Evening Post. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1914. GLADIATORIAL SPORT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 22, 25 July 1914, Page 6

Evening Post. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1914. GLADIATORIAL SPORT

Throughout the civilised world there is a 'remarkable increase in the "athletic spirit" that expresses itself by watching the athletics of other people. A nation of athletes hardly exists anywhere, but everywhere there are crowds of lookerson ; and tho greater the element of "stoush," the more numerous they ai'e. That this is so is proved by tho fees which successful gladiators can command. Of these, boxing has supplied several widely-quoted examples, and only the other day it was cabled from backward Spain that a famous toreador has contracted for the bull-fighting season at a fee of £21.000. About the same time it was announced that one of the bullfighters had met death in the arena at the horns of the bull, which fact may partly explain the toreador's princely remuneration. Despite all pacifist sentiment and cultural advance, a brutal display can still claim its crowds and its victims much as in the days of the Romans; and tho tendency of the mass to congregate and . watch a few gladiators appears to be ineradicable. One *>f the latest phases of this trend of public taste and habit is the invasion of the boxing halls by women. They not only go to sec the show, but to worship the principals, to such a degree that tho "pug." is now a competitor with the stage hero. "Carpentier,'' says the Daily Mail, "is' like a romantic actor; he draws feminine audiences in a manner surpassing that of a comedian or a stage cynic." Carpentier in this pose irresistibly recalls the successful gladiator and the ladies of pagan Borne, of whom it is written: "Hard as was the gladiator's lot— so hard that special precautions bad to ht taken to prevent suicide— it had its consolations. A successful gladiator . . . was presented with broad pieces , . . poets like Martial sang his prowess*; his portrait was multiplied on vases, lamps, and gems; and high-born lad Jus contended for his favours." So evidently Carpentier and his admirers, if not in the direct line of succession, nevertheless link us up with an age that did not die, but merely slumbered, to awake again at intervals all down the ages. In the professional iff not in the brutal phases, modern boxing will hold its own with any of the ancient games that became businesses, and League football _ seems to be not very far behind. Consider the business Bide of the League season in New South Wales. " Up to the end of June it was calculated that the takings 1 of the League, swelled by the visit of the English team, were £18,450, or only £1138 behind last year's total; although, at the time this calculation was made, barely half tho season had been completed. It is estimated that the total takings- for the 1914 season will be not less than £27,000. As to the earnings of players, recently published figures go to show that for four matches against England a New South Wales Leaguer would receive £37, apart from allowances from his own club, A player who won a place-kicking competition ia credited with having earned £16 5s in one match. This, of course, is but a fraction of the big boxer's remuneration, but an individual player in a League football match is only one-twentysixth of the show. The figures are large enough to explain the march ot" professionalism, but — it is to be hoped-vnot big enough to divcit from the amateur status asy of the All .Blacks now in Australia. In ordinary ciitfamatanccß, *

player is mastor of his own conduct and may relinquish amateurism if he wishes ; and though lovers of unpaid sport may regret his action, they find it no ground for personal criticism. But if any All Black were to cross the ford in tho course of the present tour, his position would bo entirely different, and tho individual as well as the tendency would justly come within the scope of censure. For that reason, as well' as on general grounds, New Zealanders have welcomed the denial of the cabled rumour concerning the intentions of three members of iho team. Even if the touv is entirely successful from the playing point of view, an anti-climax such as a migration t(j the professional co^e would deprive the 1914 All Blacks of half their glory.