Self Defence : Ancient and Modern WE wonder what the
first of these titles conveys to the unitiated ? Let the incautious admirer of Mr. Farnol's own accustomed delicate fancy beware. Mercutio is present in this as in all his books. But here is Mercutio of the lightning rapier and not Mercutio of the nimble conceits. In other words, Mr. Farnol, always fond of rippling muscles and robust forearms, has indulged himself in his leisure by writing a whole book on " The Delicate Art of Fibbing."
Often, too, we wish that he would pause awhile from his give and take, thrust and parry, to tell us of the humanity that lies behind the set jaws and invincible eyes. Humanity in a pugilist, quite unreasonably; seems improbable. So when we read in the papers that Gene Tunney " is a student of English literature," or that Carpentier neves misses a Chopin or a bebuisy concert, we give thanks and read on. A reference to Jem Ward as a painter, a mention of Dempsey discussing books, is almost all Mr. Farnol offers us. He has but written detailed reports of nineteen prize fights of the past and each of these epics of the Ring is undeniably akin to those that succeed and those that have gone before.
Intensely real, however, is the chapter on Gladiators, with its illustration of " the Cesti, the gauntlets of. death. with for- midable knobt and spikes Of brass." These have their analogy in the sharp metal " heels " fitted on to the spurs of fighting
cocks in India (and often, it is rumoured, in England) to-day.
But the chapter ends with'a jarring allusion to Virgil as an onlooker. The following dialogue is spoken as the remains of
a dead boxer are removed from the arena :—
" Alas, poor Entellus ! Yonder they drag him to a final oblivion. You, Sir, had backed him—heavily, I think 9 Answers our, poet, passive and sighful
• ' verity, every available drachma. . . . Confound Enteiluls.
Even though Virgil did describe a Gladiators' duel, there is surely scant excuse for this.
Yet in his "Ante-Scriptum" Mr. Farnol touches a big question.
" The Spirit of True Sportsmanship" (as apparent in his heroes) may One day ":banish-the folly .of irar and bring about that Halcyon Dream of the truest philosophers and lovers of their kind-LITniversal Brotherhood.", -Does he not wish with most of us that the pugilists---of to-day (press ridden and press irritated, it is true).were a 'little more modest about
their chances of suocess, a little more ready to attribute their defeats to the Merits of .their opponents? The remark applies not only to boxing bit to Most branches of professional
sport (eicept, 'perhaps cricket and lawn tennis). For this reason, and for this reason only, does amateur sport seem more desirable and more productive of the spirit that Mr.
Farnol invokes. The hedge between confidence and bombast is a very low one, and too often the feet of the professional bound across it. Nor does it seem that recent years have brought any improVements: likely to provide flesh and blood for the " Halcyon Dream " of Mr. Farnol. - • Mr. Johnston by way of contrast indulges not in dreams. " Dreams," he writes, " come not to the man over whose recumbent fOrin :the referee counts ' Ten and Out.' " His book; a history of American Boxing, is none the worse for this omission. Followers of " the Fancy " will find it both accurate and well written.
A. C. C.
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