The San Francisco call., 1910-07-04

doomed to disappointment, for the
smoke remained in his room. Many of
the eager and anxious ones pressing
about the base of the stairway asked
to have the champion stand in the hall.
that they might behold him, but the
requests were refused.
One of Johnsons trainers, to whom,
perhaps. more credit is due than the
rest, is Professor Burns. The professor
has handled the reins OF the condition
ing department. and through the long
and weary season of training has put
forth his utmost efforts to get the
dusky fighter in the proper shape to
meet the great white man. Burns said
today:
Il feel satisfied that Jack is in the
best of condition. He could not be i'm
proved upon. worked with him
steadily and earnestly from the start
and think | am qualified to say that
he is in superb shape. OF course. it has
meant an immense amount of work to
get him there, but if it were easy to
attainsthen it wouldn't be quite so good.
l think that Johnson will win. but IL he
does lose there is certainly one thing
he can not be reproached with, and
that is his condition"
JOHNsON's ONE AMBITION
1t is the sentiment of those who have
SpcuI the long DAYS IN WORKING With
the champion that he will enter the
ring with that absolute confidence he
has shown all along; that he will have
hard fight and that he will win once
and for all 1t is known to the camp
members that the big smoke has long
cherished this great battle in his mind,
and that the first seeds of il were
planted when he defeated the big white
mans brother, Jack JeffrieS, several
years ago. All along Johnson has ex-
pressed himself as anxious to tackle
the big pugilist.~It always has been
one of his greatest dreams to meet
Jeffries for the championship title, and
when he steps into the ring it will,
according to his own statement, be the
happiest moment of his life. He knows
that it is the struggle supreme. He
has prepared himself for that and looks
upon this great battle as the climax of
his career.
In the beginning of his lighting rec
ord Johnson was not looked upon with
any too much respect. In Australia
he was cordially disliked for the man
ner in which he handled himself. and
1t was generally thought that he was
a braggart, bully and many other
things worse.
SHOWN A GENTLEMAN
There is no question but that some
OF these things have become exag-
gerated in the telling, but certain it is
that the huge negro has developed re-
markably as he has crept up toward the
top of the profession of pugilism- If
he did have characteristics that went
against him. he certainly has lost them
If he ever was of mean disposition
he certainly has changed, for all during
his last and hardest season of training
that he has ever seen, he has shown
himself to be a gentleman absolute. 1t
is the expression of every man that
has seen the champion that, save for
his color, he would be the greatest
favorite in sporting circles in the
world.
1t is admitted by a great many who
are acquaipted with the big smoke that
even though they would rather see the
fight won by the white man as a mat
ter of principle. they would have to
admit that success, If won by the negro.
would certainly be won honestly and
deserved as we'll
Among prominent members of the
betting circles there was a great deal
of talk today and 1t was the opinion
of the majority that If the colored man
were only white the odds would be con-
Continued