Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-19
JlCK 'BR|EN
OUT|FUL SON
HOME LIFE OF BOXER CAUSES
ADMIRATION
Has Erected a Mansion In the Quaker
City, Where He Lives In Prlncely
Style During His Hours
of Leisure

The heavy fist Of Jack O'Brien Zeal
him Mr.. Hagan if you would please
him) has beaten its way to fortun,
that few of the pugilistic fraternity
can boast of. The champion heavy
weight lives in the most fashionable
part of Philadelphia, surrounded by
luxuries that belong to the man whC
counts his income in five figures yearly
with neighbors to the right of him, tn,
left of him and in. front and behind
him whose names are daily in the Sc.
lect society columns of the newspapers
1t prompts one to smile at first tC
think of the hero of so many hare
fought battles in the roped arena set.
Ting down among the four hundred oi
the Quaker City, but ones amusement
turns to honest admiration after a few
hours spent in the company of Mr.
Hagan in his fine home.
Jack O'Brien is one of the best ex-
amples of dutiful son and affection
ate brother to be found on this conti-
nent. He bought the fine house in
which he lives solely to provide resi-
dence for his father and mother and a
small regiment of brothers and sisters.
Jack fights not for the bright eyes
of sweetheart, for he says he hasn't
one His battles are fought for father
and mother and family. They regard
him, and, of course, rightly, as the
peer of every man who lives and at
least equal to the best of his high
| class neighbors.
| Many amusing stories are told of the
attitude of the humble parents of the
pugilst when introduced to the splen.
dor of their new home. Jack set up 6
carriage and added to it a number
of vehicles of lesser importance-one
for the little brother and sister, dos
cart for his own short trips and a
brougham for state occasions.
The father of the pugilist has since
confided to his particular friends that
he wanted to drive the carriage for
his son, and took it quite ill that Jack
would not let him fill in his time on the
box of the brougham instead of loung-
ing around the house enjoying his sons
bounty.
The father of the champion thinks
the coachman Jack hires a superfiuous
adjunct to the stables. Hagan Sr.
knows he can drive as well as any
coachman living, and he cannot or
could not understand Jacks objection
to his attending to this department of
the champions domestic affairs.
Dinner time at the house of the
pugilist is a very interesting hour. Nc
millionaire's table could be better fur
nished or supplied than that of Jack
O'Brien. The pugilist occupies the
place of honor at the head of the table
His father insisted upon this, and Jack
humored him, although he would sooner
see his parents seated while he man.
aged things.
! There is no ceremony during the din.
ner hour. No butler stands in solemn
state in the room. If anything is need
| ed one of the girls gets up and fetches
| it from the kitchen. or, more frequent.
| ly. the servant is requested to bring il
in, no one thinking it necessary to rise
| from the table to give the order. Mary
in the kitchen adjoining the dining
room, can hear the command to bring
in some more potatoes" without tn,
necessity of any one exerting hersel
further than is required to call out from
the table. Perfect good nature prevail:
all around. Jack OBrien is equally af
fectionate to his parents or his broth
ers or sisters.
1t sounds odd to hear the champion
heavyweight of the world address hii
mother in the gentlest of accents, il
this way:
Now, mother dear, think you ar,
mistaken there" Or Mother, dom
you be worrying about that. l viii at
tend to it for you" He is the best Of
sons.
A devout man, too, is the prize fight
er, apparently, for in the corner of hi
bedroom is a little shrine before which
a light burns ana the place where th'
worshlper kneels in front of this shrine
bears evidence of being well worn.
Adjoining the bedroom is the troph!
room. Here Jack keeps his stock o
curios Photographs of the fighter il
every possible pose adorn the wall
with highly colored testimonials to hi
prowess presented in England and else
where This is the only room in whicl
evidence of the champions avocatiol
is ostentatiously visible.
Elsewhere there Is nothing to sug
gest that the house is not the abode o
one of the Drexels or Willings. Every
thing Is in good taste from the hand
some clock in the hallway to the furni
ture of the champions bedroom.
Jack plays the host Well He is no
the least self conscious. Neither is h
"chesty' about his fine residence
After seeing Mr.. Jack O'Brien In fight
ing togs, battling for fame and a biz
stake In the ring, 1t is quite an cd,
experience to meet Mr.. Hagan, dresse,
in ultra fashionable attire i'm the SAC, 90
house that he has purchased from tn
profits Of his pugilistic career.
But the experience is distinctly
. pleasant one and, much as the visito
may have admired Mr.. O'Brien battling
ne cannot help feeling a vast amour
more admiration for Mr. Hagan, tn
afreetionate, genrous son and brother.
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