The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-29
JOHN L. SULLIVAN.
His Friends Want Him to Become AN
Editor

Editor,
Special Correspondence of the Globe
BOSTON, Nov. 27.-The only known
American who ever snubbed his royal
highness, the Prince of Wales, sat on
the bootblack stand Of a Dover street
barber shop the other day and told me
about his immediate prospects. refer
to John L. Sullivan, the grandest figh-
ter who ever stepped in a ring. and,
when sober, one of the most affable
pleasant hammered men I have ever
met. 1t appears that Sullivan is soon
to scintilate as an editor, an editor
in chief and business manager combin-
ed, for his friends, and he still numbers
them by the hundreds, all reports to
the contrary notwithstanding-are now
engaged in negotiating for a newspaper
at present published in Boston, with the
design of having Sullivan edit and
manage it. The famous John L. would
say very little about this scheme, be-
cause, as he says, it was not consum-
mated yet. and he did not want to
queer it," An enterprise was on foot
some time ago by which Boston capita
lists, admirers of the big fellow" were
to erect hotel for him in the south
end, but this has fallen through, so
it is very probable his next appearance
before the public will be at the helm
of a newspaper.
v
Brook avenue, Dorchester, one of Bos-
tons pretty suburbs His general
health, he told me, was superb, al
though his right hand still troubles him
a coed deal, the result of a cancer,
which was operated upon a fortnight
ago. but as to any talk of amputation
OF the arm. as John himself says,
why it's all balderdash." have
never seen John during my six years
acquaintance with him when he was
not smoking a heavy, black and ex-
pensiye Perfecto cigar, and the present
occasion proved no exception to the
rule, but he told me he was drinking
little or nothing. His friends seconded
this statement, and certainly his looks
did, HIS hair is gray, but it is as thick
as 1t ever was, and that is saying a
good deal, and the colcr of his cheeks
denotes splendid physical condition. He
had on an enormous pink collar, with
cuffs and shirt to match, and was as
spick and span as it is possible for a
man to be. He said he weighed 27S
pounds. but he really did not look it;
no, not by rs pounds at least He was
talking with his friend Hogarty, the
barber. when I entered, but stopped
long enough to deliver himself of the
Following conversation.
Sullivan has an exceptionally musical
speaking voice-low, sonorous and well
northumberland 1 have always been of
the opinion that had he studied music
as thoroughly as he cultivated the art
OF fighting he would have turned out a
basso profundo Of the very finest
water. l write this in all sincerity,
and l have found many good critics
who were Of the same opinion
am no saint; I never was" said
ne, and do not suppose the time will
ever come when l will absolutely and
entirely quit drinking. like sociable
glass now and then, but / think / can
truly say that the horrible debauches T
have been on in my time will never
occur again. l am only 38 years old,
comparatively young man yet al
though l have been through so much
that am well aware 1 look much older.
L have done no sparring since last June,
ana never will again until I am con-
WINGED that there is something in 1t.
NCr will ever fight again, not but
what believe I could, but for. the
simple reason that l can see no money
In 1T. L am not SO fast as / once was,
being heavier, but if it came to ques-
ton OF locking me in a room with
another man, 1 think 1 could show him
some tricks the like Of which he never
dreamed Of. I ride q wheel a good
deal, one having been presented to me
year ago. 1t weighs 24h pounds and
Is but few pounds heavier than the
wheel ridden by the average man. It
has always been one Of my ambitions
to be at the head of newspaper, and
| am quite confident that few weeks
at the most will see my name at the
masthead Of one of the Bostons week
ly publications.
Asked as to the present condition of
pugil1sm, Sullivan said: I'm sure [
don't know what to make of this Cor
bett-FitZsimmOns imbroglio. Fitzsim-
mons has lost much prestige, but I esti-
mate Corbett has lost five times as
much. I have no prejudice against the
latter when | assert my belief that he
is not the gamest man in the world.
champion should be ready to go to
the front at all times. Corbett is not
and never was"
In theater within three minutes
walk Of where Sullivan sat at the time
this interview took place, Corbett was
appearing with his theatrical company.
There was a box at the big fellows
disposal, but he evidently preferred the
solace of his Perfecto cigar.
-Ad. Vance.