Fists Or Swords

Boxing, though better appreciated now, was not so popular in the north of Eugland and Scotland as in thu - south, not assuredly because the people are either better inaunered cir less aggressive, but probably because the science Wi less understood. Sir Walter . Scott's totichiug tale of the "Two Drovers" is a good illustration of this ' ference of feeling on the subject, and as long ago as 1790 a book was witten by a highland officer with the following curious title: "Andpugilism, or the - science of defense exemplified in short , and easy lessons, for the practica of the j broadsword and single stick, whereby gentlemen niay beconie proficient in the j ase of the weapons, without the help of a master, and be enabled to chastise the insolence and temerity so frequently met with from those fashionable gentlemen, the Johnsonians, Big Bennians and Mendozians of the present day, a work perhaps better calculated to extirpate this reigning and brutal folly than a whole volume of sermonf. ' ' It was precisely this feeling which poor Robin Oig, Sir Walter's hero, expressed when his friend Harry Wakefield, with whom some words had passed, suggested that they should have a round or two and be friends. "To be' peaten like a dog," said Robin - "is there any reason in that? But if I am to fight I've 110 skill to fight like a jackanapes, with hands and nails. ' ' "How would you fight, then?" said his antagonist. "Though I'in thinking it would be hard to bring you to the scratch anyhow. ' ' "I would fight with proadswords and sink iioint on the first plood drawn. likea geutlemans. "