Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-07-30

\ more illustriOus Mr.. Johnson
than when 1 discoursed with him
three months ago. for by grace Of
knightly conquest he has become
the worlds Incompatible, sovereign.
most formidable and august beater
and bruiser of men
Strange TO relate. he did not seem
pulled up. If anything. his manher
was more grave and level-headed
than before.
Mr.. Johnson" said I, "a great
many people who are not at all in
terested in the technical part Of your
profession, have expressed some Gu
riosity about the psychological side
of it,"
Mr.. Johnson ducked his head. but
did not lose confidence.
SIN he purled smoothly. "the
psy-lo-psy-the psylocollegtc side Of
nah profession is surely a mighty
interesting thing TO every refined
and educated person, ma'am."
I'm your recent affair with Mr.
Jeffries." I continued, there appears
TO have been in addition TO the ex-
change of blows, a constant ripple
of polite conversation"
oh. yes'm." said Mr.. Johnson. Il
was convcrsing most pleasantly with
Mr.. Jenries, most all OF the time
we was I'm the ring.
Was that your considerate way
of making the time pass more agree
ably?' I inquired.
Not exactly. ma'am." said Mr.
Johnson: lit was more 20 take the
other mans mind of his work. so
as TO catch him easier"
Dear me, Doesn't that seem rath-
.er unkind?"
"Unkind2" repeated Mr.. johnson
with slightly puzzled look. Il do
assure YOU that / was most careful.
ma'am, not TO say one word 10 Mr.
Jenries that wasn't strictly gentle
manly"
I'm the second round" said T..
"you said 90 Mr.. Jeffries: Don't you
rough me. Was that because he had
been hurting you?"
NO. ma'am, / was only kidding
him. And did get Ian out OF him
that time"
An actual. spontaneous. merry
laugh?"
We'll. no. IL wasn't that kind. ="
confessed Mr.. Johnson. 1T was more
the kind of Ian that would curdle
tho mornings milk"
And here a very small white gem
tlcman spoke mp. Hart is his name
Mr.. Sig Hart-and he seems 20 be
Mr.. Johnsou's right hand man.
JACK Johnson" he said enthusi-
astically, lis the greatest kidder in
the business"
He gave Mr.. Johnson look Of
such admiration as n toy spaniel
might feel for an elephant which
was not only large and ferocious. but
also witty and entertaining.
What was the ncatest thing he
said during the 1ght?" I inquired
encouragingly.
"Oh. I don't know he said so
many" returned Mr.. Hart rumpling
his Back hair.
What do you think, Mr.. John
SOM" ] inquired.
AS fur as I can remember" re-
piled Mr.. Johnson. looking at the
ceiling. "one of the best jollies /
gave old Jeff was when he came
into a clinch, and I said, 'Whatchoo
wanter hug me TO-, Mr.. Jefries? You
know pufiickly well you don't love
me-
ed COrbett," exclaimed little Mr..
Hart. when you sang out TO him.
You'd better come right up here.
Jim, and help your man. There
were a whole lot Of meanings TO
that, Jack. IL meant that Jef needed
help, and it meant that you could
have taken on Corbett, too. and it
meant that you had beaten Corbett
lat the kidding game. In fact, you
fought two men at Reno"
rs the conversational part Of il
considered so Important" I inquired.
1T certainly is. ma'am, said Mr.
Johnson. musically. which was why
Mr.. Jefries had Mr.. Corbett to do
his kidding for him."
4 proud and important negress
entered with Mr.. Johnsons break
fast, which consisted of chickens.
Yes. dears. this conversation took
place in Darkest Africa. Mr.. John
son was chez lui, as they say in
France.
How many chickens? Well, there
were two TO begin with.
We had hOped-the professor, the
patron Of manly sports and Ito
find Mr.. Johnson alone; but a cham
pion. like a monarch, is never alone,
and there really was a certain atmos-
phere Of royalty in the clean and
well appointed little restaurant
where MIR. Johnson, watched re-
specially and solicitously by many
courtiers, chiefly white, sat down to
eat.
"Not a trace OF self-conscious-
ness" whispered the professor, land
eating under observation is a very
severe test. The man is either a child
or a master of deportment-Tm in
clined to think the latter. Observe
the extraordinary economy Of eff
fort"
Fully half a chicken had vanish
ed irrevocably, and Mr.. Johnson. with
a lazy air, had seemed merely TO
wave his hands now and then. A few
swift strokes with a carving knife
had dismembered the bird as IL by
magic, and the whole OF the breast
had been absorbed in two leisurely
mouthfuls. The outlying parts we're
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