The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-26
SEATTLE. rsrDxr JAx 90.
rnE rIo.sD. poo rrsHr.


The hes. that can be said Of the prize
fight between Corbsts snd Mitchell yester-
day sf jacksonville is that Mitchell was
20 completely outclassed and outfought by
his opponent that the brutal affair was
suickiy ended Corbett was the younger
fnau By seven years; he was taller; he had
the longer reach, and With only equal
skisi aud science be was almost certain 10
beat Mitchell.
There have been few instances in e his
tory OF the prize ring where with such dis
parity in height, reach and age the con-
test has not gene against the outciassed
man. Tom sayers, with all his
science. courage aud endurance. eonld not
Sullivan beat Tom Hyer or even Morris
sey. Corbett knocked out Mitchell so
quickly that there Vas lack of that
sanguinary exhibition Of suffering and
endurance which marked the contest be-
tween Dempsey and Fiizsimmons. Prob
ably this was great disappointment TO
the spectators who prefer a brutal PRICE
fight to sparriug exhibition or any
other athletic contest. because II calls for
blood and . painful exhibition of endur-
snce under tho brutal pounding which
generally precedes a knockout.
There lie nothing to be said against ath-
letics like wrestling. fencing, sparring.
baseball. or even football. for they are
legitimate exhibitions Of human strength,
agility and endurance; they stand primar-
lily for battle. but not primarily tor blood,
brutality. and the commercial sale Of a
fine body 10 he abasei In order TO
make holiday for ruflians and hood
iums. A prizefght is ordinarily
when fought TO finish q sickening
performances that feeds the ferocions AMI
mai side of human nature which il is tho
aim of civilization to abate and keep in
seli-restraint. Gamblers, toughs, and all
those who stand for the .subterramean
savages OF civilization" flock TO a prize
fight; 1t is a hoodlum's holiday: Idle rich
men In both England and America have
given it some support, bat prizefghting
has slowly but surely fallen into decay
during the last thirty years
A prixetivht Is as brutal and from a
moral point of view a more inexcusable
thing than dog fight. a cooking main or
bnll fight. While prixeflgh.iug has
steadily drifted down 20 the ditch. the
systematic cultivation of athletics has rap
Idly risen into popularity. Ii IL safe TO
say that there are far more Americans
who can ride. row. shoot. fence, spar,
fnn and jump well than there
vera thirty years ago. A humane
man and gentleman may be a
skilifai spasrcr, and q devotes of even so
rough sport ms football. but priEeaghting
Is nothing but the sale 81 year bosig fer
sseacg, 10 be disiixared and pounded 10
smuse that portion Of the public who do
not care for skill. or strength. or endur.
ance. unless ii Is associated with ssekenlng
scenes of blood and suffering, ending In
the knocking out" Of an exhausted and
dlstigured man.
There is nothing to be said against pu-
gilism. but prise6ghting Is the utter PROS.
titusion of the art OF pugIlism; IL is the
mevensry sale aud degradation of an
exceptionally iiae body, aud In all civil
iEed countries It is under The ban OF the
Law. To row we'll; 10 navigate a yAeht:
81 run. ride, fence. swim. wrestie, iamp or
box we'll is laadahie accomplishment for
any man. bat priseaghting Is nothing bur
the ioss of cruelty for cruelty's sake.
The ball fght survives in Spain and
Mexico. and the SpaniaFd and Mexican
have thus learned to eaitivate cruelty a. a
fne art. Priaetshslng in the United
States is almost universally under the ban
of The Law. and We aEe glad ~ say tina,
while the interest IN prixcGghtinr
dwlnales the interest In the systematic
pursuit 81 popular athletics Increases. The
spirit which leads people 30 witness public
executions. 20 organlzs lynehing parties.
Is the spirit Of tie love of cruelty for cru.
elsy's sake that is behind prlEeaghtinS.
and is characteristic % hoyssa men ana
lew civilizations. for children are nlwavs
cruel, because they are thoughtless ana
beeauxs they are hungry always for
sensational anusemenis. The nea who
support sHd sustain rgikeagAfers are As
immature and therefore as cruel as bows
who wsntonly ROB birds meats. ston.
frogs, torture wAntoniy cats ard dogs
Il Is $ childish asaa that loves erae.sr
for cFaelsy's sske; lie is = NAN whe IN
order to see himself hss ealy 30 gook Al
HoEasth's great picture. The AGE Q.
Cruelty"