St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-17
THE GREAT FIGHT.

As the GLOBE predicted, the editors
excursion to White Bear Yesterday after
noon was a great success; and not the
least interesting features of it were Mr..
FITZSDIMONS, pugilist, who is soiourn-
ing at the lake, and the very evident
awe and admiration he excited in the
great throng of intellectual people who
are assembled here to exchange views
on the most approved methods of edu-
eating the public through the medium
of the press. His noble physique COM
mande the earnest and appreciative
attention, both of those whose training
fitted them to form a critical opinion
and of those who knew no moIe about
the manly art of self-defense than to be
able to ask intelligent questions. There
was no doubt at all, however, that every
body was glad to see him; and the
low murmurs of applause which attend
ed his appearance are but forecast of
the laurels which await him if he comes
OF victor in the great fight next week.
Popular delight in exhibitions of
physical proweSs is as old as the world,
and no refinements of civilization or in
ventions of new pleasures have sup
planted the qualification of the average
man in fair, evenly matched battle of
any kind. Some of the local interest in
the coming Sparring match is artificial,
but the most of it is real, and permeates
all classes of society and possesses all
conditions of men. This feeling would
exist to some degree over any sort of a
contest, but it is particularly strong
over one of this kind because it calls
for the most perfect muscular develop
ment, the highest degree OF suppleness
and vigOr, and no end of pluck, endur-
ance and skill. 1t is not often in gen.
Grafton that men can see a well-cOn-
tested. fOught-to-the-finlsh exhibition of
this character. and the prospect of one
tunes their curiosity and interest to the
highest pitch.
Nothing proves the hold this sport has
on the great heart of the common peo-
pie so conclusiyely as its undated
popularity in spite of the disheartening
succession of fakes which masquerade
under its name. A suspicion of
hippOdrOme turks about more than
half the sporting matches which are
advertised, and in a good many others
the odds are so tremendously I'M
even that the fight turns out to be no
fight at all. No other athletic exhibit
ton could survive history of this sort:
but so keen is the IN interest these that
the hope of a good battle makes people
forget such diScOuTaging experiences.
If there ever was fair and equal con-
test in the ring, the coming one ought
to be such. 1t is given under the
auspices of a new organization CON-
posed of the most influential men in St.
Paul. The tidings of the preliminary
training leave the result very doubt
full in the opinion of those best equipped
to judge. The arrangements will be as
perfect as care and money can make
them. The attendance will be tremen-
dous, and there is every outlook for a
great and memorable event.
The GLOBE assures the intellectual
gentlemen in convention assembled for
the purpose of discussing the best
means of educating the world through
the medium of the press, that the ex-
cursion to White Bear yesterday after
noon was not planned with any view to
Mhettipg their appetite against the COM
ing fight. There is no authentic infor-
nation at hand as to whether st. Paul
has impressed them as dull or lively
town; but if they want to see things
seethe. they had better reflect on the
matter and decide to tarry with US for
another week.