The Washington bee., 1901-05-11
FRIENDS OF JOHN L.

met lot OF great people IN my
career, said John L. Sullivan to a crowd
OF friends one night last week. "King Ed
ward VII, CT course you all know, shook
hands with and l smoked some fine cigars
at his expense. That was when Edward
Eas the prince of Wales and a good fellow
at that.
I've been asked many times to name
over the great men who have been intro
duced to me, but l can't remember all of
them. It was in 1887 that went up to
the white house to shake hands with Presi-
dent Cleveland. Pat Sheedy, my manager,
was along and when we were introduced,
| noticed that Mr.. Cleveland was hog fat.
Mr. President says l, you're too fat.
Why don't you come out and take run
on the road with me and then put on the
gloves! That would reduce you good
But Grover said he was too busy,
though he agreed with what said met
Vice President Hendricks several times.
There was an albright old gentleman, and
don't you forget it. Every time we met,
no matter where it was, Mr.. Hendricks
used to say:
John, are you still champion?
That's what I am replied.
"T hope you viii never be whipped,
was the usual remark, as he grasped my
hand warmly. He was a good fellow, and
when he died no one mourned his loss more
than old John L.
''PVe been introduced to Mckinley sew
eral times. Once he and John Sherman,
then secretary Of state, were on the same
train with my theatrical combination.
When we got TO Springfield, O., there was
big crowd at the station all rubber-neck-
ing.
/" Where's John? they yelled. Where's
John?
Sherman and Mckinley were on the
platform, their hats in their hands.
They're calling for mel! said the ven
srabie secretary of state to the president
of the nation.
Are you sure? asked Mckinley. John,
l think they're looking for Sullivan!
Gust then l stuck my head out of the
window and there was no longer any doubt
as to who was it. 'Hooray for john John
L. Sullivanp That showed what q good
line Mckinley had on the situation.
Then there was James G. Blaine, one
of Americas most famous statesmen. I
met him once at the Arlington hotel in
Washington. We had a chat about poll
tics up in Maine and found that he was
we'll posted
''I met Richard Croker a good many
years ago. He's a self-made man and de-
serves a lot of credit. I see where there's
lot of guys knockin' him, but what does
he care? He owns the town, and that's
plenty to have! Amt it?
"The nearest l ever got to Admiral Dew
ey was his picture, but l know Buffalo Bill
well. Col. Cody is the real article and
white old P. Z. Barnum was a eonserva-
| tive chat, but Adam Forepaugh was my
friend all the time When Teddy Roosevelt
was a police commissioner here, l called
on him. He said:
"'John, I've heard of you, but I've never
| seen you with your hands up
II told him that | was sorry he hadn't
seen me when I was in my prime. and he
said that he was, too We talked about
| fighting. and I found that he was away
up in the art Of self-defense. He is a
| strong, powerful fellow. and I'll bet a
round of drinks that he can take care of
| himself with any man his weight IN the
| world. ! think Teddy is on the level and
| that some day he'll be sittin' in the white
house.
"I never knew Jay Gould, but know
his son George very well. Billy Madden
used to give George boxing lessons, and l
frequently looked on. He's a fine, big
hearted man and deserves all the coin he s
got
'T mustn't forget old Gov. Lowrie, Of
Mississippi. He was the duck who made
me come back and stand trial for fighting
| Kilrain While he looked fierce enough
/ to eat you when he was on the throne, he
/ was not so bad when it came time to take
a drink I always said that if the old fel-
/ low hadn't been governor of the state,
| he'd a been at the ring side at Richburg
| hollerin' for John L. But, of course, he
| had to do his duty, and that made it un-
| pleasant for me.
"Old Gen. Joe Hooker was a friend Of
mine, also John D. Long, secretary of the
| navy. When Mr.. Long was governor Of
| Massachusetts he had several chats with
me. So did the late William +. Russell,
when he was governor of the Bay state
when we get around to the theater
people | am right at home. When Edwin
| Booth and Lawrence Barrett were doing a
| double stunt | met 'em frequently. Booth
| WAS cOnSGINdllNt anu tluiCts NiA+N A'eAA 1~oN
was Just the opposite often got the idea
| into my head after hearin' 'em do the trick
| that I could have made a corking good
| tragedian. I've got the right kind Of a
voice. that's a cinch, and I'm success
| as a melodramatic actor, that's as sure as
you're alive But / should have tried the
heavy parts that made Booth famous.
and there's the ladies of the stage,
| God bless 'em! Mary Anderson, charm
ing woman. I met once, and she said
why, Mr.. Sullivan, I'd never take you
to be prize-hghter.'
THAT was because she was dead inno-
| cent and wouldn't have known a real prize
fighter from a fakir.
I when I was in Sydney, n. 5. w, had
: a suite of rooms directly over Sarah Bern
hardt. never met the lady, and dion t
| much care. She was jabber:cg French all
| the time and was rehearsing constantly IN
her room. | heard so much of 1t that l
| pretty near had the willies.
Gone night happened to follow Sarah
| into Her Majesty's theater in Sydney, and
| I had a good chance to size her up. She was
a featherweight all right, and there was
so much powder on her face that l thought
| she'd made a mistake She got look at
me and, because | had been so much an
| moved with her jabbeTing, l scowled at her