THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



one of the greatest generals and most perfect characters that 

 Greece ever produced, was a patron of, as well as conspicuous 

 in, all such exercises ; and it is gravely stated in history that 

 a knowledge of the art of wrestling gave to the Thebans 

 under his command the battle of Leuctra, and decided the 

 fate of Sparta. Having read of all this, his wonder ceased at 

 finding that master of the wrestling art, Hippomachus, declare 

 that he could discover his scholars at a distance, though they 

 were only carrying meat from the shambles ; or tliat crowns 

 of olive should have been bestowed by the Eleans on boys of 

 his own age, who had excelled in gymnastic exploits. Nor 

 was the art of boxing exhibited to his young, but aspiring 

 mind, in less glowing colours. He found not only that Milo, 

 one of the athletse of his day, could knock down a bull by 

 a blow of his arm, but, by the example of Dares, that the 

 science of self-defence, as the modern term is, was not beneath 

 the notice of a prince. So far from it, indeed, that, among 

 the Greek and Roman nobility and gentry, scarcely a day, he 

 found, passed without their practising bodily exercises in the 

 gymnasium — the use of the csestus among the number; and, 

 to his surprise, he learned that even the love of gladiatorial 

 shows amongst the Romans increased as they progressed in 

 civilisation, and their manners became more refined ; and 

 that such exhibitions flourished during the reigns of two of 

 their most humane emperors, Trajan and Titus. Then, again, 

 he had listened to his father while discussing the subject with 

 his friends, in reference to the doings of those da3"s when 

 Broughton, Slack, Humphries, Mendoza, Big Ben, and others, 

 all famous men in the ring, were in their zenith. Mr. Raby, 

 however, was no patron of pugilism. His duties as a magis- 

 trate forbade it ; still, as conducted in those days, he was 

 rather favourably inclined towards it than otherwise. At all 

 events, he would occasionally deliver his sentiments on the 

 subject somewhat after this manner : — 'I am doubtful,' he 

 would say, 'as to the effect of conflicts between animals, on 

 the courage of the people; at the same time I question 

 whether the extraordinary courage of the game-cock was not 

 intended as an example to us. One of the greatest orators of 

 our day thinks it was ; and in defence of the hypothesis, 

 instances the pluck and bottom of Englishmen, who chiefly 

 encourage these combats, and conduct them after the most 



15 



