Telegram-herald., 1888-12-23

Gll There are eFllrucro OF interesting riiDIt
around New York and other cities where
lovers OF cock fighting are wont 70 congre-
gate.
A SPORT or ANCIKNT ORIGIN.
Cooking Is unique among sports. II not
only has 10 own peculiar language, but IL Is
about the only sport, unless dog fighting DO
excepted, wherein the ancient traditions are
adhered b closely. Cooking today Is essen
TALLY what IL was n century ago, and In all
probability the rules by which tbs Romans
reguiated the sport were ia all important
features tho same as those that guide it in
1857 There IS no progress in the sport as
there IS in pugilisn, horse racing, running,
and the Ike, for as the birds more than half
tue time fail 10 survive battle improve
rlent In breed cannot be effected. The inter
eat In the sport Is narrowed % the result Of
single contest; records are not thought Of;
the sole desire is % see one bird or the other
eifectGally slaughtered. Itfollows naturally,
then that the rules that suliiced century
a-O for the killing Of ono bird by another
the act being q very plain, straightforward
affair, are good enough today, and that the
conditions surrounding the fight may be Of
the crudest, most primitive character, and
yet satisfactory.
cock pit IS u llly made by arranging
eight pieces OF board 50 as to form an octa-
goa Each board is about four feet long and
eighteen inches high, and they are all placed
on edge 50 that a little space IS inclOsed by
fence foot and a hall high. The inner side
of each board forming the octagonal fence is
padded and carpet Is spread on the hOor
where the pit is placed.
PREPARING TIE BIRDS
|. J.
fully weighed, birds OF the same or nearly
the same weight being matched against each
other. main may consist of any odd num-
Der OF battles, which, by the way, is the tech
nical word for fight Then the birds are
''heeled" In this expression there las been
a modification Of the game slang" for the
original phrase was put on the gaTs," and
many still SAY put on the spurs" cock is
as carefully prepared for combat as were
the knights of old when they put on
their wrought iron shirts and grasp
ed their spurs. The arning Of
cock is peculiar and 70 the unlnitiated
painful process The first step is what is
known as cutting up" II takes t.o men TO
do the actual work and several more TO stand
around and make suggestions. One man
takes the bird in his hands, while another
| holds the bird, another, with a pair Of scis-
sors, ruthessly clips away AL the beautiful
| p.umage 81 the throat, leaving the neck bare
and scrawny The comb is clipped also, in
order that the opposing bird shall have as
| httle chance as possible 20 seize upon him
| with MS beak, for when the rooster wishes TO
| strike ne tries 10 grasp his enemy by the
| comb and hold kifR hard while he gives him
a vigorous thrust with his long spurs. Hav-
| ing destroyed tho beauty of the bird, the man
with the scissors next clips the wings just
enough b prevent the bird from flying. but
| leaves enough feathers 70 mako the wings Of
assistance in jumping. The tail is also
| clipped 70 a certain extent, and when the job
| Is done the bird Is as scrswny and ugly IN ap-
pearance as possible. Tue "heeiing' proper
| although all the preparations come under
| this general head consists Ia placing on the
Stumps Of the natural spurs Of the bird,
| which have been sawed of, sharp steel spurs
an inch aud three quarters in length. One is
placed on each leg and bound 50 firmly that
they cannot como OF. Then the bird Is
| ready for the battle
| ALL MES ARE EQUAL.
| A cooking main is great leveler. ~
| have seen. SAYS writer in The New York
| Herald, doctors. lawyers, merchants, brok-
ers haak directors, horsemen, clerks black
smiths. car drivers loagshoremeu and men
who lived by their wits side by side ell in