19th century Whitehall parable

A certain boastful lawyer from Corinth went up to Whitehall, and came home embarrassed.

“There are worse places than Whitehall, as everyone knows, and the wicked people who poke fun at it will be called to account some day,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on July 18, 1889.

Whitehall boasted of two newspapers, a silk mill, bright youth, and — on yes — a lady boxer.

“One of the fairest ladies has added to the fame of that village by proving more than a match for a Corinth lawyer, well known in Glens Falls,” the report continued. “The lady is petite, dark eyed and vivacious.”

The certain “Corinthian legal light” probably had become overly enthused with news of the July 8, 1889, 75-round boxing match in Missippi between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain, which became legendary as the longest bare-knuckles match in history, The Morning Star suggested.

The lawyer challenged his Whitehall hostess to a boxing match, thinking she would decline.

“But he reckoned without his host, for she accepted without alacristy and at it they went. A few passs were made when the fair exponent of the manly art of self defense planted a blow on the lawyer’s nose that made him see stars and also caused him to throw up the sponge, figuratively speaking.”