The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-30
MRS. CORBETT'S OPINION.
GLE SAYS HER HUSBAND WILL
WIN. AND GIVES HER REASON.

Priz Fighting Is Cruel, But There's
Lots of Money In 1t.
From. the Ns,o York World.
,'Do I like pugilisml Ny goodness,
M l think it's perfectly horrible bust
Dessl l would give anything to have my
husband lead quiet, settled life. But what
is one to dol Mr. Corbett has gone into the
business. and that is the end Of it. 1t is
perfectly awful to think Of two men maui
ing aud manning each other until one or
aha other shall be, as they call it, 'knoc ked
orti l think it's horrid, cruel thingp
And Mrs James j. Corbett, the famous
cugilists wife, gave her head a decided
shake as she concluded. There was no at
tempt at affectation and ir was evident that
she was sincere in her utterances OF dislike
against her husbands profession.
She is an interesting young woman, this
petite wife of brswny jim Corbett, and as
brettv as she is interesting. A pronounced
blonde, looking not a day older than the %
wears she confesses to, with a wealth Of yell
iow-golden hair piled artistically on a
oueenly little head, large gray-blue eyes,
shaded by long, dark lashes, fair COM
OlexIon and figure whose contour is per-
lection, 1t seemed pretty hard to imagine
her a prize-hghter's wife as she sat in the
cosy parlor in light blue bodice, with
natty polka dot tie, plain navy blue skirt
and tiny russell shoes setting off the comeli-
ness of the young lady.
Corbett's marriage was rather romantic;
in fact, included what might be called an
elopement. When the now famous fighter
was one Of San Franchises amateur athletes
he met his wife, Miss Ollie Lake. Mr..
Lake, Olle's father, was g widower, who
had come to California from Amsterdam,
n Y, in 1869, when the girl was still a
baby in her mothers arms. Miss Lake was
studying for sohool-teacher's position in
the state nor nal school when young Jim
met her. An affection sprang up. between
the young folks. but Corbett's parents would
not sanction an engagement. the Lakes
being Congregationalists,w while the Cor belts
were stanon Roman Catholics.
The sweethearts were perforce obliged to
wait. In 1885 Jim travelled to Salt Lake
City to fight Duncan Mcdonald. There
Miss Lake joined him, and justice of the
peace made them one. A second ceremony
was performed when the happy pair re-
turned TO San Francisco, Mira. Corbet en-
braoing the Roman Catholic faith to con-
clllate her parents-in-law. A school
teachers certificate TO the state normal
school awaited Miss Ollie Lake in Sau Fran
cisco while she was being married In Salt
Lake City.
Mrs. Corbett went to Paris some months
ago, only returning to New York on July
l. She has been stopping at the Coleman
house, with occasional visits to her husband
at Asbury Park. A World reporter saw
Mrs. Corbett at the Coleman house yester-
day. She was at first averse TO talking OF
the fight, but the reporters query, DO you
like pugllismw brought out the exclamation
at the head of this column and thereafter
she answered the questions without any OF
her former reservation.
Would you have preferred your husband
10 have remained as boxing instructor Of
the Olympic ClubW was the next query.
20, much better indeed. There, you see,
be had things quite steady. We knew Just
how much was coming in each month and
now much was going out. OF course he
makes much more money now, but he
pends more, too. You must spend lot
you know, when running around like Mr..
Jorbett has TO. Those were quiet, happy
lays we spent in San Francisco, although
people said very cruel things about me at
the time, and even now they say led him
into the pugilistic business. But IL is all a
lie, and a SANDER. l was much opposed 10
Is all, and after we returned from Salt
Lake tried hard to dissuade him from going
into it. The best proof OF what l say IS the
fact that for year after we got back he
was clerk in the Anglo-Nevada Assurance
How did your husband get into profess
sional fghtingl"
well, he just drifted into it; that's the
proper word, he drifted into it. OF course
money matters had also q lot to do with it.
You see, he is born fighter. It was born
in him, Just as a man is born q poet or
anything else His ambition was always as
an amateur to beat every other amateur.
AS long as he remained an amateur 1 did
not mind. In fact. l rather liked it,
think all men should be athletes. We
women love to see strong, handsome men,
and my husband is both of these. didn't
want him to meet Joe Choynski, but he had
already been given the iustructorship of the
and that had made him a pro-
fesSionaL Then, after he fought Choynski,
he was fairly launched on bis career.
tried hard to dissuade him at the start, but
soon saw it was useless and then there is
a great deal of money to be made in it, and
30 1t has gone on. Yes, indeed. he simply
drittsd into It.
How do you regard his coming fight
with John L. Sullivaum
70, he will win; there is no doubt about
that lie always wins. think so, of course,
because ! am his wife and also because
well ~
Mrs. Corbett hesltated. She seemed to
be at a loss.
Why do you think he will win, leaving
Wiley prejudice out Of the question:" |
prompted the reporter.
Well, because Mr. Corbett is more scien- |
uhc-yes, that's the word-than Mr.. Sulh- |
van Everybody says so. He is quicker,
too. IN every way"
Have you ever met John L. r.
~, yes. l met him in San Francisco |
when he was playing In Honest Hearts.
he was introduced to me, and think he is |
a very handsome, powerful man. His act |
ing was certainly the funniest thing | have |
ever seen. laughed till cried. Or course |
ne dld not mean to be funny, but he was |
LLunny, awfully funny. But [ could see |
mat Dig as he is he is no match for my nus
Oahd. think they run Mr. Sullivan down |
d great deal. l don't think he drinks and |
oar res on half as much as people, and espe-
SSla!iy you newspaper men, say MIR. Cor |
oetV mas Beaten every one he has met No |
SSouy thouRht he would best the other men |
10 10, met, but he did, and that's just how it |
VIII De now. He has risen so quickly that |
Tue Puohc have not had time to judge of
t tlS points. want to see him win too If |
u. u ust be In the business | want TO see him
AZ q. me head OF it. When he is at the top it
eoesh seem 80 bad, but third or fourth
.a.e puglllst Is perfectly dreadful. l could |
LSoEer stand that. i don't know what would
ppen II be were third or fourth-rate !
PlsHHlst. 1t would be horrid.n
wa your husband leave the ring IL be
WINS or loses this fight
hat do not know. He has aspirations
W DC an actor, but would like to zee him |
"a ~ some legitimate business. OF course act |
~ sfa hut To-