Year: 1867




without embarrassment, and II was evi.
dent from the recognition which passed
between them and others, that they we're
habitues Of the place The ushers, too,
were females, while presiding at each
aisle which let the audience within, stood.
sergeants de vile, in their cooked hats
and swords, aping, as is the fashion with
all this class in France, the sphynx.like
gravity and bearing of the Emperor.


While yet puzzling myself with the
unexpected composition Of the company,
very gentlemanly person in full even
ing dress, stepped into the arena and
proclaimed the opening Of the perform
ance, in the shape Of combat between
Monsieur st. Marier and Monsieur Pau
dine. Immediately upon the announce.
ment, two men, with the exception of
narrow breechcloths, were entirely
naked, entered the ring and made their
obeisance to the audience. There was
no reception given them no demonstra-
ton or expression Of any sort. There
was merely lively evidence Of curiosi-
ty, as the company scrutinized their
points, similar to what is exhibited by
spectators on race course, when
the horses are brought out to start.


The men walked around the ring for
two or three minutes, basking in the
public admiration, then facing each
other, quickly rushed together and made
a succession of rapid efforts to heave
each other down. Their style Of wrest
ling is entirely different from ours, the
combatanls not being allowed to take
hold below the waist, while any use Of
the legs for the purpose Of trip is rigo-
rously ruled foul, The result Of this
style is consequently development of
main strength rather than of science, for
the whole man must be either lifted by
"lock," which may be taken around the
chest or neck. or be wrenched down to
the earth by superior force. Every mus
Gle of the man is thus brought into play,
and whatever there is of power in the
human frame must come TO the surface
for the study of the loOker-on. AS the
gIadiators strove together you could, at
times, hear their very joints crack within
them, and it was not unusual to see one
of them thrown feet upward in the air,
for an apparently inevitable landing on
the head. By great adroitness, however,
the combatant thus handled generally
managed to squirm in his descent
so as to strike. the ground OBJ
liquely, and then by quick use of his
feet to prevent himselffrom being turned
upon the back. To be cast in that way
constitutes throw; bnt it must be fair
and square, and prone upon the back
for its whole length, and not simply a
mere touching OF the shoulders, to be
conclusive. When o contest was thus
brought to termination, the audience
would reward the conqueror by light
clapping of hands, much in the style of
other applause, and if both were deemed
to have acquitted themselves remark
ably well, victor and vanquished would
be called back for repetition of their
appreciation. We soon took deep in
terest in these contests. They were
evidently honest struggles; and as the
size of the combatants enlarged with
every new couple, there was a CORES
ponding growth to our excitement. The
fourth combat was between very hir-
suite Ajax of the name Of Gascoigne and
negro of deep chocolate color, who
was announced as Monsieur James, The
former was one of the ugliest men
extant, but the latter was the finest
specimen of physical beauty l have ever
seen either in life or marble. He stood
full six feet high, and had that wedge
like form from his shoulders down, which
distinguishes the Apollo Belvidere. He
was without fault from crown to
toe, and his head and neck were car
ried with Roman dignity. Even
his features were regular, being free from
the offensive central protrusion of the
negro facial angle, and it was with diff
Guilty l could persuade myself he was not
a Moor. Nevertheless | was assured he
was a negro, hailing from Philadelphia
A buzz of admiration went through the
house as this fellow walked around the
ring in conscious grandeur. 1t was evi-
dent that he was favorite; and it wes
clear, also, that his ill-favored antagonist
recognized that fact by yielding him
plenty of time for his conceit A keen
observer, however, who studied the hairy
monster closely, might have detected on
his lips a lurking sneeB, which seemed to
say. ''Oh, take your fll of this black
beauty now, but l shall be thought the
best looking man of the two when the
combat is overl" 1t proved to be so, for
the negro was vanquished after long
and desperate struggle. Nevertheless,
when he was called back after the ova-
ton which justice was obliged to render
to the ugly victor, he was pampered with
much the largest share of the applause