The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-03
THEIR HOME AMUsEMENTs.

The ShOuIder-HItters Of the United
states Tender . Grand Complimentary
Benefit 60 the champion OF Light
WoiRhta-Tho Affair Comes On at
TWaah,u0ton Hall, Last Evening.
In the better days of the Grecian republics,
the physical encounter OF the Olym plan games
conf faafed the universal favor OF the people with
the polished dramas of Sophocles and bis com
peers Running aud wrestling were aJ that
tainin0 and at the same time, the most harm
less kinds of amusement that could be devised;
and in feet, so great was the favor In which
they were held, that the regular recurrence of
tbeOlympian games was treated as an event
oary % neriod the point which marked the epochs
or divisions OF time. Popular amusements,
however, have kept ever pace with the progress
i was once regarded as harmless in Its Influences
upon public morality, has now been transferred
Should be INDUCED In by the brute creation
None. That portion ofthe community in civil
Lied countries which still resorts to the primi-
I've pleasures of the ancients, has therefore be.
ttme from sheer necessity, the lowest and
4 most degraded TO be found; their most popular
pastimes are regarded by the law as breaches
Of the public peace, and they them selves are
subjects for arrest and durance vile at almost
Notwithstanding the ill favor in which the
sporting fraternity are held by the community
az ia ge and despite the utmost vigilance OF
those whose duty it is to prevent such breaches
OF the peace as 1t is their great delight to be
concerned in, their boisterous sports still take
place at irregular intervals, and are the ocoa-
SiOnB OF immense congregations OF the most de-
graded specimens of humanity rendered all the
more brutal in their habits by the legal perse-
cutions TO which they "a are then subjected
the banks of Aqua creek, In Virginia, to wit
ness a contest for the so-called Championship
of Light Weights" participated in by two noto
Tious vagabonds, named respectively Barney
Aaron and Sam Collyer. Barney. was
the the SSse better Ss nS %ithdsa
resort1ng to sundry tricks of his trade which
laid him open to the charge of cowardice With
the view of enliStinR the Bympathte3 OF the
public in behalf of the discounted Collyer, the
mentary benefit at the Front Street Theatre, in
Baltimore, at which we're present In strong force
the friends and admirers of the hequondam cham
pion. The friends aud admirers of the other
party could not be expected TO look upon such
q proceeding with entire complacency, and
therefore Collyer's benefit had no sooner taken
place than one was gotten up for the express
glorlhcation and profit of his opponent. Phila-
delphia was hOnored as the scene Of the affair,
and last evening was fixed upon as the time.
1t was rumored that the friends Of Barney ex-
perienced considerable difficulty In obtaining
the use of a suitable hall for the performance OF
their exploits; but after considerable tribula-
ton they succeeded In leasing Washington
Spring Garden streets. This is the well. known
Sunday rendezvous of those who dabble in
spiritual manifestations; and we confess that
the choice of the place was exceedingly appro-
priaie as 1t is but natural to suppose that spirits
OF the grosser sort would enter largely into the
calculations of the crowd then and there as
The hour fixed upon for the entertainment
was eight in the evening, and at The appointed
time we presented ourselves at the door and
of 'front.' seat at one dollar, or a place ~ in the
rear at fifty cents. Preferring near view, we
paid the dollar, and were furnished with seat
within q few feet of the stage. Among the audi
ence already assembled we noticed few In
dividuals of q respectable bearing, who were,
curiosity But the greater portion was made
up OF those wel-dressed roughs who contrive in
tSings % Of % this life. The Boundary line @ Of % the
reserved seats was well.marked, and In It's rear
were congregated those "bummerS" and
"knucks" upon whom fortune smiles but rarely
and feebly. The whole number presentwas about
OF the performers, the audience diverted itself
In @ characteristic manner. Nine out of ten OF
those who had dignided themselves by taking
front seats wee putting away at their segars
many mar of Of the ign 6ie rabbIe In the rear. were
industrously engaged in fulfilling voluntary
contract to f1oat tn. Apenches in tobacco-juice.
The reeking fumes o4liquor were mingled with
the cloud which reslNd over the assemblage;
and, as fitting accom- Naniment to the whole.
ribald jests and Indecent harangues were
Pens chSrsoters @ IN The spoting fraternity
entered the hall, they we . loudly and famt.
liarly ssutod ON all hands 0d Invited invted to seat
were already crowded to 81 location. One of
these dtSttn0ue was particularly noticeable by
a physical and moral wreck, uNmindful Of the
day of reckoning which was so Nose upon him.
AS he strided up the aisle, a burlN fellow with q
monstrous moustacne and mouA S-colored hat,
yelled at the top of his voice.
Don SOf5 So rese respoSded Some ONE Snother
quarter; "he'll knock spots out of ySV as big as
piece Of wool"
daddy" however, accepted the Invitation.
but before he was settled to his satisfaa uon, he
was forced to engage in preliminar 1scufhe
with the burly fellow with the monstrou NOUS
tache. This was guile q relief TO the au1tence,
and the merriment which II create had
scarcely subsldeI when "oyster JacE" ap-
peared upon the stage. gM
"Oyster Jack" was the acting stage manager.
In physiognomy he was far from progressing.
aha ~ Rly GnQQpRteO
this article. He was literally, as well as tech
nicaliy a Square. head" And that the SYM
metry OF his Uranium might not be disturbed
cavities about his lower Jaw beiug rounded out
with q short and grizzly beard. "Oyster jack
was attIred in a tight-htting knithannel shirt
and his pantaloons hung In graceful bags about
his neither extremities. In one hand he held
large silver time piece, which at once attracted
q marked share OF attention.
"Hello, Jack Where d. you git that turnip"
screamed lantsrnjawed youth on the ron'
The point of this query was seen at once, and
raised q roar of laughter, In which "OysteI
Jack" Joined heartily, as ne Informed a,his ms
House steeple. After requesting some one III
the audience to favor him with q mouthful o.
tobacco, "Oyster Jack" deposited the paper IL
He soon returned, supported on either side by
man stripped to the waist "Oyster jack
inserted the thumb of his right hand IN th'
chest OF the hatchet. faced Individual TO hi
right pronounced his name, and informed thl
audience that he sojonrned Ia BROOKLYN.
similar application 10 the heshy lndiylduMal M a
his left revealed the fact that his abiding plac
was Philadelphia. The two comDatants oowe'
clumsily to the audience. grtnned hldeously a
each other, shook hands as best they coul'
then prepared TO "set to- Half I
dozen rounds were gone through with aite