The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-03-31
hSTO THE DEGRADING.
ASheville Citizen.
/ New York Clergyman said

"A NG" O1h Niti ~ Aiit'1i e''iN
Sunday: ~
"There never wos a mora dis
graceful, degrading scene upon
this continent than that which has
secuT. i tie attention of q civil
lized people this last week. /
have been wondering whether Nc
vada Was in Tie United States Or
within the borders of hell Itself.
The two dogs who fought will
stand before a greater judge SONG
day, and side aide bywith them will |
stand those who share that black
guilt
Never more di5gracel, de-
grading scene Oh this contincnt!'
This is s;rong language Fugi- |
lism has been purged of It's worst
features in the last 40 years, so
that while largely an exhibition Of
brute strength, it is by no means
that alora. To prepare u man
for the ring involves u scientific
study of human nerves and mus
clos, 6 thorough understanding Of
| the laNs"of health, and 4 -EaoEl-
edge Of what exercise viii pro-
mote, for that particular kind Of
contest, the greatest efficiency of
both hessbody and the mindof the
contestants. The man who stands
at the ringeido fit for the fight has
20 far violated no law. Up 70
that point lie may be-he probab-
" ID not, but he may be-the peer
morally Of the Average CITIZEN.
His intentions presumably honest.
He is not here are to lie, 10 cheat,
or to steal; to dishonor his par
ents, or to covet what lie does not
earn. He is there to teat the quc.-
ton who, he OF his antagonist, In
the "bettcr man." who has the
: quicker, truer, eye, the stronger
: and more active set OF muscles
: tho greater stamina, tho most per
r feet physical constitution.
i And this is not TO say that til.
tendency Of pugilism is hot de
: grading. We know it is -. VIZ
: know That there il little about tht
+ so-called art that leads TO bet
, ter things. We know it is in thu
hands Of the Importing class
Q that its associations and surround
: ings are bad. We may doubt
I however, if the influence Of sucl
> fights, one only every two o
three years, l., anything ike u
! bad s The influence Of the mod
I ern theator, with it, positive indie
: cencics, it, shameless exposures i.
I depreciation of woman &. we'll a
t man.
Il Ii we we're locking for the mos
I "diagraccful and degrading scell
l. on this contin:nt' We should EG
/ fly so far atield as the New Yor
clergyman did. We might find
P in the ''Seeley dinner" in Ne
'e York City itaelf, or in worse scene
there, alleged to be under tho Pre-
/ lection of the police. If the iii
10 promotes gambling, what abol
u Wall street? Is the slugger tn;
l. levels q mans nose moro bruta
DC after all, than the head OF Il tru
10 that orders :, fight against q riv;
- that must destroy his business IL
Il terly and drive him to despai
N Is not the court that denies Il
2 poor man justice more disgEacef
+! and dangerous to modern ciEiliz
VI ton than a prize fight?
II We believe the life OF This +
u public Is not seriously threatens
d. by the debasing influences
''e prize fights, especially SO long
~ they occur only half q doz
III times in a decade. We do not !
Dc lieve they indicate an immo1
,, country or an IMMORAL Sta
'"' To make q great cutlery; abo
. them is to draw attention +frt
Co." much greater evils. It is to !
~ tray lack Of a nice sense of p]
% W portion. Nevada is probably
-. nearer. the neither world than
,'i New York, and it does not Ecco1
l. any one to call his brother 4 &
in
It'll A correspondent Of the Ian,
iuo nays previously to the abolition
full slavery there was very little tub
i'd culosis or insanity in Amer