The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-20
SPORTING NEWS.
John L.SuIIivan is Now a w Risky
Drummer.
He Bluffs His Customers Into
Dealing With Him.
HOW HE SELLS BOOZE.
Is Allowed $50 a Day For His
Expense Money,
Rides Around I'm an Automobile
and Does Well.

New York. March 20.-John L. Sulli-
van is selling whisky for q big firm lie
Is allowed $50 a day to spend and rides
around IN an automobile. Last week
your correspondent took a ride with
John just to see how good a salesman
he might be. The big fellow looked as
fine as silk with his plug hat tilted over
his right eye, and a big cigar cooked up
in the corner Of his mouth until the
ashes and the fire almost touched the
brirn Of the tile. Sullivan shaved his
mustache off recently, and, when he
scowls, he looks every inch the slugger
that he used to be. We rode over on
the East side, where the ex-champion is
known in the big places. but not in the
little ones The first joint we entered
was on Third avenue, near Forty-second
street. The proprietor, a cOrpulent Ger
man. hadn't seen John for years.
Ven, if it wasn't John l. sullivans.-
exclaimed the German, beaming all over
''Vell. John, how was der saloon gettin
on, hey?'
s'Goodl' replied Sullivan. Give US a
drink Everybody have drink"
The loungers and loafers lined UP like
a hurry army. but they were more
thirsty than hungry. John pulled out a
roll and peeled of q s. bin.
Keep the changet" he groW1ed, as the
bartender offered him $3.50 Keep 1t
and buy yourself another necktie!
The proprietor was still beaming when
Sullivan took hold OF his coat lapel and
led him to the end OF the bar.
Say. GULL" said the great man, IT m
the agent for a whisky house, see2 I've
got you down Tor ten barrels. see. here
me order book and there's the place to
put yer name, see. Now, sign and don
make a fuss. Signl"
The last injunction was uttered in a
roar that seemed to shake the building.
The German lost color, but took pen
in his trembling fingers and scratched
his name in the book Then he looked at
Sullivan. who was moving toward the
door and said:
Mister Sullivans, haf a bottle of vine
NIT der house und a goot cigar nit me-
hey2"
In a minutel" replied the ex-cham-
piOn, and be quickl' When the Ger
man had made good Sullivan left with
out further ceremony
That was the way it went in the big
places But in some Of the little ones it
wasn't so easy Up in Harlem John
struck a place where he wasn't known
As he stalked up to the bar nobody look
ed at him. The bartender, one of those
fellows with greasy hair and a pink in
his button hole, shuff1ed up and asked
what 1t would be- Sullivan eyed him
curiously for a moment and then said
in roar:
Get that hair cut and throw that bou-
quet away before yer talk to me!
Where's the boss Of this shop2"
Don't get gayi" exclaimed the bar
tender. big as you are, Ill come over
there and troW you out, See!
Sullivan laughed at this sally until his
big stomach ached-
'Say. pretty" he roared. There's me
card Take 1t to the boss and tell him
John l.. Sullivan is here"
The bartender's greasy hair was on
end and the pink had wilted as he shuf=
fed away The boss was an Irishman Of
giant statue and pug face
You amt John L Sullivan at ALL"
was the greeting the ex-champion got
BE COB, Sullivan was a fighter, but the
likes O. youse couldn't fight at all"
Look here" remarked Sullivan, put
ting on the look that used to scare many
a man in the old days, I'm John L. all
right. and I want you to understand that
I'm here for business. I've got you down
in my order book for five barrels of
whisky, and there's the place to sign
your name Now. sign 1t and stop jab-
boring"
John. I'll sign" was the boss reply,
eff yen tell me how that dude Corbett
ever got the best o yees.@
He licked me-" said John. but I was
a big dub then If he'd O met me in me
prime I'D O. knocked his block Off But
when q man gets too old to fight he's
bound to be licked"
The boss signed the order book and
John treated everybody.