The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-01-23

It is not pleasant reading, but while,
| noticing our boxing craze-I call it craze,
because it lacks the elements and decency
of common sense, and because / see men
calling themselves respectable, disgracing
themselves by mingling with lot of ruffians
and loafers whose proper home is the peni-
| tentiary. The New York Athletic Club is
one of the toniest, if not the most intellect
ual in New York. It is devoted to physical
development. 1t is a noble ambition to
bring the human form to the highest state
of physical perfection, but in this hightoned
club, in which are bankers aud brokers and
merchants and lawyers, and not few cler-
gymen and artists, physical culture seems
TO mean boxing, and within fewweeks we
have had two exhibitions where number
of professional pugilists we're engaged to
pummel each other, which they did to the
huge delight Of an immense audience of
our financial and mercantile creme de la
creme, several of the contestants being
knocked senseless, and the floor bespattered
with blood like slaughter house. Our
Produce Exchange is one of the most mag
nificeut buildings in the city, and the grand
hail where sales are made il unsurpassed in
the country. On the day proceeding Christ
mas there was lull i'll business i'll the af-
ternoon when body of brokers turned the
pit where options of wheat are sold into
prize ring. A couple of messenger boys
were soon found who put on the mittens,
and after they had pounded each other till
they could scarcely stand, the brokers
passed the hat and the amateur Sullivans
were compensated for their bruises. Fights
between professional ruffians in private
houses for money is Just now fashionable
amusement, and it is only short time
since that a rich broker in one of the most
arlstocratic quarters i'll Brooklyn had a
fight for $500 in his front parlor, between
a couple of professional pugilists, and
while the affair WAS supposed to be strictly
for the detection Of sixteen of his most in
timate male friends, his wife and three 9TH
or ladies watched the progress of the COM
bat through key hole, and were much de-
lighted with the e1hibition-the loss of a
beautiful picture and a magnificent proce-
lain vase proving no bar to the entertain
ment. Ladies are now having little bouts
in their back pariors for the benefit of {.
few select friends, and it is rumored that
very beautiful Fifth Avenue belle well
known i'll society, was unable to receive on
New Years day, eft-hander from Miss
M. of Gramercy Park having shrouded her
right optic in mourning and aisigured her
beautiful nose.
The terrific storms of the past few weeks
have almost aapihilated the beautiful beach
at Coney Island. The music stand that
echoed with the glorious music of Pat Glib
more's band and Leyy's magic horn, now
stands far out at sea surrounded by the
-roariHg wnves, and even while I write, it
may be thing of the past The big ho-
tells are threatened, and the concourse
swept away. Those who saw Couey Island
in its beauty year or two ago, can scarce
~ realize the desolat;on that covers New
York's most popular seaside resort.
To the lovers of art, it is matter of re-
gret that three of the most magnificent
private collections of pictures on the Amer
lean continent are sealed books to the pub-
lie. aIlude to the great collections of the
late A. Z. Stewart, Marshall 0. Roberts and
VIM. II. Vanderbilt. Mr.. Vanderbilt gen
erous!y threw open his magnificent gallery
once each week for quite time till a lot
of ignorant Doors violated every principle
Of decency, and commenced exploring the
private apartments of the family. Mar
shall 0. Roberts gallery has been closed
since his death. The Stewart collection has
never been open to the public. 1t has been
conducted with the same narrow minded
ness as everything else over which Judge
Henry Hilton has bad any CONTROL; but it
raat reach the public some day. If the
Three galleries were put together they
would form the neucleus of a magnificent
national collection. 1t rests with three
widows to say if this shall be done. Let ua
hope that they will give it their gracious
consideration.
Truly yours, BROADBRIM.
No Boon that Science has Conferred