Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

THE manly art OF wrestling 10 going
TO regain It's old time popularity In
the near future. | am convinced
that during the coming year much
Of the enthusiasm over wrestling bouts
that used 10 be witnessed In days gone
by will be seen again.
have several reasons for this opin-
ion, one being the much larger crowds
Of people that have paid to see wres-
ting contests and exhibitions during
the past few months than for several
years previous TO that time. only a
short time ago / was challenged by
Professor Atlas Of New York, and the
affair was arranged 10 take place In q
hall In rather out Of the way part Of
that city. l thought possibly a couple
Of hundred dollars would be taken at
the door, but TO my great amazement
we cleared over SllOO that night.
Little straws like this show which
way the wind Is blowing, and ! am per-
fectly convinced that IL Is at last yeer-
ing round in favor Of wrestling and /
hope 1t Is, for It Is a great science. Such
contests are not only intensely interest
ing 20 watch. but It viii be a good thing
for the youth OF this great country 4
they will go in for wrestling more gen.
orally. II Is one Of the best possible
exercises a man can take up, as It not
only serves 20 develop every muscle
% the body, but also induces quick
thought and rapid action, besides max
ing one able to grasp a sudden oppor-
tunity without fatal delay.
Still another reason FOR my opinion
that wrestling is coming TO the fore is
the number Of challenges that have
been inundated with, directly and indi-
rectly, during the past few weeks.
Some OF these have been from men who
have issued dens simply for the sake
Of a little possible notorlety. To them,
o. course. l shall pay not the slightest
attention, as they have no intention OF
ever facing me on the mat. Others,
again, have come TO me from ambitious
amateurs who think that because they
have downed a few local celebrities
they must Of necessity be world
beaters / cannot afford TO pay any
attention TO this class until they have
done some work that necessitates
my meeting them, not only because
the matches would draw no crowd, but
the result would be so farcical that the
old cry Of fake, that has already done
so much TO hurt the game would in
eyltably be raised again. have never
been guilty OF trying TO hoax the pub
lie and will not be q party to any
scheme that, even II perfectly legit-
Innate. looks like a skin game.
There are others who have challeng-
ed me, however, whom shall be only
too glad to meet. These are men who
are champions in their own countries
and who are coming to America to try
TO wrest the title Of champion Of th'
world from me-
Among the foreigners who have sig
nifed their intention TO come over anc
wrestle me this winter are two mer
who are likely to give me good tussl'
before / down them, for they are Eel
lows with splendid regulations abroad
and there are few tricks in connection
with the game which they do not know
One of these men is Paul Pons, tbs
champion Greco Roman wrestler Of
France. He is about feet inches II
height and built in proportion, with 6
tremendous muscular development HI
has defeated all aspirants In Gaul Sc
handily that now everybody over Their,
Is afraid to meet him.
A similar complaint as regards
lack Of opponents is said to be the rea'
son that Beck Olsen. the champion o.
Germany, has decided to come ovel
! here to get on q match with me. He Il