The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-24
LOU H(DSENAN'S GOSSIP
PROMOTERS ARE STILL OFFERING
PURSES FOR THE RUHLIN-
JEFFRIES FIGHT
PREACHERS WHO LIKE BOXING
Two New York Divines Believe
in the Use of Gloves to
Help Develop Manly
Men.

CHICAGO, Feb. 2S.-(SpeciaI Like
Tepnyson's brook, the Ruhlin-Jeffries
fight goes on forever. Driven from Gin
Cmnati the fighters are wandering about
the country and the promoters in every
Fart of the United States are making
Offers for contest between the big men
The latest~offer is from Nebraska. where
a purse of $4,000 is offered. This would
undoubtedly prove an attraction suffi-
Gent to get the men together, but with
their late experience in Cincinnati be-
fore their eyes it is not difficult to con-
ceive of the managers of both Jeffries
and Rubin being a little more cautious.
Ruhlin has been in Chicago during the
rast week and has had more than his
share of trouble, although he has filled
daily and nightly enga cement at a To-
cal music hall. That arch-reformer
Frank Hail. swooped down on him and
for several days Rubin was obliged to
dance attendance upon "a justice of the
peace and the grand jury. Nothing
came of the action, however, except TO
secure the holding of Frank Hall to the
grand jury, that gentleman having testi-
fed that he was present at a prize fight.
There was no evidence of this character
rs to other witnesses. and the grand
Jury failed to find a bill.
Whether it is possible that series of
petty prosecutions are to be the means by
which Hall intends to put in his idle mo-
ments while his dive is temporarily sup
pressed, is a matter of interest and
matter that should be taken cognizanca
OF by that element of society which pre-
tends to represent all that is good and
holy. Everyone knows that Hall is not
animated by any worthy motive, and
that it is simply with a desire to get
even for some fancied wrong that he is
taking action against everything that he
conceives to be unlawful He has not
been very successful in convincing any
one of the justice of his movements as
yet, and it is doubtful whether he will
ever De able to convince the public CT
his sincerity.
SO Bob Fitzsimmons has Joined the
ranks of the spiritualists. This is in
deed cheering news and of a nature cal
culated to create mild commotion in
the bosoms Of the shades and spooks that
the supposed to drift aimlessly around
the outer world. Robert, it is said, is
trying hard to develop himself SO that
he can communicate with his astral
body, which he now believes assisted
him in many of his battles. The con-
version of the gladiator with the scanty
auburn locks should result in certain not
tc be moderated benefits to him such as
pugilists never enjoyed before. For in
stance, should he succeed in the process
of development upon which he is at
present concentrating all the power of
his massive intellect, what happy little
heart-to-heart talks he could enjoy with
the spirits of warriors gone before. Hee-
nan and Savers might drop in on Bob
for a friendly chat, and fight their bat
ties over again for the edifcat1on or
their gallant successor. Yankee Sulli-
van might be induced to furnish Bob,
In the latter's capacity as editor for a
yellow journal, with an interesting one
column article on How it feels to be
strung up by a vigilance committee"
Cooper, Donnelly, Tom King, Deaf
Burke, Jem Ward, Mendoza and dozens
of others of the fistic heroes Of other
days would probably join the magic cir
Gle and help to entertain the raw-boned
antipodean. Altogether 1t looks as
though there was high old time in store
for Bob if he persists in his present
course of spiritual treatment.
While the executives of the various
states in which efforts have been made to
bring off boxing contests are closing their
doors to the athletes who eXemplify this
game. 1t seems somewhat refreshing to
hear that there are two healthy preach
ers in the East. They are men who be-
lieve in athletic exercise, and are en-
thusiastic on the subject Of making man
ly men, instead of fanatical boobies.
From New York comes the following:
Eyes, we have a boxing class at our
church, and I am proud to report that
the young men are learning the manly
art rapidly. If they keep on the way
they have started they will soon be able
to give pointers on sparring to Gov.
Roosevelt. Do 1 box? Why, certainly.
know of no law, civil or ecclesiastical,
which says a preacher shall not"
Saving this Rev. Robert H. Rollins
pastor of the First Baptist church, of
West Hobollen rolled up his sleeves and
mot&Sned as ii putting on the gloves
1t was plain that he is an enthusiast.
ct am a firm believer in athletic sports,
and I have been deeply interested in es-
tablishinS a gymnasium in our church
We use the rear hall or chapel and nave
two classes i'll all-round athletics-boys
and men. The boys meet only once a
week while the young men are to be
found in the gym nearly every night. L
am thinking Of sending a challenge TO
the boys of St. Johns Episcopal church,
of West Hoboken, later in the spring
with a view of arranging a meet"
Rev. David B. Matthews of the latter
church, when asked whether his boxing
class would be willing to meet that OF
the Rev R. H. Rollins, said
81 will have to think the matter over.
I have some trained boxers in my class,
and they can do clever work with the
gloves. I would not be afraid to see them
matched for honors with any similar
class, but l am a little afraid that to
have q regular set match between the
two associations would disturb the
friendly relations existing between the
churches
This shows the right spirit, and it is
to be hoped that more men OF equally
broad views will encourage the sport. II
is a well known fact that the man best
trained as a boxer is less likely to he
QUarrelsome or aggressive in The ordinary
walks OF life. 1t is usually the little mar.
roW-mindcd one who struts and busters
in his endeavor to convince others of a
prowess he does not possess whe stirs ur
most of the trouble in life. The skillfu
boxer does not look for trouble, and con-
siGers boxing only as 4 game and q
healthful one. 1t makes him self-reiant
and masterful, and if there is one thing
on this oavth that ministers of the goSpe
should make an endeavor to do it should
be to make men brave in the face Of
physical as well as mental danger, anC
how better can this be done than tc
make a man feel that he has the ability
to take care of himself?
There is no denying the fact that W,
Americans are a self-denying people
SpCrtSmen form no small portion Of thu
population of this lard and the interes
taken in glove contests has been clearly
evidenced in the past by the thousand.
who have cheerfully paid their dollar:
and Travelled many weary miles to wit
ness championship battles between tn,
giants Of the ring. Yet popular as tn,
fistic game certainly is with the masses
the rank and file of sport lovers fine
themselves obliged to bow to DEGREES is
sued by emasculated individuals who, o,
some curious turn of Fortunes whea
IN, lnnn a off