Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-30
In BOXING GL0TES.
FAIR HANDS ACQUIRING SKILL IN THE
Art OF SELF DEFENSE.
What Professional Teacher Says ON the
Subject-Dimeult to Teach . Lady to
Close Her Ffst-The Physical Benefits of
Sparring-A Healthful Exercise.

| In one of his japanese romances Fran
cisque Sarcey says: "One does take a pas
sion as he does cold This may be true
of the tender passion, but argument ought
TO be heard before We accept 1t as dictum
regarding feminine craze for novelty. As
the New York Athletic club has recently
done in your city, the socially exclusive
Sparring club of Philadelphia, has been
accustomed to give an annual festival of
games. The sports have generally in
cluded sparring, except during the reign
Of innocent old Mayor King (who by
special proclamation forbade anything OF
the kind, and feature of such occasions
has been the assemblage of bright-faced
ladies', who attended as the guests Of the
club. Last falls festival was memOra-
bic one Many of the best known and
most respected young gentlemen in the
community put on the gloves against each
other
The spectacle was a very entertaining
one. The young ladies present. ever IN
search OF new sensation, caught at the
idea of learning TO spar. Teachers were
IN active demand before the first frost
fell. Ind the rates have since gone steadily
upward \ young dentist of our ac-
qaintance shortened his Office hours under
the pretext that lie had been appointed an
assistant in the dental department Of the
University of Pennsylvania. The fact is
that he gives two lessons of sparring every
afternoon in the neighborhOod of Ritten-
house square. His pupils are young ladies,
and as the nature of his teaching is con-
fidential the feminine passion for "A strong
guard and prompt -cross-counter' is
likely to grow.
\ PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS CHAT.
Having occasion TO pass part of an after
noon recently in the company of profess
sional teacher of the heretofore eXcluS-
lively manly art the writer asked him
for some information regarding the
growth among ladies of this fancy for tisti-
cuffs. Ny remarks must be promised by
an explanation that the teacher in ques
ton has met the best mea of his day in
this country and England, though never
for money or with bare knuckles. He is
a graduate of Duiwich college, in the Sur
rey suburbs of London, and was for sew
eral years private tutor in one of the
best preparatory schools of Philadelphia.
He is u gentleman in his instincts, and
loves the art of selG-defense rs many a
good American dotes on polo, rowing or
cricket. lie admitted to HE that he was
teaching several ladies 10 spar, but said
frankly that he did not enjoy giving the
lessons. because lie WaJ in constant fear
Of accidentally injuriug his pupils. OF
course he dare not in..ict any punish
ment' FOR carelessness. and the girls were
often so iutrcc ale that he lost patience
with them.
\ lawn-tennic cGit, with well-padded
Jersey, was the usual costume. The
skirts must, of course, bc short, so that
the limbs can have full play. The gloves
were of the medium size, but always re-
CURED much making over. He always
adds extra hair stufiing. Into the fingers
and thumb he inserts Il castor glove,
about one size larger than that usually
worn by the Lady. The kid fingers of the
boxiuS-glove he cuts OF at the knuckle,
So that the castor-covered fingers may
protrUde This enables the lady to close
her fingers easily, thus retaining the
gloves firmly on her hands. This altera-
ton in gloves Is rendered necessary, he
says. by theuniycrsai inclination among
he female sex to strike with the hand
open. Thinking the teacher intended TO
perpetrate joke, | smiled at this remark
He grew grave, and by his manner re
baked nc.
STIRRING WITH TIE OPEN PALM
"You mistake me" said he. 1t is the
most difficult thing imaginable 20 teach
lady TO close Ter 1T Even after you
think she has been sufficiently warned of
the DANCE sii- N.s. i--, .lisively lunge ut
you wiki hv- open AaHd-ihe fingers
straight out and r,sii. lost one of my
best pupils just bef9:c Ci. istmas in that
way. Size r., t.,te' 0~'. thirty lessons
nd - J thought /
j bIc.eH iier OF ii3 iault of thrusting
out her fingers, but when led for her
forehead she stopped me neatly enough
and followed by what was intended for a
cross-counter, with her left. She caught
re on the cheek bone with such force as
knock two of her fingers completely out
Ci Joint That settled her The pain was
xcessive She threw off the gloves and
sat down TO have a good cry. / examined
her hand and advised her to call a surgeon
at once. She had a very bad hand. All
her courage has since departed. Prior 10
that event she would stand any amount
OF work. She generally prolonged her
lessons to forty minutes, and she caught
several hard blows accidentally given, Of
courseD during her training But when
she injured herself the sport lost its charm
to her entirely She will probably make
her appearance again next summer among
the Bryn- Mawr tennis and archery play
ers. but the vigor of her aroused woman
hood has vanished"
do you candidly regard the sport as
proper one for young iadies,'
why not, They are taught TO swing
clubs and dumb-bells at nearly every
ladies' seminary in the country. ! regard
SpaIring purely as sport. l never have
looked upon it in any other light.
have SPARED with professionals, you say
res, but never for dollar or a shilling.
| learned much of the art from them, just
- ! might from the billiard tournament In
lew York Sport, TO the real enthusiasts,
Is Ike lOvc-it levels all ranks. With
li.Gies. OF course there is no tendency
whatever to appear IN public. That is
tcmptation that does not assail them.
In . family wherethere are two sisters, fOI
example, | can not imagine any hing more
beneficial than frequent exercise with
The stuffed gloves. IL teaches one how 10
carry the body and head. II inculcates a
poisc CA the feet that never can be secured
otherwise. and il develops the muscles Of
the shoulders and back a. no other eXer-
else yet discovered does Philadelphia
Cor New York Herald
How Critics and Acquaintance Differ.
Critics complain Of Daniel Huntingdon
White House portrait OF ex President
Arthur, because it represents "a New YORK
club-man just stepping out Of the Bruins
wick cafe. after an excellent luncheon
Those who know Mr.. Arthur personally
pronounce the pictGrs Characteristic
likeness, upon the same groands. Frank
Lesiie's
The reeaIi.riti.s Of Compose
II i.sa, CifeTubini. whsn com
meHcil.., to comp 1s, a>-d - excite i,is
musical enthusiasm ~ taking q Tack 81
card and arranging them u ti'a most
.yT,,;e-i'gc eombina;i,.ns. Sriilenis he
yv.s,l.. throw them iali.z!iinziy aside an.
wi.i~i.ing eli sorts Il tunes. Il
a-as TINS he composed his aios' ci-asmine
49, .fs-.-.srf.sar f-fsafrftrfti Vas