The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-12-28
ROOSEVELT AS A BOXER
Mike Donovan Tells Of His
Bouts With the President.
URGED TO HIT HARD AND OFTEN

Dean of Boxer- snys CbieT executive
knows How 60 Give aud Take
BIows-He Had a. Much Fun a. n
Boy--Is as 1.-the a. an Indian and
Can Hit Like Lightnins.
Mike Donovan. dean OF boxers got
home recently from Washington, where
he boxed with the president Tor an
hour every afternoon for four days.
says the New York World II was the
frst OF a series OF bouts which are to
continue for some days Donovan talk.
"a OF his experience as follows.
II was the arst time ] Ind boxed
with Mr.. Roosevelt since be- was gov
ernor II anybody tells you he's an
easy mark. don't believe H. lie knows
how 20 use his head too. I never saw
a man pick up faster than be In those
four days
1--WE boxed every afternoon from ESQ
until nearly bali past In bis study. A
wrestling mat was placed on the door
for us. bat / found Il too thick, and we
used the regular carpet. The president
wore a PAL Of riding trousers, light
undcrshlrt and pair Of canvas shoes
Don't mind hitting me- he said
right az the start OF 4 want You TO
bic me as often as you can, and don't
mind how hard either We started on
IN good fashion and every time we hit
each other he laughed good naturally.
Il was not any tapping. | viii tell you.
They were good, honest blows Of the
sort that you wouldn't rim into know
lnrly We had seven ounce gloves. The
president took his part Of IL always
with a laugh
Il never saw pleasanter man OF one
who gets more enjoyment out OF q
thing lie had as much fun as boy,
aud he laughed ana Joked all the time.
Hes fighter and knows how TO give
and take blows lie doesn't try 10
knock man out. but he does like 20
know that he has hit him.
"Hc kept me busy. and was not
running into any OF his blows either.
Don't pet the Idea that I was there 10
teach hlm--not 10y any means lie is a
veteran boxer and can hold his own
with the best OF them in the clubs.
know few men who box regularly In
the athletic clubs who can worst him
"One day he had TO rush away to at
tend the diplomatic reception. whore
he shook hands with over a thousand
persons. lie told me he would much
prefer to take bis book and sit down
aud read.
Every day while we boxed some one
came In and watched. His boy Theo-
dOre was always there with his two
cousins. football players. and several
times men came In to talk with him on
business while he was boxing 4 man
from Texas came IN TO arrange about
his making a hunting trip to Texas d.
rectly after Inauguration. He said to
me, oh. how ! wish II We're here now.
lie Is longing for the recreation and the
exercise In the open Il viii give him.
THE life IN Washington has made
him stout, AMI he Is not as well trained
as when he was governor. To keen
down the weight man must diet, AMI
Il is impossible for the president TO diet
himself and attend as many dinners as
he has TO attend. He misses tremen-
dously his active exercise. But he Is
as 1.-THE as an Indian yat supple In
every joint. and he can hit like light
ming
IL have arranged to go down several
more times 20 box with him aud Il
give lessons TO Theodore junior. | gave
lessons TO young Theodore every day
lie IA now a fine. strapping young DO!
seventeen years old, and weighs l35
pounds. thought when I first gave
him lessons at Albany that he would
never be a strong man. but he Is devel
oping and viii be as tall as his father
lie is a tighter, too, and a good hitter
gave lessons TO him and his two cous
ms.