Fencing . that it is the most barbarous of the English systems,and more nearly approaches the French dog-fighting andtumbling than any other—a fair stand-up fight with the nakedfists is the merest skim-milk, in fact a perfect drawing-roomentertainment, in comparison. Open competitions such astake place in Cumberland and Westmoreland and in Corn-wall and Devon are almost unknown in Lancashire, conteststhere being mostly confined to matches under the gaffersystem. A. local writer delivers himself to the following effect: A Lancashire wrestling-match is an ugly sight: the fierceanimal passions of
Fencing . that it is the most barbarous of the English systems,and more nearly approaches the French dog-fighting andtumbling than any other—a fair stand-up fight with the nakedfists is the merest skim-milk, in fact a perfect drawing-roomentertainment, in comparison. Open competitions such astake place in Cumberland and Westmoreland and in Corn-wall and Devon are almost unknown in Lancashire, conteststhere being mostly confined to matches under the gaffersystem. A. local writer delivers himself to the following effect: A Lancashire wrestling-match is an ugly sight: the fierceanimal passions of the men w^hich mark the struggles ofmaddened bulls, or wild beasts, the savage yelling of theirpartisans, the wrangling, and finally the clog business whichsettles all disputes and knotty points, are simply all matches the wrestlers compete in stockings or barefooted,a pair of bathing-drawers usually completing their attire. Themen are allowed to catch hold practically just as they please,. Half Nelson, Lancashire STYLES AND SYSTEMS 231 but the rules state they must not scratch, throttle, pull eachothers ears, or commit any unfair act. Rubbing the body orlimbs with grease, resin, or any pernicious drug is also for-bidden. In the thick of the fray, should the wrestlers get en-tangled with the boundary of the ring, they must draw off andrenew the contest with the same hold as they left off any match not be concluded on the day appointed,both men must meet, weigh, and begin wrestling at the sametime and place day by day (Sunday excepted) until finished ;the decision of the referee in any match to be final, and thestakes to be given up accordingly. Should the referee not bechosen in the articles, and the wrestlers or backers be unableto agree about appointing one in fifteen minutes from the timeof entering the ring, the manager or his deputy shall makeselection. The men are allowed fifteen minutes between eachfall. If a wrestler gain a fall and neglect o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectfencing, booksubjectw
