The San Francisco call., 1905-05-14

and not amounting to anything until
middle age. or I might have been a
second or third rate bookkeeper.
1T has given me friends-maybe they.
are only fair-weather friends, but
every human being likes to have
friends
''I6 has given me better health, and
some people may laugh to hear a
fighter say this-it has made a better
man OF me all around. I'm better ma
tured. better informed. broader than I
would have been if I hadn't been a
fighter. A fighter has to be what you
call a good mixer to get along-hes
in bigger world than if he were earn
ing his living in a private. narrow way.
We'll, here I am. young and strong
and healthy. I've got everything that
most men struggle for. and I've got It
early enough, while have the capacity
to enjoy it. II I'd been lawyer in
stead, / would have had to wait for all
these things-for the money until was
too old to enjoy it, for fame until got
sour trying for it-and perhaps would
have lost my friends trying TO get the
other things, So
Well, you can see for yourself what
fighting has done for ME-"
He didn't say 1T boastfully-netther
with the pose of modesty, nor that OF
braggadocio-but quite simply. frankly.
openly, honestly, giving merely natural
expressions to natural feelings, talking
OF himself as he sees himself.
"Of course" he interposed against
his own optimism, "a fighters got to
be able TO stand the iattery, the adu-
lation. the patting on the back and all
that sort OF thing. He has TO be able to
take it for what It's worth-that's all.
That doesn't make 1t any the less
pleasant to have, though.
And he's got to make up his mind
that he'll lose 1t some time. I know
that I'll have to meet defeat some day
that's In the natural course OF events
People say to me. Jimmy, retire
now while you're on top That strikes
me as foolish Why should I? Does a
man build up for himself a big profess
sional or business success. get to the
top OF the ladder and then close out his !
business or quit his profession? No:
he gathers the fruits OF his labors.
Why shouldn't I? If I had been de-
feated on my way to the top then IL
would have hurt me. But IL I meet /
defeat now-that will be but natural.
A man can't stay at the top always:
it's good enough to have been there.
OF course, defeat will hurt when 1t
does come-I'm not looking for it-Fm
not even thinking that it's possible
yet awhile: but 1T will have to come
some day, and then shall settle down
to quiet respectability-if 1t isn't re-
spectacle TO be a fighter-and I'll have
something to settle with"
The champion OF the world-in his
class-has a philosophy Of his OVID
when it comes to Lovely Women and
the Fighter.
Its funny" he says. "but I've no.
ticed.'' with just the faintest smile OF
satisfaction, that women are the
keenest-as keen. anyway, as men-to
see fighter, that they-they like EN-
Now. take that pink tea at Bar
Harbor. where Tommy Ryan and his
sparring partner gave an exhibition for
society ladies and girls. There's moth
ing so strange about that-nothing to
be surprised at. Women are queer,
you know. They are all alike IN one
respect, no matter what difference
there is in fortune and education and
culture-the factory girl. the society
girl. the rich girl and the poor one, the
educated girl and the ignorant girl
I'm not UP on history, but think this
trait they all have dates back to the
time when force and strength counted
for everything, when each man took
what he could. OF course, every wom-
an admired that man most who could
take the most, who was the strongest
and the best fighter. That admiration
has lasted, away down deep IN every
woman's heart Every woman has an
ideal-but did you ever hear OF any
woman's ideal who wasn't big and
strong? Well, I guess it's to that you
can trace her, ah-her interest In fight
ers.
"And think. as in the case OF this
pink tea fight, women naturally want
to see anything that's forbidden to.
them. That's human nature. too.
They can't go to fights-rm not IN IA
vor Of that myself; it would spoil
the game-so they have to satisfy
their curiosity some way. and they
get up a pink tea fight for them
selves"
That such philosopher on The Sex
should have private and particular
opinions on matrimony is not surpris-
ing. No new woman and no celebrity
for himl No, sir; never!
NO" he dlsclaims. II wouldn't
marry a celebrated woman IL never
got wife. When I marry want to
be the boss. I don't want to go
around and be pointed out as Mrs
So-and-So's husband. not I. think
the man should be the head OF the
family; that his wife should consult
him and defer to him and consider
his wishes in everything. That's the
proper way for a wife to do-and then
it's natural for the man to take care
of her and provide for her and pro-
tect her. I don't mean that Ia like
one OF those helpless women for a
wife.
"If I were going 10 maryland. OF
course, I will some day. think man
ought tod like my wife to be ath-
letic, not too athletic. but strong