The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-08
Bob Fitzsimmons the Idol of
Charles Dana Gibson.
Would Forego "Gibson Girl''
Fame to Hit Like Fitz.
PUG'S SENSE OF HUMOR
Gibson Tells Some New Stories
Of the COrnishman.
Knocked Out a Newspaper Man
With a Pillow.

New YORK, July 8.-RODeft F1tZSl1n-
mons who occupies a. niche in the Tenn
pie of Fame from having thumped.
beaten and half killed a number of his
fellow men with q freckled fist, has no
greater admirer than Charles Dana Glib
son, who is known to the world as the
portrayer of refined American girlhood.
To those unacquainted personally with
Mr.. Gibson a friendship of this sort
would seem anOmalous-Bob Fitzsim-
mons, bruiser, and Dana Gibson, socie-
tvs artist-but the few that are favored
with the latter's intimacy easily find the
explanation.
Charles Dana Gibson, while he stands
in a limelight something akin to that
of the matinee idol" is really hard
working, industrious man, devoted to
his family and using art as a means OF
livelihood. Compared with the usual
artist types, at least those to be seen
on the Paris boulevards. where flowing
locks and long black neckties are hall
marks OF the profession to denote eccen-
tricity, Mr.. Gibson is staid business
man. He works in his studio from five
to six hours every day year after year.
and his labor is systematized like that
Of the banker or railroad official.
His hours of recreation he spends as
much as possible in his home on East
Thirty-flfth street, New York, where he
is sure to be- welcomed on returning
from the studio bv his two youngsters,
notable for their superb health and
childish wit
He would rather be here than any
where else, but, unfortunately, New
York's -four hundred" SO ,IonizeS the
Gibsons that neither the artist nor his
wife-she was Miss Langhorne. of
Virginia-are at liberty to dedicate
their time as they please. The two have
been caught in a social maelstrom, from
which it is impossible to be extricated,
and many an evening that Mr.. Gibson
would prefer devoting to a ringsfde
contest he is compelled to spend in the
boredom of a social function. At the
homes of fashion Dana Gibson is not an
attraction SO much on account Of his
fame as for his powers Of conversation,
for, with a peculiar dry humor and a
graphic style of narrative that would
have insured his success a writer.
he is looked upon, next to Peter Dunno
(Mr. Dooley), as being the most in
teresting talker in New York.
Personally Mr.. Gibson is big and
wholesome with an intense regard for
everything manly. perhaps even brutal
and gorgeous exhibitions do not enter
tain him nearly SO much as a struggle
where grit and prowess count. Il would
rather see that fight between Fftzsim-
mons and JeffrieS," he said recently
than be in Westminster Abbey on coro-
nation day. The one is simply a page
ant that any one might arrange; the
other represents the utmost human
strength and acumen.
"Fitzsimmons regard as the very
last word In athletic accomplishments
He is much more admirable than Ajax
or even old Atlas supporting the world.
AS for college football players they are
mere stripping amateurs. Think what
this pugilist does His whole being is so
wonderfully attuned that he may put
his every ounce of weight and muscle
in a single blow SO terrific that it would
knock down a row of men. Yet he
keeps his balance and follows up with
another blow just as hard. To stand
before that 1.-THE. compact body of his
with cleaning narrow eyes picking out
every frailty is enough to make one
faint with fear. It is like standing in
front of loaded cannon. Those living
rods of steel, his arms work with a
precision and force that suggest hidden
powerful machinery. To him fighting
is a real science"
Mr.. Gibson not only admires Fitz as
fighter, but as a good family man
and a humorist. "He isl says the ar
fist zone of the few novel and interest
ing men that I have met. Now think
of this for a diverting personality" and
Mr. Gibson relates the experience of his
friend Bob Davis, a New York news
paper man. who was sent out to Carson
City to cover the Corbett- Fitzsimmons
fight.
One evening when Davis was sitting
at supper in the training quarters, a
few days before the battle, very much
absorbed in diet of apple pie, Fitz-
simmons conceived the pretty joke of
tapping the newspaper man on the head
with a feather pillow. Winking at the
others he slyly approached, twirling the
Davis, blissfully unconscious, continued
with his round genial face immersed in
the recesses of the pie.
f,, line blow that Eitzsimmons let fall play;
from his ,,f seat to o. the floor completely
ne minn Has ana ad fb n95 to for ABOUT
veranda, but it being winter time he
a ffr,o in, he
The connection brought At MT Mrs s"P F1tzsim-
mons to the scene, and though Bob was re-
the tears stood in the pugiIist's eyes.
Bob F1tssimmons,'' declared his better
YOU fight it be- SiH eanen m to y u
Just to thing hittin' of a guest in your
II You will but he's r mortaiiy IN nls snd
you're murderer
The The pugilist who had summoned the
with the sr RIos'@f Fl aint
bad he cried, but to ave i'm think is
best friend it him.,, and when Dave final
Until his RIBS near fSe cPake him
ass to no f harm I'll h s90 Ban NE Key
there with that he brought the s< pillows VS.
Stable the hea ssSag USING
a vital sa point. AT any rate: Hickey went
rise. and it took Is minutes to bring him
back to life But Fftz was radiant. 81
| Just wanted to show you. Bob Davis he
said. that I couldn't ave killed you. It
was just q joke"
Another curiosity of Fitz's humor was H.
Illustrated one day at Bath Beach when a
pugilist friend called to see him. The two
strolled down to the pier and were talking
| fraternally about matters of the profession
when Fitz suggested that if his friend fen
overheard with his silk hat and frock coat
| it would be funny" The friend didn't
know about that, and was edging away
| when Fitz suddenly caught him by the
headlong into the sea a fail of about %
feet The splash and cry brought police
| and q crowd but they only found the
heavy weight clapping his hands with gIee
while his friend was swimming desper-
| ately to recover his silk hat.