New-York tribune., 1897-12-19
ENGLISH SPORT.
LORD RosEBERY's HUMOROUS REFLEC-
TIONs ON THE TURF-ENGLIsH LOVE
OF BoNING-HERo OF ADVENTURE.
London. Deem Der s.

London. December :.
Lord Rosebery enjoys his ease in retirement
after the storm and stress Of politics, and dis
courses payfully on subjects which have ceased
10 be serious. Last night he found himself In
congenal company among turfmen at York.
and as the winner Of two Derbies, spoke com
placently and with grim pleasantly of the vicis-
STUDIES OF sporting luck. Mr.. Lucy has quotec
him as saying Immediately after his resgna-
ton: There are two supreme pleasures in life.
one is ideal and the other real The idea! is
when a man receives the seals OF office from the
hands Of his sovereign. The real pleasure
comes when he hands them back" One is JUS
titled by his reflections on the turf In following
out the analogy, and in concluding that his
ideal pleasure found in leading III his two
Derby winners. and that his real satisfaction
has come when the blue ribbon has been won
and he is free to watch al home the growth
and exercise Of his foals and 10 warn outsiders
against racecourse cation
No public man in England can he more de-
lghtfuly humorous than the last Prime Min
ister. and naturally he has keenly enjoyed the
liberty Of dscOursng frankly on what was an
embarrassing subject when he in office and
exposed to harassing criticism from strait-laced
Liberals Nor can these critics find any faui;
with The moral which he points from his own
Punchs famous advice TO those about TO marry
Don't" The reasons too which he playfuliy
gives are practical; the apprenticeship is ex-
oeedngl; expensive: the pursuit is too engross-
ing for any one who has anything else TO do
in this life: and the rewards. compared with the
disappoiptm tments are estimated at one per cent.
These conclusions he supports from his own eN
pCrience When he was at last a Derby win
ner after a struggle OF twenty-five yeais. he
was attacked with the greatest violence FOR
owning racehorses at all: and after suffering
politically from being too much Of sports
man. as a party leader In general election
he was assaed by leagues and associations for
not being enough Of a sportsman. When he was
released from official cares and left free 10 de-
vote himself to the turf the curse fell upon
him. for when he fancied that he possessed the
horse Of the century II sickened and except in
two fortunate instances his stable ran second
in every great race for which It was entered.
Lord Rosebery always has an opposite quota
ton from the books which he reads in his
library. In considering the friendships OF the
turf as one OF the compensations OF this har-
rowing sport he quotes Lady Ashburton as say
ing: 1t may be that each man knows some
thing that would hang the other; but the effect
is delightful and most peculiar" Whereupon
Lord Rosebery dissents since ne is quite sure
that II anybody on the turf had known any
thing that would have hanged him about three
years ago he would not now be in life Equally
emphatic is he In declaring that 1t is not with
the idea Of gain that anybody pursues the turf'
and he calls upon his trainer to support him.
SO far as he is concerned. the recreation OF the
turf does not lie in the racetrack. but In the
private ,nclosure where horses can be watched
while they are coming on; and there In secret
ambition that lures the turfman on-an anxious
desire to become known as the owner of the
horse Of the century. Lord Rosebery Is not
however. like other patrons Of the turf He has
carried off the best prizes and paid heavily for
his experience politically and otherwise, ana
NAV he hardened for a contemplative cynlclsm
which comes from safety.
A FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
The tragic close OF boxing bout az the Ma
tional Sporting Club directs public attention 10
legalized przehghting as 1t is knowT in Eng
land The details Of the death Of the light
weight boxer Croot from a blow received in
the twentieth round of glove fight from
Chicago pugilist Barry, have been anticipated
by cable; and it is unne cessary to refer here to
the arrest OF the assa!lant the referee. the cluD
manager ana others on q charge Of man
slaughter What may not be hopelessly belated
Is consideration Of the main cause which has
led TO the continuance in England OF the brutal
sport Of przefghting under thin and trans
pareu: disguise. This Is a genuine love Oh
this sport which seems TO be inherent among
men Of English blood Although contests OF
the old time degraded character are no longer
POSSIBLE, a f.Insy compromise has been tolerated
and sanctioned by public opinion
Not long ago l visited a gymnasium church
in the East End. where the chief attraction was
a boxing ring. The chapel was upstairs ana
Ritualist,c services were held there on Sundays
and high festivals; but the lower noors were
fitted up as a clubroom for men. and supplied
with all the appliances for gymnasium. Inc
boxing ring is occupied every night with young
mep who put on gloves and spar with one an
other; and the good Rituastic priest Father
rav glands by and watches the boys while
thew are engaging IN their favorite amusement
Tho walls OF the clubrooms are adorned with
,,botopraphs OF the best boxers who have won
prIzes in competitions have not forgotteh
the fine glow Of enthusiasm on the wears lace
when he showed me these pictures or MS Dest
bows in gloves. nor the homely argument with
which he justified patronage or the ring under
q church roof "All men OF the English lower
classes" he said, ARE fond Of boxing Inc
taste for IL is in the English blood. This ring
draws men and boys into the club out OF the
saloons when any other inducement would fall
to attract them"
The popularity OF sporting clubs IN the west
End where there are frequent 'knock-outs lor
nurse proves that the taste for boxing is not
confined 70 the lower classes These contests
are attended by thousands Of weU-dressed spec
tators and are described In the daily press as
well as in sporting papers. These exhibitions
are licensed by the public authorities ana ORA"
together great throng Of amateurs VINO pr%c-
tise boxing in privacy and like to witness the
gadiatorial contests OF professional perform
ers They attract also motley assemblages OF
the classes and the masses. who find more