BURNS AND SQUIRES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 4 September 1908, Page 2

BURNS AND SQUIRES.

We hear so much of license in Americr. that it is a little disconcerting to find that Sydney calmly permitted a prize-fight to take place in a fashionable suburb. In America the bruisers have been driven from State to State; but in New South Wales there is no bother. Only the Superintendent of Police steps in quaintly to forbid the continuance of the fight—after the fight has finished. Personally,".-when I read of the crowds j that flock to witness, an exhibition of i this kind, I lose some of my faith in humanity. I hate these lapses to barbarism, these orgies of grime and blood. Tho account of this 'fight was a thing to turn the stomach. Mind you, I have nothing a-t all to say against boxing, when it is regarded as an athletic exercis.?. And 1 have no objection to a fight, whenever it is necessary. But boxing for exercise can be carried on under decent conditions. This business of Burns and Squires was an altogether different sort of thing. These two.vulgar persons, neither of whom one could dream of introducing one's sister to, stand up and savagely pummel each other. They gasp" and glare. Soon they aro horribly bespattered and besmeared with blood. And still they gasp and pummell each other, till in tho end one is knocked out and loses the power to pummell for a sna:e. This lovely spectacle is witnessed and applauded by thousands of enthusiastic Christians, all of whom shudder at the baro idea of the gladiatorial shows in ancient Rome. Now I can easily imagine that there might be something horribly picturesque, in the spectacle of a noble beast slaying a plump Christian; hut the spectacle of two tolerated ruffians punching each other moves in me nothing but a shuddering disgust. Such exhibitions are essentially degrading and dehumanising. Boxing is a sport for private gymnasia It should not be tolerated in public by any community that pretends to be civilised. I know'quite-well that such spectacles in New Zealand are -frequently sanctioned by the patronage and presence of Lord Plimket. Tho "lest. Lord Plunket he! ''- ..;; ~; - ; : : :-