Petulengro, and behold the extent of his fistic exploits.
Ay, but he associates with prize-fighters; and that very fellow,
Petulengro, is a prize-fighter, and has fought for a stake in a
ring. Well, and if he had not associated with prize-fighters, how
could he have used his fists? Oh, anybody can use his fists in his
own defence, without being taught by prize-fighters. Can they?
Then why does not the Italian, or Spaniard, or Affghan use his
fists when insulted or outraged, instead of having recourse to the
weapons which he has recourse to? Nobody can use his fists without
being taught the use of them by those who have themselves been
taught, no more than any one can "whiffle" without being taught by
a master of the art. Now let any man of the present day try to
whiffle. Would not any one who wished to whiffle have to go to a
master of the art? Assuredly! but where would he find one at the
present day? The last of the whifflers hanged himself about a
fortnight ago on a bell-rope in a church steeple of "the old town,"
from pure grief that there was no further demand for the exhibition
of his art, there being no demand for whiffling since the
discontinuation of Guildhall banquets. Whiffling is lost. The old
chap left his sword behind him; let any one take up the old chap's
sword and try to whiffle.
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