The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25

sometimes lured the obnoxious parsonage
into Valkenburghs saloon. next door
where there IS now hat store, and IN
loaded him on the hospitality Of that
long-suffering German. But Billy gen
orally accomplished an eviction from the
art gallery so artfully that the evicted,
If he had any rational consciousness
whatever, felt himself rather battered
than otherwise by the polite attentions
of SO famous a parsonage.
He Knew Jiu-Jitsu.
On the rare occasions when physical
force actually became necessary. after
all other expedients had failed, Edwards
quickly proved that he had not permitted
himself to go stale" Somewhere OF
other he had picked up several jiu-jltsu
tricks and he was also clever In all the
arts of the skilled wrestler When he
really had to lay hands upon an obstrep-
erous belligerent he soon had him COM
pletely cowed. and the offender usually
found himself out in Twenty-fourth street
without having been actually struck and
without quite realizing how he had got
there.
Once it looked as though Edwards tact
and proves alike were to be put 10 a
crucial test. with no less u parsonage than
the only John L. Sullivan as his antagOn-
st. Sullivan had recently whipped Paddy
Ryan, and, with his usual train of silk
hated satellites, John l. had cropped
into tie Hoffman in process of celebrat-
ing his victory. He had already cele-
brated extensively elsewhere, and when
he reached the Hoffman the big fellow
ms IN, or,a Of DO
sullivan and his friends ordered wine
literally. and the heavyweight champion
became more boisterous and abusive. Ed
wards stepped behind his chair and eau
toned him mildly that rowdyism must
cease He appealed to John LIS better
instincts. but the appeal only enraged
Sullivan, who arose, glowering, over the
little man and showering him with abu-
sve epithets. Jacobs. the hotel detective.
and the cafe walters were quietly closing
in to the support of Edwards, and every
customer in the place was on the alert,
wondering just what would happen If the
heavyweight colossus and the former
lightweight champion should really come
to blows.
Serve no more liquor 10 this party"
said Billy Edwards quietly to the head
bartender, without taking his watchful
eyes off Sullivan. The giant understood
the order and advanced a step toward
Billy" redoubling his wordy abuse Ed
wards did not finch. and II looked as
though the next moment must precipitate
the most serious ''rough-housen in the
Hoffmans history.
At that moment the Twenty-fourth
street door opened and in stalSed the ma
jestic form OF Roscoe COnkling. The New
York Senator was proud of his physical
prowess, as he was Of his cOmely person.
elOquence. and grace. He was especially
proud Of the fact that he had more than
once been permitted 10 spar with the re-
doubtable John L. He was aware also
that Sullivan liked him and that he pos
sessed more influence than did most men
over the erratic champion. drunk or sober.
Conkling took in the situation at a
glance, strobe over 10 where Sullivan
stood, placed his hands on the big fell
lows huge shoulders, whispered a few
words IN his ear. and in two minutes
John /. Sullivan. quieted and Modified.
was on his way TO cab outside. under
the guidance Of Senator Conkling. That
closed the incident and the Hoffman
House COterie was destined never to
know what would have happened If it
came to a Showdown" between Sullivan
and Edwards.