The Washington herald., 1908-08-16


eny- For instance. IT is interesting 20
know Just what Father and Mother Gotch
think Of their famous son. Frank. and
his wrestling game. says the Des Mo;nes
Register and Lender Living down on the
Old farm in Humboldt. in a simple little
world, that is in marked contrast 10 their
boys world. they have much time for
reflection upon his ways. which have
gone so far from their own ways. What
Go they say 10 themselves and their
1eighbors about FRANKIE
Il Is G better time 10 ask that question
now than g dozen years ago or so. be-
cause the old folks nave changed their
minds a lot since that time The fact IS
Ihar there was day when the voices
OF Father and Mother Gotch did not join
IN EuDboldr's unstinted praise Of his
hero Of The ropeG arena They had their
doubts once upon a time Though the
world al large. and Humboldt IN particu-
lar, was enthusiastic over their boy. they
weren't altogether satisfied that his buSi-
ness was Just the right thing. and their
attitude then was the bit OF bitterness in
Franks cup Of happiness For. be IL
known that Frank was always q good
boz TO his father and mother. he valued
their g0od opinion Of him as a boy should.
and II g-ieved him 20 think that they
Old not give their complete approval OF
his game.
lIr. and Mrs. G0tch came from honest
hard-w0rking. thrifty German stock They
eUiE-gted 20 this country many years
ago, and they have lived down at the old
GOtCh farm most OF their married life To
be lazy 20 them was a crime. 70 be idle
was almost an urpardonable sin The
outside world. with all its sin and vice,
It's poverty and crime. seemed Ike an
awful place The cities We're places that
lUred ignorant country boys 20 desrruc-
1io1. while horse-raciug. boxing gam
bling. and even wrestling were desires
OF the devil In their simple, quiet way
they had come 10 believe that the farm
Tas ra= place for O. bog % live and die
or They knew that farming was q
Eealt1ful upright and profitable business.
and that with them the -euprarlous OF
The world were absent
Parents DfsIiked wrestling.
So u is not altogether strange thai
when son Frank. began acquiring both
.f0nGness and a knack at wrestling away
back in rEe -Ss Eis parents looked
down -7o1 5r Mrs. G0tch was most en-
przt5c. for Father Gotch. owing 10 III
LAID while be was fighting for The North
tu --- civil war. mad been unable 70 take
q real active part IN the affairs Of the
family and the farm for q number Of
years
But Frank persisted in learning The
game. and l- was with grave uiscivi1ES
rla- his parents saw his wrestling career
launched 5l I,,1. and when In 1851 a man
came -G the farm one afternoon and asked
Frank q he would SO TO Alaska with
him. he having been recommended by
E-~U-e- Burns. who had turned down the
proposition the G0Jch family thought
things were surely going from bad 10
Blr the climax came when Gotch left
on the Ersr train with this usw-found
partner for the Kl0uGiSe- Mother CTcrc-
Then gave I'D her boy as lost forever. an
other victim 90 sport and the devil Ms
G1-cl from the 6rs- never believed -l
t1a game Sl- knew no one could ever
some out OF 60 q respectable man NJ
G1-cl was -1r quite SD sure and when,
o the surprise OF the family Gotch re-
turned from -Ee far North. healthy and
s-lL a human being. and besides with
$500 10 his vest pocket II was DIFF
fer1Er. with father a. least. Father
G0-cl was iI q guaIdarv. He had bought
go acres Of land Cheaply. but was forty
acres before he went TO ALASKA. but not
paid for On mis- return De paid for this
and bought eighty more. The old gen
LIeIla0 was -luuGersTruCk Il CUulGu'r
be explained His boy. in spite OF his
mothers talk. was all right 50 ne eX-
tended his hand 90 Frank. and It was
warmly shaken
Only Mother Objects
Frank felt better. and ssiH more so
when The rest Of the family sided IN with
pa mat is all except mother
That was the one bitter feeling in
Franks breast. his mothers attitude. BE
.vas true American son. and dearly
loved his kind old mother. and It hurt
him % see that she did not approve Of
The game Her distaste for all so-caued
sports and many OF the ways Of the
world were so Unborn that It was impos-
-Eiole for her TO make an exception 10 her
own child She could not see the differ
.enee between clean sport and its counter
fpa-L Life was either all bad OF all good.
Ehere Vsare no IFS and ands. no exceptions
or comprises in her religion of daily Iiv-
ding. Tne roaming life Of wrestling. 50
antagonists to her own. so fuu Of the
exciting. so in touch with the sin Of man.
went against her. She did not Ike his
business in the least. she wanted her boy
70 settle down and live quietly She even
Tel- paDg Of shame al having son in
such an occupation as wrestling
To those who have been in close touch
with Mother Gorch II has been an inter
estiug thing, this gradual change from an
extreme dislike o. 10 q wholesome pride
IN her sons wrestling achievements. for
Mrs GOtch al last was compelled or
gladly willing. 10 admit that her son and
his business were both flrst-claSs. At first
she never did think he would amount 10
well as thrown away
But how the money did pour in 10 help
The folks down on the farm and what a
stream Of victories continued 70 fail at
Franks feet
Each year since 1SS9 saw more honOrs
and more money. and Mrs. Gotch kept
losing bit Of her anim0sity.
About two years ago Frank came home
from an extended trip He had plenty
OF money and some time 10 spare. and he
decided that De would give his little moth
er the trip Of her life However. il was
with a bit Of misgivinK that ne ap-
preached the subject. But one day he
asked her II she would Ike 10 take q trip
70 Chicago with him
AIrs. GOtch at first said IL was out OF the
question.
Takes Trip with Frank
She? Why. he wouldn't want 70 be both
cred with her. and then. besides. she'd feel
out of place in such big city The farm