Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-15

worlds championships galore.
 A party of six-three girls and three newspaper men-journeyed last night to the Academy of Music. where Fitz is playing this week. They wanted to see the play from behind the scenes.
 They saw it. They saw q whole lot of other things-the aforesaid Happy Family" for the most part.
 The family consists of Fitz, Mrs Fitz, little Bobbie Fitz, c. H. Murray, big Ed" Dunkhorst, Harry Clifton (the villain who says "Cur-rse you, 1 will be revenged'') and bunch of les ser lights
 Keep your eye on the villain,'' coun- selled the mountainous Dunkhorst in the scene where Fitz hurls that de- lightfully wicked malefactor out of the window. You see those mattress es; they're put there to break his fall. Well, watch.''
 With the assistance of Murray. Dunkhorst deftly parted the mattress | es leaving an open space between them; and signalled Fitz. The latter stified a grin as he eXclaimed: This is my reply to your base of fer!'' and threw the villain bodily out of the window.
  sounding swat on the bare boards, as the curtain fell.
 Hurt yourself, old chap?" asked Fitz, with tender solicitude after the act.
 Not so very much" replied the viii lain. but 1 guess 1 must have landed in Il hollow.''
 We stuck q pretty little assortment of nails in the ma tresses one night last week. FitZ cOntided to the visitors. and l had to buy Clifton |; new suit next day"
 The villain was assuredly It last night. In the forge scene he is sup posed to snatch up d little hammer and try to brain a detective. Clifton is nearsighted and Fitz tentirely by accident had substituted a huge sledge for the tiny hammer, and had, moreover, chanced to leave the Sleuge in red-hot proximity to the forge fire. Clifton obeyed the hero's command to drop the weapon with an eager sud denness and alacrity that were more than realistic.
 "Fftz is always putting up some sort of trick on us," remarked Dunkhorst. ''and the best part of it is he never kicks when any one gets back at him.
 Meanwhile Fitz was preparing for his three-round ''go'' with Dunkhorst. He hurt his hand against the human freight cars" jaw few days ago. and had to wear bandageS on knuckles. wrist and elbow.
 The kindly office of putting these on was performed by Mrs Fitz, who would allow no one else to make her lege lord ready for the bout. With 1pft 1ny-inp Shn 96i11Stn6 fhn bandages and tied on the big, eight ounce glove.
 ''If I had my way" she remarked to the Girl with the Niolets, mo one else but myself should have ever gotten Bob ready for any of his fghts.'
 If she had been in my corner" added Fitz in an aside to the Girl from Frisco, "I could never have got to Jeff. And now excuse me while I go on and daily with Dunkhorst.''
 Little Bobby Fitzsmmons watched the bout from the wings, along with the visitors.
 "Fll bet papa's the best of the lot still,' he contided to the Girl from Mamaroneck. 'Don't he go at it like the real thing. though? How'd you like to have gotten that left swing on your jaw?'
 The girl addressed assured the star $ first born that Dunkhorst was welcome to all her share of such honors.
 Before the beginning of the next act FitZ rejoined the visitors. He was clad in evening clothes.
 "Talk about the inconvenience of wearing what our Bowery friends call Girl with the Violets. "Why, I feel ,t l,r in, other clothes 1 wear.
 By the way, you heard me speak on the stage about my lion cub. That little lion was a wonder. I used to punch the bag when I was in training for Jeff. I'd punch the bag three min utes and then give it one laundering hard smash, and sit down and rest for minute.
 Well, that lion would have his eye on me The minute I'd leave the bag he'd rush for it like a commuter from Pompton. N. J., running for q train. He'd stand up on his hind legs and swat the bag back and forth. just as he'd seen me do. And then he'd hit it one extra heavy blow and then go and lie down. Wasn't it smart of hiin:" ISN Tt was. indeed.'' agreed the Girl with the Niolets. and the light of an absolute relief shone from her eyes. ! During the kinetOscope fight the whole party sat on the darkeped stage and Fitz pointed out to the Girl from | Mamaroneck the various blows and | the effect they bad "n Ruhlin. while 1 Mrs F'itz told the Girl with the EiOIots | how worried she always had been dur ing the progress of her husband s | fights.
 "Wait just few minutes after the | play is over, won't you:" said FitZ ''and in the meantime just watch me | go and foil the Villain
 The play over and the stage cleared 1 Fitz had the forge lighted. donned q | leather apron over his boxing togs with the query. "Ever see a blacksmith | in tights beforeT and proceeded ther and there to forge and stamp with his own name three dainty horseshoes one for each of the girls.
 Here, just look at this.' he re marked, tossing one newforged shot across to one of the men of the party
 Duck! Don't catch it.' warned | Murray. in a whisper The shoe burned a mark on the floor as it fell. | The intended victim recognized ono