The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-24
Mike Donovan Tells Of His
Bouts With President.
HIT HARD AND OFTEN
Dean of Boxers Says Chief Executive
Knows How to Give and Take
Blows-He Had as Much Fun
as Boy.

Mike Donovan, dean of boxers, goi
home recently from Washington, where
he boxed with the president for an
hour every afternoon for four days
says the New York World. 1t was the
first Of a series Of bouts which are to
continue for some days Donovan talk
ed of his experience as follows:
1T was the first time / had boxed
with Mr.. Roosevelt since be was gov
ernor. If anybody tells you he's an
easy mark, don't believe it. He knows
how to use his head too | never saw
man pick up faster than he in those
four days.
we boxed every afternoon from $50
until nearly half past In his study. Al
wrestling mat was placed on the floor
for US, but found it too thick, and we
used the regular carpet The president
wore pair Of riding trousers, q light
undersbirt and pair of canvas shoes.
Don't mind hitting me- he said
right at the start of. I want you to
hit me as often as you can, and don't
mind how hard either We started OH
in good fashion, and every time we hit
each other he laughed good naturally.
It was not any tapping, will tell you.
They were good, honest blows Of the
sort that you wouldn't run into know
ingly. We had seven ounce gloves. The
president took his part Of it always
with laugh.
4 never saw pleasanter man or one
who gets more enjoyment out Of a
thing He had as much fun as a boy,
and he laughed and joked all the time.
He's fighter and knows how to give
and take blows He doesn't try to
knock a man out, but he does like to
know that lie has hit him.
He kept me busy. and was not
running into any Of his blows either.
Don't get the idea that was there to
teach him-not by any means. He 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.
Zone day he had to rush away to at
tend the diplomatic reception, where
he shook hands with over a thousand
persons. He told me he would much
prefer to take bis book and sit down
and 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. A man
from Texas came in to arrange about
his making a hunting trip to Texas di-
rectly after Inauguration. He said to
me, oh. how wish it were here now
lie is longing for the recreation and the
exercise in the open it will give him.
The life in Washington has made
him stout, and he is not as well trained
as when he was governor. To keep
down the weight a man must diet. and
it IL 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 vet, supple in
every joint and he can hit like light
ming.
Il have arranged TO go down several
more times to box with him and to
give lessons to Theodore junior / gave
lessons to young Theodore every day. |
He Is now fine, strapping young boy,
seventeen years old. and weighs 1875
pounds l thought when first gave |
him lessons at Albany that he would
never be strong man, but he is devel. |
oping and will be as tall MS his father.
He is fighter, too, and a good hitter.
| gave lessons to him and bis two cous-
ms.
"IfI had been an ambassador the
president could not have treated ME
better, He Is magnificent man. in all |
round man, who is 4 good. honest fight /
en- who has not a vicious streak in him.
He doesn't enjoy the social strain he
has to go through. and / know be
would love to escape it, but it goes with /
the high Office he holds and he never
shirks anything even good honest
blow"