The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-23
CHAMPION coRBETT In TOWN.
Discusses Ring Matters ard "a Navel
Cadet" With The News.


Last evening James J. Corb-tt. who Is
TO appear at Keith's Opera House, during
the present week, in his new play "A
Naval Cadet" arrived in Providence.
He went Immediately 10 the Narragansett
Hotel whore he is very comfortably In
stalled. Early ;his morsing THE NEWS
representative paid him visit and was
very cordially received.
Mr.. Corbett looked vel snd manly IN
his feet. . inches, not 20 speak oi
fashionable dressing gown mat coteren
him Glmost TO his ankles. Alter ne had
told how he would much rather be al
actor than pugiiist, dorbstt talked bit
of fight. lie repeated what be has al
ready once sa.d, thar he was out OF tire
ring, and then he di -eus.ed F.tZsimmons.
"Fizsimmons, f" he ssld, "has agreed To
wait a month Tor Maher TO tight for
Si0,0 purse. Isn't IL funny that he
wouldn't wait ten DAYS for me with
al, 600 purse in front Of him? was not
IN the humor TO chase all around Mexi-
co 10 get FitzsImmons IN the ring with
me. / cid my best.
The retired champion would not pre-
d'Ct the possible outcome OF The fight he
tween Maher and FilZ immons. lie did
say, however. "Maher had F.tzsimmons
whipped I'm hia lrst fight and he mas i'm
Msher in his receit fight with O'Don-
nell. lie stepped into the ring at he
close AMI with this remark: "Peter,
you re all right handed linn ever The
championship, stating that he would
never iignt again. 81 nave got all there
Is to win in the ring, /" remark I'd Cortett
ana then he drew his brow down de-
terminedly. "If, however, Eilzsimmons
should beat Msher, I'm right after him.
lam not going 10 nj ow ilunktr ike
fit2simmons 10 holi the champion
shfp. Hs flunked once with me ana am
determined that he Won't do II rgniu.
Whet her he would challenge Fizsim-
mems or not Corbctt won not say, but
il was apparent from the drift OF his
conversation that there " Ill be light
in the event OF he Australian beating the
lrishman IN Mexico on February IA. W.
A. Brady, The ex-champion's basbser and
manager, was not with mis- proiege when
1HE NEWS representative fret called. The
result OF a half hours convcrsaticn with
James J. Corbstt is petty apt To upset
ones preconceived iCcl OF what man
who has occupied his position In he
prize ring would tc. 4; Is result that
one might LOOK for In vain in the cases
OF otkef men who have como into pubic
prominence by such means. That he i9
earnest ia all that he has undertaken no
one can doubt who has come IN contact
with him. 1ht earDestness and per
severance carr him to success In the
ring and viii J ow no doubt bear Its good
results In The new profession to which
he has TUNED. CorbetJ Is thoroughly en-
arnored OF the stage. Not for pIandits or
the dazzling pleasure of the life OF the
star capable 81 makilg the box Office re-
ceipts more than balance the salary list,
but for the life ms a profession. 81 DO
not say that will not fight again. he
said. "'fhose are conditions under which
would take mp the gauntlet once more.
But as a profession | have given up tho
iina--it- may appear strange to some
People tnat 1 should 10 such tning.
There was more money in it than | can
find now in ne theatrical business. But
/ look at the matter IN perfectly ra tionai
way. AT best man cannot hope TO live
in the ring for many years L should get
old and unfit for such work and when
my muscular ability gave out here could
l look for n livelihood? No, i am not
fool enough to imagine that am yet an
actor OF experience or marked ability. i
know very well why people came TO see
my performance at first-it was to see
tho prize tighter and not the actor. But
as grew more used TO stage work and
saw what perseverance, study and ex-
perience could dc, my ambition TO make
some kind OF name beyond that OF
champion became firmer. You will notice
that the play i'm which am working this
season Is somewhat beyond the pretensions
OF my first effort OH the stage. / was nat
urallv curious ana little anxious to
know just how IL would be taken by the
public. 1 knew they would expect TO see
nothing beyond sparring ex hi bitloH and
a few specialties. But so far we have found
the audience quite RS large as ever before
and evidently quite rs well pleased. i
say il modestly, for am very well aware
OF the height of the hill / am climbing;
but intend to make something OF my
self on the stage, II perseverance and
study will do 81. know have the sd
vantage OF other actors at the start, for
such public attention as / have gained in
another line has made IL possible for my
first efforts in dramatic work to be pay
ing ones. But IL Is my aim to make them
successful on their own merits. My hean
Is not apt to grow and / am willing TO
learn of any capable or honest suggestion
or criticism.
II was while Corbett wss dressing and
ing SO that small, earnest faced man
came quietly In. AS he stood at tho
naval cadets side. the physical contrast
was a great one. Yet i'm the smaller mans
face and manner there was something
that suggested unlimited power, pluck
and perseverance. He seemed little more
than boy IN years. In fact 1t is not so
many years ago that he was stage man
sger In Western thester. Even then his
pluck was exhibited when during strike
OF the stage hands he baHdied the scenery
of heavy production with only one man
10 aid him. Now he has dozen compspies
on the road, and has thousands OF dollars
invested IN various amusement enter
prises. lie was Corbett's financial backer
in the ring; has built plays; is charac-
ter actor OF no mean ability, and can do
ebout anything he sets out to do. IL was
Wm. a. Brady. As he went about quietly
he remarked in his gentle voice that he
might have TO leave for Australia In the
morning, as he bad signed big contract
two days before that might call him TO
that distant land. Some one said that
the long trip on the water would afford
the little man much needed rest. as no
one could get at him aboard ship with
business affairs. "Not he, " broke in
Corbett. "Why, he never rests. Even
on the ocean a thousand miles from here
he would be writing business letters and
dropping them over the side in bottles
with directions for the finder 10 'p'ease
forward TO New York. -
Guests Had n Close Call.