St. Paul daily globe., 1894-01-07
WHAT BRUrALlTYq

WHAT Is BRUTALITY?
1t is somewhat difficult problem to
make inQuiSition into the ethics CT our
modern exalted American civilization.
If GoldSmith's Citizen of the World
were today making a tour Of the great
republic in the interest of MongolIan
advancement in philosophy. religion
and science, he would be very apt to
stumble somewhat over the public esti-
mate IN which various popular amuse-
ments are held. F3r Instance:
He might be conducted by his guides
paying dollar or two admiS sion fee
TO "a comfortable seat under an awning, an
open field spread out before him, in
which lOunged score or more OF hand
some and athletic young men-the fruit
and flower of our modern educated. lib
erty-loving chivalry. Seated around
him would be the very elite of the COM
munlty in which the event was to take
place. There would be the governor of
the state and his staff, dignitied college
presidents and professors, clergy men,
lawyers, physicians, merchants. bankers
-men of wealth. OF culture, of probi ty,
of philanthropy. Ga the lower seats
J would be assembled the artists, the
stagerS, the poets, the writers cele-
brated oil two continents for ge-
MUS, worth and distinguished talent.
The scholarly foreigner would mentally
congratulate himself "Certainly, | am
the most fortunate OF men. Now | will
learn how these sublime republicans
these lovers of libefty-re create their
tired energies. There is some event TO
happen which will combine intellectual
skill with strength. 1t Will not, am
quite certain, partake OF any of those
cruel and savage characteristics which
brought into deserved contempt the
civilization of the Roman empire some
centuries ago." And then the Mongoli-
all philosoper settles himself comfort
ably and waits.
There is stir upon the field. The
young athletes are forming in opposing
companies, eager and alert for the COM
ing contest. Interest is quickened and
intensified amongst the spectators.
Look huge ball is thrown into the
field. There is ru5h,a human tangle,
shouts. sweat, the straining of tendo1s,
the fierce exercise of trained muscles,
similar to actual war. One is down! !!
The handsomest, the strongest, the
most lovable! No matter. This is the
play of the giants. Time and strength
are tie essence of this contest. There
is no opportunity to indulge in senti-
ment. This is business!
Suh1anlU thprn noncn in fhn
game. The stricken athlete is borne.
carefully from the field to the hospital
and turned over to the surgeon, whose
tender mercieS are cruel. The Cosmo-
politan Celestial is amazed. What has
happened? "Oh. nothing unusual. One
of the players Is injured. But there is
another 10 take his place"
The game proceeds with eclat. There
are exhibitions of splendid Skill and
herculean strength. There are resound-
ing cheers from the spectators Honors
are showered upon the victorS. They
are the pets Of the ladies, the envied of
tine young men, the crowned heroes of a
great occasion. The next day Charley
the injured man-iS dead; and his re-
mains are carefully embalmed, packed
III ice, and conveyed to the stricken
home where for twenty years his brief
but loving life has been never ending
benson to father and mother ard rela-
tiyes and neighbors.
The newspapers say there have been
seven deaths, Or fatal injuries, on the
football field the past year. Only
seven? Verify, how cheaply we civil
lied people purchase our pleasurable
eXcitemenls!
The next day the polite and worthy
| philosopher from the Orient is court
| eouSly presented with a ticket and
warned to tell nobody where he is 90
! ing. After nightfallhe is taken in a
closed carriage by his conductors to a
barn-like structure III the purlieus of
| the city. Furtively he is escorted
through dark and narrow corridors into
| an ill-iighted and badly ventilated base
ment. In the center is ring sur
rounded by heavy ropes. Surrounding
| this ring, on seats gradually elevated
| one above another, is heterogeneous
mass of coarse-moulded humanity. Men
| ignorant, bcsotted. brutal. clamor fol-
luclI ttuI uSCiucliG W OSSiu l. luG dlt l.
| poisoned with the fumes of whisky and
tobacco.
"Why all this precaution this Sc.
crecy ?'' inquiries the visitor.
"Ghe police are instructed not to pre-.
vent brutal amusements of this charac-
ter. If the governor knew of this. the
whole military power of the state would
ii necessary, be brought to bear to sup.
press it"
Then two strong men--they also are
trained athletes-enter the ring and
shake hands. Each gladiator is accom-.
panied by two assistants. A seventh
man i'll the ring enforces certain well,
defined rules. The champions spar.
There is splendid exhibition of science
and skill. There is little evidence of
excitement in the men themselves, but
tremendous interest manifested by the
observers. Round after round is fought;
tie telegraphic instruments click, click,
click. carry the nSwS OF each round
instantly to crows of waiting men in
every city of the civilized world.
Finally one of the giants sklllfully
strikes tremendous blow just over tue
| jugular vein OF his opponent. The
stricken Ajax falls limp and helpless
across the ropes. A sponge is thrown
into the center of the ring by one of his
attendants. The contest Of skill is done.
The next day both men are at their