The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-12
GREEKS STARTED
Fighting GAME
Thesus, Son.of Aegus, King Of
Athens, Originated Boxing
$500 Years Ago.
SlDESTEPPED DUELING

New York, July 1.-THE boxing game
came into existence about $500 years ago
because Thesus. son of Aegus. King Of
Athens. had a wife and six kids and
didn't carry any life insurance.
! Thesus. so the story goes. got into an
argument one day with a Greek boot
black over the shining job performed
| by the bootblack on Thesus' shoes
! That's bum job" said Thesus, STEP
ping down from the stand.
"A good job-very good job" defended
| the bootblack.
well. / say it amt, and I also say
| that you don't get any dime from me,''
| answered Thesus. preparing to depart
The bootblack flew into a rage, rushed
| to a treasure box. extracted a pair Of
dirty gloves. and damned Thesus on the
law with them-a challenge for a duel.
Thesus probably would have spurned
the duellng offer and "coughed" up the
dime instead II Cleopatra Sweeney
hadn't entered the shoe shining parlor
at that very moment. Now it so hap
pened that Cleo was THE Girl in the
Red Tights" who was appearing night
ly in a musical comedy at the Athens
Opera House. And It also happened
that Thesus, unknown to his wife, was
buying wine, silk hosiery and jewelry
for Cleo. and telling her ever and anon
what brave guy he was.
Thesus. as we have said. would have
ducked the duelling challenge IL Miss
Sweeney hadn't horned in on the pro-
ceedings at the critical moment. But
Miss Sweeney did horn" inland she
saw Thesus being swatted with those
mittens. To have ducked the duelling
challenge would have "queered' Thesus
with THE Girl in the Red Tights" a
happening that Thesus didn want to
happen.
Therefore. Thesus swung on his heel.
assumed fearless attitude. handed the
bootblack his card. and said:
You're on. Tony. old kid; We battle
to a finish. I'll send my manager, Tom
ascus Jones. around to see you and we'll
frame up this here bout"
In those days duels were fought with
broadswords or battleaxes. Tho e were
the weapons Tony wanted to have used.
But Thesus baked. Thesus had wife
and six kids. as heretofore mentioned.
and wasn't carrying a dollars worth OF
life insurance. He had meant to take
out some insurance when he was mar
ried. but kept putting it off from time
to time bacause he claimed that the
high cost of living never left him enough
cash to prepare for dying.
"Looka here, you fellows" said The
sus on he day that the details of the
duel were being framed. "I'll go on with
this affair. but ] amt very keen about
this broadsword or battleaxe business.
It's rough stuff. A guy is liable 10 get
killed in such a duel
We'll. what about it, interposed the
manager of Tony. the bootblack.
Just this said Thesus. I've got
wife and six kids 1 amt carrying any
inI, Nf a
awful future they would have to face
II l got killed, because We amt got any
bank account. Can't we fight in some
other way?'
Hold up this affair a few minutes"
said Tonys manager Il want to confer
with my battler.'
Tony and his manager ambled to
corner. conferred for a few moments In
low tones. and then rejoined the group.
I'VE are prepared to listen to sugges-
tions for new and less brutal form of
fighting" said Tony's manager. TONY.
although willing to go on in broad
sword bout to finish, doesn't want to
force the issue. Tony. 1t seems. expects
to have his divorce suit granted next
month. and he isn't keen about risking
being killed before he can enjoy his free
doom once again.
IAN right, then. it's agreed that our
axes" said the manager of Thesus.
"Whatll they use?" queried Tony's
manager.
For a longtime there was silence. The
men were thinking. Suddenly Thesus
blurted out:
Eureka, Eureka (meaning I've con-
nected with the ideal.
Letter loose" demanded the others
"We'll fight with our fists. and victory
shall go to the first man who Is knocked
down." exclaimed Thesus. land we'll call
this method of fighting boxing.
Great idea, Great idea!' exclaimed
the rival managers.
Vera gooda schema" said Tony.
And so the boxing game was born.
p. S.-You needn't believe all the de-
tails In connection with the above story.
but you should believe the main fact
that Thesus. son of Argus, King OF
Athens. introduced the boxing game.