The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-05
(By Tin WrIght.)

nave beaten Johnson yesterday. Inc
black was indeed a surprise.
100 much johnson was original
ly the name of a farce. Today II
names tragedy of sportdom. An
analysis of sentiment expressed here
by the sporting men who are folding
their tents and slipping away today
would be difficult While yesterdays
battle certainly cleared up Johnson's
record i'm a number of respects, and
while the black man showed many
of the elements of a true sport, 1t Is
doubtful If less popular champion
ever held the title.
There are several reasons con-
tributing to this, but probably no one
factor was more potent than the
sight of the beautiful and apparently
educated and refined white woman
whom Johnson calls his wife, standing
up In the arena and throwing kisses
and waving salutes to the black mau.
But popular or otherwise, Johnson
is every inch the champion and in the
whole galaxy of ring stars on hand
yesterday--probably the greatest as
semblage of the kind ever brought
together--there was not one fit TO
shy his castor into the ring.
And the yellow streak!
There was not one of the $4,000
who witnessed the contest and sought
for glimpse of the streak that was
able to discern 1t. Even In the very
first round of the battle Johnson was
cool and unconcerned. Stepping out
to meet the man who was the Odds
on favorite over him as though the
90 IaI
teur, johnson promised to give the
spectators surprise. Surprise scarce
ly expresses 1t. He had intimated
that he would not concert the battle
into pursuit race, but that he would
stand up toe to toe with the mighty
Jeffries which was more than even
his friends had expected.
Nor can credit be denied Johnson
for winning under conditions abso-
lutely unfavorable. There are many
states In the union where black men
enjoy greater vogue than in the sage
brush commonwealth. The talk of
possible gun play in the event of the
negro winning, taken in connection
with the fact that practically every
cent of Nevada money was on JEFF
fries was not idle twaddle. In the
arena not one person in twenty was
of his own blood. But the champion
never worried and never laid aside
his good natured grin.
But If Johnson showed to advant-
age in action he made his biggest hit
i'm his moment OF triumph when with
his friends crushing about him to press
their congratulations, he brushed
them aside and stridlng across the
ring, took the limp hand OF his de-
feated adversary, shook 1t warmly,
apologized for having had to beat
him up so badly, assured him of his
appreciation of his gameness and ex-
pressed the hope that there should
be no hard feelings. There was
simplicity and obvious sincerity about
the negro's action that showed all tho
better side of his nature.
Johnson won through his marvel
Gus defense and his ability at in
fighting, but more credit is due him
for his gameness In facing, unruffled,
a man whom experts had pronounced
invincible. A man less clever could
have beaten Jeffries but a man with
less courage could not have been in
duced to enter the ring with the here
tofore undefeated marvel.
So many persons accept the state
ment of others, and without any per-
sonal knowledge of the contents of
the paper or papers to which they
affix their signatures in many in
stances the reading and the result is
different from what they were told
it was or would be, at the time they
I.t l..
mended instead of being condemned,
for having a thorough knowledge of
all the contents of all papers before
afiixing their signatures. 1t is said
that sometime since at Washington.
n petition was circulated and many
signed It, without reading; even the
signature of the person who was
most concerned, was attached I'm
free. bold hand. When II was learned
that he, with others, had signed
petition for his own execution! Bare
ly possible that such thing could
be, yet we are assured that II was.
OF course, II was a joke. but 1t shows
the lack of wisdom and care on the
part OF those who signed. 1t Is said
thatNa few years ago an aged lady
who then resided near Agosta, thus
ignorantly signed deed to all her
real estate, and in a short time was
legally deprived OF her only earthly
home, and we learn she Is at this time
an inmate of our county infirmary.
And this is but one Instance of many
of like nature. How frequently are
contracts and articles of agreement
thus signed? And therein long cost
ly law suits have their origin. The
writer now has in his mind one such
contract, as regards frescoeing a
church, which with careful reading
and proper understanding, would new
er have been made legal by the sigma
lures OF certain parties, only one lit
tie apparently harmless clause--yet
1t has been so construed as to de-
prive that church membership of the
occupancy of their own structure.
even during funerals OF their own
members. and in many ways caused
great damage TO those connected with
that church, because of want of oc-
cupancy, possible growth and Chris
tian development. Sign no paper un-
less you have first carefully read and
have a clear knowledge of its full
meaning