The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-13
WILLY PAINTER TELLS
OF BOUTS WITH THE Gar

Willy Painter, the clean-cut immacu-
lately attired youth who, with his troupe
at Keith's this week. gives a comedy ac-
robatic act that is by far tho best and
most unique thing of the kind the local
vaudeville stage has ever had, has a
world reputation. He has travelled
all over the world and has had enough In
teresting and amusing experiences to fill
a book. One of the most amusing that he
tells is OF how he tried TO teach the Car
OF far-off Russia to box. The Car was
desirous OF learning the fine points of tho
manly art" and on recommendation OF
one OF his secretaries Painter was intro
duced as an exponent and instructor OF
the fiistic game.
tive OF his trials and tribulations while
he was trying his hardest TO tickle,
teach and appease" the first Russian"
'Of course" said Mr.. Painter, i've
had lot of skiddoo. a person can't go
roaming up and down the world, year in
and year out, as l have done, without
knocking up against some sharp corners
OF human nature with his funny bone.
Dumping into a war or two or revolu-
ton now and again are IN days work
when one lays down his course from Aus
Town and UP to ST. Petersburg and back
again. But | suppose the queerest time |
ever had was when | taught boxing TO
the Car of Russia
ITS not such bad life, either" he
SAYS. "You sec few years back | was
playing an engagement at the Aquarium
i'm St Petersburg, when my manager told
me one night that an officer from the
court wanted 10 see me. When he came
HE nj
he told me that the Car had taken an
interest in me. He was particularly anx-
ious 10 know II | was any relation TO
Painter. who had taught Emperor Alex
ander ILL., weight lifting and other things.
SAW POLICE FIRST.
"He must have taken back good re-
port anyway for a day or two later j was
commanded to go to the police. OF course
I went: but 1 had 20 go 20 schooi first. a
court officer told mo "A lot of things
must do and say, and another one told
me how TO dress, and | had to get gold
buttons sewed on my evening coat and
make other preparations. | was taken In
TO the presence OF the Car after going
through considerable red tape.
~ have heard OF YOU" said the Gar.
4 would like 90 go and see you perform,
but and he shrugged his shoulders wear
iy. YOU know circumstances VIII not
permit I thought then that the position
OF Car had some drawbacks. I've sent
for you. he went on because ] wish to
learn how 10 exercise ] wish 10 be able
to Use my hands and body.
80 I stripped to the silk tights which
I had nut on underneath my dress cloth
ing, and stood before him. He felt my
muscles and stood back and sighed, and
said: I would like to be strong as that
then shrugged his shoulders, but OF
course ] cannot
II turned somersaults for him and gave
him as much of my performance as was
possible. and he was one OF the most In
terested spectators | ever had.
"what exercises should / take" he
asked.
II looked at him ard said he should
box.
Il have often wished TO learn boxing. II
is the American sport. Arc YOU Ameri-
CAM
Il told him was a naturalized clti.
zen, coming from an English mother anc
a German father. That also interested
him
1T was arranged then that / should
give him boxing lessons. But we had tc
wait. Ordinary boxing gloves would MOI
do. the officer OF the court told me. So
under my direction, two pairs were made
OF fine silk with tho finest eider-down tC
stuff them. His were made 50 that he
could deliver a good blow with them, and
mine were made big. SO that IL ! did hap
pen to hit no great damage would be done
COSTUME OF SILK.
sI was asked what the car should wear,
and when said gymnasium suit would
be the best ms court officer was horriled.
That was pronounced out Of tho qre>ion:
Finally Il was arranged that he should
have a costume Of silk that would give
him freedom Of movement without putting
him too much on the plane OF an athlete.
"yyl,en All was arranged / was takcn
again 10 the palace. where a room had
been fitted up for our exercise.
You must not hit the emperor. cau-
toned = court officer. show him every
thing possible. but DO not hit him.
suppose l should become little ex-