Against what is called the "manly art of self-defense," or pugilism, there is a popular prejudice, which is not founded, I think, in experience or common-sense. There is not a gentleman of my acquaintance, or, I presume, in the world, who does not recognize the utility of the art of self-defense. Not very long ago the newspaper press published an incident which may, I think, be regarded as a case in point. It occurred on a railroad car, and in relation to a couple of ladies, evidently of delicacy and refinement, whose ears had been assailed by some indecent language and ribald jests on the part of two burly scoundrels, who were seated behind them. Fortunately, there was a well-known athlete in one of the seats directly opposite the ladies, and he interfered at once, begging the two men to discontinue their objectionable language or to retire to the smoking-car. This was the signal for a volley of abuse, and certain threats, which had for their object the intimidation of the speaker, and which were followed by a renewal of their objectionable sayings, intended still further for the ears of the ladies. Upon this, the champion of decency and good conduct arose from his seat, observing, at the same time, if there was a repetition of the offense he would eject both the men from the car, in which there were but two or three additional passengers. Upon this, the two ruffians jumped up, and, bounding over to him, with most opprobrious epithets, dared him to make good his threats. There was not another word on the subject; for, with the speed of lightning, the athlete sprang upon them, caught one in each hand, and, dashing their heads together, whipped them off their feet and dragged them out of the car, and into the smoking-car, upon the floor of which he threw them, simply announcing his name, which was quite enough for the pair of vagabonds, as they did not put in an appearance in the car from which they had been ejected for the rest of the journey. Now, it is quite obvious, that had not this gentleman undergone a course of physical training, he could not have disposed of the ruffians as summarily or have done such meritorious work in the service of the two refined and delicate creatures whose ears had been thus outraged--nay more, he could not have protected himself from an assault had it been made upon him, had he not had trained muscles, which enabled him to illustrate the utility of this art by not only avenging himself for an outrage committed on all decency, but upon ladies into the bargain. Had he not been in a position through a well trained _physique_, he would have been constrained to submit to all he had seen and heard, and the axiom "self-preservation, etc.," would have been a dead letter to him; but as the case stood, he not only vindicated his manhood, but won a handsome and wealthy wife besides.