New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-09
SELECTIONS FROM TIE MAIL.
MODERN BRUTALITY IN SPORT.
1T is DIsCoURAGING TO ONE LOVER OF ATH.
LETICS.

LETICS.
TO the Editor Of The,Tribune
Sir: 1t was with great pleasure that read an
article in The Tribune last week. commenting. In de-
servedy severe terms The wilfnl negligence Of the
legal authorities OF Kings County In permitting such
open violations of the state laws ms occur regularly at
The prize fighting OF the county, especially in
the OF the glove fights which take place under
the auspices OF the socalled athletic clubs Of brooklyn
and Kings County in general, and OF the Coney Island
Athletic Club III particular.
am no opponent OF the art OF boxing when II Ia
legitimatey carried for scientific points,
with SOFT gloves under which circumstances
only II be regarded as tho "manly art" it is
claimed TO be. But TIE glove fights OF the period.
which are fought with hard gloves. ranging from skin
tight" TO four and five ounces in weight at most gloves
which admit OF broken jaws, broken noses. and OF
blows which not only severe enough 10 knock
into nscnsiby, but frequently result In death
there having been four such deaths In ls02-aIe but
the incentive to the growth OF the brute Instinct OF
mans In sports. and to such an extent, too.
encourage In the community at large q taste for
brutality which amounts to Juror for the bloodlest
kind Of encounters In the prize ring arena which can
}possbly he arranged the more brutal the contest Is
likely 10 be the greater the gate attraction, ana IL
is the great gate" profits by the way, which are
the OF the existence OF so many OF these glove
fight athletic clubs Experience within the last three
years has shown that there Is no good gate" TO be
boxing. In fact such meeting would not now
attract corporals guard OF spectators. But announce
glove fight. In which there Is 70 be likelihood OF
plenty Of bloody punishment. and the house Is crowded
Taking into consideration the brutality attendant
upon the existing winter racing, on frozen courses. III
snow hail Arctic temperature together with The
immense popularity with the wealthy class OF rouGhs
the community OF bloody glove fights, not forgetting
the dangerous smuggling and wrestling features OF
modern college football II viii be seen that we. as
people, are in the midst of era OF brutality In
sports which Is having most disastrous ana de-
grading elect upon the morals OF our people.
sarpri sing feature OF this most Objectionable con
dillon OF things is that this brutality in sports finds
its greateS support and countenance at the hands Of
the daily press throughout the country. Take any
great daily paper OF the period up and read H. ana
sporting matters but columns devoted To Inc lull
details OF some prize fight Of NOR" than the Ordinary
bloody character, while paragraphs by the dozen are
occupied with the dODES sayings or ms, t!at or
the other imported low, ignorant prize fighter What
IS 10 think Of press that can 90 iar forget It's
legitimate business ms The public instruction 81
people side by side with the Church and the Nh)Ol
have always been. and will be-. while can
Hteld pea, the bitter opponent OF all that * vicious.
degrading and unmanly In sports and pastimes and
that is why " down upon" hard glove prize lights
and the singing and wrestling features OF he college
football OF The period. and against tho brutal features
OF winter horse rncing All these are devoid OF ia"
characteristics OF true mnniness. and arc dchasnG IN
their effects the community In which they are
allowed 10 exist. thankful 20 say of The great
National field games az England and America. the grand
old game 81 cricket and the compaTa1 lively new game
baseball, ~here l. not brutal feature connected
with either ~ them. and yet both develop the highest
nerve honorable competition and the chvalry OF snort
brooklyn Dec. "a, 1892. HENRY CHADWICK