The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-22

Art" Dying Out In EnglaRt bus Me-
vfvfng fn Amsriea.
We yesterday chronicied the particulars u
another brutal prize fight on American soil.
We term II brutal, because We consider ell
such contests not tests Of physical courage,
but trials to ASCERTAIN which Of tho two bel
ligerents can stand the greatest amount Of
pounding and keep the spark Of life aidkerins
within him.
As means Of healthful gymnsstic exercise
boxing is undoubtedly Of great value in devel-
oping the physical proportions Of the human
frame. But It's benefits should not be COM
promitted by such inhuman exhibitions a.
tho prize ring is 30 frequently notorious for.
II properly directed, boxing, united with other
gymnastics, will enlarge and strengthen every
muscle of the trunk and limbs, will expand the
chest 80 as to facilitate the play Of the lungs,
will render the joints supple, and will impart
to tho person ease and steadiness Of deport-
ment, combined with strength, spring and
speed. A knowledge Of boxing infuses feel
ing Of confidence among persons who are liable
to assaults from rowdies and other disorderly
persons. 1t gives strength to the weak, courage
to the timid. 1t is naturally calculated, In all
its material and useful effects, to be Of service
to the weaker portions Of mankind The abuse
of the science, as is to be witnessed in the
bloody and unlawful "mllls' that occur,
is where the trouble happens. There
disgrace, coarseness and vulgarity are brought
upon an otherwise judicious, healthful and
manly exercise.
Gymnastic sports are Of very ancient origin
The earliest mention of them Is in Homer's
"niad," where the Greeks are described as
contending at javelin throwing and quoits
again, when Achilles instituted games in honor
of Patroclus and distributed prizes TO the vic
tors for boxing, wrestling, quoting, chariot
racing, &C. In Athens medical officers were In
attendance to prescribe the kind and extent of
the exercise, and the pupils were advanced
until they reached the highest degree Of agility
and strength. Plato and Aristotle considered
that no republic could be deemed perfect in
which gymnastics were neglected as part of the
national establishment In Sparta the exer-
cises for the pupils in the gymnasia consisted OF
war dances, running, leaping. height and
breadth, and sometimes springing from the
knees having weights attached to the body;
retaining the equilibrium while jumping on
slippery skins full of wine, the feet being
naked; wrestling for the throw or to keep
the other undermost after the throw.
In boxing we find the modern system,
brutal as it is in the prize ring, little i'm
provement upon the old style. Then the boxer
either held the hands open or he clenched
brazen or stone spheres, or wore the c0est,ls
or leathern band studded with metal knobs
bound round his hands and wrists These were
harder than our modern boxing-gloves, and
were, no doubt, the origin of the brass knuckle
style Of warfare adopted by latter day rowdies
and garroters.
From this ancient custom, no doubt, the
practice of the. modern prize ring also
originated. was early in favor with
the Anglo-SaxoRs and has been con-
sdcred fashionable amusement In Eng
land, patron,zed by the English nobility
for centuries, until recently, whom there was
danger Of the champion belt being wrested
from John Bull and transferred to Brother
Jonathan. And now, while the interest in the
prize ring seems to be dying out in England,
we find It reviving in America, a. many other
on American soil, to an extent that defes the
effective interposition of the authorities TO sup
press it, II il neither wise nor creditable for
this country to base its national standard Of
courage upon tho ability with which one man
or another can stand the greatest amount of
physical pummelling. It would be better to re-
sort to the valorous game of the Roman gladia-
tors, or to the more rapid and equally decisive
method Of the Spanish rapier and stiletto, or To
the more homely but equally effective one of
the Arkansas toothpick, than to this system Of
standing up and smashing away at one an
others visages, with knuckles hardened to the
consistency Of steel mallets, all for the honor
Of America-and stake OF five hundred dol
lara.
We hope the authorities will act vigorously
in Furnishing the aiders and abettors, as well as
the principals, in all such pernicious exhibi-
lions as fights in prize ring.
FIELD DAY AMONG THE LIQUOR DEALERs-THE
EXCISE LAW DECLARED UNcoNsrITUrIoNAI--The
police, under direction Of the Board Of Excise,
arrested on Wednesday and Thursday all those
parties who were found selling liquor without
license. The result was that yesterday and
the day before were grand field days for the
unlicensed dealers They were out on parade
in strong force, guarded by police officers. and
marshalled before the Police Justices for in
spection. Upwards Of four hundred arrests
were made in this city, besides large number
in Brooklyn. The courts were SO crowded with
cases Of this kind that IL was found almost i'm
possible to attend to the regular business A
portion Of the prisoners were held TO bail,
while others were let of on parole.
The opinion Of Judge Cardozo, OF the Court
of Common Pleas, against the constitutionality
Of the law, will render their cases more COM