The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
WHY THEY FOUGHT.
Boys Rent n Basemsnt and Have 1t Out
I'm Great Shape-Notes.

in Great shape-Notes
A man who lives IN upper Lexington
ave. tells this tale OF a recent experience
in his family, saws the New York Times.
1t forcibly illustrates certain well-known
characteristics of the genus man and the
early age at which they are developed.
About a fortnight ago." he says, 81
went home To dinner one night to find my
son Charles, lad OF sixteen, in bad shape.
His eve was bruised and inilamed, front
tooth was missing, and his right hand was
stiff and swelling. There are some rough
boys in our neighborhood, who come from
east from US, and 1 concluded the gang
had tackled him. Upon being questioned,
however, he admitted that it YVES not
hoodlum affair. a fellow and me- he
said finally, and with evident reluctance,
had q difference TO settle and we hired
basement in Third-ave. and we had it
out
THAT was all he would say Why or
with whom ne fought, could not GET out
of him. When his elder brother came in
and saw his condition he vowed ven
geance on the one who had caused it. But
Charles shook his head meaningly. & can
take care of him, he said, when my hand
gets all right
much worse l sent for the doctor After
reducing the inflammation, which took
two or three DAYS, he found that several
OF the small bones on the back OF the
hand were broken. The injury is likely
to lay him up for a good while.
Several days afterward L happened to
meet on the elevated train an acquaint-
ance of mine, who lie also 4 neighbor, living
on a side street couple of blocks above
me. We rode up town together, and in
the course oil our talk he mentioned that
his boy John was pretty well battered up.
What's the trouble p / asked.
"'He got into a fight and WIS rather
badly punished was the reply 1T was a
private scrapping match, too, it seems.
He and another lad had grievance and
they rented Basement in Thlrd-ave. and
had it out
al burst into laugh. Ny friend looked
at me inquiringly. 4 know all about it, l
said. I've got the other boy at my house
laid up for repairs
81 went to his home with my friend to
interview Master John. He had cash on
his cheek, his nose was turned around
looking over his ear, and two fingers of
one hand were broken. l asked after
Charles and showed signs OF satisfaction
at the recital of his condition IN give
it to him worse than that when my hand
is well again, he said-which was exactly
Charles determination. / tried to find
out the cause of the evidently bitter feud,
but John, like Charles, would not tell.
when l got home, however, l attempt
ed little strategy. Well said l to
Charles, I've discovered with whom you
have been fighting He looked surprised
and a good deal pleased when l further
told him how thoroughly John was bat
tered. And, / went on, that was very
silly reason for you two boys to half kill
one another Charles hung his head and
looked somewhat sheepish. Then he
braced up defantly:
al don't care he said. I'l hurt him
worse yet if he don't quit hanging around
her
''The ruse had worked. These two
young scamps had fought savagely over a
little giggllng schoolgirl, and each is ready
to begin over again at the earliest possible
moment"