrtance which an ordinary match between
two Englishmen arranged perhaps for the
benefit Of few sporting Pubicans, could not
claim. We are by no means sure that this
match hRs not attained its world wide fame
contrary to the intention Of the parties princia
pally concerned. It is Of course the business
of Tom Sayers, as Champion of England, to
answer all worthy challengers, but we believe
that his opponent rather declines the honor
which has been thrust upon him of represent
ing the pugilism Of America. lie is reported
TO have said that he has come TO england to
fight Tom Sayers, because he wishes to fight
him, and for no other reason. Nevertheless,
the public appears TO be determined to look
upon the Benica Boy as the champion Of the
Uuited States, and to treat the issue of this
fight as a matter OF national Importance.
But it seems to us that thereis another and
a deeper reason why prize fighting is likely to
regain come Of the consideration which Is en-
joyed fifty years ago The truth is, that the
minds OF men are being carried more and more
every day towards the subjects which chiefly
interested them when the Ring was supported
by the wealthy and the noble, just as openly
and generally as the race course now is. Amid
the din Of prolonged war, prize fighting reach
ed its highest, as in the slumber of profound
peace it sunk to its lowest point. There is
much in the modern proceedings Of the Ring
which nobody can defend, and much more
which many will dislike; but as soon as it is
generally felt that fighting in sober earnest may
possibly become every mans highest duty, any
imitation of actual battle which call forth cOur-
age, skill, and perseverance, is certain to ao-
quire popularity, in spite OF adjuncts which are
coarse and brutal and auch as sensitive natures
shrink from with intense disgust. In country
where il is known that honor and property are
only safe so long as is citizens are ready to
| fight in their defence, the nature which loves
Fighting for It's own sake will always command
respect A man like Tom Sayers, who left his
business as bricklayer from more devotion to
boxing, possesses, we may say, a character
which, in proportion as it prevails among
Englishmen, will make this 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 THAR bus
iness, whatever it be, steadily, and yet ready
for fight with any one who may think fit to
challenge them, and looking upon the use of
arms, not as a disagreaable duty but as pleas
ant interlude in the daily routine of life.
It may surprise some persons, but it is
nevertheless true, that Tom Sayers and the
Bencia Boy furnish at the present moment an
example which deserves TO be generally imi>
tated For what, let US ask, in the course OF
training which these champions must undergo
at their country quarters during the weeks
which procede the fight! The first principle
Decessary TO be observed is ito keep the body
in temperance, sobernesp, and chastity" In
deed the leading rules which guide the judi
cious trainer might almost all be found in the
New Testament. "To keep under the body,
and bring it into suajection," is precept Of
which no one knows the value better than the
successful prize fighter.
The maxium, ESQ run that ye may obtain, y
is frequently forgotten by the candidates for
literary and scientific and forensic eminence,
but never by the aspirant to the honor of the
chaFapion's belt. The boxer knows that he is
nothing without training, and accordingly he
trains diligently. But, as the Oracle Of the
i22ing puts it, ''the mass of mankind who in
ouIee in excesses of every kihd-in too much
cath, =, drinking, sleep, sloth, smoking, &c
would % through the task of life. would dis
charge thei, respective duties much better, taT
| quicker, aud with vastly greater case to them
seIues, did they su6mit to training Mo
believe this is true Of sVery one OF HES duties;
but it is in an eminent degree true OF duty
which many men have recently undertaken TO
nerform-we mean the duty Of Volunteer rlfie-
Eoan A great mart of the doubt which veteran
officers entertain as to the utility Of Volunteers
wonId oe disipated if the preeepts Ia i'd down
for General training in FiStiGna were diligently
scts3 upon during the next three months. We
sbould then see bsdies of active, patient, Vol
uDteer soldiers res iy to bear at least as much
fatigue as any regiment of the Line, and 70
bo.S II with more cheeEfulness. ut IS not ue'
NO., ls,l OF professional men that they should
tro;n r;oiCSIs like the boxer. Their oceuPa'
t;ons would not permit it, but to initiate hls
mode of training as Ear as circumstances Will
allow" The training which is here recon-
mended depends only upon diet ana eAercl1e'
A man who had habitually practised 1t ls'eiy
showed himself able, at more than seventy
years Of age, to walk from London to Cantef
bury. depend upon it, says the author
FfstianG. 'that man had been TEN, eratei
sober, nay, chaste man."
He bids his readers look for their examples
the savages Of North America ''whOse lives iron
childhood to old age were 9 long course ol
! ripid training Those savages, he says, wer
ever watchfal, ever exercising themselves
} They commanded their passions. They beeam
5 tough as the ssh of their mountains. IheJ
e consumed what nature required, and no more
e And this is the model which the boxer must SC
before himself in training, and which shout
J. also be studied by every Englishman who des
[ Tres to serve his country with the toll eaPaclt
- which Heaven has given b m. The boxer
mode of life ought to be so simple aud natur'
Il is TO feared that in London only dlstan
-. imitation of it would be possible. de IS TO rls
. -, \ the sun. and in summer time he is also
"o n bs bed with It. His food is to be be,
: and mutton, plainly cooked, country mad
brssd and a yerv moderate allowance ot gen
,;oe home brewed beer, If possible let h'l
nd lea and coffee altoQetnsr; but 4 the nab
az. Eing them cannot be wholly iala ssloe, q
OF TAI = content 10 drink them cold. pu1
must D., better to give them up entirely an
win 10 Ia Nis breakfast water Cruel. AT VI
70 Iake stI 70 L " of night let no man VINO SeeA
hour Oh tne d 1self ell potent Cruel" FerhaE
heal%h ueny III III convey notion oil the sIIic i
we cann9s oesIeL set forth in F'sttena tina
ness of the prscepts grlel is the only lu1ur
by saying that wate,y y % author omits to insi
with regard to which S.1 # "uloderation--mo
upon IN his golden rule '
eation-moderation" - sf sensual enjo,
Such, then, are the limits ,ts 10 the int
ment prescribed to the combatah, daties Of
val before the fight OF the active ruBplH
boxer in training-oi his walking, svG
sparring with his preceptor, Pummelling =
at stuffed sacks. and welding clubs and dun
bells-it is enough to say, that when the th'
day Of battle comes, It is often fell as RELIEF
from the more severe punishment Of the pre-
paration Many pugiIist has exulted in his
escape from his trainers hands into. his ed
, veTsarv's. inst as in armies where a severe dis
c,nline prevails, the a,tual duties ola campaiOI
come 10 be looked upen as a sort Of holiday