The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-08
WARNINGTOPUGILISTS
DECISIVE DEFEAT OF KID La
VIGNE IN PROBABLY HIS LAST
RING BATTLE
HE DEFIEE LAWS OF NATURE

strength, skill ana Endurance
and Paid the Penalty, as Do All
| Who Challenge Fate Interest
Still Lacking in the Contest for
the heavyweight Championship.
| Perhaps the greatest lightweight boxer
Of modern times has paid the penalty CT
defiance of the laws of nature, and in
diligence in the pleasures that are de-
MED the successful athlete. George Lee
| vine, Of Saginaw. was last Friday night
knocked out py George MacFadden, of
New York, III a contest with the gloves
that lasted nineteen rounds. That will
| probably be the flnaf appearance of La
| vigne in the roped arena. Lavigne has
| no one save himself to blame. He bodily
defied the well established rules laid down
| for the successful athlete, and INDUCED
| in excuses that undermined his mar
Vicious powers. From the night of the
tragic defeat of Andy Bowen, in New Or
leans, Lavine ranked easily the best man
at his weight in the world. Then came
his wanderings from the beaten path Of
the pugiIist He dallied with the rosy
telnpter, wine, and he neglected the little
exercises that are essential to the con-
tinued good condition Of the boxer. Late
hours were added to the liberties taken
with his splendid physique, and the end
has come-defeat by a second-rater, and
oblivion as fighter.
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
It is pretty generally known, nova
days, that boxing is encouraged by the
Y. NJ c. A. There was time when the
sport was tabooed by that organization,
because Of the disrepute into which it
had fallen. But there came a change,
and the boxing glove hung upon the walls
of the Y. M c. A. gymnasium, alongside
the foil. and other implements utilized
In manly sports and exercises. A promi
nent physical director of the Y. NJ C..
A. once said to the writer: ''There is no
exercise that is more beneficial than box
Ing. 1t brings into play every muscle,
and starts the blood afresh through the
arteries. But above all is 1t desirable to
the Y. M. G. A. because Of Its moral in
nuence upon ambitious young men. This
may sound peculiar, coming from teach
er in an institution like the Y. M. Q. A,
but not so after I have explained my
meaning. TO become a successful expo
nent of the manly art Of self-defense, the
young man must cultivate good habits.
He cannot succeed and keep late hours.
Neither can he hope to excel and indulge
In tntoxicants. Boxing is safeguard
against many of the temptations that
beset young men. Always provided that
the boxer is DESTROYS of excellling in the
accomplishment" All of which Lavigne
might have proflted by copying. But he
drifted from the path. He murdered
sleep, and looked upon wine when it was
all the colors Of the rainbow.
BARLEYCORN'S VICTIMS.
Many a giant has fallen beneath the
blows of the destroyer Of physical perfec-
tion-known to the profession as John
Barleycorn." When John L. Sullivan was
defeated many newspapers referred to
the overthrow Of the greatest Of fighters
by "Barleycorn.' Gallant Jack Dempsey
died from the effects Of overindulgence.
Many of the leading lights Of the prize
ring. who fell prematurely, could trace
the real cause of defeat to just what has
accomplished the undoing Of Lavigne.
Excuses made Corbett shell Of the
former athlete. Bob Fitzsimmons' alb
stemiousness Is referred to as the ex-
PLANTATION Of his wonderful recuperative
powers, and the retention Of his pugilis-
| tic prowess beyond the age when boxers
are presumed 10 yleio 10 the TdVdseS OIL
| time upon the physique. There Is no
need Of a temperance lecture. The rec
| ords Of ring heroes will show, all too
| conclusively, that convivialty and late
hours bring disaster to the boxer who
| revels in the pleasures Of today, leaving
| tomorrow to look out for itself.
BIG FIGHT LAGs.
There is remarkable seeming lack of
| interest in the approaching contest be-
tween Jim Jeffries and Tom Sharkey, for
| the worlds ring premiership. With the
| battle but few weeks distant there is
| less being said about the principals and
| thei: work of preparation than has been
the rule in all the big fights of late
years. Perhaps this can be explained by
| the fact that there is no longer need for
| secrecy in preparing for a battle. When
| 1t was difficult to ascertain what the
principals to a big contest in the ring
| were doing, and how they were coming
| on In the work of fitting themselves for
| the supreme trial, everybody was eager
| for bit of news. Now that boxing is
| legally permitted, and there Is no at
| tempt at secrecy the preparatory work
| loses much Of Its flavor. 1t is presumable,
| however, that within brief period there
will be daily accounts Of what the big
| fellows are doing-the hour at which they
waking hours, and when they again seek
| the goddess slumber. How much they
weigh, what they eat-and all the little
| details ad nauseum.
JEFFRIES is FAvORITE.
There is little betting on the big fight.
What few wagers have been placed
make Jeffries the favorite at sight odds.
| That was to be expected. Jeffries Is the
champion-is the taller heavier and more
prominent pugilst. Then there are ru-
| mors af1oat to the effect that Sharkey's
| stomach has caused his handlers much
| annoyance, if not alarm. 1t is said that
| the sailorman cannot train as he should
because of the refusal Of that important
| portion of his anatomy to perform its
| functions. Sharkey is keeping quiet.
| There was a time when the sailor talked
| a bit too freely, but it Is likely that Tom
| O'Rourke, his astute manager, has gwen
| Tom a bit of good advice and that he
| will reserve his comments upon MS own
| superiority over the big Californian I'M
| til such time in the ring as he can give
| physical illustration Of the foundation
| for his confidence in himself.
| FITZ IS SILENT
| F'itZsimmons is saying nothing these
! days, but, it is rumored, that the Kan
| CARGO is saving great stacks of wood for
| the winters campaign. He will begin
| to talk after the Jeffries-Sharkey battle
has been decided by challenging the win