New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-11

By ST san tOPSE1.
| arrived in New York City on Tues
day morning on the rescue ship Phlla-
delphia after an exciting voyage, and
spent the forenoon in getting through
my lengthy but welcome correspond
ence. When some one suggested to
me. later in the day. that ! attend the
prizefcht TO be held that night in
Madison Square Garden. ! exclaimed,
impulsively. "Oh. no, II is impossible!
Why. do YOU know | have just come
out of England because | am so much
interested in the peace movement,
now being initiated? How could | go
10 a prizefight?'
Saw an Opportunity.
Then. as in a flash, saw in this
a golden opportunity to be able to
speak al first hand about something |
had never before seen. ] realized that
it was chance TO tell OF scientific
fight that men so glorificd in. in CON
nection with my ideals of peace that
men should glory in.
So ! mastered my repulsion and con-
scented 30 go. For | believe one should
see and know a. much as possible
Of both sides Of a question. At the
appointed hour ! sailed forth on a
never-to be forgotten expedition.
| found the street IN the nelghbor-
hood of Madison Square Garden packed
with men ready TO enter the huge
building. and | was almost tempted
al the eleventh hour to back out Of
my undertaking. But again | felt, II
il was a public show, it ought to be fit
for men and women, equally, to enter.
So into the vast structure | went.
and found II crowded from floor TO
ceiling with men of all sorts and con-
ditions. saw a few, but very few,
women among the throng, and one
iet that they had gone there not for
their own pleasure but rather to
please their companions.
Ny entrance had apparently been
well timed, for had no sooner sat
down than the first bout" | believe
the term Isl began. The audience
smoked and clapped and shouted itself
hoarsc, as its own special favorite
struck his opponent an exceedingly
forceful blow.
Need of an Uplift.
Yet at first il seemed to me nothing
more than an exhibition of wrestling,
till the shoulders of the lighters got
Yedder and redder and their attacks
more vicious and vicious.
| did not watch the game closely,
as ! did not in the least understand
the strokes, but | glanced az the box
ers occasionally as they came on, each
set in his turn. Then ! would look
around at the huge, glazing, snarling,
revolving spectacle OF masculine pleas
ure at such scene.
One felt that there was indeed much
70 be done before the mems minds
could be brought 10 higher plane of
thought. Did one Of the many thou
sands there assembled go away feeling
happier OF uDlifted from what he had
beheld, | wonder?
could not help thinking, and my
thoughts followed single line. If each
man had paid even one-half OF the
price he had given for mis- seat what
a splendid Offering ! could have given
TO the peace party. And what a de-
lightfully intellectual treat | could have
furnished them. They could have
heard some Of the best orators in the
world speak on the great and growing
question oi the peace Of all nations.
And get, ii one organized such a
meeting, with seats and ever so much
more comfortable az half the price
paid for the prizetght, one would not
ge, half that audience present. They
would either be much too busy or be
too short Of cash 70 go. How well one
knows the excuses that can be made at
such times.
Ny ideals for men are that they
should be manly and should be willing
TO fight 10 the end for a principle and
/ for what is right and just. What glcry
there is in such fight, cost what il
may. 20 the victor!
Sports Of all healthy kinds love,
NJ il always gives me great JOY TO see
men using their strength 20 obtain the
coveted goal. But what goal vas OBJ
tanned on Tuesday night | fail TO see.
IL was a scene OF depravity from be
ginning 10 end, from the first man that
entered the Garden and paid his dollar
20 the last who parted with ten times
that sum 20 be nearer the ringside that
he might see the bouts" the better.
! Another fight was announced by a