Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-09-06
WIFE OF A PUGILIST.
MRS. CORBETT TELLS OF HER LIFE
 WITH HER LATE HUSBAND.

When She Met Him, Fame Knew Him Not.
 When Notoriety Came, Women Pursued
 Him A Story With Good Deal of
 Pathos Between the Lines.
 There has been great deal in the pa pers recently concerning suit brought by Mrs. Corbett, wife of the pugilist. for an absolute divorce from her hus- band. Mrs. Corbett, it may not be gen. orally known, was born in Amsterdam, N. Y, when her parents were visiting relatives in that city. but was raised in Santa Cruz, Cal, and was graduated from the State Normal school in San Jose. h an interview with her in the San Francisco Examiner she says: .I expected to begin teaching, but Jim came to Santa Cruz and changed every thing. He was @ big, handsome boy then. l met him one night at an enter tainment, and he began to pay attention to me at once. We used to go to hops and had lovely times Jim was one of the best dancers I ever knew. He was bookkeeper in the Nevada bank then.
 Before the summer was over we be- came engaged. During the winter my sister went to San Francisco to study music. went up there to visit her, and saw good deal of Jim. He used to take me around. He took me to the Olympic club, and saw him box That was the frstI knew that he was a boxer.
 My father was opposed to my mar rying Jila, so I ran away and met Jim in Salt Lake City, and we were married there.
 For two or three months we did not do anything. We lived with his father. For part of the time I worked in the hall of records. I earned $8 or $9 week. That was the only time in my life that ever worked.
 'tWe all persuaded Jim to give up the boxing. He secured a place in the An glo-Neyada Insurance company. Then we went to live in little flat At that time l think Jim received $100 a month
 "It was not long after that when he was offered the place of instructor ill the Olympic club at larger salary than he was getting. I was rather glad that he should have that, because he was fond of boxing, and thought he would be much happier in place like that Jim used to say I will be a great fighter some day. feel it. I know that shall be great. And was as sure of it as he was
 "When the Olympic club arranged the exhibition between Jim and Jack Burke, didn't like it at all, but Jim said it was part of the business of the instructor, and thought that anything the Olympic club did was all right. Jim was tiekled to death about it. The night of the boxing l staid at home and was very nervous. Jim came home when it was over He hugged and kissed me and I was as happy as he was. He seemed to think that it was the step ping stone.
 After that he drifted into profes- sional fighting so easily and naturally that hardly knew it. When the match was made with Choynski he was so de- lighted that knew 1t had strong hold on him. I was badly worked up that night. staid at home, as always did, and waited in fear and trembling for the news When Jim came in, I nearly tainted. It seemed to me that hc was in @ horrible condition. One side os his face was all cut up. That was tho only time that he was punished at all
 T have always hated fighting. would have been glad had Jim never made name for himself After each of the fights begged of him to give EIo T I,1
 "After the McCaffrey fight, in New York, he came back to San Francisco to act az instructor in the club again He was paid $225 month. But Jim had made a name for himself, and men and women were anxious to do him honor
 "Women have always been particu- larly fascinated by him, and the man. ner in which they have pursued him is almost beyond credence This became es- pecially noticeable after his match with Jackson. I felt dreadfully over that match. did not like to have my fine. big husband box with colored man, and feared, as he did, that he would not be given fair play. It was after this contest that Jim joined the Thatcher, Primrose 6 West minstrels, and from that time we have been but little to- gether.
 II made up my mind that Iwould no longer stay out in California alone, so came east as we'll. We had quarrel, but we speedily made it up. As Jim's fame increased we were together less and less He has never liked me to travel with him. He has insisted upon his freedom. And yet I know that he was very fond of me. He never be- grudged me anything. had all the money wanted. He has always been very generous. I know how he was be- sieged with attentions of women, and that he was too gallant to fly from them.
 ''He is a curious mixture. lie has more noble traits than most people imagine. For the last four years we have not been together more than two