|THE gentleman above referred to has accomplished one of the most
remarkable feats known to modern science. Though uneducated, and perhaps
inexperienced, he has attracted toward himself the notice of the world.
Though he was once a poor boy, unnoticed and unknown, he has risen to
the proud eminence from which, with pride, and covered with glory and
sore places, he may survey the civilized world. He entered upon an
argument with Mr. Sullivan, knowing the mental strength and powers
of his adversary, and yet he never flinched. He stood up before his
powerful antagonist, and acquired a national reputation, and a large
octagonal breadth of black and blue intellect, which are the envy and
admiration of 50,000,000 people.
This should be a convincing argument to our growing youth of the
possibilities in store for the earnest, untiring and enthusiastic
thumper. It is an example of the wonderful triumph of mind over matter.
It shows how certain intellectual developments may be acquired
almost instantaneously. It demonstrates at once that phrenological
protuberances may be grown more rapidly and more spontaneously than the
scientist has ever been willing to admit.
A few weeks ago, Tug Wilson was as obscure as the greenback party. Now
he is known from ocean to ocean, and his fame is as universal as is that
of Dr. Tanner, the starvation prima donna of the world. Few men have the
intellectual stamina to withstand the strain of such an argument as
he did, but he left the arena with a collection of knobs and arnica
clustering around his brow, which he justly merited, and the world will
not grudge him this meagre acquisition. It was due to his own exertions
and his own prowess, and there is no American so mean as to wrest it
from him.
Thousands of our own boys, who to-day are spearing frogs, or bathing in
the rivers of their native land and parading on the shingly beach with
no clothes on to speak of, are left to choose between such a career of
usefulness and greatness of brow, and the hum-drum life of a bilious
student and pale, sad congressman. Will you rise to the proud pinnacle
of fame as a pugilist, boys, or will you plug along as a sorrowing,
overworked statesman? Now, in the spring-time of your lives, choose
between the two, and abide the consequences.