The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-07-11
MEN WHO CAN HANDLE THEM.
SELVES HAVE NO USE FOR
WEAPONS.
Advanced Why All Young
Men Should Be Taught Art of
Self Defense.

Every boy should be taught boxing
as soon as he is large enough to COM
prehend its worth both as a method of
defense and for the benefits to be de-
rived therefrOm.
The argument has often been adj
vanced that where boxing is INDUCED
in extensively it is productive of bull
lies and roughs. not to say anything
about introducing the juvenile mittol-
ogist to the prize ring. The case is
unqualifiedly the reverse and has just
the opposite effect.
For instance, there is hardly college
or university of note in the country
where boxing does not form leading
part in the athletic exercises INDUCED
in, and it is extremely rare that one
sees a college bred man brawling or
bullying. This also applies to nine
tenths of the robust, healthy men of the
country, many Of whom could give an
excellent account of themselves in a
fistic encounter.
Instead of punching in a brutal
spirit, boxing inspires confidence in the
great majority of those who indulge
in it and learn it scientifically.
Teaches Self Control.
A youth understanding the art of
self defense and possessing muscle
consequent upon it's acquisition, sell
dom resorts to a weapon to defend
himself and less frequently uses one
in aggression. The confidence in ones
ability to take care of himself in an
encounter bears the same relation to
does, and the knowledge of fistic sci
ence often deters man from becoming
the aggressOr against weaker broth
er, for the reason that he feels it cow
ardly to assail where the subject would
be no match for the prOwess. In case
of attack he is able to defend himself,
and after the encounter is ended there
are no after results upon which to be
taken before a tribunal of justice.
The knowledge that man under
stands the art of self-defense often de-
ters the bully from offering insult, and
as often reminds him that all men who
are gentle of address are not butts for
his ribald jokes or taunts.
If a boy has courage to don the
gloves and take a few punches and
give the same in return, he also has
confidence sufficient to augur success
in a business pursuit. The muscles
should be trained at the same time the
mind is being developed, and if these
two go together 1t stands to reason
that both physical and mental faculties
will be evenly balanced, and not one
developed to the detriment of the other.
No Use for Weapons.
1t is seldom if ever that a judge is
called upon to sit in a case where
scientific man has resorted to a
weapon, and court records of man
slaughter bear out the assertion that
not one man in 100 who Stays with a
weapon knew anything about the use
The records Of killings in the south
fully bear out this contention, for eli
matte conditions and the consequent
effects produce a condition of languor
preventative of athletic indulgence.
Men turn readily to the knife and re-
volver for protection and as weapons
of defense. In sections where boxing
is taught the use of weapons has de-
creased remarkably.
At the time a youth is taught box
ing he should also be taught it's value
as health producer and its import
ance in every day life, and his in
structor should be a man whose sense
of duty is not overshadowed by a de-
sire merely to see his pupil defeat
some other boy. and one who while de-
VelOping the muscular faculties should
at the same time assist in developing
the moral qualities.
Health follows boxing exercises, and
one seldom sees a we'll developed man
who having had his day in the gym
nasium attacked by any malady float
ing through the atmosphere. A mans
ability to withstand sickness is of far
more importance than his ability to
skip away from it when it is prevalent.
DISASTER CAUSES A SUICIDE