It is claimed by some writers that wrestling as we have it today, as we saw it last night at the Grand theater, had its origin in Japan centuries ago.
    In the Mikado's land wrestling is what bull fighting is in Spain. It is today regarded as one of the most popular sports, patronized by the nobility as well as the common people.
    "I do believe, though, it is dangerous, more so, if anything, for women than men, says an expert. No so much because of physical danger as because a woman's temperament is usually more excitable and nervous than a man's. She has not perhaps man's lasting qualities in any protracted kind of endeavour, but for the time being she rushes into a fight, a contest of any sort, with even greater ambition, more intensity.
    "She has been known to grow hysterical over defeat. For her a contest means every nerve strained to the breaking point and an inevitable and awful reaction.
    "It can't be otherwise. Naturally such abnormal excitement is bad - bad for men as well as for women. Therefore I am thoroughly opposed to young men and young women indulging in college contests.
    "But from the standpoint of purely physical danger, I don't agree with President Eliot. In fact, I believe there is more danger of men being hurt in athletics than women, for the reason that the letter are more cautious.
    "Anatomically, I don't see any reason why a women should not play the same game than men play, not with men, but with other women. None but a perfect sound girl should ever attempt the rougher athletic sports.
    "If a woman is thoroughly sound organically there is not the slightest reason why she should come to grief.
    Until the establishment of the Shogunate, or military government, of the country, as distinguished from its imperial, or titular, and sacred rule by the Mikado, wrestling was not especially organized, and its practice was dependent principally upon the caprice of the Emperor. Upon the establishment of an essentially military regime, however, in the year 1185, by Yorimoto, wrestling became one ot the necessary accomplishments of the samurai or fighting men, who were trained in wrestling as well as in horsemanship and the use of weapons. From this time until the year 1603 wrestling remained a military accomplishment, useful in the wars which were continually raging. In the year 1603 the statesman lyeyasu established the Shogunate in his own, the Tokugawa family, where it remained until the restoration of the Mikado to supreme power in 1868. During this period of more than 250 years there was peace throughout the country, which also remained isolated from the outside world.
    Wrestling, from being the accomplishment of the warrior, became the sport of the daimio and feudal lords of the land. These patronized wrestling much in the same way as the “manly art of self-defense" was nurtured and encouraged by the "nobility and gentry" of Great Britain during the first half of the nineteenth century. Many daimio supported troupes of wrestlers as part of their regular establishments and took the keenest interest in the success or failure of their protégés. With the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the disestablishment of the feudal system, in the year 1868, the wrestlers were thrown out of employment and became dependent upon the general public for their support. This is the condition of things today, but the wrestlers also depend largely upon the liberality of individual patrons.
    The wrestlers are about 400 in number, and, taking into consideration the umpires, managers, criers or yobidashi, who announce the various matches, and the many hangers-on and assistants, there is a body of 600 men or more who gain their livelihood directly of indirectly through wrestling.
    The general management of all wrestling affairs is entrusted to a body of wrestlers who have been retired from active work by reason of age and who are known as toshiyori. They are about eighty in number and are divided into classes – those known as bukata and those who are not. To become a bukata a retired wrestler must pay 50 yen, about $25. The bukata share the profits and sustain the losses attached to the annual matches.