The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-12-09
The Moral of the Ring.
The New Orleans Times of Decem-
Der second contains the following:


Der second contains the following:
A few years ago, when our worthy
fellow-c citizen, David Bidwen, the en-
terprising proprietor of the Academy
of Music in this city, was conducting
a large American circus in London,
and astonishing the Britishers, he was
induced to engage as members of his
company a stalwart young English
Gipsy and his beautiful, graceful and
Tin her line) accomplished wife. The
young man had already established
the reputation of a powerful gyinnast,
posturist, understander, and general
utility man, and his wife was a most
elegant and graceful equestrienne.
The couple were regarded as valuable
accessions to the circus, especially as
in certain parts they acted together,
when the enormous physical power of
the man served to show of. the sylph-
like grace and agility of the woman.
Thus the pair prospered, and being
thrifty and well disposed, managed to
accumulate q comfortable independ-
ence, which was prudently invested
| by the husband in prosperous circus
of which his father-in-law was chief
owner.
The great physical power, agility,
skill and nerve of the man having at
tracted considerable attention among
the class known as the patrons of the
Prize Ring and the devotees of gym
nastic sports, lures were held out to
the circus posturist to tempt him to
some exhibition of his mettle in the
tistic line. Unfortunately the simple
Gipsy fell victim to these arts, and
consented to make trial of his pow
ers in q set-to with some notable
champion of the ring. From this con-
test he emerged with such notoriety,
such proofs of endurance, courage and
skill, that his name became famous
through the admirers Of the "noble
art of self-defence,n as these brutal
exhibitions are so mockingly and false
ly styled. A series of victories in the
ring rapidly advanced the renown and
fortunes of the ex-posturist, until at
last he was recognized as the 1egiti-
mate successor to Tom Savers, the
champion of England. 1t is needless
to say that this elevation had seri-
GUS and debasing effect on the char
acter OF the victorious pugilist. Aban-
dOning his old ayocation, he became
henceforth Jem Mace, the idol and
hero of those disreputable characters
who make up what is called the tistic
circle in London. 1t was not long be-
fore certain Representatives of the
same class i'll this country sought out
the champion, and at length induced
him to try his fortunes in America. In
justice to Mace it should be stated
that he had retired from the ring, and
had manifested his determination to
lead the life of an orderly and decent
citizen. He had preserved his good
habits as well as comfortable indie
pendence, and was not easily per-
suaded to yield to the solicitations of
his new friends. But the arts and
batteries of the seducers at last tri-
umphed over the honesty and resolu-
ton OF the Gypsy, and he accepted the
| invitation to visit this country. In
New York lie found himself in the
| midst of the most deprayed set of
rutfians, rowdies and low gamblers,
that can be found in the civilized
world. 1t was in vain that his natural
honesty struggled against these intiu-
ences. A prize fight was arranged,
not more for the. qualification it affords
low instincts and tastes, than for the
opportunity which it gives for every
form of vice. This fight came of. near
this city, and brought in our midst a
large gang of the rutfianly class de-
scribed. 1t resulted in a victory for
Mace-a victory so easily won as to
excite the general suspicion that it
was made-up thing. The affair, how
ever was. somewhat mitigated in it's
disgraceful character by the vow of
Mace to abandon forever the p. r.,
with all its unhallowed surroundings.
We doubt not this was an honest inl-
pulse OF the Gipsy aud when recently
he was chided by an old friend for vi,
olating his pledge, there was some
thing pathetic in the confession that
he had manfully struggled to escape
from the tolls of the base crowd which
pursued him, but that their persistent
taunts, and other bad influences had
driven him again into the ring. He
might have added to these another
powerful motive in his dilapidated
fortunes, brought ON by the reckless
life he had been induced to lead. Thus
was he again drawn to this city, to act
an inglorious part in the barbarous
arena ON Thursday last.
1t is a worthy close of a career that
originated in low ambition and
groyelling appetite for the applause
Of the disreputab1e. May such be the
penalty of all who abandon honest and
decent modes of life to engage in SO
debasing spectacle as that of Thurs
day.
Let Jem Mace resume his old place
intthe circus ring, and afford legiti-
mate entertainment to. the admirers of
physical power and symmetry, and he
may yet redeem himself from the vices
contracted in that other ring, where
the oiffs of stl,eD eth apiIity and nhvs-