The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-13
ONE OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS

Say and think what we will about prlze-flghtlng,
we cannot deny it's persistent hold On the Anglo
Saxon imagination. 1t still is able TO make and I'M
make popular heroes The late John l.. Sullivan
was long the most secure title to fame Of the city of
Boston, He freshencd the fading lalrels Of men like
Oliver Wendell Holmes. During his unbeaten prime,
Sullivan could point to nearly every test and proof
of a national reputation. No one could draw big
ger crowd or evoke wilder cheering. The exploits
and the way of life Of no citizen were more eagerly
pored over by newspaper readers. 'John L. was
national figure in special and pettcd sense that
was never true of John d. Even after Sullivan
lost the championship and passed from the prizerng,
he somehow remained cnshrlned in the affections OF
his colntrymen. The tradition Of him cherished.
Other prize-fighters came and went, but none was
ever able to wear the peculiar aureoe of John l..
Sullivan. None ever will be-
The reason of his unique fame lay partly, no
doubt in his personal qualities. He was captivat-
ingly Irish. But the period Of his great repute was
significant. 1t was the time when the professional
prize-fighter was beginning to go out. Legislators
began to frown upon him. His occupation was more
and more outlawed. Social reformers worked
against him. The brutality and the venality Of the
prize-ring became offensive. The movement to abol-
sh it was plainly part Of the movement against per-
nicous forms Of gambling. Sullivan lived to lament
the tender grace Of the przering in day that was
dead. He was, in way, survivor Of the dimmed
glory lie was the last Of the giants. It was his good
fortune to flourish before the old traditions Of prize
fighting had begun to decay. Sixty years ago, a
literary artist like Thackeray could write Of Heenan
and Savers with no scruple of fastdousness Thack-
cray generation had left off the zest of going to
criminals hanged but still went to the Yorkshire
Pet punme the Middle-sex Bantam. The joy in cruel
spectacles slowly died. As we say John l.. Sullivan
was fortunate in that his life fell early in the trans
ton stage Washington Irving said that he and
Willis and IIaleck and the others were lucky in
being born early in the history of American litera
tlre. Sullivan had a similar luck.
Most educated people, we suppose, feel kind Of
shame in berayng interest in the passing Of john l..
Sullivan Why should they? He was an outstand-
ing social phenomenon of his time. Like any other
big fact, he is to be studied explained, if pos
sble. There is question a. all that, in his time he
was of the most distinguished citizens Of the
United States. Even at his death, an expresidcn Of
the United States is asked as an admrer and kin
bred spirit to be of Sullivan's pallbearers It
cannot be maintained that man of such note is
beneath the attention Of the student of politics and
the social philosopher. In his rise and eclipse
whole moral epoch gets sort Of summing up.
. In the long English tradition Of fighting with
fists there were two strands. One was that of the
paid professional. But he has become more and
more brutazed and suspected. The other strand was
that Of the gentleman expert in sefdefence In fc-
ton he is the quiet stranger who beats the burly
ruffian at his own game, and leaves him knocked
down in pool Of his own blood Bulwer gave us
elegantly this kind Of fstic hero Eggleston gave
him to us with pioneer roughness in the s'Hoosier
Schoolmaster. And our point is that the gentle
manly strain bids fair to survive long after the pro-
fessional przeghter has fallen under the legal and
social BIN The prize-ring is disappearing, but the
boxing school flourishes Exercise the hardening Of
the muscles, the development of Stole ability to
"take punishment even valuable physical re-
source in an emergency-for these benefits and
others the gloved combat will doubtless long have
vogue. But brute fighting for money is going In
this sense, the gentleman getting the better Of the
bruiser.-New York Post