New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
SHOULD WOMEN GO
TO BOXING BOUTS?
Question Debated by Many
Prominent in London
Society.

London. July l1.-"Should women 20
to boxing contests?" This is question
at the present time which is attracting
a great deal of attention in England,
when boxing is the chief topic Of con-
versation because of the impetus given
it by the Bombardier Wells and Colin
Bell affair and the Ritchie-Wel light.
When the Rev. Edward Digby. vicar
of St. Agatha's, Finsbury, consented 10
act as master Of ceremonies at the
Bell-Wells fight there was much dis
cussion as to the propriety of such &C
ton on the part of clergyman. Short
~ afterward it became known tnat
tickets for these fights, which prccip-
itated discussion in which the cler-
gyman's action was entirely lost sight
Of. Scores of persons have been inter-
viewed on this subject, and while many
have advocated the right of women TO
attend prizefghts and boxing contests
the predominant opinion is that II IS
mot for the gentler SEX"
Father Vaughan, in expressing an
opinion in opposition TO the right OF
women to attend such performances,
said:
when | see women rushing 10 box
ing matches ! ask, Why do not men
refuse to take women to arenas wnere
they must witness scenes which ought
hts
Let men help women to self-reverence
and self-eontrol, and let women be smut
out from ring fights
The LADY Mayoress of London dis
likes the idea of women going to box
ing contests, as does Lady de RutAen,
widow of the London magistrate, who
thinks that women can see plenty or
decent sport in other ways. Mrs. John
Lane. the writer, says il is unthinkable
70 her that women should want to 90
TO prizefights, and Lady Cecil is OF the
same opinion. Lady Frances Balfodr
concludes that she would not go her
self. but at the same time would not
pass an opinion upon any one e'se
going. Lady Aberconway had this 10
say about the subject:
az could never bear TO see pam de-
liberately inflicted. 1t serves no good
purpose"
Miss Marie Tempest, the actress,
says she has seen a great many wrest-
ling matches in Paris and was inter-
ested immensely. so much so that she
permitted herself TO be persuaded 10
see a boxing match between 'Langford
and Lang. Referring to it. she added:
at pained me to see a white man beat
en- as Lang was by black. The con-
test did nothing but harrow our feel
ings. That is the only boxing match /
have seen and do not wish to see an
other until we ind heavyweight ca
pable Of representing our country
against the best"
Mrs. "Cunboat" Smith says she has
never seen boxing match and never
will, and could not bear to see any OF
her husbands fights. Her husband -
also of opinion that boxing is not
sport for women spectators.
Colonel Sir Malcolm Fox, the father
Of boxing in the army and high au-
thori.y on physical education, discour-
ages he attendance of women at box
ing contests. and Rear Admiral Mon
( tagu, a prominent member Of the Ma
tional Sporting Club, asserts:
/ "In the present hystcrical state of a
/ large majority of the feminine sex in
this country | am opposed TO the ad.
mittance of women to exhibitions OF
! N nature. 1t is certain we could
not long continue to count on the or
derby demeanor 80 necessary to the in
terests Of the noble sport Of boxing.
/ 1t Is essentially and must always be a
mans sport and never a woman's.'
When Miss Edna May MRS. Oscar
Lewisohn) was asked for her opinion
che merely replied; "Oh, have seen a
prizefght in Paris" Lady Evelyn
Jones. Earl Grey's daughter. thought
| It was a matter for individual opinion,
while Lady Berwick did not think it
wis nice sight TO see men knocking
each other about. and would not her
self 10 TO see such a performance, nor
did she Thu that many other women
would like TO 20. "but, Of course" she
added, 81 think that every woman has
a right I, do as she likes"