Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-17
BRESTLERS LONG CAREERS
New York sun

new lofk sun.
Probably no class of athletes have a
longer vogue than wrestlers. Unlike
some prizetighters, their careers are
measured by a span of years, usually
from 25 to so This is more OF less due
to the fact that they are a pretty alb
stemious lot when out of training as well
as when in.
In order to last on the mat a grappler
must lead a far more careful life than a
pugilist if he hopes to make a name and
livelihood in his business. For at least
nine months in the year he must keep in
the best Of condition. In fact he must
be in training all of the time. 1t is diff
ferent, though with the scrapper The
fighter who is on top of the heap or who
is striving for a title is not required TO
take as much exercise as the grappler.
A pugilist at best engages in a half dozen
matches a year, whereas some wrestlers
figure in as many contests each month.
Tom Cannon, the dean of wrestlers,
who is close to his Goth year, said re-
Gently that he did not begin to realize
the fine points Of his profession until he
was near 4O AT this age prizehghters
are invariably on the down grade.
Farmer Burns took up the sport on the
mat at 35 Today, past 50 he is capable
of holding his own with wrestlers who
have not yet reached 30 Like good
wine he seems to improve with age.
Tom Jenkins is 40 and may be said to
be so many years young. Jenkins has
no intention OF retiring from the mat At
present he isinstructing future defenders
of our country at West Point in the art
of wrestling. Every day jenkins is
y L.. %.
and ambitious youngsters. Sometimes
he meets as many as 20 pupils day, yet
he finds his occupation congenial as well
as profitable. Harvey Parker, for a
long time the champion welterweight of
the world is AZ. Parker is still up and
doing Parker is no laggard for work
In the various cities where wrestling is
popular he is usually seen in matches
with men much younger than himself,
vet he is able TO hold his own and defeat
his rivals in quick and decisive style.
Parker is an athlete who neither drinks
nor smokes He is always in iettle and
revels in plenty OF indoor and outdoor
exercise.
Take another wrestler, George Bothner
for instance. At IS Bothner is the recog-
nized lightweight champion of the world
Meeting Bothner in a casual way no one
would mistake him for q man OF his years
He has the appearance of a boy of 2l
Bothner is never out of shape. He likes
exercise and plenty of it, Bothner
always is on the alert for matches and in
variably increases his record by al least
10 or - contests each year, not counting
OF course, arduous labor as instructor at
Princeton University.
One of the most careful wrestlers in the
world as to his mode of living is probably
Georges Hackenschmidt the Russian
Lion. He is a most superstitious man
and believes that as soon as he quits his
present mode of life his great strength
will desert him. His observations of the
demoralizing effects Of "wine, woman and
sons" are interesting. He practices as
he breaches and does not advise anything
that he does not practice himself For
instance, he likes candy. He says that
sweets OF the best quality will make some
persons strong. It has succeeded in his
case. He is an early riser and an early
retirer. The simplest OF foods are good
enough for him each day throughout the
year. AT long intervals he indulges in a
glass of beer. This is taken with his
meals and used more as a stimulant than
anything else He believes in hard work.
He says that this is the best mental as
well as bodily exercise he knows Of He
likes to be active most of the time.
When he Is not training he finds plenty
TO occupy his mind with theatrical en-
gagements or investments
Underestimate is a frugal man He
saves his money and always is looking
forward TO the proverbial rainy day.
Good books are his companions in his
spare moments. He expects TO be at his
business when all the present champion
prizeiighters have become "dead to the
nng from excesses Hackcnschmdt is
%. At 20 he started wrestling. Today
he is regarded as the youngest champion
OF champions the carpet has known for
some time. Hackenschmidt is probably
the richest wrestler In the world. He
acknowledges being worth 100000.
and with am earning capacity of 81 200 a
week the Russian ought to reach the
halt million mark in wealth before he
retires.
Another wrestler who attributes his
preservation TO the simple life is Hurhev
Leonard. instructor in the art az the New
York Athletic Club. Leonard admits
that he is almost at the 4O-vear mark hrt
he does not look it. He is a trim set
young man, with broad shoulders and n
clear complexion And Loonards daily
routine al the club is not abed of roses
lie has large class OF strong young men
proficient under his instruction, and they
are told to 60 at him for all they are worth
lhey do It. This sort of work would
easily wreck an ordinary man but Leonard |
seems to thrive on il; and it is all due