Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-11-29
CLASSIC PUGILISM.
HOMER WAS THE FoatavNNGa or
Thg MODERN REPORTER.

usw the ar~ss Epie Feet D~s~sised .
"siussins" Msish-ss~e % uis Copy"
wssid %. nsjessea BY the Average
spsrti.s Eai,sr-H,s wrestling pssis-
There was time-between 1000 and
1900 years ago-when u was 1 well
Worih while for man 90 be champion
t,ugilist rs It IL now. Such q man was
then appreciated at his full value. even
taking NJ the measure OF that value his
own opinion of himself. lie who could
meet all corners at the olympian games
ceased thereafter 10 te AN ordinary NOR
tai. The government supported him fcr
life. he was exempt from taxes. he had
n free pass 10 all public entertainments,
his name was engraved ON marble tab
lets and his statue was erected In the
sacred grove ~ Ellis. beside the gold and
ivory Jupiter Of Phidias. The games
themselves In which he had won honor
formed epochs In history. by reference
10 which the dates Of other events were
fixed.
Homer. In describing the games held
by Achilles at the funeral % his friend,
Pa,ruclu.. tells how the hero pm, MP n
''prires ~ the violent boxing match" q
valuable mule. warranted sound, for the
victor and for the ,anquished two
handled cup. II was 20 h. free 90 all.
go-ss-you.plcase fight. and from all that
APPEARS no betting was allowed.
Homer continues; Forthwith aro.e
q man great aud valiant and skilled In
boxing. Epeos. son ~ Panopeus, and
laid his hand on the sturdy mule and
said aloud; Let any one come and take
tho two handled cup. but the mule ] say
none other ~ tie Achaian. shall take
for victory with his fsis. for claim 10
b. the bcst man here. ! will utterly
bruise mine advorsary's ncsh and break
his homes; ~ L., his friends abide to-
gcthsr here AMI boar him forth when
yanquishci by my hands"
our modern gladiator has publicly
voiced practically the same sentiment.
thus: Il am John l.. Sullivan aud can
hex any man In this crowd"
The poet goe- oni Alone aro~e agains,
him Euryalus, n gUilike man. ron 81
King Mecisisus. Tydidrs. famous with
The spear. made ready Euryalus for the
eghi. cheering him with speech and
CRAFTY desired for him victory. And
Dirt be- cas, about him a girile, and
sex, gave him the well cut thongs -
the hide 20 an or ~ tho field. and the
two boxers. b.ing girt. went into the
niis, % the ring. AMI both. lifting NJ
their ,,alwart hands. fell 10, and their
hands joined hattie grievously. Then
was there terrible grinding % teeth. AMI
sweat fowci from all their limbs And
noble Epeos came on. and, ~ the other
spici for an oI-ning. smote him on the
cheek. nor could he longer stand. for his
fair liml- failci .trAightwsy under him
And ~ when t-neath the north winds
ripple ii'h leapcih ON = tangle covered
beach, aud then the black wave hideth
IL. ~ leal-d up Euryalus AZ that blow
but great hearted Epro- took him In his
hand. aud ut him upright and his dear
comrades stool around him and bore
him frum the ring with trailing feet.
splitting ont clotici blood. dropping hls
heal awry. aud they set him down In hi.
swoon amoug them and themselves wen,
hack and fetched the two handled cup"
Euryalus was knocked ont In one
round. such description % the similar
New Orleans contest would PERHAPS
serve peopl. bitter than the elaborate
work u art which was prepared for
them. Tue poet does not descend 10 de
tails-he dos not give information
enough. But then perhaps Homer dos
no, aim 10 give information merely. II.
seeks rather 10 present n picture. and
the picture l. there.
II will - noticed that thsr. were no
"clinches" Ia this struggle, but u l.
greatest - epic harls go-s ou Ia de-
scril.. Achilles ofer- n tripol Tor use
leforc the fir, as prize Tor the winner
In III. "grievous wrestling match, aud.
speaking 10 the assembled Greeks.
opens the contest with these words.
Rise all who would enter this combat"
'Th.yupon aros. great Ajax, sou %
lebanon. AMI Odysscus. ~ many wiles,
the crafty minded. And the two being
girt went into the midst of the ring and
claspe,l each other In their arms with
mighty hands like gable rafiers % .
f.. -. ,.lt.h ...,.,.. f.,..l If.
man ioineth. tina, be- may bafile the
winds force Aud their hacks crcaked.
gripp-i firmly under the vigorous hands.
AMI sweat ran down Ia streams. aud
many ,Scals along their ribs and shoul.
ders sprang up rel with blood, while
ever they strove ainain for victory, 10
win the wrought tripod"
After this Fort ~ thing had gone on
for awhile IL "bcgan 10 irk the well
greaycd Achaians"-i. e.. u made the
crowd TIRED. To settle matters. Ajax.
by agreement. first lifts Oiysseus and
,ries 10 throw him. bat be ".truck def
ly frun lshind the hollow 81 Alas knee
and loo~.d his Limits aud threw him
down backward, aud Oiysscu fell upon
ii. chest. and the people stared and
wondered. Then In his turn much en-.
during. noble olysseus tried 10 lift. and
moved him little from the ground. bat
could no, lift him. 80 he crooked hi.
knee within the Others. and both fell ON
the ground near 30 each other aud We're
soiled with dust"
Then Achilles interiors. Victory l.
with both" lac said. take equal lr.Ees
and depart that other Achaians may
contend" In modern parlanoe, they
fought 10 q draw. There was no "kick
ing" against the referees decision. The
combstants wiped the dust from them
and pu, their doublets on" The de-
scrirtiOn is poetical-not practical. !,
has been admired aud landed by all the
world for 400 years or more. yet II II
was sent 10 the average American news
PAPER editor "a an account 81 an actual
occurrence for publication in the sport.
ing columns IL would L. rejected with
scorn.-Sew York World.
RAILWAY RuMBlgs.