The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-05

san FRANCISCO is only wave from the aQi-
tation begun in the east few years ago
and will not last long.
The opposition to glove contests comes
from those who have never witnessed them
and who Judge of them merely by one o,
two facts OF impressions.
Speaking as ia man who has had some
experience. wish to say most emphatically
that boxing contests are not rough sport.
In the first place the contestants if proper.
~ trained are in such fine physical condi.
ton, 80 strong of limb, 80 hard of flesh,
that blows do not hurt or cause them dis
tress but only invigorate. Every man who
has faced furious hailstorm and has felt
the blood mounting higher and higher and
his spirits rising till at last he has laughed
as the hurricane whirled MIN about, knows
something of the exhilaration felt by those
who face each other in the ring and stand
up under showers of blows.
The beauty of boxing is that it exercises
and brings into action every muscle in the
human body, from the tip Of the toe to the
end OF the finger. The muscles of the legs.
tho back, the arms, the neck, all have full
play, and the natural combative strategy of
each man is as fully developed as though he
was engaged in duel with swords.
Boxing is also the ultimate and final test
OF physical power and endurance. BY it's
means men may reach as satisfactory a con-
cl0sion AZ to their physical merits as can be
reached in any manner short of deadly
combat. The practice Of this mimic war
imparts hardihood, readiness Of resource,
cheerfulness in adversely. and above ali
good temper. Idon't say that no bad-tem-
pered man can ever become a first class
puRilist, but do say that such cases are
very rare. Hard knocks make men good
natured, and proficiency az a pugilist gives
9 nervous man self-confidence that banishes
only in the ring. Outside of it they are as
peaceable and amiable az most other citi-
zens, and are deadly enemies Of touRhs and
bar-rOom terrors.
Our nineteenth century civilization can
not afford to quarrel with any form of
healthy, wholesome athletics, especially in
America where so large proportion Of
young men find their only exercise in
swinging pens and lifting ledgers. Half an
hours work with the gloves each day would
give to these young men the sure foot, the
strong arm, the hard muscle, the clear eve
and the steady brain Of the athlete.
Physical exercise means mental rest.
Boxing will cure:
Dyspepsia.
Insomnia.
Consumption Tin its early staees).
Malaria.
Melancholia.
lnsipient paresis.
The blues.
Colds, coughs, sore throat and fevers.
This may seem like an extravaganza state
ment. but do not mean to assert that it is
q good thing for a man to rise from sick
bed to box. l mean to say that the all
ments named, and scores of others, spring
from q condition of the human system.
which could not exist If proper care and
exercise were had. The Christian scient-
lists are very nearly right in their assertion
that sickness is sin.
It seems somewhat inconsistent for the
authorities to prohibit what are called
glove fights and yet allow wrestling and
football matches to proceed. have tried
my hand at both, wrestling and boxing.
and can say without fear of contradiction
from any one who knows the facts, that the
latter is much the most merciful. Az to
football, the newspaper record of injuries
received bv players on the two foremost
college teams shows a larger number of cas-
1alties from one match than prize rings all
'ver the country yield in year.
There's danger of disqualification.
Through GENERALIZATION nations relanee
INTO barbarism. While Egyptians wore
athletes they ruled the world; while Per |
'ians were athletes their arms wer irresisti |
Die; while Grecians were athletes tho banded |
armies of the whole earth could not over
.ome them; while the Romans were athletes |
hey were invincible. II read history |