Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-30

social culture, we must have physical
amusements of the most debasing kinds.
Different nations seem to have different
tastes, and while the Spaniard finds food
for amusements in the contests of bulls
and cocks, the American rowdy resorts
to the prize fight and wrestling match,
and it is refreshing to find man who
ministers to this depraved appetite, that
makes his profession a means for pro-
noting greater respect for himself and
his country.
The first that we ever remember of
hearing of John c. Heenan, was when
he made his debut in the prize ring and
was beaten by John Morrisey, then the
boss bruiser in the nation, subsequently,
a representative in Congress from one
of the districts in New York city, and
more recently the keeper of one of the
worst holes of infamy in our great
American watering place. In 1860, af-
ter Heenan, or as he was then known
the ''Benicia Boy, " from his having been
born at Benicia, California, had recov-
cred his courage and condition from the
drubblng that Morrisey gave, him he
went to England and upon British soil,
terribly punished the British champion
of the prize ring, Tom Savers We do
not propose to 90 in the details Of this
fight. -....
When Heenan went to England to en-
gage in this encounter, the average Eng
ishmen looked with supreme contempt
upon everything from Yankeeland, and
though the red face of John Bull flush
ed slightly at the mention of Bunker
Hill, he was aching to give all America
"a lickin'," and there was a great deal
of contempt manifested for the audaci-
Gus pugilist, who dared to beard the
British lion in his den. But Heenan
fought himself into the respect of the
British nation, and he brought back
across the water a name of which his
countrymen were not ashamed. Amer
lean powers and pluck had met British
arrogance upon another field and come
off victor, and the broken arm of Tom
Savers, carried to the heart of the Eng
fish nation a new conviction of the pow
er of America to compete with the
mother country on every field. John
G. Heenan was a rough man, and a prize
fighter, but his embassy to England car
ried with it a moral force, and he truly
fought for peace
Since 1860 we have had gigantic
civil war, we have had our Trent expert
ence, we have seen the Alabama apply
the torch to our merchant marine, and
the mother country has paid the bill.
Every American holds his head high on
British soil, and looks the matronly
Queen square in the eye as he asks after
the health Of her family, and we com
pare with pride our diyines, our. scholars
and our statesmen with those of the
Green Islands, and our neighbors across
the water send us respectful greeting
upon all occasions. The first modern
experience that brought about this re
spect for Us was the punishmentof Tom
Sayers. That was the last prize fight
that decent people have taken ar interest
in, and we are inclined to look upon
John C. Heenan as one Of our Peace
ambassadors that brought about our
friendly feelings with the mother coun-
try. When Heenan had finished this
battle he retired from the ring forever,
aud has since lived in the same scciusion
as other retired statesmen. He has gone
TO his rest. ReQHsoat In pace