“A first-class professional fight!”...

“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!