The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-29
James j. Corbett Is Ambitious
as an Actor.
Aims to Give the World a New
Hamlet.
STILL HOPES TO FIGHT
But 1t Will Be Jeffries or No
One.
A Great Admirer of Little Bat
ling Nelson.
STILL HOPES TO FIGHT

Minneapolis. Mimi, Dec. 29.-James
J. Corbett, the man who plucked the
laurel wreath from the head of the
militant OHM l. Sullivan, Will play
Hamlet
The former champion has taken to
the stage seriously and in d short time
the billboards will be flashing forth the
announcement that the former cham
piOn will enact the part of the melan-
choly Dane.
Hereafter Gentleman Jim" will not
be a pugilist-actor. He will be an ac-
tor-pugilist.
Mr. Corbett is original gentleman.
He does not believe in doing things as
they are usually done For example, he
graduated into the championship from
behind the wicket of a bank window
Thespian fame has not been usually at
tainec through the prize ring, but Mr..
CorbStL modestly believes he is equal
to the occasion. The actor-pugilist has
sentatiOn of Hamlet. He is working
out his creation now. However, he may
be relied upon to give an original con-
ceptiOn of the character which will
make Booth and Mansfield look to their
laurels.
The former champion says he still
has his punch He trains every sum-
Tner. and when Laertes gets gay in the
Corbett presentation of Hamlet that
gentleman may be expected to get a
left hook in the jaw which will con-
vince him that fencing is an out of date
exercise and what he viii do to his
royal father is liable to set his Danish
majesty back quite a ways.
StnI After the Champion
I was on the stage before 1 went
into the ring" said the former pugil-
list. After my fight with Sullivan 1
took up acting. but not seriously. Since
then people who are better judges than
have thought l had it in me, and
next season / shall appear under one
OF the leading managers in the country
In light comedy This is merely a step
ping stone TO my higher ambition 1
don't see why 1 can't put on a good
Hamlet Some of these fellows be-
lieve Shakespeare is a back number. 1
have another bunch on the subject, and
] am going to put on a new Hamlet
that viii make the wise ones wake up.
OF course in my dramatic career l
viii have to creep up. did it in the
ring. and I can do it on the stage. You
wait and see"
Asked about the possibility of an
other match with FitzsimmOns, Corbett
replied that there will be nothing do
ing between him and RED Robert -
mo second-rate fights for me-" said
Corbett II 1 fight it will be for the
championship, and I will pay no at
tention to the deadwood. 1 have been
successful in the show business and 1
can make more money acting than I
SodAG " 0epenulnS on the ngnC1nS
game JEFF Is the only man 1 shall go
after
What do you think of Frank Gotch
the wrestler, as a pugilistic champion
possibility" Corbett was asked
I never met the man." said Corbett
7 don't believe in knocking those fell
lows 1t looks like hot air Just now,
but Il the man is sincere he ought to
be given 4 chance"
Corbett is a great adrnirer of Battling
Nelson, and said the Hegewich boy
showed himself to be made of cham
pion caliber
The reports of the fight showed that
Britt outboXed Nelson, while the latter
Showed superior strength, and appar-
emily possesses the harder punch said
Corbett.