Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-02

Doubtless all the laws designed for the moral
and religious bettermept of the citizens OF
those days were palatable and somewhat
adapted to the tastes and desires of people
who believed in an extremely arbitrary syste m
of religion, and who to very great extent
demanded not only rigid uniformity in every
day life, but to some extent tyrannical uni
formity of thought. l have not the least dot bt
but that the good old man Roger Williams and
thousands Of others really believed that every
good act. every good thought ana every step in
the improvement of civilization were due to
system of laws similar In spirit and intent to
the law that the Boston court has just dealt
with. Were these good and brave old Puritans
to visit us to-day and witness the extraordinary
advance of intelligence, morality, religion and
things material, they certainly would never
believe that almost all of their old laws re-
stricting the wholesome amusements and pleas
ures of life have been imperative for genera
tions; But such has been the case. Whateyer
may have been the object of these old '5lue
laws the world has progressed better IN an
respects since they became obsolete than 1t did
when they were in operation.
A Common Sense View.
But If we pause awhile and inquire into the
question of this alleged gambling feature in
billiard playing, think many of US will be-
come convinced that there is no gambling
at all about it. The great object of public
billiard playing is not to make money by betting
or playing for what may be called stakes. Ger
tainly there are some who do play professionally
and semi-professionally, but the vast majority
of patrons of public billiard rooms participate
in the game as a means of recreation or amuse-
ment game of billiards in many cases
breaks the monotony of wearisome day of
toll and anxiety. Were We all wealthy enough
We could have billiard tables OF our own, just
the same as many of our judges have, but since
many of US are poor we must patronlze those
tables that some person has provided. Well,
now.we cannot use these tables without paying
for them, and if two men play game what
moral difference is there whether one man pays
all the cost or whether each pays one-half? The
game is one of skill and not one of chances.
The most sklllful man will win every time in
game of billiards. Well, Jones thinks he is
more skillful than Brown and the latter de-
clnes to believe that. They engage table
with the condition that the loser pays for the
use of ii. Now / contend there are not the ele-
ments present in a case of this kind that are
found in a bona fide betting or gambling trans
action. The object of Jones and Brown is not
to win money, but to determine the question of
the playing abilities; and to add as much inter
est to the contest as possible they decide that
the loser pays for the use Of the table. If
that can be deemed gambling l venture to
say that almost 80 per cent OF the civil.
lied world are gamblers to-day. If
the law brands that as gambling
scarcely parlor game Of forfeits
is clear. Almost every outdoor means of re-
creation INDUCED IN by athletes, amateurs or
otherwise is gambling, and it may be interest
ing to many of us to know that while we have
been participating in the physical and mental
exercises from day to day and progressing
satisfactorily in moral way, satisfactorily in
the eyes of friends, or pastors and everybody,
we have been and are yet gamblers. The fact
is morality, is progressive, and, therefore,
thing may be legally right and morally wrong.
WI hat was considered moral, OF at least good
in the days of Cromwell, Williams or
John Knox is not deemed good morality to-
day. This is Just as true as the TACT that ciyill
cation is at higher standard than it was when
afat thore dxua1t m mud hnts han
hawks and arrows for their weapons and de-
lighted in tattoo ornamentations for personal
These facts ought to have some
influence on those in whose power it is to ad-
minister or entirely obliterate these old fossil
lied statutes.
La Blauche's Challenge.
George La Blanche has, during the week,
issued very unique challenge TO fight Jack
Dempsey. For some time past many people
have stated that "The Marine" had very good
business faculties. and if there was ever any
doubt on that poin: his challenge to Dempsey
settles it. La Blanch offers to fight Dempsey
and put up his saloon against DeDpsey's 5000
If Dempsey wins he can have the saloon and
La Blanche will take the $1,000 II La Blanche
wins he will take the saloon and Dempsey can
have his $3.50. In other words. La Blanche
knows that if he is beaten his saloon will not
be much use to him, and he'll need tEs 5000,
and If he defeats Dempsey, his saloon
business will be considerably better, beside
his receiving any purse that the California club
may give. will not be surprised if the offer
Is declined by Dempsey. 1t is reasonable to ea-
pect that he will decline it. The offer certainly
shows that La Blanche is not very eager TO meet
Dempsey again and am strongly of this opin-
ion. Were he 1mbued with the belief that he
was Dempsey's superior most certainly he
would be prepared to meet Dempsey under the
conditions. I really think that La
Blanche's offer is something of victory for
Dempsey. The majority of sporting men, ven-
!, ,sr,rr 81 Il
not to fight. That Dempsey is La Blanche's su-
perior there is no doubt when both men are in
their best form. Nobody knows this better
La Blanche.
Mnce and Mitchell.
Detailed accounts of the Mace and Mitchell
contest are to hand. and give the opinion of
Henry Sampson (Pendragon) on the affair. Of
course the contest was for the receipts only.
Mr. Sampson says: "Of the Mace Mitchell af-
fair, which was brought to a completion at
Glagow on Friday Enthusiastically, it is to
be hoped, for both parties-there is not much to
be said by an earnest critic. If the people who
pay at the gate are satisfied that they are get
ting fair return on their outlay, the private
of the chow are nothing to any
body else. Certainly don't want to detract
from the merits of Mr.. Mitchelrs victory, or
add to the smart of Mr.. Mace's defeat But
should like to say that it Is close on
"a years since Mace's last fight in
u,
ness of what happened on that day at Long
Reach in 1866, can bear testimony to his being
even then regarded as past the age at which
pugilists show to advantage. Mace did well
enough then. despite that he was called old;
but "a years when added on S6 (as he was then
said to be) make no end of difference. You
may stave off the enemy for time. but he is
sure to find you out at the finish. Having no
desire to queer either Mace or Mitchell, have
hitherto refrained from SAYING word about
their engagement; but l certainly never
thought that a man who is at the youngest
within few weeks of his Goth year would enter
into an engagement on merits with
and who has on several occasions
shown himself possessed of considerably over
the average ability. Nobody will accuse me of
being an advocate for police interference, but
am glad the myrmidons of Glaswegian law
did not allow the fourth round to be fought
out. 1t would have been no end OF pity to
see one who in his younger days combined all
the qualities ending his career in what 1t would
ton and discontinue. I hope we have seen
the last of competitions either between men
who are both aged and infirm, or between men
one of whom is aged and who was soon proved
to be infrm-though, mayhap. he did not
suspect it beforehand-and the other of whom
is young and strong and quick and vigorous
and clever. Even if the thing was only joke,
it does not seem to me one that is at all
PRINGLE.
All Want Mays.
LOUISVILLE. KY, March L-Al Mays, the
old Brooklyn and Columbus pitcher, who is
here, has received several offers for
the coming season, but thus far he has not &C
cepted any of them. The Cincinnati club has
made him a very liberal offer and the New
York National League Club has also opened