The "Slugging"-Match.

"A first-class professional fight!"                 I'm really doing the town!             There were thousands on thousands to-night                 To see a man knock a man down.             Two dollars I willingly (?) paid                 To view all this muscle and brawn;             'Twas rather too much, I'm afraid,                 Or seemed so, the minute 'twas gone.                          *             *             *             *             *             And yet 'tis a study to see                 The rage gladiatorial of Rome             And grim Spanish bull-baiting glee                 Adopt an American home!             That blood-thirsty, murderous spite                 Men loudly condemn - and possess!             Besieged New York City last night,                 With first-class financial success!                          *             *             *             *             *             Hands gloved - to comply with the law;                 Gloves hard - to comply with the crowd;             Fists savage as murder could draw;                 Cheers heavy and fervent and loud.             Stern hisses, and shoutings of "Woman!"                 When either too tender they found;             Tremendous applause when a foeman                 Dropped, more than half dead, on the ground.                          *             *             *             *             *             'Twas the soul's blackest hell-woven fibre,                 All thrilling intensely and fast;             The curse of the Tagus and Tiber                 Arrived in New York Bay at last!             And victor and vanquished, I learn,                 Came off with more glittering spoil             Than teacher or preacher could earn                 In years of the hardest of toil.                          *             *             *             *             *             A spectacle pleasing and bright,                 Full many good people delighting -             So many good men love a fight,                 When somebody else does the fighting!             And "'tis shameful!" we mildly agree,                 And shout our complainings afar;             But the facts are no worse than are we:                 They show to us just what we are!