Alpheus Geer, Sr

Reverend Alpheus Geer - "Inventor of Shadow Boxing

In September, 1814, the Rev. Alpheus Geer was invited to become rector, at a salary of $600, "provided Gunntown will pay one-third for his services one-third of the time." The vote as finally passed was to pay him $400 for two-thirds of his time, leaving Mr. Geer and Gunntown to settle for the remainder. Alpheus Geer was born at Kent, August 7, 1788, graduated at Union college in 1813, was ordained deacon by Bishop Hobart in New York city, June 12, 1814, and priest by Bishop Griswold at Middletown, early in 1815.

He remained in Waterbury nearly sixteen years, from the fall of 1814 to the spring of 1830. He went from here to Hebron, where he remained about fourteen years, and afterwards preached at a number of places in this state. He died at Norwich, February 3, 1866. While here he lived first on South Main street and later in the Judge Hopkins place, on West Main street. The period of Mr. Geer's pastorate was one of quiet and moderate prosperity. There was not at that time much growth in the town, and as a semi-farmer clergyman, who was expected to live to some extent off the product of his glebe, he was a very fair representative of the country clergy of his time. On Sunday, October 20, 1816, he presented to Bishop Hobart of New York, then acting as bishop in this diocese, which was temporarily without a bishop, a class of 226 for confirmation, being the largest class ever confirmed by Bishop Hobart.

The mamiscript from which the information in this sketch was in part obtained, adds: "It is thought the largest ever presented to any bishop in this country." The writer was not aware of the class of 256 confirmed in the same place by Bishop Seabury thirty years before, but these two classes, both of them in this parish, have seldom been exceeded in numbers. Mr. Geer's second son, the Rev. George Jarvis Geer (D. D., Trinity, 1842) was for many years a successful clergyman in the city of New York, and his grandson, the Rev. William Montague Geer, is now one of the assistant ministers of Trinity parish in that city.

Shadow Boxing Alpheus Geer

Editor's Note: Mr. Geer has created the Marshall Stillman Association, the object of which is to create general interest in boxing as a healthful exercise

and in particular to establish boxing clubs in the crowded sections of cities where young men are learning^ to be thieves and gunmen, or already have arrived with reference to bringing them into constructive relation to society.==

Only in recent years has the art of Shadow Boxing been perfected. In fact it has not been attempted among the first class men in the boxing game until recently. If I am not mistaken Mike Gibbons, the St. Paul wonder, really discovered the great benefit of this exercise to the boxer. It is the custom, at the present time, for every gymnasium where the professional boxer trains, to have a mirror, full length, where the boxer can see himself in action. The mirror extends to the floor so that the feet can be seen also. The battler takes careful note of his own motion, keenly marking any false move. Sight is the quickest sense from which to learn. Shadow Boxing can also be visualized. The boxer can see himself and his opponent in his mind's eye. He can make the bout as vigorous or as gentle as he cares. Not much benefit in the way of improvement in the knowledge of the game can be derived unless the motions of the participant be properly executed. One must know how to hit, guard, duck and do footwork in the approved manner. These can only be learned from a teacher who is competent. It is a lamentable fact that man is the only animal that does not know how to use the weapons of offense and defense given him by nature, in the most effective way, unless he be taught. The dog knows how to bite; the bull knows how to butt; the cow to kick and the bear to hug in the most approved manner. Every ounce of strength, every pace of speed, is calculated to a nicety. They are all craftsmen in the use of their natural weapons. When workmanship is called for they are there. Not so man. The lords of creation are as helpless as babes when in combat one with the other should they depend upon their natural weapons. Hence the pistol and the dagger; the bludgeon and the rock. None need be over-nice concerning this noble pastime. The psychology of boxing acts inversely to the popular belief. The better the fighter the more peacable the individual. The game fighter seldom thinks of resenting a personal insult. A certain professional pugilist inadvertently got into a discussion with a brakeman on a train. Words ran somewhat fast. To the astonishment of the fighter he suddenly received a blow on the mouth bringing blood to his lips. Composedly taking a handkerchief from his pocket he stopped the flow of blood as he sauntered down the platform. It struck him as a merry jest which he enjoyed hugely. One of the men in his party lingered behind to inform the irate brakeman that he had gotten first blood in his war with the redoubtable Bob Fitzsimmons. The brakeman could not understand why his life was spared. He did not know. Good fighters don't fight save to protect the weak; or chastise bullies; or in the ring for pleasure or profit. Shadow Boxing can be made an exercise of great merit. As a morning stimulator, before the tub, there are few exercises that can compare. After one has learned to hit, guard, duck and do foot-work properly the exercise can be divided into rounds. Make it an exercise of three rounds winding up with a fierce go at in-fighting. Let the first round consist of work with the left hand entirely. Lead for the face; lead for the stomach; swing for the jaw; upper-cut; all with the left hand. Then straight counter. Continue this exercise, varying it with guards, ducks and side-steps. Make each round about two minutes. Giving it fast work will amount to considerable exertion. Second round: all with the right hand. Lead for the face; lead for the stomach; swing for the jaw; uppercut; cross-counter; straight counter; cross-parry. These motions need not be done in sequence. Any motion may follow the other. Guards; ducks; side-steps, feinting the imaginary opponent. Always use the brain.

Make it a real battle. It is great frolic and fight. Third round: Combination blows. There are eight blows of this nature which are considered the best. The Bennie Leonard double; the Mike Donovan triple; the Miske twist; the Fitzsimmons shift and the Mike Gibbons triple are the most notable. Then wind up with a roaring set-to of in-fighting; twenty-five blows for the face; twenty-five for the stomach; twenty-five swings for the jaw; twenty-five upper-cuts. All these blows are executed with both hands, let them fly as fast as you can. Put the shoulders into each blow. Turn with a quick twist of the body. Make it snappy. Land the force of the blow at the point of impact. In other words do not expend any energy by contracting the muscles. Muscles are best used when they tension naturally from the force of resistance. This is true of any physical activity. Never fight one muscle against the other if speed and effectiveness is the sought-for end. To get muscle merely for the sake of having lumps of cartilage upon your anatomy is to overburden the body and to place a strain upon the system. Muscle is best gained by muscular activity in that sport to which one is inclined. If one wish for extra muscle it should be obtained by light, quick work. This kind of muscle makes for the best in the boxer. Shadow Boxing preserves the sense of orientation which is the quality one loses as years advance. It is most necessary to preserve this idea of distance and direction. It saves from accidents and keeps one young and agile. Co-ordination of brain and muscle are most essential. Boxing, also Shadow Boxing, which is merely boxing with an imaginary opponent in the mirror or visualized, is a splendid sport.