The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-10
QUEENSREIsRK FAMILY
 HAS LONG BEEN
 PROMINENT IN PUGILISM


 Modern boxing is often called .'the Queensberry game because of the connection of the eighth Marquis of Queensberry with the formulation of the rules which now govern ring con tests Next year will mark the semi centenary Of the introduction of the Queensberry rules as also the cen tennia1 of the first regular ring bat tie in America. John G. Chambers was really the author of that famous set of rules, but they were attributed to the marquis because in those days no sporting project could succeed without noble patronage.
 The Marquis of Queensberry was not the first of his family to be in terested in boxing. for almost since the beginning of the game the sport ha had among it's supporters a mem be of that famous old Scottish clan. The first of the Queensberry after celebrated in sporting history as ssOld A biography of ssOld O. would make bulky and mighty spicy volume, for it was said of him that The loved virtue in every form but the feminine.' and his mysterious house in Picadilly was said to have been veritable. den of gilded iniquity.
 'tOld O. was born in 1725, and he lived in a period which was fast and free as to morals. and when even the palaces of princes were little better than harems. In addition to his de- votion to boxing, tsOld e. was pas sionateIy fond of racing. dog fighting and other sports. He was an invet- crate gambler. and. in the frequent quarrels which grew out of his games he was always ready to defend his "honor'' with pistols or swords. One of the best of the stories about "O1d O. deals with a. duel which he did not fight It was June 10, 1750, just 165 years ago today, that this amusing incident occurred. He got into a quarrel with an Irish race horse owner, about some turf ques- ton, and challenged the Hibernian to fight a. duel. Early on the June morning the men and their seconds met at the appointed place. To the great surprise of the earPs party .sO1d O. was then Earl of March l the Irishman was preceded by a man carrying a black of gloomy looking coffin. Gazing curiously at the coffin the earl read this inscription; Flames oug1as, Earl of March, Born Nov. 5, 1725, died June 10, 1750.''
 Ghast1y pale. the earl inquired of | the Irishman the meaning of such an inscription. and the latter replied l Why, my dear man, you perhaps | know that I am a crack shot and never miss my man and, as I find | myself in excellent form this morning for a. bit of sport, I have not the shadow of a doubt that you will have need for this oaken chest inside ot I ten ninutes.''
 Never before had anybody got the earPs goat but the grim coffin was l too much for his nerve and he ten dered ample apology, called of 1 the duel, and invited the Irishman tc l his home for breakfast.
 "Old e. lived to a hearty old age and was the patron and packer o1 | many of the foremost pugilists of his time He was always ready to bacI any man who showed ability in any 1 Iine whether a pugilist or a poet
 and it was said of him that eff z
 man had talent or genius of any kind and was not too proud to acknowl
 edge a patron, he was sure to fint a generous and discriminating, bu not exacting one, in Old O." H. was a vicious old scamp. but many
 an honest and honorable man hal lcause to thank hiEe