The age-herald., 1899-12-08

the Herald Square Theater Stock compan- ies of New York city. This summer past I was with the Thanhouser- Hatch Stock company in At1anta-admittedly the best stock company Atlanta ever had Does MT Taylor insult the taste of the people of Atlanta in his reference to "cheap theater," or are his words studied insult to the whole art of acting? He refers to hero- ically acted character parts. The combina- tion in this phrase of two words diametri- cally opposed to each other, shows he knows as little about the professions he sneers at as he does of football
 Mir. Taylor intimates that I had money at stake on our games with Georgia and Sewanee. I emphatically state that l neither bet, won or lost a single cent on either of them, and I defy MT. Tay or any one else to prove otherwise. But Mr. Taylors brother told a man now in Bir- mingham that he won money on the Au- burn-Sewanee games, and yet that brother was presented to me by MT Taylor before the game as a prospective linesman for the game. I promptly and unhestatingly ac- cepted him, but Sewanee wanted and put in another man and that was the only req son MT. Taylor's brother didn't act. Is any comment necessary? I will give the name of the individual who told me of this if it is wanted People who live in glass houses, etc MT. Taylor.
 Have I then proved such an ignominioue failure as coach? I suppose I ought to begin to worry. Singular, though, that have coached for eight years in succession, and the last five of them at Auburn. Peo- fni Strange that I have never failed to get two or three offers each year, and already have them for next season.
 Stranger yet that Auburn is one of hhe colleges that still thinks l know little football, and wants me; and stranger, that no matter to what institution l go, Will get a much larger salary than l ever re- ceived before. Does Techs 63 to 0, Clemson 34 to o, Georgia Il to 6, and Sewanee, even with Taylor umpiring, 10 to Il, and 3z5 yards gained by Auburn, as against Sz yards gained by Sewanee, show or prove poorly-coached team to anypody-saving al- ways MT. Taylor, of course?
 Does MT. Taylor forget that he stated last year in Atlanta, in the presence of several Georgia and Vanderbilt players and of Lieutenant-Captain Mitcham, of Au- burn, that I am the best coach in the . south? Does he forget that he told MT. Mitcham. less than three weeks ago that Auburn had a well-coached team? Does he forget that he told me in Atlanta on No vember IS that this years work with the Auburn team was the best had ever done? And will he or anyone else contend thai have never turned out good team in the five years have been at Auburn? In the face of these facts it is difficult for anyone to believe that MT. Taylor is either earnest or sincere in his statements to the effect that Auburn had a poorly coached team.
 I deny absolutely and in toto that any policeman took charge of me in Atlanta. I protest against the misleading way in which MT. Taylor tells of how he cut or two straps from Auburn players in Allan ta when we ourselves had already cut OH nineteen straps weeks before, and deny entirely the conclusions he draws from the presence of those straps. l deny that MT. Taylor knows any Auburn players, past or present who do not consider me an honest man and a true sportsman. l challenge him to name one. I deny that MT. Martin was my enthusiastic choice. I deny MT Martins power to delegate any of>his au- thority as referee to the umpire 1 deny that MT. Camp in his letter has sustained MT. Rowbotham's decision in the Georgia game in manner and form, as alleged. l know every word that MT. Camp wrote. l deny that there is no rule on the subject or darkness (see rule 12). deny that have any lhatred for MT. Taylor. have only pity and contempt for him.
 iLa tn a these by one and discuss them, but lack of space forbids I can only say that I care nothing about MT. Taylor's wandering from the points at issue Anybody can sco,d and write columns of "glitterng gen. eralities;" but it is facts and arguments we look for when facts are charged, not irvective and baby-talk as that l fancy myself Hamlet-albeit, I do fancy l was 'born to set right Mir Taylor's football errors of Thursday last.
 I have Said nothing of MT. Taylor's work or ability as a school teacher; but he will do we'll to remember that acting and coaching are my regular means of making a livelihood and that there is law in the land on the.subject of libel. My posi- tion. however, is too firmly fixed in the hearts of all Auburn men to imagine MT Taylor could ever unseat me. Should he go whining to the Auburn faculty l know what answer he will get. l know he will be told that, instead of making 'lurid ap- peals," MT. Heisman and the faculty all had difficulty in preventing the outraged spectators from deliberately going into the field of play and taking both officials out bodily. And while speaking of 'lurid ap- peals," q deny them in toto), could any, thing be more lurd, more yellow, than MT. Taylors effort to start sentiment against me by reference to corrupting the athletics of southern boys? I have to say that I am man of the world, not oi the north, or any single state or section, and l believe that the southern people will krow the difference between the man and the fellow, no matter whether be comes from the north or from the antpodes.
 <Nlr. Taylors yelled threat to boycott Au- burn unless I am turned out will only cause a smile of pity to pass around, for Auburn is the most popular college in the south, and has none but the purest of