The record-union., 1897-03-28
WOMAN AT THE RINGSIDE-A CRIT
ICAL CONSIDERATION.


world of art and letters as the big fell
low" was detailed as its most accom-
plished journalistic attache by yellow
paper, to write up the fistic contest that
was the chief event in one of the two
places that filled the worlds eye on ST.
Patrick's Day-Crete and Carson.
How we'll Mr.. Sullivan has done his
work and how profoundly would be
known to but few readers worthy of the
title, had not some of the decent press
rescued Mr.. Sullivan's classical contri-
button from the slums Of the yellow
paper and have given it to the world
OF thought, and hence it's elegant apos-
trophies and philosophical reflections to
a wider Clientage. This has been done
We imagine not to crafty Mr.. Sullivan
nor yet to stimulate love for the gentle
art Of prize fighting, but that there
shall not be lost to letters and critical
records, SO valuable a contribution as
that of MI. Critic Sullivan.
What will strike the reader Of the
criticism most forcibly, is the elegance
and appositeness of Mr.. Sullivan's
SMILES, and the refinement of his al
lusions to distinguished people and to
the scenes he was witnessing; but
above all the tenderness and delicacy of
his reference to woman. and the impor-
tant part she plays in a prize fight
Mr.. Sullivan who has had something
to do with women in the way of beat
ing them into sensibility of their true
relation to big fellows, with charming
candor informs the reader that as a
rule he is opposed to women attending
fights But as what makes a rule is
its exception, he finds a niche of ex-
cuse for Mrs. Fitzsimmons, and ap-
proves Of her attendance at the ring
side, because "she was a great help to
Fitzsimmons, on that occasion. 1t
was her encouraging word that spurred
him on to victory. Then too, women
like fighters says our philosopher. and
as an aside Mr.. Sullivan remarks that
he disappoints us by failure to express
an opinion if that was the reason the
widow Custis accepted him for her sec
ond husband.
Sullivan says Mrs. Fitzsimmons'
conduct was admira ble" To dispel any
lingering doubt the reader may have
on that score he relates with swelling
grace that mo woman could have
conducted herself with greater solici-
tude." For which the entire sex will
kiss their hands towards Mr.. Sullivan.
Such tributes to womanhoOd as repre-,
sented by Rose Fitzsimmons, must not
be allowed to pass unacknowledged
We are then told how Bob's wife
helped him. 1t was her cry Hit him
in the ribs; keep at his ribs; leave his
jaw alone; you can never hurt his jaw;
punch him in the ribs; keep at his
body" that did the work. In a burst
OF enthusiastic gallantry that makes
every man feel the blood course warm
er about his heart, the yeracious chron
icler exclaims Apart from the fact that
I should never permit myself to criti-
else the individual conduct of a lady
(Mr. Sullivan prefers his fists / cannot
say too much for the good it did Fftz-
simmons to have his wife there" And
then sullivan adds with gallantry sim
ply irresistible, ''She is a lady of whom
any man could be proud, and one as
Roscoe Conkling used to say CMr. Sui
livan and Conkling We're chums as
everyone knows with great charm of
manner"
To give his readers a better grasp of
the thought that the presence of Mrs.
Fitzsimmons helped her husband on
to victory, especially when she shout
ed xiii him Bob, kill him, thus Civ
ing us a glimpse of what the Roman
beauty they beamed over the barriers
of the ampitheater and with imper-
ious gesture turned their thumbs down,
commanding the gladiator in the ring
to give the death blow to his fallen an
tagonist-Mr. Sullivan tells us that
once on 4 time when he and Mitchell
We're having a bout on the soil of
France and Mitchell was on the "go,"
his second thrust his head through the
ropes and shouted Think of your wife
Charlie; think of your little babies cry
ing at home for bread" This so fired
Mr.. Mitchell that he at once proceed
ed to spike Mr. Sullivan in the instep;
that is, place his spike-clad shoe upon
Sullivan's foot and drive the torturing
stub-spear into his aristocratic arch.
Sullivan says he did not mind that so
much but it was the dishonesty of the
thing, for Mitchell was not in want, nor
his children yelping for bread, for his
father-in-law was rich, and Charlie
knew that the little ones would not be
permitted to suffer with empty stom-
achs.
Still, the story serves admirably to il
lustrate Mr. Sullivans idea that a wo-
man at the ringside is a mighty
good" stimulant. After telling us how
Rose cheered Bob towards victory Sui
livan emphasizes his judgment of her
influence and her courage and her wis
dom in the fight, by saying that near
the close Mrs. T. shouted wild,y-other
critics and chroniclers use less gentle
and more impolite expressions in de-
sprihinp this ccana-s.Nov ero RIGHT in,