The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-25
WHY ENGLISH BOXERS FAIL
Are Too High Strung Nowadays, Says
 a British Writer

'T was accounted a rank anti Britisher,' ' writes F Hardman Lucas in Boxing, when I offered the opinion that Carpen- tier would beat Bomhardior Wells In two rounds at the N. S. C. Many Of my friends accounted me mad and inspired by a fanatical worship for the young Frenchman.
 "The collapse of our champion in g seconds was not due to any particular method. French. English, or Chinese, but to the peculiar forces of nature that play so important a part in boxing contests.
 Insofar as the science of boxing Is concerned Wells has little to learn even from a Carpenter. but whereas the for mer is possessed of a highly nervous tem- perament, Georges is. on the contrary purely normal as regards his physical and mental gifts. What l mean by nor nal is in relation to t.ie athletes or Athenian and Spartan ages.
 "Those full-blooded beings knew not fear-that Is to say. their nervous sYs- tenn had not been ruined by the stress of modernization. Here were men who were pleased to fight each other with wea pons harder than boxing gloves, and glory in the reward of a simple wreath.
 Now. Billy Wells, presumably born Of town-folk, nd.4consequently obsessed by the nerves of those whose first step into life is effected amid nerve wraesing surroundings. must perforce inherit a sensitive system.
 Apart from that, Wells spent some time in the artillery, and l have it on sound authority, strengthened by personal observation and experience, that frequent contact with the roar of cannon occasions shattered nerves
 "A bombardier or gunner may. and does. get used to the discharge of artillery hut he remains unconscious of the fact that every report of a gun Is detrimental to his sensitive fibres. It is not universally known that Lord Roberts, whose military experiences should have made him a man of iron, is a mass of nerves when in presence of a cat.
 'This unaccountabe working of she brain in so hardened warrior is but one more of the phenomena of psychological forces. against which nothing can pre- vail Carpenter treats upon this ia sc,- mating subject in his book, and he is undoubtedly the first boxer to appreciate the value of the occult in it's relation to pugilism.
 "Carpentier was born of eountry-fo folk amid tranquil rural surroundings. He came Into this world just healthy son of healthy people. and therein lies much of Carpenters vigor and success. Out of healthy mind comes a healthy con ception of things. Even such lad as lstuOuN iN0o peat fotNnpn itttDllNl topiNS on the bright side of contest before he takes part in it. Apart from that he like all his countrymen, is endowed with that pride and determination to conquer that borders on fanticism when in the ring.
 "ro the French pug every international, or even national, boxing contest Is n ba tile in which he must accomplish deeds of valor. He must win at all costs. and although it is rather sad thing to say. his heartstrings seem stronger than those possessed by present day English boxers.
 "On the top of this comes a lack of the fighting spirit that made England what she is today. Training methods, too. are superior in France. where every boxer, from the veriest novice to George Car pentier, is subject to the most minute and scientific preparation for a contest.
 ITO sum up the principal points lack ing in our boxers are determination. rug gedness, greater variety while boxing, a weighty punch up-to-date training methods, and pride In their work and themselves.
 About all. confidence. which is one ot the principal factors of success in the ring. appears to be nullified by our men when facing a F'renchman. Things used to be the reevrse only three years ago.,