The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-07
A Startling Homily.

The Parkersburg State Journal seems
to have departed from the teachings Of
the fathers when 1t drops into a quasi
defense of the prize fight as an Ameri-
can institution that is to be admired
and commended. 1t appears to
argue in a strang. tongue in en-
dorslng some Of the features OF these
brutallzlng contests. 1t takes as text
for remarkable editorial the Jetfries-
sharkey exhibition of brutality, anu at-
ter inquirIng what, then, are the les
sons Of pugtllsrs2" drops into the fol-
lowing astonishing reflections:
Well, Jesus Christ himself, who did
NOT come into the world to violently dis
turb Its affairs, but who sought to es-
tablIsh teachings and doctrines that
finally IN the rolling centuries VIII win
man to the gentlest, noblest and high
est living, did not denounce the Greek
and Roman games, but used them for
instruction. No doubt there were many
evil things connected with these con-
tests, but the lessons of fighting good
fight and running the race and keeping
the course, and winning the prize, were
enforced all the same. Behind even such
brutal contests as that Of last night are
lessons that will elevate mankind, II
needed. 1t may be that the courage OF
the prize fighter is that OF the brute, but
even the courage Of the animal may be
admired. II such men as Jettries. and
ShRTkey can struggle With such desper-
alton for gain and notorlety. why can
not those who are in higher calllngs
contest with more determination and
nobility? Is the world as much in earn
est in doing good as these men and their
followers are In doing something else2
Why was the race used to denote the
career of man? Because II was run with
determination, after proper training,
with care and thoughtfulness,
It is impossible to believe that our
staid old friend Morris has 30 suddenly
strayed from the sweet influences OF the
Sabbath School and the precepts OF the
sanctuary. But II he has done this
thing" the only rational explanation we
can sugges; is that in a moment Of alb
straction he has picked up the pen Of
the wicked sporting editor and has al
lowed 1t 10 betray him. With n pecul-
Tar infatuatlon for his subject the editor
Of the Journal concludes with the fol-
lowing exhilerRtlng observations;
What does the pugIIist do when he
prepares for his contest? Generally n
lover Of liquor and frequentcr Of sa-
looms, he conquers his appetite and be-
comes n hero in abstinence. In the
preparation for fight every law OF
health is recognized. and everything
that maKeB man better and stronger
Ia done. DO ministers and lawyers and
doctors and scholars and statesmen ever
put themselves through the severe
course Of discipline the prize fighters
do? The lessons 10 he learned from the
training Of a pugillst are tremendous.
We are sincerely paIned that the evIl
days have so swiftly overtaken the
crstwhllc meek and humanitarian phil
osophor of. the quiet dales Of Richie
county. Whence this sudden thirst Tor
blood md battles? The RlFapBe urgu.
ment In favor Of the ildst4rdloa snegs al
the prize aghter. so highly rec6mmend-
ed by the Journal. loses all It's virtue
when It is known that the fighter ls
literally driven into It, and that after
the battle, whether victor or vhnqulsh-
cd, like the hog. he returns to his wal
low. Why has The Journal In this day