Pugilism and Pugilists
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PUGILISM AND PUGILISTS.
It does one good and makes one feel stout to read the published account in the fighting men's favorite "organ," of John Morrissey's1 scientific "training" at Lansingburg, prior to his great mill with John C. Heenan,2 on the 20th of October next, in Canada, for the championship of America.
Morrissey is an Irish American, in the full flush of early manhood, stout as a bull, with muscles of steel, in perfect health, and troubled with no particular brains, to speak of. His opponent is twenty-five years of age, a native of this State, and not as well known to fame as his competitor. The anticipated contest excites the greatest interest among the sporting fraternity and doubtless a large amount of money will exchange hands when the result is known.
The description of Morrissey's training is unique. We should like to extract it entire, but it is too long for us. Morrissey commences the day by taking a nice little walk of nine or ten miles, ending with a "half-mile run." He is then rubbed down by his trainers, as if he were a horse, after which he tumbles into bed and takes a good sweat between blankets. He then takes another rub-down and "fights the bag," swings the dumb-bells, etc., till one o'clock. Dinner comes next, when he eats slowly and not too much, drinking a glass or two of good old sherry. This is his principal meal, as at breakfast a mutton chop or an egg suffices him. After dinner he rests an hour and then starts afresh in his task of developing muscle. Walks, dumb-bell exercise and the like, are systematically arranged, and after six o'clock he takes a light supper, consisting of a young chicken or something equally digestible and nourishing; then, after an interval of rest, indulges in a boating expedition, always attended by his trainers, who never leave him during the day. At 8 P. Mr. Morrissey betakes himself to his slumbers, and after enjoying a good portion of the "balmy," rises at 5 to take his cold bath, his rubbing, his walks, his chops, his wine or ale (always in moderation) and his chicken, as on the preceeding day.
Under this regimen Morrissey has decreased in weight from 205 to 197 pounds in three weeks. All superfluous flesh has disappeared, his muscles are like iron and his whole frame is in perfect working order.
None can entertain a more profound aversion for the brutalizing exhibitions known as "prize fights" than we do, but we maintain that much may be learned from the perfect system of physical training and development practised by their professors and amateurs. The pugilistic spirit seems to be on the increase in this country, and the art has its teachers in plenty besides innumerable exhibitions, sparing matches, etc., more or less secret. Possibly this may have been owing to the fact that the practice is punishable by law in the United States and the disfavor with which the powers that be regard it may have added piquancy to the favorite indulgence of the "sporters." However, if it serve in any way to awaken our people to a proper sense of the utility, the importance and the beauty of a full developmentdevelopement of the physical man, only to be obtained by systematic exercise, judicious and regular diet and the like, then it will effect a good that will more than overbalance what there is evil in it. Here, in this young, vigorous country we want no spoonies and milksops—better have a little too much of the animal physique, with its accompanying propensities, than be narrow in the chest, shaky in the legs and pusillanimous in self-defence and self-assertion!