South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-07
BOXING STARTED
BECAUSE HUBBY
KICKED ON SHINE
Long Years Ago Bootblack In
suited Citizen Who Objected
to BrOadSWordS and Axes
and Fists Were Used Instead.

NEW YORK. July The boxing
game came into existence about 100
years ago because Thesus son of
Aesus. kiue of Athens. had wife
and siX kids and didn't carry any life
insurance.
Thesus. SO the story goes, got into
On argument one day with Creek
hOotblack over the shining job per
formed by the boot5lack on Thesus'
shoes
That's. oum job" said Thesus,
stepping down from the stand
"A good job-very good job de-
Tended the bOOtblack.
Wei. j say il amt. and I also say
thaf YOU don't get any dime from
me" answered Thesus, preparing To
depart
The bOOtblack flew into rage,
rushed To treasure box. extracted
pair of dirty gloves and damned The
sus on the jaw with them challenge
FOR a duel.
Thesus probably would have spurn-
ed the duelling offer and "cOughed
up the dime instead, If Cleopatra
Sweeney hadn't entered the shoe shin
ing parlor at that very moment. Now
it SO happened that cleo was The
Girl i'm the Red Tights who was ap-
pcaring nightly i'm 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 tell
ing her ever and anon what brave
guy ne was.
Thesus. as we have said, would have
duciSed the dueIliug challenge If Miss
Sweeney hadn't horned i'm on the
proceedings at the critical moment.
Bat Miss Sweeney did horn" in
and she saw ThesuS being sWattcd
Il tn a 20 an
the duelhng challenge would have
"queeged' Thesus with The Girl in
the Red Tights. "a happening that
Thcsus didn't want 90 happen.
Therefore. Thesus swung ON his
heel. assumed fearless attitude.
handed the bootolack his card, and
said
you're on. Tony. old kid; we battle
10 a finish IU send my manager.
Tomascus Jones. around 10 see you
and wen frame up this here bout"
Tn those days duels were fought
with 5r5adswnrds or battle axes
Those were the weapons Tony wanted
to have used But ThesUs baked.
Thesus had a wife and six kids as
heretofore mentioned and wasn't car
rying a dollars worth of life insur-
ance. He had meant to take out some
insur lnce when ne was married but
kept putting II off from time 20 time
because he claimed that the high cost
of living never left him enough cash
10 prepare for dying.
'Looka here. YOU fellows" said
Thesus. on the day that the details
OF the duel were being framed, III
go on with this affair but / amt very
keen about this broadswOrd or battle
axe business. It's rough stuff. guy
Is liable 10 get killed in such duel"
We'll what about it?" interposed
the manager of Tony. the boOtblack.
Just this" said Thesus. I've
got "a wife and six kids. I amt carry
ing any life insurance and l hate 10
think of the awful future they would
have to face if / got killed, because
we amt cot any bank account. Can't
we fight in some other way?'
Hold up this affair a few minutes, -
said Tony's managed Il want to con-
fer with my bSttlsr'
Tony and his manager ambled to a
corner. conferred for few moments
in low tones, and then rejoined the
gro up.
I'VE are prepared TO listen TO sug-
gestiOns for q new and less brutal
form OF fighting" said Tony'S man.
ager. Tony. although willing to 80
on in n broadsword bout 10 a finish
doesn't want to force the issue. Tony.
it seems. expects to have his divorce
suit granted next month and he isn't
he can enjoy his freedom once again.
.All right then it's agreed that our
men won't use broadswords or battle
axes" said the manager of Thesus.
''What'u they use o." queried Tony s
manager.
For "a long time there was silence.
The men were thinking. suddenly
Thesus hlurtCd out.
Eureka. Eureka" tmeanine I've
connected with the idea)
Let 'er loose demanded the 9TH
ers
wen fight WITH our fists. and VIC
tory shall go 20 the trst man who is
knocked down exclaimed Thesus
Ind Wen call this method of fighting
boxing"
Great idea, Great idea" eNclaim-
ed the rival MANAGERS.
Vera goOda schema said Tony.
And SO the boxing game was born.
p S-You needn't believe all the
details in connection with the above
story. hut YOU should believe the main
fact-that Thesus. son of Aegus. kine
OF Athens. introduced the boNine
game
HAMILTON RESIGNS.