Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-15
WOMEN WATCH
0'BRIEN TRAIN
PHlLADELPHlAN GIVES VARIED
PERFORMANCES
Quaker Delves In Literature Between
Times and Possesses a surpris-
ing knowledge Of Various
Subjects


Tommy Burns and Jack O'Brien are
working away in preparation for the
greatest ring attraction ever scheduled
for Los Angeles. and one that will as
suredly give the world a man entitled
to claim a championship.
Consensus of opinion has decided that
barring Jim Jeffries there are no two
boxers as worthy of claiming the active
title as are O'Brien and Burns.
The question of their supremacy is
about to be decided and when the
famous ringsters climb between ropes
spectators will witness them trained to
the minute and ready for a struggle
which bids fair to form scintillating
chapter of ring history
For this reason Jack O'Brien was
working yesterday and centering all
his sage boxing wisdom on the thou
sand and one little details which he is
able to call into play when preparing
for struggle that Will add to his for
tune and mayhap to his fame.
Strikingly different from the Chutes
park quarters are the environments in
which O'Brien worked yesterday. On
the auditorium stage at Venice are ar
ranged punching and striking bags. Be-
low on the floor has been squared
ring over which the 1.-THE Philadelphian
skipped and darted in that amazingly
fast fashion which no other ringster
visiting Los Angeles has displayed. OF
speed the Quaker has plenty. OF
strength there appears sufficient in
keeping with his powerful though not
gigantic frame
OBrien's training yesterday was a
repetition OF the systematic course
which he has always pursued since en-
tering the ring. AS he passed from his
living rooms to the stage the large
crowd of spectators saw a young man
stepping briskly to the rear, appearing
a moment later clad in track uniform
and looking for all the world like a
well set athlete out for less strenuous
exercise than that entailed in ring
preparation.
Women Watch o'Brien Train
Something or other about the Phila-
delphian appears to attract from quar-
ters where culture and refinement pre-
dominate. Fashionable women-many
whose names add quality to Los Ange-
les e-bookdonl-were numbered
among the spectators. Above, in one
of the boxes, was a bevy of pretty Los
Angeles society buds, chaperoned by
noted matro1 who appeared as inter-
ested in the clean cut performance as
did he- enthusiastic charges.
Not vestige of roughness was ap-
parent in the performance given by
O'Brien, and his fine athletic body was
pleasing as it flashed and whirled
about punching bag and sparring part
ners.
More interest would have been mani
Tested haG thoso in the audience caught
a glimpse of the famous boxer during
the few moments before he was called
by his good man Swanson to don train
ing togs.
Five minutes previous to the time
O'Brien walked onto the stage at Ven-
Inn TncfA flax- IA j
Skepticism may greet this statement,
but nevertheless it is true. Nestled in
little book rack hung to the side of
his room this Philadelphian has gath
cred a sparse but choice collection of
literature which would appeal to any
student.
What is more to the point, O'Bren
discusses his books with surprising in
elligence-surprising because he is
professionally engaged in the art of
showing other men how much superior
he is when it comes to a contest with
four-ounce gloves.
Whatever may be said as regards his
profession credit must be given
O'Brien for having somehow or other
attained no scattering knowledge of
things calculated to prove useful when
his days in the ring are over. 1t is
simple matter for those egotistically in
clined to display supposed yearnings
toward knowledge, with a library as
sortment. O'Brien's books however
are not shelved in his quarters with a
view of matching the woodwork The
Philadelphian can break even when it
comes to a discussion of their merits.
Says Shakespeare Is Deep
Maybe 1 am thick headed" re-
marked the Philadelphian as he. laid
aside Mr.. Shakespeare's story of king
Lear" "but this fellow can say things
that call for lot of thinking"
Now who ever heard of a prize
fighter" reading king Lear" between
times is readily to be realized when
of the classics is no hobby of recent
times is readilyq to be realized when
the Quaker referred in offhand fashion
to his liking and disliking for certain
phases of standard writings, that
sounded strangely enough coming as
they did from a man of his profession
Despite traditions of the ring, OBrien
pursues his studies with we'll defined
purpose, and beneath the jocular eX-
pressions which mark his hand-to-hand
conversation, there is a vein of serious
ness which will not be denied.
3 With lightning-like precision OBrlen
Juggled the punching bag yesterday,
and his methods We're reminiscent of
the manner in which Jim Corbett
gained fame as a bag puncher. Then
came wrestle with the sand bag
which was hung over the stage.
Abdul the Turk was first to don the
gloves with the Philadelphian. Abdul
cannot be accused of cowardice He
went at O'Brien like wild man yes
terday and really gave the Quaker a
good workout, The turk has become
imbued with the idea that his left is
about to bring him fortune, and led
constantly for O'Brien's face and body.
In jubilation over the fact that his
left is working well these days, Turk
forgets to bring his right into play and
as a result accepted more or less lab
bing while O'Brien guarded off the left.
The only casualties sustained by Abdul
occurred when Jack sent home a final
right which caught the sultan's subject
fairly on the lip, causing red to flow
therefrom.
Bob Ward, husky heavyweight, and
Swanson alternated with the Turk, and
IN all O'Brien went nine rounds, emerg-
ing from the fray with his wind in ex-
cellent condition. AS he worked yes
terday O'Brlen weighed approximately
1853 pounds. Though magnihcently built