Evening star., 1927-11-29

tWlliam Ha2litt t77s-tS30 began az
PAINTER and ended with hecomlng r,s,rma-
ncpt name III English literature. He Is
chiefly famous as critic and for his essay.
and sketches
The fight was 10 be between the
yias-man, or Thomas Hickman, and
Bill Neate. The crowd was very
great when we arrived on the spot;
open carriages were coming up, with
streamers flying and music playing,
md the country people were poul ing
II over hedge and ditch in all direc-
lions, to see their hero beat or be
beaten. The odds were still on Gas,
but only about to 4. About 600
600 pounds were pending. Gas had
often presumed too much on himself
indeed, this spirited and formidable
young fellow seems to have taken for
his motto the old maximum that
there are three things necessary to
success in life-mipudenCe! lmpu-
dence! Impudence"'
II Is so in matters Of opinion, but
not in the world of pugilism, which
is the most practical of all things;
though even here confidence is half
the battle, but only half Our friend
had vapored and staggered too much,
as if he wanted to grin and bully his
adversary out of the fight.
This is the gravedigger, would
Tom Hickman. the Gas-man. cXclaim
in the moments of intoxication from
gin and success, showing his tremen
dous right hand. This will send many
of them to their long homes. I
haven't done with them yet"
Magnanimitv, my dear Tom, and
bravery should he inseparable. Why
should you go up 10 your antagonist.
the first time YOU ever saw him at
the Fives Court, and measuring him
from head to foot with a glance of
contempt, say to him: What, are
blood out of that great carcass of
thine, this day, than you ever
knocked out OF bullock's!" 1t was
not manly it was not fighter like.
The difference of weight between
the two combatants was nothing to
the sporting men---it was IA stone to
12-great, heavy, clumsy, long armed
Bill Neate kicked the beam in the
scale of the Gas,man's vanity. The
amateurs were frightened at his big
words, and thought that they would
make UP for the difference of six feet
and five feet nine. Truly, the fans
are not men of imagination. They
judge of what has been and cannot
conceive of anything that is to be.
The Gas-ma had won hitherto:
therefore he must beat "A man half as
big again as hmself~-and that to a
certainty.
The day was fine for December
morning. The grass was wet and
the ground miry and ploWed up with
multitudinous feet, except that with
in the ring itself there was spot of
I'll. tn
famed by vulgar tread that shone
with dazzling brightness in the mid
day sun. For ii was now noon and
we had an hour to wait This is the
trying time. 1t is then that the
heart sickens, as you think what the
two champions are about, and how
short time will determine their
fate.
The "swells" were parading in
their white box coats. the outer ring
was cleared with some bruises on
the heads and shins of the rustic as
sembly; the time drew near, | had
got a good stand. A hustle, a buzz
ran through the crowd. and from the
opposite side entered Neate between
his second and bottle holder. He
rolled along. swathed in his loose
greatcoat, his knock knees bending
under his huge bulk, ana. with
modest cheerful air, threw his hat
into the ring.
He then just looked around, and
began quietly to undress, when from
the other side there was similar
rush and an opening made. and the
Gas-man came forward with con-
scious air of anticipated triumph.
He strutted about more than becomes
a hero, sucked oranges with super
cilious air BY this time the two
had stripped and presented strong
contrast in appearance. Ii Neate
was like Ajax. Hickman might be
compared to Diomed, light. vigorous.
elastic. There was now dead pause
attention was awestruck. All was
ready. They tossed up for the sun,
and the Gas-m man won. They were
led up 10 the scratch" shook hands,
and went at 1t.
In the first round every one thought
it was all over. After making play
a short time. the Gas-man flew at his
adversary like tiger, struck five
blows in as many seconds-three
first, and then, following him as he
staggered back, two more, right and
left and down he fell, n mighty ruin.
Neate seemed like a lifeless lump of