Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
GENTLEMAN JIM" SPELLS SEVERAL
"REMINISCENCES OF THE OLDEN TIMES
By Clarence L. Cullen.

thing by mentioning prize fighting to him.
But he's fine old boy and he treated
you bully. Don't mind what he said
DR.. Talmage Kids Him.
mot long after that met another man
of note in his day-the preacher Talmage.
They tell me that he was all there with
the acrobatic thing, but l never heard
him preach He sawed off something on
me when we were introduced that didn't
tumble to the meaning OF till I'd asked
somebody. You want to remember that !
was a pretty youngish fellow at that time,
and maybe a bit raw when happened to
be steered against the toppy ones, though
l tried to ne there with some kind of a
bluff and stall every time. and never side
stepped meeting folks because I felt. as
often did. that they had me buffaloed
when 1t came to the know thing.
i gave short sparring and bag-punch-
ing exhibition, for a charitable benefit, at
the gymnasium of the " NJ. c. A. in
Philadelphia, and after the show the head
man of the gymnasium introduced me to
the Rev. Mr.. Talmage. who was present.
knew him by reputation, of course. and
l was rather surprised that he'd care to
mitt up with a prize fighter. and he was
the one to ask to have me presented to
him. al that.
Well. WELL said the cadaverous man.
cooking his head to one side, and looking
me over out of the Sits of his almost
completely closed eyes in a queer sort of
way that made me nervous. Well,
WELL and SO here we have young David,
and the time near at hand when he'll be
at battle with the great Goliath, eh?'
Now. l hate to own up to 1t, but dye
know was just on the point of replying
that hadn't signed articles to meet any.
body by the name of Goliath? But the
head gymnasium man who introduced us
kicked me on the leg in time and didn't
give myself away. Just mumbled some
thing, that's all.
But you'll be at closer quarters with
your giant than David was with his the
preacher man wound up, still cycling me
slitwise, and then with rather clammy
handshake he went away.
Il remarked to the head gymnasium
man that believed the famous sky pilot
had been trying to kid me. He laughed.
Just a little way he has with him, that's
ALL he said.
Who's this duck Goliath that he
thinks I'm signed to meet?' l asked him.
and he laughed again. of course, nor do I
blame him when I think it over. He told
me the story of David and Goliath, that
I'd really heard something about as kid,
at that. but. nevertheless. the recollection
Of my meeting with the Rev. Mr.. Talmage
made me feel more or less cheap for a
long time.
"Gentleman' Sure Enough.
"Once had to stand for bunch Of hot
ones from q titled English woman. She
was a very handsome and sprightly mid
dle-aged lady when I met her-but what
raps! I met one Of her male relatives. a
clever enough young Englishman and
quite a fair boxer. during the worlds fair
at Chicago and one night he. asked me to
take dinner with him at the Hotel Rich
elieu, on the lake front in Chicago, where
he and Lady s. were staying. On our
way through the main hall after the din
ner we quite accidentally ran into Lady
S., who was bound for the elevator. My
young English friend may have been, and
probably was, a bit embarrassed when
Lady s.. his very near relative. saw and
spoke to him under the circumstances. but
the young Britisher was a thoroughbred
to the core. He stifened an instant after
he had caught his female relatives eye,
and in the most brittle way, as II he'd
been suddenly put to some kind OF a test
or other. he introduced us.
LADY S. he said, in that choppy way
Britishers have. L beg to be allowed to
present to you Mr.. James ]. Corbett, an
American of my acquaintance from San
Francisco. and the champion pugilist of
the world
Take it from me, I felt like more diff
ferent kinds of fool than a man whose
hat blows off and who then goes sprawl
ing on an icy pavement when he starts to
chase the lid. For minute the lady look
ed stupefied with establishment. Then she
grabbed a pair of eyeglasses that hung
from a chain around her neck and sized
me up. l was in evening clothes.
"'Surely. Reginald. this is one of your
horrid jests.' she said. sharply addressing
her young male relative.
mo, it is not he promptly replied.
"'Fawncy nova pugilist looking quite
the gentleman-extraordina the states.
really! the good lady said then. and she
air, and I was staked to my first high
handshake.
Charmed said I, DESTROYS