COCK-FIGHTS IN PARIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue IX, 26 August 1899, Page 16

COCK-FIGHTS IN PARIS.

About a month ago. says “Eashion.” a great cock-fight meeting ..as held in I aris shortly after midnight, and nearly all rhe young “bloods” of the capital were present to witness tin* more important of the five or sixcontests. Since then no fewer than three more gatherings of the s.inr* sort have been held in fashionable parts of Paris, and one or two in rhe neighbourhood of what was not long ago the famous Bal Bullier. and now I am informed upon the best authority that rather a notorious Frenchman, who was in a great measure instrumental in organizing the Fren ch cork fights, islpreparing a. cock pit in a locality situated not fifty miles from Piccadilly. and that he proudly boasts that very soon “the whole of the English aristocracy” will honour his new “cercle” with their preseme, Cerra in it is that the individual in qutstioi. owns eight of the best fighting cocks of the <lay. from which statement my readers will gather that this new cock, fighting enthusiast is himself a breeder of game cocks. lie declares, indeed. that the popularity of “ce sport splendide” declined in England half a century ago solely owing to the dearth of well-trained game cocks in Great Britain at about that period: in other words, he insinuates ‘hat it he had been a professional breeder of

game fowls when the bill for the suppression of cock fighting became .1 law. this odious form of pastime would have remained in vogue in spite of all legislative opposition. As a fact, cock fighting has been indulged in in London during the last eight or ten years to a much greate;extent than any person unacquainted with what is commonly termed “the

run of things’* would deem possible in these days of vigilance committees and prying associations, a fact which helps to prove of what very little practical use t h.-se governing bodies are. The last exhibition of the sort that I witnessed in England took j lai« in a cellar in the city, and perhaps it is superfluous for me to add that nearly all the men interested in it were men

either directly or indirectly connected with the Stock Exchange. The sums of money which ehanged hands upon that occasion were. I remember, enormous. One young fellow lost during the course of the first hour -lose upon £7OO. but he won it all Lack again before the night was out, and a. good deal more besides. 1 discovered subsequently that- this young man was the eldest son of one of the most respected and respectable bill discounters of the day. and since that time this promising scion of a wealthy house has compounded with !::s creditors—but that is a lietail. It is not onlv in the citv. however, that cock fight meetings are held. 1 could conduct thU* inquisitive sightseer to a cosy little resort within walking distance of the Haymarket, where certnly once or twice a month cock fights as well as dog fights, and not infrequently man lights, can be watched until the spectator in whose breast the milk of human kindness has not

entirely evaporated sickens al the sight. 1 have witnessed cock tights in various parts of the xvoHd. notably in London, in New York. in San Francisco, and in Hongkong, and. far from gradually growing to delight ii. cock fighting, as al true votaries of the pastime declare that the novice is bound to do. T. personally, have grown to dislike it more and more.