The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-10
DOBLEY'S LATEST IDEA.
How HE THINKS or ELEVATiNG
THE PUGILIST.
On. Pr,r.nshtsr Inspired to Music BY a knock-
Ont Flow - Another who Diagnosed the Ef'
feet OF His Hiu-Ps;hetic story Of . Psg-
M, DobIey Met In HIS College Days.

n % say, VT do only that WHICH others ha'c
1o,s ,.rore us and win do again. What a mag
.,e,e,, plan It would be If some one OF the
cords cenluses would make himself known
nv or,gIna ing great charities on novel lines.
II would appeal TO peoples imagination ana
could therefore interest them more than the
old schemes. Think Of the idealism OF a ne
A.vo,ed TO generating plans for the betterins oil
conditions Of humanity, | think II would be a
vonderful work. There are So many people
bes ides the poor in need OF charity.
Il have heard Of a society downtown SAID
Mr. pobley. the purpose of which is to provide
champagne luncheons for struggling type
writer's"
81 don't mean anything relating to the ma
,.rigl needs, said Mrs. Dobl-y. but 10 the spH-
,tal There ought TO be some plan by wmcn
reople who are discouraged or downcast win
No, burdens could be reached and aided by
counsel and advice
Il have long thought, said Mr.. Dooiey'
Ger ol,ly. "of a scheme for developing the 1T
sary and artistic natures Of pusilists.
ayou never can be serious, said Mrs. Dooley.
+ am entirely serious, " said Mr.. Dobley. l
mink the ~pugilists are misunderstood l THINK
the profession is bound to advance from the 10"
~rade II occupies at present to the nighest
scale The twentieth century will witness
contests between gladiators, educated, inteii-
rent specimens Of humanity, who viii be oonseo
N keep up TO a Observation-Disclosures only a phys
scal standard but a mental ard moral one IN
the universities the men are Obliged TO meet
r,cid requirements before they ere allowed To
,ake an active part in athletics. This THINK
will be the place that pugilism will attain IN 'he
future. To-day the term pusilist Is one OF re-
proach. but the day will come when all that VIII
be changed. There are champion pusiilsts IN
the colleges to-day who could easily triumph
over the professional fighters Of the day Tor the
reason that they could bring superior intelll-
sence and logic, as well as science and force.
10 bear upon their opponents. One OF these
DAYS we will have ideal gladiators representing
The highest type Of humanity"
"Pugilists are not human. said Mrs. Dooley'
They are all brutal In their instincts. How
can any one read OF the dreadful conflicts IN
which they take part without feeling HORNED
that such things can exist in this civilized age
and that civilized men can regard II as a SPORT
Il am not defending pugilism. said MI.
poblsy. but | think we should do more Tor the
~pugllst. Universal condemnation never bettered
any condition Of affairs. Another thing; the
popular opinion of the pueilist Is an entirely
erroneous one. Not only has he his human.
but he has also his humane side. l may say
that tho aesthetic nature Of the puglist Is more
In evidence than 1t Is in the ordinary man OF
business. II Is unsupported, but II exists,
There is not a fighter Of note who does not feel
keenly that he Is outside the pale oil respectA-
oility In the public eye" -
said Mrs. Dobley. Il don't think they have
feelings like other people. ,A
But they have, said Mr.. Dootey. .and tne
pathetic efforts which some of them make TO
Into society, I suppose?" said Mrs; Dobley.
shows oNs' that fS s ssey 'R have sS% very y' Esen s spnrec i
OF, their position in ne social scale; let
take the average %pugilist; he is an ordinarily
his greatest drawback; A a rule. he Is work,
ing Tor his home and his family. like other good
citizens. As he dances about, the ring admin,
how mich Rs success will enable him TO add to
the baby's bank account. But me average
estimate Of the successful pusilLSt Ignores
any possible good that may be in HIM. lie Ia
PICTURED as a horny-handed. unrefined, IRE
lglons. .bad-mannered. dissipated person. In
point Of fact. he is no more so than the men in
What a ridiculous idea" said Mrs. Doblsy.
I, they were men Of that sort they would not
remain In such work. They would seek other
That as an argument said Mr.. Dobley. is
almost GllbertesQuely paradoxical. FROM the
extreme view that the lighter Is a brute you W
sacrifice a profession in which. ne fnds hlmseii
suddenly famous and successful and all Yer a
principle, A man who would do tha, w9ula De
fighters become SO through environment lney
drift into the trade as other men DO INTO other
ironted with the fact that they can make more
none, in less time than IN any other profession
The idea q making money in such a way
This sordid money-makins trait" said Mr.,
Dobley, is unfortunately universal. The puaiist
Possesses IL with others OF his race. But on the
other hand he values money less, The success,
full pug st N his present status IL TO me one OF
the sadiest figures in modern life+ He is ms
nature simply stiles for want OF development"
How would YOU propose to reach his better
sell and elevate his profession?" asked MIS-
MIR. Freshington and /" began Mr; Dobley'
All. ! see. Mr.. freshington. said Mrs DOB
Mr, Frpshington and l." continued Mr..
Dobley. have given this matter much thought
We have always believed IN the idea that the
perfect human being would embody physical
We have discussed the idea of a png'lists' club,
where the members might enjoy facilities toI
education through Lectures, and yet they coMdd
no. be Lectures IN the usual sense. lhey ~ouiu
BE- more In the nature OF talks" -.
Heart to heart talks with p~uglists; tina
sounds like something from a comic OPERA
No, is too good for that. " said Dobley. But
ms club would provide the best music; IT 10 sur
lrsinc how the pugilIst Of TO-DAY runs 70 music
was more then surprised when one Of the ex-
CHAMPIONS told ne that he was writing an opera,
He said that during the hours when he was mol
exercising he sat at the piano improvising pas
ases that were 10 be Incorporated IN his mastef
work II struck me a. being very remarkapie
mat tho gnarled fists that were trained 10 90
such deadly work on the anatomy OF ms lei
'ow men could also call forth strains Of melody
aGtated b. a brain presumed by the narrow
minded 10 be savage"
Perhaps the music was s~avage?" suggested
Ms Dohley. .
talked with him about this musica! work
OF his and ne told me a remarkable incident oil
one OF his encounters In which ne mao oeeI
defeated When he received his f.nn deiea,
ana became unconscious he said that ne hearc
bells ringing in chimes in his ears and the music
was mat Of his own opera. There was a poeut
pathos in this that touched me- deeply.
Strangely. enough, | was talking shortly
sltervard with another pugilist who had de,
leated the opera writer in this very battle and
VINO had A very bitter feeling toward nun, oN-
ing 70 the recriminations that had passed De-
v%een hem During tie course OF our con-
I've composed the words and music OF
"A scngY / said in astonishment: that's q
most remarkable tning' Did you know thu
Mr Blank, mentioning his rival, was VIII
lag an opera
In a moment the mans face changed to ar
expression If the most intense disgust. 'Whal
Hhe writing 1t sith, his ieet| ne asked rudely
| Jaw At once that II this artistic talent ex'
suel WIN such an extreme jealousy, OF tn'
saIne sut IN another IL was possible ~ develop
meht OF the highest order. What gift OF all u
mo list would one be less likely to associate
WIN q IlnHt-f thu, ,,,.afag Vat hnFn Wprf