The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-17

trained for it. Naturally who adopted
such profession was coarse and brutal
by nature, and others selected were like
wise. According to scripture, the acme of
physical culture, as represented by the
ancients, was of the stiff and ponderous devel-
opment rather than of the more supple form
now favored. OF course, a boxer OF slender or
small development could not be expected to
withstand the blows of the cestus and kindred
appliances, and therefore not the personifi-
cation of an ancient boxer. His training was
probably very severe and his diet quite plain.
As an individual he hardly rated with the
more aristocratic gladiator, and was never heard
OF as an actor, and his opinion upon matters
OF state Importance and momentous questions
OF the day was not wanted Whatever of repu-
tation he gained he got by hard knocks, and if
afflicted with swelled head got 1t in the same
way How different with the modern!.
In the course of time, civilization adj
vanced, boxing took on a less brutal aspect and
found its haven in the pTiZe-ring where battles
were fought with bare fists under rules calcu-
lated to come as near natural fighting as posi-
Bile and still be governed by rules. Hence the
London prize-ring rules, permitting that most
potent factor in natural fighting, wrestling,
the masters OF which almost invariably over
come the boxer who is not also proficient in the
other art.
In the practice of boxing with the bare fists
the pugilist had many vital points to consider
that do not so much concern the more modern
glove-boxer, important of which was the I'M
protected condition of the hands and the hard
ness OF the flesh, necessary to withstand
bruising, that months were spent in training
instead of weeks as now. His washes and
lotions were more for hardening than beauti-
hcatlon; his complexion powder contained
more resin than orriS root Musk violet and
other perfumes were out of his line, likewise
champagne-beer was good enough. He wore
his hair pompadour, but fearfully short; in
TACT, he was not thing of beauty and JOY for
ever, but singularly apace with his calling.
In boxing with the bare fists great care must
be taken not to disable the hands, hence less
his aim rather tending to land with surety and
precision. The expert professional priZe-ring
hghter IN the ring generally commenced by
sparring for an opening, bringing into play his
utmost skill to land the first blow drawing
blood, g. so-called point of honor, and upon
which many wagers were laid. Then the aim
was to close his opponents eyes. incidentally
the nasal organ received its share Of attention;
the ribs were not overlooked, and the pit OF the
stomach was the mark of great esteem.
Some professional pugilists were noted for
their leads, some for their countering, and
some had a knack of disabling their opponents
hands by interposing their elbows and
cranlums in such discouraging manner that
they often won their battles by thoroughly dis
aiding their opponents. Again others eXcelled
In infghting and wrestling. Generally the
smaller Tnan-unlesS too great a diSparagement
existed-had the advantage there. Knockouts
were less frequent because less generally
understood and more difficult to accomplish
with the bare fist than with the glove The
knockout blow was no secret to the great
masters, but many of their blows were secrets
OF the trade and not generally known; in fact,
so evening up was the art OF hght1ng under
prlze-ring rules that it was claimed md proven,
too, that man 5 feet inches and weighing
100 pounds was big enough Tor any one, and
such was the history OF the ring till the advent
OF the modern glove-thumper under Queens
berry rules.
Queensberry rules were first adopted in Eng
land TO govern contests between amateurs, but
what pugilistic sin ever suggested, or more I'M
pardonable folly ever adopted them is hard to
account LOT except upon this HYPOTHESIS: The
amateur champions of that time were the bette
nor OF the professional pug, often an arlsto-
crat, the crack pupil OF some champion,
framed athlete, practeed IN n al the arts OF
both with and without gloves, than the profess
slonal He was permitted and encouraged to
battle, in private or public, with amateur or
professional, and as long as he did not do it for
pay himself, was strictly an amateur. Many
crack pug was well paid to try him out and
well licked for doing So His greatest delight
was to mount the stage at the invitation of
travelling champions or to visit some boxing
school or gymnasium and do up the professor
VINO dreaded and took no chances with him,
but fought to maintain his own reputation. As
the professors of that time were mostly retired
champions these meetings were rare treats from
membered by the old boys. Without committing
oneself to positiveness it might be suggested
tnat some revengeful pugs designed these rules
IN spirit OF revenge to get TINS amateur mad
Dull OF by himself and kill him II necessary.
, IL being considered that boxing under Lon
don prlze-ring rules was too much like real
nghung, the amateurs adopted the Queens
Derry. They had better have stuck TO the rules
OF ialr 1st-hghting, which they thoroughly I'M
uerstoou. The QueenSberry are not good rules
to test the real fighting ability of man, as
they confine him to limited course of action
me smaller man is fatally handicapped. He
cannot safely, with padded hands, depend
upon stopping the rushes of the larger man,
unless perchance he lands Knockout; but
fnds himself forced to run or adopt give
and-take course of three minutes duration
with the chances to 1 against him. Expert
ence has already shown that men must be
anearly OF size and weight to contest in
Queensberry rules with fairness.
The modern boxer on entering the ring has
one absorbing idea, namely, to deliver the
Knockout blow, and is often the recipient of
enough blows in the meantime to have bat
tered him into insensibiity if received from
the pare list. He is not in mortal fear OF the
punishment, and if not awkward has little
tear OF hurting his hands. If larger and
stronger, though not so clever as his opponent,