The Portland daily press., 1899-02-23


Honor-The Contests Strictly Governed
by Rules and Referees.
Writers may write and preachers may
preach, but the world-our world at least
will take to its arms the boy who is as
anxious to fight as to play II predicts
great things Of him and Is willing to help
him along. Out of these battles come
blackeped eyes and bloody noses, but not
any harm. Self confidence is born Of them
and the ability TO make the hand guard
the head. There used TO be an old fellow
in Goliad county. Tex, who expressed his
utter condemnation Of a neighbor in this
way: "Smito him on ono check and he'll
turn the other Smite him on the other
and he'll have you arrested" Then he
spat In disgust.
IL is not known that the authorities of
the Naval academy at Annapolis encour-
age fighting. There Is nothing In the pub
lisbed rules urging the cadets to follow
the advice of dead Sam Randall and get
together as often as possible. But IL Is
certain that they do not discourage It.
There are tales among the embryo adIni-
rails. handed down from class TO class, Of
how the preceptors have stood afar and
watched the battles through spyglasses,
grunting at each we'll delivered blow and
betting gleefully among themselves on the
results The consequence Of this laxity Is
that the younger cadets-those in their
first year-come In very little while to
believe that the powers are very friendly
to a fighter and would offer active encour
agement to fighters II 1t were necessary
which it isn't This state of affairs does
not conduce to study. but 1t does conduce
to the development of muscle and the fat
tening of the fighting instinct. Not long
ago a cadet took leg leave of the academy
and wandered into Baltimore, where he
spliced multiplicity of main braces.
AS result he first whipped cab driver,
then whipped friend Of the cab driver,
and then whipped two policemen who had
walked up in time to see the end of the
fray. He got back to the grounds badly
battered, but standing up well under his
canvas. The affair made some noise and
persons went to Washington to obtain the
cadets dismissal. There they met Fight
ing" Bob Evans and mistakenly detailed
the circumstances, requesting his infu-
enee "Whatr' beloved that veteran.
"Dismiss boy like that Licked four
men in one night? Damme, sirs, are you
crazy? What in the blue do you
think a naval officer is for? When he
graduates, give him to me. Put him on
my ship want 100 like him.
In the matter of humping his fellow
there are certain rules governing the cadet.
They are lcges non script9, but ironclad
nevertheless The epithet liar" must be
resented with an instant blow. All in
suits must be accounted for on the spot.
The only spots exempt are the chapel and
classroom The combatants are immedi-
atelv separated by any one standing near.
A first year man is permitted to separate
seniors. After that the code has play. The
combatants name two seconds each. These
lay the matter before member of the
senior class He fixes the place and date
of the encounter. The place is always an
open space behind the gymnasium. 1t is
not turf, but is ground worn bare and
hardened by many feet. 1t has been red
dened time and again by the best blood in
America. The time is always the after
noon of some Saturday The rules are
Marquis of Queensberry-three minute
rounds with minute rest between. The
exception is that no gloves are used.
Wrestling is not permitted, of course.
Occasionally, however, when one of the
combatants has had two years training
in the sparring school and the other is "a
newcomer, the old style of trough aad
tumble" fracas is allowed.
Always a senior class man is master of
ceremonies, appellate court and supreme
court in these fistic litigations. The sec
onds are there to handle their men, but all
points of dispute ATE submitted TO the SEN
Tor. His decision Is never questioned. A
fight is fought out until one of the men is
deemed incompetent by his seconds, who
throw up the sponge. Then he is borne TO
the hospital The sponge never goes up
until he is made fit for cot. Woe TO the
warrior who cries enough or quits when
he is able TO continue Nothing is left
him save to depart to civil life His class
mates and the men in his dormitory will
not speak TO him. He is "coventried
There is no instance where these bare
knuckle duels have had fatal termina-
ton. The participants are endowed with
the blessing of youth and are always in
condition.
1t sometimes happens that a cadet goes
through his four years at Annapolis with
out an appearance ON the field of honor,
but the occurrence is as rare as black
swan. The courage of such men is looked
on with gravest suspicion by their COM
rades. Indeed fight is regarded neces-
sary complement to an education and
escape would seem impossible To any man
who could be made to resent an insult
All of this does no harm. Enmities end
with the duel. 1t is required that this
should be so. The opposing youngsters
become faster friends than ever. Is it Sir
Lucius O'Trigger who says; 1t is aston
ishing how well you like man when you
have fought with hims" War is profes-
sion with these wards of the government
With them courage is necessity. Each
battle strengthens it. The cheeks of fond
mothers at home would blanch if they
knew that their darlings were pommeled,
but their respected ard respectable fathers
would dance upon one leg and howl with
delight. II is in us and il cannot be talked