The Helena independent., 1891-06-29
THE PUC|L|S1|C ARENA.
Its Occupants Discussed at Length
From an Artistic Point
of View.
A Diversity of Opinion Expressed
by Some Noted Sports
and Professionals.
Some Class 1t With the World of Art
While Others Claim 1t Is
Butchery.

"A questlon involving social ethics has
arisen in this city within the last forty
eight hours. 1t was brought to public at
tention by a letter sent to Mr.. Mulholland.
chief inspector of contract laborers at the
barge office. says the New York Recorder
The letter was signed M. Il. Worrell, and
from its tenor the writer is presumed to be
woman. The writer wants to know why
Francis Patrick Slavn and MIR. Charles
Mitchell are allowed to come to America to
fight under contract, while an American
woman cannot import servant.
The question has narrowed itself down
to these few words. "Is pugilist an ar.
tist!" AS will readily be seen. these five
words are pregnant with philosophical in
terest. At least, such is the opinion ex-
pressed by such men as Z. J. Henley, the
actor; Charles Harris, the comedian; Steele
Macknye, Henry e. Dixey. Billy Edwards,
Frank Stevenson. Paddy Green. bartender
for Steve Brodie, and the inimitable Patsy
Doody, the pride of the Fourth ward.
The four first named gentlemen were
seated around a table in the Hoffman house
art gallery yesterday afternoon just before
the dinner hour. Mr.. Henley was looking
into the cool, green depths of a mint julep,
while his right hand tinkled the ice against
the sides of the glass with two old-gold
straws. He is a tall, nervous young man,
whose apparently frail body contains good
deal of vital force.
us pugilist an artist?" he repeated in a
tone of dreamy introspection. Decidedly.
yes. first class, top notch pugilist has
attained very high artistic altitude. Let
" Far r~~.
question ut issue and consider the tout en-
semble or proper environment of the pupil-
istio profession in fight to finish. Tho
hnlf naked men, the elistenlng bodies, the
perfect machinery of the human anne! See
the flashing eyes, the tragic attitudes Of
the men! Then look at the spectators
Mark their eager attention, their shouts of
approval when good blow is delivered.
All this goes to make up q picture such as
artist never put upon canvas. These are
accessories such IA never grace the boards
of a theater. Now, as to the question per
Sc. man who can whip, every man WHO
stands before him must be IN artist, be-
cause he has demonstrated his ability over
some one else. dog which can whip
every dog brought against him is an artist,
barber who can cut your hair in more
artistic manner is an artist. The artistic
will bet hundred that Frank p. Slayiu can
whip John l.. Sullivan If they ever come to-
gether."
''Fll take that bet," said Mr.. Harris.
Steele Mackays oombated Mr.. Henley's
Argument. He wanted Henley to define his
idea of art 80 that premise might ba es-
tablished from which to argue. MIR. Mack
aye claimed that II pugilist was not an art
ist because he created nothing. Thepugilist,
he said, was purely an agent of obstruction.
He used mechanical means to a mechanical
end. There was nothing OF the nature of
inspiration in his work.
But" said Mr.. Henley, "did not Mr.
Sullivan create when he introduced the