The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-07-27
IT'S ENGLISH fair PLAY
Corbett Tells How Americans Are
j. Treated by the Noble Free
.@ Born Briton.
Our Yachtsmen, Turfmen, Prize
Fighters, sprinters, Rowers
Have All Suffered.
Sportsmen From This Country Are
Treated With Insult, nobbed
or Robbed.

Treated With Insult, r1Obbed
or Robbed.
Englishmeh have been busying them
selves during the past week with more
than their usual violence In abusing
Americans, says the New York World.
This time it is because we are so utterly
deficient in '.sportsmanship" and flair
play" both of which qualities the Eng
lish, with characteristic modesty, claim
to monopolize.
The text for the latest assault was
furnished by the Cornell crew at Hen
ley. In obedience to the plain law gov
erning the rowing contest in which they
were engaged, the. Cornell crew started
when; the umpire gave the word. Their
opponents, the Leander crew, were not
ready, and the Cornell crew won by de-
fault.
To the non English mind this would
appear to be very simple matter, and
IL anyt criticism were needed the Le-
ander crew or the umpire would seem to
deserve THE former for their negh-
gence and the latter for not keeping
closer lookout. There was not the
slightest evidence Of any deliberate in
tention on anybody's part to do an In
Justice to either crew; but the Americans
have been denounced with a venom that
passes belief for their 'unsportsman-
like" conduct. Much has been said also
about English fair play"
. 1t is a matter Of history that the Eng
lish in their sports as in everything else
are the most unfair people in the world.
No American has ever gone to England
to sail a yacht, to race a horse, to shoot
at pigeon to run a foot race, to row
beat, or to fight in the prize ring who has
not been either insulted or robbed or
mobbed. In the face Of a hundred years
of conduct usually cowardly and always
brutal, the canting claim of English
fair play" would be a grim joke II it
were not insisted upon so seriously.
Jim Corbett and Steve O'Donnell were
being rubbed down after a spirited box
ing bout at the champions Jersey
training quarters yesterday when the
conversation turned upon the attitude
of English sportsmen toward the Cornell
crew. Billy Brady had a few appropri-
ate remarks to make about the calibre
of the average English sport and Cor
belts remarks were particularly tlnct-
urea with bitterness as he spoke Of the
unfairness of the stand taken against
the Ithacans. This deep feeling in the
matter led World reporter to ask Cor
bett what he thought Of the much-vaunt-
ed claim of British fair play.
'sWhat do think Of British fair
play?" repeated the champion slowly.
s'Why, there is no such thing in Eng
land. At least, not toward Americans.
You might as we'll fiaunt a'red flag in
bulls face as wave the Stars and Stripes
over there. 1@speak I from experience,
and tell you It makes me tired When !
see the consideration shown to English
rlen over here and see Americans crazy
to ape the people who hate the United
States and all connected with them, ana
who will continue to hate them forever.
esEnglishmen try to act nice, and ali
that sort OF thing, at times, but don't
you know all the while you have that
feeling that they don't mean what they
say. And If you show your patriotism,
{o1y find ant Sy,cf 0vuf hnv
feel.
"When I was playing at the Drury
Lane, one of the few Englishmen
would care to call a friend came to me
and said: See here. old chap, you'll do
much better if you don't wear quite so
much Of the American and Irish colors
IN your makeup .sE
* told him I'd see the English public
hanged before I'd take off any of my
coycrs. We were playing in the Birm-
ingham, July I, and two ladies Of the
company went out for a walk with just
a bit Of red, white and blue ribbon in
their Jackets Well, they were insulted
half q dozen times before they got back.
j came very near getting one OF the last
men that made an insulting remark to
them about Americans. and If had
we'll" and Jim looked at his doubled-up
fist expressively. 8 ssS 9
"At the Drurys Lane one night the
sailors OF the man-of-war Chicago came
to the thaater Some of the bluejackets
were in an upper box, and, because they
lowered bouquet Of flowers tied with
red,white and blue ribbons the English-
men began to hiss all over the house.
Oh, yes; British fair play Is 3 bully
thin er-I don't think itS$