Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17
BY j. ID. HUFHAM.

T pom a certain street in Wash
ington lives a man who re-
members more about horse
" racing, about fox hunting,
and about Cock-fghting, as
these sports used TO be in the Dis
trict than any other local citizen. An
ancestor of his bred a strain of game
chickens, the Eslin Red Quilts, and the
cocks of that strain were famous fight
ers throughout the country until the
sport was suppressed by law. The old
sportsman-he is now past fourscore
was asked the other day for story
about coCk-tightinE.
Look here" he said. Aren't you
afraid to be writing about cock fights?
It's against the law. YOU know, TO fight
chickens. and nowadays a man is
liable to be put in Jail for even talk
ing about it. The United States Min
lister to one of the South American
countries is home on furlough. He is
a good sportsman and | knew II there
| Is any cock -fighting in that country he
would have seen some, so / asked
him. NO was his answer, st is
against the law. AS a sport it is
banned in most of the civilized coun-
tries of the world now
but il was great sport in its
day" he continued. "and its devotees
numbered men famous in world his
tory. Gen. Sir Henry Havelock. the
Christian warrior. was said to have
been greatly attached to II while In
India. For my own part, / have never
seen the reformer's viewpoint. Who is
there who does not admire courage
and hate a coward. and where do you
find a better show of courage than in
the gamecock that will fight to the
last gasp of his breath? The game
cock only does what is his nature to
do when he fights; and he would fight
were he left entirely TO himself. Put
ting gaffs on him is an advantage be-
cause ii shortens the contest.
You can believe me. young man,
when l tell you that the generation
,, which approved cock fighting was not
a brutal one. It's men gambled. per-
haps; and they drank ardent spirits;
and they foX-hunted and raced horses.
but they were brave men when they
came to act, and they hated a lie. and
! the life of scanda1-monger among
them was as brief as a Winter day.
= x X *
"THERE are some phrases still cur
rent which show the popularity
cock fighting once had. I am game
says a person who undertakes some
thing difficult; cock of the walk'-su-
premacy: 'heeled'-have the gaffs on
and ready to fight; 'pitted-a contest
as of two cocks in a pit; can't stand
the gaff--punishmen too severe for
opposing courage; 'blackleg," Of indif-
ferent breeding, as cock indicates
breeding by his legs.
Theodore Roosevelt made popular
phrase that originated around the
| cock pit: Hat in the ring In Eng
land 1t was the custom If a person de-
sired to bet 10 pounds to a crown
while a fight was going on he could
do SO by simply throwing his hat,
glove or handkerchief into the pit. 1t
was not necessary to say anything.
for the act was understood. and the
teller began Immediately to tell off
40 deliberately: after which he cried,
! Ten pounds to crown is offered.
VIII anybody take it? VIII anybody
, take it?'
acceptance might be made by
throwing a hat, glove or handkerchief
into the pit II no acceptance, vic
tory went to the cock upon which the
odds We're offered.
"A cock was dubbed when his
comb and wattles were trimmed for
fighting. These phrases occur to me
offhand. There are, no doubt, others.
Being young man, perhaps you
like a little romance to sweeten your
stories. SO I'll tell you about the last
and most famous cock-fight in which
people of any prominence socially I'm
North Carolina had a part. Fifty
years ago-that is a long time, isn't
it, yet il doesn't seem so long ago to
me-cock fighting as a sport was al
ready Oh its last legs i'll the Tar STATE