The Washington herald., 1909-01-10

Prom the chef Buropezn correspondent q the
LafTaa News Bureau
London. Jan. SIN England alone, ap-
parently, OF the three countries chiefly
interested in the Burns-JOhnson fight.
was the negro the favorite In both senses
II the word. People here both hoped and
thought that johnson would win
When he came over first Burns was for
a while a popular hero. but he soon be
came unpopular. He talked too much,
and made too much fuss about money 70
begin with. and then his refusal 10 meet
johnson except on terms that would
never be accepted here. made people think
he was afraid Of the colored man His
gameness in standing so much punish
ment when the fight did come on has
been praised all around.
No COIsr Feeling.
The sympathy with johnson was gen
eraL There is practically no cclor feel
ing here. II there were no other reason
for their sympathy TO be enlisted on be-
half OF one man or another the public
at large would probably prefer a white
man to win. but his color in no way
q
q popular favorits
It cannot be said that the interest IN
the fight was very keen here. and there
was practically no betting on It The
morning papers came out with the bare
result, and none Of them published an
extra with the full story. AS Il was box
ing day the evening papers did not come
III s.
Il worth while TO publish a special. One
OF the Sunday papers alone came out
with a ful account, which sold readily
in the streets
The fact is that interest in prize fighting
Is very. slight here Great Britain has not
had frst-class heavyweight for a long
time. The best man that could be put up
against Burns could hardly be called
second class
Interest Dying Out
In the clubs. the interest in boxing for
money seems almost dead The army
boxing contests are keenIy followed. 50
are those OF the universities and public
schools. but the Ole Corinthian spirit has
dropped many degrees in the social scale
No 8Ir. T0ots nowadays would dream OF
keeping q game chicken
Things. % course. were very different
when the Duke OF Wellington was a firm
supporter OF thu ring. Lord PelnersJon
and Sir Robert Peel also supported IL and
Lord Byron vas an aSsiduous CUlJiTaJ0r
OF the noble art IN one OF the notes 20
Don Juan" TIE poet refers in really re-
spectful STYLE 70 his teacher, well known
IS Gentleman Jackson.
ThaCkeray. whose nose was broken IN a
school fight with a future dignitary Of the
church. devoted one Of his Roundabout
Papers 70 a rather prosy essay on the
fight between Savers and Heenaa- Earlier
still when the allied Sovereigns and their
generals came over TO London. after the
peace Of 1915. Lord Lowther treated them
10 q series OF boxing matches in MS
dTawinE-rCom- Gentleman Jackson was
one Of the pCgilists and became q great
hero
Car at. Prize Fight.
The last time a monarch was present
officially in England at prize fight was
in 1S1-. when the Gar Of Russia saw one
ct Coombe Warren and shook hands with
the winner. George ", when Prince Of
Wales, was a great patron Of the ring.
and was present al a fight in Brighton in
which one Of the principals was killed.
OF all British pugilists the name Of Tom
Savers. perhaps. stands highest His
funeral was almost in the nature Of a
national demonstration The heterO-
geneOus procession which followed says
one writer. was one OF the longest. If
not actually the longest ever seen in
London" one Of Savers trainegs IS still
living in London, pensioner Of the
Scottish Corporation.
Boon to Golfers,
The late boon-to the London golfer Is
practice and tuition on the Thames En-
bankment- The number Of golf players
in London Increases daily and new links
are constantly being opened as near to
4e city as suitable ground can be found.
But TO get a regular game even the most
favored players must give up half q day
at least TO If, so that many expert PLAYERS
have not time to. practice as much as
they Ike.
AS for beginners, all courses are so
crowded nowadays that Il is very difficult
for new hand who can only play on
Saturdays and Sundays 10 get any prac-
tice at all Only the beginner who is
gifted with plenty Of nerve can block a
crowded course and keep the growing
crowd waiting behind him till he has got
out Of his troubles.
Accommodates Both.
The new plan aims at accommodating
both the novice and the practiced PLAYER.
On the embankment between Oakley
street and Cheyne Row. large building
plot has been taken. The ground has
been leveIed with ash and sand and
various nets for tuition and practice have
been erected
For those who can drive a large net
has been placed against a high wall in
front OF which is a teeing ground. with
plenty OF room for three. PLAYERS 10 tee
OF at the same time Other arrange
ments have been made for practIcing
approach shots and putting and the use
OF every kind OF club Two professionals
have been engaged, and Il IS expected
that in addition 10 those who want to
learn many players viii 90 constantly
for half an hours practice 10 keep their
swing supple and their eye in.
Statistics of London.
The following figures are taken from
the annual report OF the London County
Council for 1S07-0S:
The total expenditure Of the council
during the year was e1472oOa. It's net
debt on March 81. 1903, was sc SSS.1s1.
IN the County Council and voluntary
schools there are 1850 children, OF whom
566.0oe attend the former.
The council tTamway cars carried dur
ing the year 372,5I5,75 passengers and
ran S5,561.1S9 car miles, the net profit be-
ing e45.40 out Of a gross revenue OF
s1 900 The total length OF tramways
IS 10 miles
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