Classic Poem

" 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 muscie 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!