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Author : Price Edmund
Title : The science of self defence A treatise on sparring and wrestling
Year : 1867

Link download : Price_Edmund_-_The_science_of_self_defence.zip

Preface. In giving the following pages to the world, we do so with a certain degree of anxiety oscillating between pride and ear-pride at our maiden effort-fear for its success. We began to write this work in 1860, but the war breaking soon after, compelled us to defer the undertaking to a more auspicious season. And now that Military arms are no longer fashionable, doubtless "Old Nature's" arms in adjusting quarrels or in self-protection will be the only weapons needed. Therefore as a natural consequence, their practical development and scientific use should be earnestly cutivated. Some readers may inquire why our work needs a preface, and many devoted to light literature may consider all prefaces bores. With all due deference, we esteem this an error, for from a preface you may glean the author's intentions and opinions in reference to his work. The prefaces of Sir Walter Scott, are models of humor and historic truth and beauty; those of Bulwer instructive and interesting. At all events the most eminent authors in all ages have in their prefaces deprecated the severity of critics and appealed to the kindness of their readers in regard to faults and imperfections and anticipated objections, "Custom exacts, and who denies her sway ? A epilogue to every five-act play." So it is equally imperative on the subject of prefaces. We have therefore resolved that our little bantling shall be ushered into this 'breathing world' with all the literary honors. But what shall our preface treat of ? Shall we go back to the days of Greece and Rome and exhibit our classic lore in recoutning the sposrts and games of antiquity; how at religious festivals the noblest of the Grecians and Romans contended in throwing the discus, hurling the javelin, Running, Leaping, Wrestling and Boxing. Shall we tell of teh Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian or Nemean games, and how for ten months the Athletes underwent preparatory training in the Gymnaasion at Elis under the careful tuition of accomplished Masters, and how the greatest Statesmen, Poets, and Warriors contended for the Olive Crown, and how Alcibiades, the finest formed man of his age, owed his exquisite and superb physique to his training for the Olympian games ? ...