The sun., 1903-12-13
COME AMATEURS
= WHO MUST SCRAP.
Lament of an Ex-Puxilist Over the
Increasing Numbes OF
Trouble Makers.

IL don't suppose you've hoticco ~ sal"
the ex-pugilist mot having ever been IN
NV old line of business, but 1t is fact that
the town il filling up with young chaps
who are spelling to use their fists on some
one.
-pm not a scrapper by nature, that Is
I'm not looking for Aght. / never did'
not even in the old days. Then 1t was
matter of business, OF dollars and cents.
l don't think had three scraps outside the
ring during all the time wse fghting, But
in the last three years or so i've had
dozen.
4The only way can account for 1t is that
hundreds Of young men are now taxing
physical exercise before going to bed ana
upon rising After bit their biceps SVEN
and the little muscles in their backs Knot
up and they begin to get Ngimpy. They
amuse themselves on Sundays comforting
their bodies before the glass, and after
a while they get to thinking they could
hit a pretty hard blow. Some of them try
il Oh a punching bag, but they soon tire OF
that and then they take to thinking OF
human prey.
They're not scrappers by nature, that
is they would hardly be looked to piok
fight Such thing would never ooour TO
them il they hadn't begun to grow strong.
They have a lot of surplus energy whioh
pushing pen or selling dry goods. or even
carrying dr1lmmers bag, does not work
of. So they get to carrying chip on their
shoulders and you can see them around
in the cafes, fairly looking for trouble,
IL had one or two set-to before realized
all this I'm telling you, and got to wonder
ing why it was couldn't go out for an even
ing about the town without having to use
my dukes before l got home.
"The first scrap had of this sort was
with young dude who insisted that some
cuss words l was using in conversation
with friend willie standing at bar we're
meant for him. l hadn't said word TO
him nor he to me, but he'd caught me look
ing at the cut Of his clothes and l suppose
he thought l was making fun Of his peg
tops.
"He chucked his eyes over his shoulder
at me two or three times after he caught
me rubberin' and glared ct me, but ! went
OH talking with my friend and paid no at
tention. We were talking about an old
boss of mine and suppose l got a little
excited in my talk. for that boss was low
down customer and it always relieves me
in the middle OF my strong words this dude
chap turned around and said he'd had
enough OF it and that he'd teach me thing
or two about being decent to gentleman
which wasn't taught in book nor VIZ itten
on children's blackboards.
with that he steps over to table and
laws OF his derby Then he peels his gloves
and lays them beside his hat.
1My friend who had been my bottle
holder more than once in the old days. let
out a horse laugh when he saw what was
coming and gave me dig in the ribs.
looked at my friend and he looked al me
and then he laughed again and couldn't
help joining in:
1T was really comioal. supposed ia
out all that sort OF business out Of my life
and here was inside the ropes again. 90
Il suppose my laughing bothered the
young dude, for although walked over &c
him and told him as solemnly as could that
my swearing wasn't meant. for him in any
shape. form or manner, the laugh was
still in my eye and spoiled my words, al.
though they we're as sincere as l could
speak them; ). - ., .i,,
| it was too late, nd with that he came at
| me. Then stopped laughing. for the boy
really was clever. He didn't take it for
granted that he had me going the first time
| fighters do. but he jumped away and was
| ready for the come back. He whanged
me three or four times, one after the other
all about the chest, before really had my
fists closed. and that also taught me that
! he was following out the old Lesson OF hit
| quick and hard and finish your man before
| he finds himself
1T wasn't baby play. l think he had
things the way he wanted them for perhaps
two minutes. and that's long time wher
you're fighting. whether in q ring or out
People didn't bother us and the bartender
was so ratified that he didn't know what tt
| do and so he did nothing.
! "For two minutes l never tried to hit
| him hard; to tell the truth / didn't want to
Then felt my Irish rising. and / tried
teaser for the jaw.
DO you know, that dude put me of al
prettily as the real thing? This gave M
a fiutter, for that was, in the old days, one
of my best cards that particlla blow, ans
had looked to close the interview Will
it and get out OF the saloon. was jus
thinking that I'd have TO quit fooling whel
mouth and over | went. Yes. I wont dow