Arizona silver belt., 1892-12-31

CLASSIC PUGILISM.
HOMER WAS THE FoRERuNNsR OF
 THE MODERN REPORTER.

How the Great Epic Poet Described h
 "slugging" sfnieh--some of His "Copy''
 Would Be Rejected by the Average
 Sporting Editor-His Wrestling Bouts.
 There was a time-between 2,000 and s,000 years ago--when t was as well worth while for a man to be champion hugilist as it is now. Such man was then appreciated at bis full value, even taking as tho measure of that value his own opinion of himself. He who could meet all corners at the Olympian games ceased thereafter to be an ordinary ricr- 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 lets 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 honoc formed epoehs in history, by reference to which the dates of other events were fixed
 Homer, fl describing the games held by Achilles at the funeral of his friend, Patioclus, tells how the hero put up as prizes of the violent boxing match" a valuable mule warranted sound, for the victor and for tue vanquished two handled cup It was to be q free 10 all, go-as- -you-please fight, and from all that appears no betting was allowed.
 Homer continues; Forthwith arose a Iaan great aud valiant and skilled in boxing, Epeoy, son Of Panopeus, and | laid his hand on fine sturdy mule and said aloud, saet any one me and take the two handhd cup, bnt the mule say none other of the Achaians shall take for victory with bis fists, for 1 claim to be the best man here. will atterly bruise mine aiyersary's flesh and break his bones; % let bis friends abide to- | gether here and bear him forth when yanqUished by my hands
 | Our modern gladiator has publicly voiced practically the sano sentiment. thus T am John L. Sullivan and l can tcs any nan in this crowd g
 1 The poet goes on; "Alonc arose against nin EHryalus, godEke man. son of King Mceitcus Tydides. famous with ] ,ie spear. made ready Euryalus for the fight, cheering him with speech and greatly desired for him victory. And .irst he cast about him D girdle. and next rave lAm tle well cut thongs of i lhs h.ag 1E aH e of the feid and thc V2 l5Sers, Icing girt, went into the midst Of the ring and both, lifting up their talwgrt hands, fell to, and their hauds joined bat,le grlevously Then l was there terrible grinding of teeth. and swcat aowed from Fl tbeir limbs. And | noble Epeos calao on. and, as the other 1 spje4 hr aB opening, sn0te lin on the 1 caeea. nor c5O.i be longer stand, for his I fsir iHab8 lailed stsaightway under him. l And aAwhea Leneath the north wind 5 ripple 2 fish leapeih on a tangle covered bench, and then the black wave hideth | j.; so le.pel up Eury4ins at tbat blow But glr.st hearted Epeos took him in his 1 h lds and set hln upright ard his dear ] conr.r3g3 stood around inn and bore !. him lbm ae ring with trailing feet, 1 spstfig on clotte1 blood. dropping his ! he'd aTry and tbey set him down ia his Ffwoon amd g them and themselves went back and fetched the two handled cup"
 EuTyalUs waa knocked out in ons rqa9l. Such a description of Inc similar New Orleans contest would perhaps servo n&ple batter than the elaborate work of ,s which was prepared for them. T4e poa toss not descend 10 de- taiis-he does rS give information enough, But then perhals Euaer does not aim b give information a.llrely. l. seebs rather to cnt a picture, and the picture is there
 l. will be noticed that there were nc "cliacbes' h this struggle, but 1t ii otherwise il the next game which thC greatest os epic bar1s goes on 10 de scribe. Achilles offers 3 tripod for is before she Gra as a prize for the winner in the sri syous wrestling match, and speaking to iho assembled Greeks opens fho coutct wi.h these words "Eiso sll VEo teould enter this combat.
 ThereGr0n arose great Ajax, son ol Tiamon, aud Odysse7s. # many wiles the crafty minded. And the two being girt went iato tAe midst of the ring and clasped caca other in taeir arms witt mighty hands like gable rafters of d lofty house which some famed crafts man 5o.Deth, that he may bSiile tht winds force And their backs creaked gripped firmly under tae vigorous hands and sweat ran down in streams, ana many weals along their ribs and shoul ders spraug up rcd with blood |hill ever they strove amain for victory, t win tho wrought tripod
 After this sort of thing had gone or for awhile it began to irk the wei greaved Achaians i. e., it made th, crowd tired. To settle matters, Ajax by agreement, first lifts Odysseus ant tries to throw him, but he struck deft ly from behind the hollow of Alias knet and loosed his limbs and threw hiu down backward, and Odysseus fell upoi his chest, and tle people stared anl wondered, Then in his turn much CT during, noble Odysseus tried 10 lift, anl moved nun lttle rom lhe ground, Du could not lift him, 50 he crooked hi knee within the others, and both fell O. the ground near 10 each other and weg
 soiled with dust"
 Theu Aclailes interferes. Victory j ;aith both he said, "rake equal prize and depart that other Achaians ma. contend" tn modern parlanee, the. fought to draw There was no "1ick ing againAt the referees decision, Tn
 cmabatau;s wiped the dust from then and put ti-eir doublets on" 9he e ssription is poetical-not practical. l
 has been ad nred and lauded by all ti
 world for 5,090 years or more, yet fl was sent to the average American news paper edito as an account of an aetna occurrence or publication in the spor;