Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1888 — Pugllism. [ARTICLE]

Pugllism.

Thero appears to be just now a revival of pugilism, or what has been humorously styled the “pummelogicol” profession, which may, perhaps, be called the most fruitful of all professions. Slugger Sullivan, the idol of Boston, and who, in one sense of the word, is “the greatest Roman of the maul,” has gone to England, where ho is creating an immense sensation among the aristocracy. The object of his visit to England is to knook out a man by the name of Bmitb, but a great many people in this country would be highly gratified if all the Wraiths in England would rise as one man and knock out Sullivan so effectually that ho would never come back. We are, nevertheless, compelled to recognize the fact that a great many people who denounce the press for publishing the details of prize fights, usually carry a copy of the obnoxious journal in their coat-tail pockets, for some unknown purpose. It is also a singular fact that they are always ready to bet on one or the other of the pugilists. To an unprejudiced outsider, it would seem that although sluggers lose ground in a contest, fo* lack of wind, none of them lack wind before the match comes off. In the reports of the fight, we frequently read that one of the combatants “knocked the wind" out of the other. If th : s feat is really accomplished, it is certainly one of.the greatest honor to the profession, particularly if we take into consideration what a tremendous amount of wind the pugilists develop for months before the fight. While we cannot too strongly deprecate brutal sluggers pounding each other to a pulp, £nd fully realize what a disgrace it is to&ivilization and the nineteenth century, still, if there is to be an international contest between Sullivan and Smith, the English champion, we do hope and pray, now that we come to think of it, that our man will do up the Englishman in fine atyle. —Texas Siftings.