The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-28
(By Max Balthasar.)

ming to get a little bit cranky. If he didn't show a little grouch at this stage of the game I'd think some- thing was wrong with him."
 This is the word that is passed more in gladness than in sorrow, by the members of the Jeffries training staff today and if there is one baro- meter better than another as the fight day for J. J. Jeffries approach es. it is to see the hope of the white is much more tractable today than he has been in any of his other inn portant battles so near the clang of the gong, that old feeling which all of his trainers, for the sake of their own comfort, have been dreading, is beginning to assert itself. It is true his disposition is such as not to make 1t comfortable for his camp mates put they are reading his work and his actions more closely right now than at any time since the giant con- fided to Farmer Burns four weeks ago that his condition had returned, that he had regafned his old power and speed and that his stomach, the seat of most human woes, is in per- feet shape.
 With this feeling of optimism. in- spfred by the -grouch," those doping the result of the battle are showing a greater degree of activity. Farmer Burns is more conservative than some. not because he has any less confidence in his ideals ability to ways conservative. Jeff, he thinks, will win within 15 rounds and if the fight goes longer than that he will bet his clothes that the negro will be badly punished man and loser. Eff it goes 15 rounds" says Burns, vyi cIY 7Ta1U fCnI ivof0 case of endurance and if there is anything that Jeff has on Johnson it is endurance"
 Roger Cornell, the great condition CT, argues along much the same lines as Burns, agreeing that the earlier rounds may go against Jeff but that, with one third of the battle, provid- ed neither man is very badly hurt, the tide will go with Jeff.
 Jim Corbett. Choynski and Jack are content with saying that it will be a tough battle with Jeffries out gaming and publishing the negro.
 Another feature of the fight that is expressing attention has to do with the altitude despite the fact that both have shown that the air does not af- feet them. It is admitted, however, that one punch in the stomach 5000 feet above the sea-level will be far more harmful than at sea-level. The heart does not respond with the same speed and tap in the m1d-riff, that a short clinch would overcome in San Francisco or New York, might prove aWfully dangerous in Reno.
 So the question naturally arises, Will Jeff or the Black land the first blow will have much to do with the outcome of the battle is the general concluson and in this connection it is pointed out that Jeffries is trying to perfect his long left to the stomach aaTter. as well as his his jarrsns right at close working his eye on the stomach punch with Armstrong and Burns as his targets. It has not been Jeffries' Idea to land but to gauge his punch to such a nicety that he can step in and with either hand deliver the blow with a minimiZed chance of receiv- ing return such as Johnson's deadl, right upper-cut or ripping straight ieft So far as the terrible grind through which Jeffries has gone since camp in Rowardennan is concerned, ne IS over with it. He may box up to and including Friday and take snort spr1nts on the road at top speed each evening for the purpose of strengthening his heart but be- yond that he will do no more tear Ing stunts with the bag and pulleys.
 One thing that gives joy to Jeffries' advisers is a report from Johnson's camp that the negro is putting in an eleventh hour spurt and instead of showing speed in his work he is slow. horse go the full route for ten days before the real test it is argued and expect the animal to go right on the day of the race. Conditioners in this camp are strong for this line of req son1ng and maintain that if Johnson works hard every day until the fight he will be tired when he steps into the ring. If either man has a margin In this respect it is Jeffries. He has been going through a hard spell ever reached his real condition several weeks ago. Ever since he has been combining dashes of hard work with play and all he needs now is to jog along In an even way, chock full of confidence and strength and undim- finished courage.
 Mike Murphy, the noted trainer, is growing enthusiastic over Jeff s change. One thing that seems to i'm press him most he says is that Jeff Johnson is training to the scales 'If a man is right" he contends, 'he should not attempt to reached a fixed weight Jenr1es has refrained from watching his poundage, whereas Johnson's chief worry seems to have been the requirement of certain weight and to avoid the too early and dangerous tearing off of flesh. This IS a point that initiates most against Johnson in the eyes of judges of the night. He has been slow in getting down to real work and now that the day of the battle is so close he finds 1t necessary regardless of what his present weight is, to dive into his task with vigor that he should have shown month ago. Johnson de- ciares he knows best what to do and that the greatest trainer in the coun- try could not assist. Next Monday afternoon will tell the story of his condition impressively.
 That Jeff is trying himself out in boxing as he has never tried himself since he began work for this engage ment Is evidenced by the manner in which he treated Sam Berger on Mon day. Sam is said to have gotten fresh with the big fellow and when he started rally that looked like the real stuff Jeff slid in one of those stomach punches he has been prac- tic1ng and Sammy got awfully sick in the breakfast basket. He denies that JeHr1es had to hold him to keep him from falling down for the count but at any rate he did go to bed and re- main for some hours before he felt able to face the cruel world again.
 That Mike Murphy thinks better of