The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-19
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

color blind. neither did I wear blinkers.
 But as is my habit. during the reunion walked the streets with open eyes and poked my nose into many places where soldiers were gathered, and I still stick to It, that, taken as a whole, it was as fine body of self-respecting chaps as over foregathered in Birmingham. But some one asked if I went to this place or that, and most particularly to the boxing contests at Redwood Park did, and l saw nothing that was ques- tionable in any way that is provided one believes as l do that our boys ought to take an interest in sparring exhibi- tions and learn the manly art of self defense, and that few bloody noses and bruised faces need not be classed as hibited.
 Preacher or no preacher, I have two boys, and several years back when they got bit of size on them I caught them boxing gloves and taught them what 1 knew about the game. l am thankful that in my young manhood I was an ac- tive member of the Birmingham Athletic Club, and had on the gloves in many a friendly bout with the local scrappers. l have always avoided fights, but it is a satisfaction to know if attacked I could give decent account of myself, taking age and weight into consideration.
 
 I am not in favor of professional prize fights; too many of them are framed, and have little sympathy for the aver age bruiser who makes his living in the ,ring. Many of the noted ones have lived on mighty low plane, though every now and then there has been an exception. | have seen some of the famous pug,ns,sc stars. I'll never forget seeing John L. Sullivan on his return trip. when he went up against IKilrain. It was a maudlin ex- hibition, but I was glad later to see him had cut out booze.
 I would line up against any effort to legalize prize fights in Alabama, yet on the other hand I would not oppose a reasonable boxing bill, but would lend it my support The war taught us the need of having men trained in every pos sible way to meet the strains put upon their physical stamina. I was in hearty sympathy with the attention paid to Cox ing contests in the army camps. It made for manlness >and should be encour- aged in peace times
 We southerners have been too quick to use a knife or a gun when affronted and too little given to resenting insults with our fists. Now I am not advocating fighting, but do say it's much better to be able to stand up like man and if need be take some punishment at the hands of stronger man than to pull knife or draw pistol and seek to take life for trivial causes
 l I'll admit it is not pleasant sensation to be beat up, for know it's discomforts, | having once in my life got by far the worst end of a fight with tough near | the ball grounds in St. Lotus. It is true that I was but lad, and it was man WHO ulu It, put 1 11ldQe the InlStdhe Ol hitting him because he called me liar. I knew in few minutes that had acted | too hastily, for the crowd formed a ring | and left it to us. didn't have a ghost | of show and he got by long odds the l best of it. All I had to console myself with was that to the best of my lights l I had upheld the south and had not | sauealed.
 1 It was pretty bitter lesson for young l fellow. but it was worth a whole lot to
 me in after life, for I learned that a
 man could be a conservationist in fight | ing just as in any other thing, and that with little diplomacy it was possible i to side step a row, and particularly was ir good judgment to do so if one was hopelessly outclassed. My experience
 when in a strange city and without a
 to pass up many chances of getting into 1 difficulty.
 | There is no place in the civilized world where human life has been held as
 cheaply among gentlemen as in the south. and this unhappy situation was rooted l in the belief that it was more gentle
 manly to cut or shoot than to use ones /! fists. I am not speaking of duelling,
 
 passing: but I mean the alacrity with which men of breeding and standing make harmless disputes the occasion of
 taking one anothers lives
 l Say what you please about the English,
 but they have mighty good way of set l tling their differences by the use of their l fists I have seen many a pretty street l fight in London Their way of doing things is far safer to the innocent by | stander, for passers-by or lookers-on are
 not in peril of their lives from stray
 shots But over here in, this climate.
 when two gentlemen start something, 1t i behooves those who believe in safety first | to hunt 'kiver.' for many an innocent
 v;ctim has been killed or wounded owing
 to the bad shooting of the combatants. | On two occasions since returning to
 live here in 1902 have been in the down. i town district with my wife when pistol
 duels were pulled off on the streets. 1 have seen quite a number of shots fred
 but knowing the danger I have not hesi- tated to dodge behind a telegraph post.
 make myself flat against a wall or hide ] in a doorway until the battle was over. <, While I am or this subject I might give 1t as my opinion that our officers are i, by far too careless in the use of nre
 arms within the city limits.
 1 It's funny admission for me to make.
 but there isn't anything quite so excir
 tng as street fight It is the best crowd | drawer I know. This is why I have ai- friend of mine who went to Europe and | a frt ~