Cinder Path Tales

igo CINDER-PATH TALES appearance had a little subsided, Mr. Foley raised his hand in a Napoleonic fashion to command silence,stepped to the front of the stage, andhanging on the ropes in an atti­ tude of extreme ease and freedom from re­ straint, made the usual little speech without which a boxing contest would seem out of joint. He declared the bouto be one of "a friendly nature"for "scientific points only," and endedwith the warning thatany disturb­ ance from the audience would stopthe con­ test immediately. At the close of his remarks appeared the celebrated George Johnson, a tall mulatto, who took his seat in the chair facing the audience, followed by his handlers. He was stripped to thewaist, and wore a blue sash, white trunks, and tan shoes. He was a powerful fellow, well trained, and looked like a bronze statue when he rose, bowing and smiling at a little group of colored friends who called to him from the front of the gallery. A moment later " Jack Costigan, the J rsey blacksmith," made his debut, and was greeted with even more enthusiasm than Johnson, probably because of the predominating nationality of the audience, forhe was cer­ tainly nota beauty, or even a well-built man. Indeed, hewas a mighty tough-looking cus-