The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-02
CLASSIC pUGILISM.
HOMER WAS THE FoRERUNNER OF
THE MODERN REPORTER.

Siuggtng hatcn-SOme OF HIS CopN
would he Rejected by the Average
sporting Editor-His Wrestling Bouts.
There was n time--between 1000 and
1900 years ago-when 1t was as well
worth while for a man TO be n champion
pugilist as IL is now. Such man was
then appreciated at his full value, even
taking as the measure of that value his
own opinion of himself. He who could
meet all comers at the Olympian games
ceased thereafter to be an ordinary NOR
tai The government supported him for
life, he was exempt from taxes, he had
free pass to all public entertainments,
his name was engraved on marble tab
let's and his statue was erected in the
sacred grove Of Ellis, beside the gold and
ivory Jupiter of Phidias. The games
themselves in which he had won honor
formed epochs in history, by reference
to which the dates of other events were
fixed.
Homer, in describing the games held
by Achilles at the funeral of his friend,
Patroclus, tells how the hero put up as
"prizes of the violent boxing match"
valuable mule, warranted sound, for the
victor and for the vanquished two
handled cup. 1t was to be free to all,
go-as-you-please fight, and from all that
appears no betting was allowed.
Homer continues: Forthwith arose
man great and valiant and skilled in
boxing, Epeos, son of Panopeus, and
laid his hand on the sturdy mule and
said aloud: Let any one come and take
the two handled cup, but the mule say
none other of the Achaians shall take
for victory with his fists, for / claim to
be the best man here. | will utterly
bruise mine adversary's flesh and break
his bones; so let his friends abide to-
gether here and bear him forth when
vanquished by my hands,"
Our modern gladiator has publicly
voiced practically the same sentiment,
thus: II am John l.. Sullivan and can
lick any man in this crowd"
The poet goes on: "Alone arose against
him Euryalus, godlike man, son of
King Mecisteus. Tydides, famous with
the spear, made ready Euryalus for the
fight, cheering him with speech and
greatly desired for him victory. And
first he cast about him a girdle, and
next gave him the well cut thongs of
the hide Of an OK of the field, and the
two boxers, being girt, went into the
midst of the ring, and both, lifting up
their stalwart hands, fell to, and their
hands joined battle grievously. Then
was there terrible grinding of teeth, and
sweat flowed from all their limbs. And
noble Epeos came on, and, as the other
spied for an opening, smote him on the
cheek, nor could he longer stand, for his
fair limbs failed straightway under him.
And as when beneath the north winds
ripple q fish leapeth on tangle covered
beach, and then the black wave hideth
it, so leaped up Euryalus at that blow.
But great hearted Epeos took him in his
hands and set him upright and his dear
comrades stood around him and bore
him from the ring with trailing feet,
splitting out clotted blood, dropping his
head awry, and they set him down in his
swoon among them and themselves went
back and fetched the two handled cup"
Euryalus was knocked out in one
round. Such description of the similar
New Orleans contest would perhaps
serve people better than the elaborate
work Of art which was prepared for
them. The poet does not descend to de-
tails-he does not give information
enough. But then perhaps Homer does
not aim to give information merely. He
seeks rather to present a picture, and
the pictureois there.
It will be noticed that there were no
"clinches" in this struggle, but it is
otherwise in the next game which the
greatest Of epic bards goes on to de-
scribe. Achilles offers n tripod for use
before the fire as prize for the winner
in the ''grievous wrestling MATCH" and,
speaking to the assembled Greeks,
opens the contest with these words,
"Rise all who would enter this combat" "
"Thereupon arose great Ajax, son of
lebanon, and Odysseus, of many wiles,
the crafty minded. And the two being
girt went into the midst of the ring and
clasped each orher in their arms with
mighty hands like gable rafters of a
lofty house which some famed crafts
man joineth, that no may battle the
winds force. And their backs creaked,
gripped firmly under the vigorous hands,
and sweat ran down in streams, and
many weals along their ribs and shoul-
ders sprang up red with blood, while
eyer they strove amain for victory, to
win the wrought tripod"
After this sort of thing had gone on
for awhile it "began to irk the well
greaved Achaians'-i. g., it made the
crowd tired. To settle matters, Ajax,
by agreement, first lifts Odysseus and
tries to throw him, but he "struck deft.
" from behind the hollow of Alas knee
md loosed his limbs and threw him
dpwn backward, and Odysseus fell upon
his chest, and the people stared and
wondered. Then in his turn much en-.
Huring, noble Odysseus tried to lift, and
moved him little from the ground, but