Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-11-15
John G. Heenan.


John Gable Hsenan, the pugilist
who died the other day of consumption,
in Wyoming territory, where he went
several weeks ago for his health was
born in West Troy, New York, in 1884,
and in 1849, when the gold fever was
raging, emigrated with the Argonauts'
Of that period to California. He set,
tied at the town of Benicia, and his
pugilistic exploits among the rough
population there soon gave him the
name, by which his admirers long
knew him, ot the "Benicia Boy"
In 1856 his muscles and pugilistic
propensities were 50 fully developed
that, in company with Mr.. James Gu
SICK his trainer, he returned to New
York in search Of a fight. He spent
the next two years, however, rather
peacefully in the employ Of the New
York custom-bouse In 1853 he entered
his first prize battle with John Norris
sey, at Long Point Island, Canada, and
was defeated. The great event of his
life was the fight with Tom Sayers, in
England, in 1860 for the championship
of the world. The American hero was
lion among the classes who like
prize fights, during his stay in England,
though he was continually kept moving
on by the police authorities, and was
finally arrested few days previous to
the day fixed for the fight. The battle
was postponed in consequence, but Hee-
nan was finally released, and the fight
took place. Itresulted very unsatisfao-
torily to those interested in it, the |
crowd interfering and breaking down |
the ropes and the referee taking to |
flight. In 1861 Heenan challenged any |
man in the world to fight for $4,000, !
which Jem Mace, of England, proposed |
to accept, but the arrangement was
never perfected. He found Tom King |
in 1868, in England, King defeating |
him so severely that it was believed he
never recovered his health He trav,
eled with shows in England and this
country for several years after that,
but did not appear in the ring again,
supporting himself by his exhibitions
and by a gambling-house in New York.
------
FRENCH OPINION. Monsieur de Cham
bord will probably wait some time be-
fore he signs himself king. The other
evening, in his Free Religious" adj
dress, Mr.. Rockingham, eloqueDtly
summarizing the guarantees of Ameri-
can republicanism, especially noted the
self-assertion of our people. A little
demonstration at a Paris theater not
long ago seemed indicative of like
guarantee on the part of democratic
France. Victor Hugo's drama of
" Marie Tudor" being represented,
went on calmly enough until it reached
the dialogue between the queen and her
counselor, when, hearing in the dis
tance the confusion of revolt, she de-
nounces the insurgents as "rabble,"
and hears for reply You may, mad
am, still call them rabble in an hours
time you will be obliged to say, the peo-
pie !" OF course, at this Hugoesque
sentence the audience applauded, rather
to the disgust of divers diJetianti in the
orchestra, who Immediately attempted
to ridicule the applause, Inspired
by this Philistine opposition, the
democratic element asserted" itself so
energetically that it rose to the height
of striking popular demonstration.
This is a straw that does something to
show the course of the wind in France.
To PARENTS. Parents run the risk of
losing the love of their children who
put aside their trivial questions as of no
consequence. An interrogation point
symbolizes the life of childhood. "Why"
and "What" are the keys with which it
unlocks the treasury of the world. The
boys numberless questions seem trivial,
but the wise parent will never turn them
off unanswered if he can help it. 1t is
his opportunity of teaching. He is met
half way, and there is all the difference
between impressing truth on an eager
one and an uninterested one. The lit
tie fellow, helping you ct yonr work,
may learn as much in an hour there as
in a week when he is prisoned in a
school-room and his thoughts are out of
doors.