The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-27
POET AND PRIZE RING.
Eugene Field Adds Gem to the Liter
allure of the Squared Circle.
From tho Cbioooo pacora

FROM the chicago RECORD,
That is the arena where you see the
clump of lights show from the gloom of
the prairies,
The train has reared and rushed away
from the scattered houses snd vagrant
street-lamps of the suburbs. We are in
Indiana. Here and there a lonely farm
house shows one lighted window behind
scrubby grove. To the left are the sand
hills which meet tie lake. At open
places you may see the water, dark blue
and CLASSY under the early moon.
To the right are widening reaches of
fiat ground marked dimly by zig-zag
fences. just as the train seems bound to
lose itself in the Calumet Wilderness il
whirls around curve and you see the
huge barn-like building hung about with
arc lights. This is where men fight while
other men look on.
You are beginning to feel, resist as you
may, something of the fierce interest
shown by the men in the same car with
you Onone side of you is an overdressed
man with a very large and rcd face He
! has been leaning against you to tell the
| man on your other side that some one is
! going to beat the life out of that guy"
The man on the other side has a pale
face and dark mustache When he is
told that some one is "shifty," has a
"helvaright and nasty upper-cut," he
simply mods his head. The red -faced man
is a bartender The quiet man is a gamb-
Ter who has bet money on the result.
The bartender is in a stew of excite
ment The quiet gambler looks at the
fight as he does at the turn of a card
something for speculation Most of the
| people are like the bartender. They lam
and elbow each other to reach the plat
form. They race through the high grass
to the ticket Office. You hear the rush of
their feet over the pine floors inside the
| building. Some of them carry you
| through the doorway as you give up your
ticket.
Through that opening in the rough wall
to your right is where fighter waits UNI
til the gong calls him. You may look into
the doorway if you choose He has a thin.
hard face, and his hair hangs down over
his forehead. His eyes show restless,
uneasy glance, but he smiles and shakes
hands with the few who are allowed to
meet him. The man seated on the cot be-
side him whispering some advice is an
alderman Another man, who greets him
| cordially and feels of his muscle through
the heavy sweater, is a member of a
south side club Tonight the fighter is
king.
The ring is ready. The crowd waits.
The padded square inclosed by taut ropes
is hooded by bright light. In the gallery
tiers the crowd is noisy and restless.
Bring 'em on - some one shouts, and
for a minute there is a stamping of feet.
Watch the people who come leisurelv
into the boxes. There are two actors.
their names and faces known everywhere
sitting alongside lightweight and evil
IDENTIFY feeling honored by his company.
In the next box is king of politicians.
worth 81 900, 600 Further along are some
board of trade men. II is not a mob of
hOodlums You pick out men whose
names are on down town business signs
merchants, real estate dealers. LAWYERS
doctors. Mixed with them and around
them are the ''pugs' and card men. To-
night all barriers are down They are
held in one bond. They like fighting
Now there are 1900 people here. The
bar, which is a cavern under the ampbi-
theater, is besieged. All the voices Joined
make a roar.
CleslloBe Of The ee1p oirses h.