davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1892-10-23
BANKERS AGAINST 1T.
Alvord and Tobin Hardly Think 1t
Is the Thing.

William Alvord. the president OF the
Bank of California. said:
81 have no objection to boxing. 1t Is a
healthy exercise, but prize-fghting Is very
different 1t is commercial speculation
instead of an athletic spectacle.
II never saw a prize-fght and l do not
want 10 ever see one.
al know some people hold very different
views upon the matter. / have heard a
good deal said both pro and con by my
friends at the club, but of conrss it cannot
be expected that we should all think alike.
Some people consider dog-fght very
good thing"
r. j. Tobin of the Hibernia Bank said In
reply to the query:
Morally, yes. because Of its associations
and the rufianly class which it brings to-
gether and which seem to be inseparable
from the prize-ring. But physically il GER
tainly tends TO develop desire for high
class physical culture and manly inde-
pendence, making men self-reliant
Outdoor exercises. such as football and
other games, develop the physical man with
out brutalizing, but the prize-ring. in my
opinion, should be suppressed.
81, however. think it will die out il left
alone. and that very speedily. for l think
that the late and present taste for 1t Is only
temporary"
The morning call., 1892-10-23
SOrIE LEGAL OPINIONS.
Judge Finn Says 1t Should Be
Suppressed.

Judge John +. Finn made reply:
AS judicial officer / should probably
say yes; but as an individual | would re-
Quire q large amount OF consideration.
Wern you to ask Should prize-fghting be
suppressed by law| l should say Yes
But when L look around and find some Of
the noblest of the Anglo-Saxon race, both
In Great Britain and America, who have In
dulged both personally and by their pres
ence in so-called prize-fghts, l cannot:think
that 1t Is to be condemned offhand.
but ithen when we take the German
raee-who among mankind possess greater
valor than the Germans? And yet prize
fighting Is practically unknown among
them. have not given much considera-
ton to the matter, but l do think it's tenden-
cies are brutalizing and degrading.
ut seems to have more prominence given
TO it In this country Mt the present time than
in any other. and lately it has received more
attention than all other subjects, in fact to
the exclusion of all others.
81 think it should DO suppressed, and to
the benefit of the race
Barclay Henley came out with an unex-
pected reply: He said
Il think that the suppression of the
Southern Pacific Railroad monopoly could
be tar more beneficial to the race than the
suppression of all Of the minor evils from
which we suffer.
with regard to prize-fghting l think 1t
is brutalizing In Its effects and see no coun-
teracting benefits. / never saw a prize-fght
and never shall / think it would benefit
the race were il suppressed"
The morning call., 1892-10-23
A WOMAN SPEAKS OUT.
She Wants More Corbetts and Sui
IiVanS.

Mrs. Clara F. Foltz, the attorney -at-law,
said:
IL have devoted considerable amount of
thought TO the question Of prize-fg hting.
have viewed 1t from all sides, and was
deeply grieyed some time ago when man
whose name Think was Mcbride was killed
In contest at the California Athletic Club.
ION that occasion wrote letter of SYM
pathy to the manager Of the Institution and
received very lengthy telegram thanking
me for my letter and complimentiug me for
the stand / took in some remarks / had
penned upon the subject.
"Prize-fghtingl Well. there Is great
deal to be said about 1t. ! know there is
from my point Of view and there may be
good deal from the other side.
when l go into the street and meet the
numbers OF puDy, weak, narrow-chested
unfortunate creatures in the shape Of men
1t does strike me that something is urgently
needed of drastic character to counteract
this physical depravi.y. and4f prize-f fighting
VIII tend toward that end say let US have
plenty Of 1t.
Some say 1t Is degrading and demoraliz-
Ing. Now l hear that Mr.. Corbett is
gentleman and that Mr.. Sullivan is bully.
do not know this. but granting the truth
OF the report it cannot be urged that prize
lighting made John l.. a bully. IL SO we
must concede that 1t also made Corbett
gentleman. Anyway II 1t enabled gentle.
man to knock out bully 1t must have been
good thing.
III certainly makes q man feel and be
The morning call., 1892-10-23

Independent-he does not have to trust to a
pistol or bar OF iron for self-defense. 1t
develops him into noble animal by train
ing his physique. Look at the thousands of
permits to carry concealed weapons and the
thousands who carry them without permits.
These men are either preparing themselves
to murder some other man or else are afraid
Of some one numbering them and want to
get in first
81 think 1t would be better II we had mora
Jim Corbetts and j. L. SIS. There would hs
less use of the knife and the pistol which
Is altogether too prevalent here-tney ara
used on the slightest pretext, and if our men
were properly developed and trained we
would have less OF 1t. Difficulties would be
settled with fists which are frequently settled
with gun, resulting in countless murders.
How many mothers take interest in the
muscular development of their sonsp How
many mothers of the present day are thsre
who. like the mothers of old. take pride in
the sinews OF their boys and watch with
care this part of their growthP Very few.
Il know l look well after my bows mus
cles.
IL think every mother ought to do the
same. and of their girls, too.
III we devoted more attention to physical
culture man would become more the animal
God intended him to be and be worthy the
alteration of woman and be fit to become a
father, and woman would be the mora cana
BILE of producing race fit to rule the earth
as beings composing mems sana in corpore
sano."
The morning call., 1892-10-23
AN ATHLETIC NOTION.
He Would Like to See Every rIan
Boxer.

Mark K. Frank of the California Athletic
Club said: :" am the originator of the
California Athletic Club, and induced Jack
Seymour to take the matter up, after he had
run it as private institution. 1t was
formed into its present association. and IL at
Is the foundation of reform pugilism in The
world. They used to fight out on the turf.
but they do not do so now. which is great
Improvement.
Il am an ordinary city business man. Int
l am also an allround trained athlete-a
boxer, wrestler, fencer and a swimmer.
and consider that l am much the better
for 1t.
''Any one of education knows that men
who follow sedentary pursuits have their
nerves all run down by the time the busi-
ness day is ended, and visit to a pymna-
SUM completely recuperates the vital forces
by taking part in violent exercises: and to
see two men trained to the pink of perfec-
ton struggling for supremacy is a noble
sight and acts as a great incentive. hold
boxing In high repute. but consider that
fencing Is preferable. The latter deveIons
the right side OF the body and the former
the left
I'm this city we have many medica, men
who are excellent boxers, and I think the
whole faculty indorses the sport RI we
were to suppress prize-fghting we would be
cutting off one OF the principal branches Of
the sport. and large amount of tho interest
would die and athletic exercises would die.
want to see every man in the CITY trained
athlete. and the only way to accomplish
this is create the interest through the prize
ring"
The morning call., 1892-10-23
GOOD-BY TO FRIENDS.
Officers of the Dubourdier
Say Farewell
TO THOSE THEY HAVE NET
A Dancing Party Given on Board the French
Corvstte-A Large Attendance and an
Enjoyable Time.

The French corvette Dubourdieu has been
In San Francisco harbor several weeks,
during which time the officers have been
treated most kindly by our citizens OF the
French colony. They have spoken of 1t at
all times and are loud in their praise of the
people who have made life pleasant for
them during their stay here.
While feeling that they could never re-
pay the attention that has been shown them
they feel as If they ought to say farewell
to their friends before sailing for Cherbourg
next Saturday.
Accordingly $50 invitations were Issued
to matinee dansante" aboard ship, which
took place yesterday afternoon. Many OF
the invitations were simply sent to the head
of family inviting ell the others. AS
consequence about 800 people went out to
the Dubourdieu yesterday afternoon.
At half past o'clock the tug Etna was
on hand to convey the guests out to the
warship, and besides the two angry, snort
ing little steam launches belonging to the
vessel were In waiting with long trains OF
barges to take those that were left when the
tug had her load. The tug and the Launches
ran between the Dubourdleu and the shore
all afternoon taking one load out and brlug-
ing another back. A large fiat scow was
mede fast to the lee side Of the warship. so 1t
was as easy to get on or OH as IL Is at the
Oakland ferry.
Admiral Parrayou received all the guests
personally, and WIS most considerate
of their comfort and pleasure. DE told
every ono to make themselves at home, ana
he meant it. Every pert of the ship was
open to the visitors, and signs were placed
in conspicuous spots directing TO what lay
beyond. The officers were most consider
ate of the pleasure of their guests, and
busted themselves seeing that every body
was having good time.
The midship deck was decorated TO such
an extent that 1t required stretch Of mag
ination for a person TO feel convinced that
he was on board ship and that the waters
OF San Francisco Bay were tossing within
few feet OF him. 1t looked exactly like a
large ballroom. An immense canvas WAS
stretched from the main to the miZZen mast
by rope and allowed to fall over the bull
warks and form peak roof.
The :interiOr of this was then decorated
with flags. bunting and plants, and pre-
scented most pleasing appearance. There
was not thing in sight to suggest the ap-
pearance of q ship except large iron beam,
on which was painted those two words so
dear TO a Frencbman-"Ho nneur" and
'Patrie." The canvas was stretched across
at least forty feet above the lower deck and
at least fifteen feet above the after upper
deck, allowing it TO form gallery, in which
the musicians were placed. Flags and ban
ners were arranged around the cooks gal
leTy. so that unromantic but necessary adj
junct to a waT-yessel looked like large
bonbon box, and the corners between it
and the smokestack most inviting places for
"tete-a-tete."
Tbs deck was most carefully waxed and
was almost too slippery to walk on.
The gundeck was put to the use OF buffet
The morning call., 1892-10-23
Hiding I'm His Own Hair.
Pittsburg Dispatch.


Wilhelm Schmidt, living four miles south
OF C0nneaut, Ohio, has become one of the
most remarkable freaks outside of the mu-
seums. He has been in the country thirty
four years, but is unable and unwilling to
speak word of English. living with his
wife and daughter On an isolated little farm
that yields corn and potatoes enough for
the trio. A visitor, from curiosity, called
on the old man and thus describes what he
saw:
what proved to be Schmidt sat in an
armchair in the center of the one-roomed
house. Only huge mound of hair sur
mounting his shoulders was visible-not a
human feature to he seen. Schmidt propped
his cane against his chair and with both
hands pulled the shock of hair open, show
ing his face, which was bleached and I'M
canny looking, like vegetables grown under
cover. Only for a minute was the old
mans face to be seen, for he dropped the
curtain of hair back over it, saying in Ger
man that he did not like the light and could
not endure it. The great mass of hair fell
as thickly over his face in front as over the
back Of his head. Schmidt has worn his
hair as hiding-place for his head and face
for eighteen years and steadfastly refuses
to have it cut His eyesight has been prac-
tically destroyed by having the light shut
from il sc long.
The morning call., 1892-10-23

sports. and If We did not have some fighting
We would have moro shooting. II people
do not have fighting sport they will have
some kind of sport which will be worse.
IL became a captain In the army through
being able to fight. 1t is many years ago.
and l was quite young fellow. 1t was In
Cincinnati. had been seeing friend off
by the boat, and in returning along the
levee, met little boy crying. On inquiring
what was the matter. he told me that man
standing near bad struck him for trying to
sell him newspaper. l went up to the
man and expostulated with him, and he not
only threatened theoretically to treat mo
the same as he had done the boy. but COM
menced Immediately to demonstrate
practical illustration. He was good deal
bigger and a great deal heavier than /,
and we fought for over three-quarters OF
an hour in the presence of large
crowd, which was so delighted at the
well-merited tIouncing which l gave him
that was carried straight up to the re-
cruiting depot and there and then elected
first lieutenant Of the Second Ohio Regi-
ment, then forming for the Mexican war.
This was only preparatory to giving me the
captaincy Now, if i mad not been able to
DRDt CUulu uOb uHN6 dSeiStO VI piOtoSbeU
that little boy nor protected myself from
the man nor punished and taught him
lesson. No, sir, do not consider that the
suppression of prize-fghting would benefit
the race in any way"
Charles Montgomery said:
81 consider il to be a disgrace to human
Ity to allow the practice OF pugistic en-
counters for money prizes. 1t is demoraliz-
ing in the extreme and a relic OF barbarism.
I'm this civil lied and enlightened age we
should prohibit it by law and suppress it
entirely"
James Hurst. horseman, remarked:
IL do not think that good prize-fght is
In any way harmful to the community. 1t
keeps an incentive before the public to de-
velop the physical man.
I'VE are dev0ting ourselves SO deeply to
commercial matters to the exclusion of all
else, that If some great and marked promi-
nence is not given to physical development
the degeneration Of the race must eusue.
81 have seen several prize-fghts. and like
to see good one now and again, and think
there 10 more good than harm ia them"
The morning call., 1892-10-23

with every minute particular. even to the
color of the shoes of the contestants.
YES; 1 think that Its suppression would
benefit the race"
A. Spreckels Of Sprecksls Brothers re-
marked:
1.-THE question Is with regard to prize
fighting, strictly considered.
II believe In boxing and consider II q very
healthful exercise and think il very good
thing to teach boxing to every boy and
young man. but as to prize-fghtlng II ought
to be suppressed. There is nothing ele-
waiting in 1t and much that is degrading,
and. in my.opinion. Its suppression would
benefit the race"
w. II. Quin of the Huntington Hopkins
Company said:
There Is no question about the sup
preston being beneficial, because 1t Is de-
basing in its tendencies and brings out the
lower instincts Of nature and Invariably re-
suits In more or less injury to ali who take
part In 1t. 1t has no redeeming feature to
counteract the vast amount OF harm ac-
cruing from it. 1t seems to me that a man
who can sit quietly down at prize-fght
and watch two other men pummel each
other into Inconsistencies if they can must
be a very hard case.
1T seems to me commendable on the part
of I HE CALL in endeayoring to obtain the
public opinion or sentiment on this matter,
as ventilating such subjects in this way
must tend TO improve the moral tone OF. the
community; more particularly here in CAL
ifornla where we seem to pay more atten-
ton to prze-fghtlng than 10 done in any
other State.
John Jicha said:
Prize-hshtlng Is all nonsense. 1t is
just the same as me taking my dog
into the street and Shelving" him on
to another dog and getting the crowd to bet
on the result 1t Is just gotten up for
gambling purposes. Take the gambling
out Of it and it would die q natural death at
once.
1T has redeeming feature. and Is HARM
ful to the community its suppression would
be of benefit to the race. and 1t should hold
no place in a civilized community. l am
very glad that newspaper like THE CALL
is taking the trouble to find what the people
think In regard 10 the matter. What
call sport 10 when man does the thing him.
self, whatever IL may be, and for the pure
sport OF the thing, and not for the reward.
Now. most of my patrons are true sporting
men. They 60 into the mountains and
snoot, they 90 on the lakes and bsh. they
travel on the plains after other kind of
game. and such work as that develops man
mentally, physically and morally, whereas
sitting down to watch man knock another
down and betting a dollar or two OH it is
certainly debasing."
James Is. Stetson OF Holbrook, Merrill &
Stetson. said: "Ghe existence of the actual
fact is bad and is not beneficial TO the race.
From my observation / don't hesitate 10
say that the influence of these detailed de-
scriptions of fights is not productive OF any
good, bat, on the contrary, 1t has tendency
to create an unhealthy state Of morals"
W. b. Wellman remarked: Now, is the
present system prizefghting? The law seems
to say No; II Is merely glove contest and
that there is no way Of SURPRISING il. /.
however. think it might be beneficial 10
suppress it. as it appears to me that Ii is
vicious In its influence"
The morning call., 1892-10-23
New Fireproofing Process.

Among the processes for freproofing,
TO which the attention of the direct
ors Of the Berlin Exposition was re-
Gently drawn, and for which awards have
been declared. are the following: For light
tissues, composition consisting of sixteen
pounds OF ammonium sulphates, five pounds
ammonium carbonate, four pounds borax,
six pounds boric acid, four pounds starch,
or one pound dextrine or one pound gela-l
tine-and twenty-five gallons water mixed
together, heated to eighty-six degrees Fahr.,
aud the material impregnated with the mix
ture, centrifugated and dried, and then
ironed as usual. One quart of this mixture.
costing only few cents, is sufficient to inn
pregnate fifteen yards Of material. For
certain materials, theatrical decorations,
wood and furniture thirty pounds am
monium chloride aresinixed with so much
floated chalk rs to give the mass consistency,
and it is then heated to from 125 deg. to $50
deg. Fahr, and the material to be treated
is given one or two coats OF 1t by means Of q
brush. A pound of this. costing only mere
tritie, 10 sufficient to cover five square rods
The morning call., 1892-10-23
A MIXTURE OF VIEWS.
Colonel Andrews, Charles Mont
gomery and Mr.. Hurst.

Colonel A. Andrews championed the
noble art with practical illustration.
Now" said he, II am nearly 70 wears of
age, and have had large and varied expe-
rience. have seen nearly every big prize
fight which has occurred in the world for
the last fifty years, and consider that their
existence has been OF far more benefit to
the race than would be their suppression.
Il have personally taken part in many
contests with the gloves and as a bow was
well able to hold my own. have also seen
a considerable amount Of active service on
the battle-f field where the moral aspect cut
no figure.
Il am very fond of all kinds Of sport,
particularly athletics. There is a certain
amount OF combativism in mankind which
leads him to GEEK an outlet for it in his
The morning call., 1892-10-23

circuit and placed In the box. 1t helped
matters very little, however, as the visitors
managed to plump out six more runs before
the close of the game, MeVey scoring in
the third inning. Denny coming in on Hoff-
mans wild throw in the fifth inning, and
Ebright Dooley, McVey and Denny register
Ing each precious tally in the sixth in
ming.
Sweeney scored for the home team in the
first inning by making single over TO left,
reaching second on LEWIS swat and regis
tering run on Sharp's two-bsgger.
In the sixth inning both Levy and Spies
scored on their singles. Sweeney and Sharp
came in on their one cushion swats In the
seventh inning, and Retz registered on his
double and made the final run.
To-day the same teams will play two
games, one being for the draw played dur
ing the week. The first game will be called
at rs p. NJ, and tho second following it
immediately. The usual Sunday crowd
will In all likelihood be present, and the
fastest kind of ball is expected.
The score:
The morning call., 1892-10-23
VIEWS OF LIQUOR TEN.
One Who Thinks Fighting Should
Be rIaintained.

Mr.. Gables OF Gables & Bailey, Montgom-
cry street, said: II am In favor OF it-why,
II we did not know how to fight we would not
know what we owned. that is so nationally
considered and the nation is merely the
multiplication of the individual. Every
man should be a fighter. He need not go
into the ring. but 1T would be a good thing
II everybody were able to do so; we should
all be skillful with our fists and thereby be
prepared to protect ourselves, wives and
families from insult and attack
Il most decidedly do not think that the
suppression would benefit the race, but
would be of more harm than good, as 1t
keeps physical development promin entity
before the public mind.
81 am great admirer of Il and con slider
that 1t should be maintained. subject 10
proper regulation"
Frank Garcia said: ~ would net go
across the street to see prize-fght. but i
don't think it would benefit the race to sup
press them. and, what's more, do not think
we could do so IL we tred-do you?
"We call this a free country, don't we?
Now, then, il men choose 70 indulge in
pugilism, by what right can we stop themo
Now. In my business they propose to
raise the license. Personally, do not care
how high they raise it, but what do main
tain is that 1t will do more harm than good.
1t will demoralize the business. A saloon is
all right when properly conducted, but a
source OF great evil when badly run, and so
1t Is with prize-hghting. The people want
it and will have Ii, so you could not suppress
it II you tried.
Some people like fun one way, and some
like 1t another. My knowledge of prize
lighting is only hearsay, All d l think the
suppression would not benefit even the
gambling aspect; for if man cannot
gamble one way he will In another. When
public opinion Is against it, it certainly will
be suppressed. but it most decidedly is not
against il now"
The morning call., 1892-10-23
OUR CITY OFFICIALS.
flayor, Auditor and Fire Chief
Give Their Views.

Mayor Sanderson said briefly and point
edly:
81 think, most decidedly. that the sup
preston Of prize-fghting would benefit our
race"
Auditor T. ]. L. Smiley said:
"Prize-fghtlng is a good healthy exercise
for the fellow who wins.
"In the old-fsshioned English education
. boy was instructed to handle his fists just
as much as q matter Of course as he was to
eonstrue a sentence In syntax.
IT have been In many a tight place in the
good old times in the early days. where II
had ad pistol I would probably have been
killed. for the other fellow would most
likely have been either quicker or more
skillful with the weapon than l, but by the
quick use Of my wits aud fists I have got out
of the trouble.
al think that the sknlful use of fists is far
better than so much pistol-carrying.
Keep legitimate use Of fists as part of
education and il is all right, but you turn
the thing into a gambling speculation and
1t Is TO be condemned"
David Scannell, Chief Engineer OF the
Fire Department, remarked:
IL think thar it would benefit the race to
suppress prize-fghting. as it appears to me
that no good accrues from the exhibitions,
but on the contrary they have tendency to
depraTs the youth Of the State"
Charles Towe. Fire Marshal, said: 81
think the suppression of prize-fghting
would be beneficial but such clubs as the
olympic should be we'll patronized. so that
our youth eau develop their manhood and
learn the art If seIf-defense and Dr0tecfion
instead of having to rely upon pistol OF a
club q cases of difficulty.
THE use Of or reliance upon weapons is
very dangerous thing to the community
and frequently leads to murder, when a
slight conflict of fists might have finished
the VII ole business"