Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-20

boxing. He would box with any one and at
any time. He was in great demand at the
festivities of the Pen and Pencil club in
Philadelphia, where he would appear in the
boxing ring with any local celebrity with
whom he could arrange a bout. He be-
came an unbeatable amateur champion In
his class, and there are many lucky labor
ers nd longshoremen who could claim the
distinction Of having been lickd by a
MISUNDERSTANDING. did they but know
who their antagonist of those days really
was.
Biddle went abroad and met amateur
fighters in Europe. He fought for the pure
love of fighting and to keep in condition.
When he came back to America he went
into the publishing business and became
the firm friend and patron Of some OF the
leading pugilists of the day, notably Bob
Fitzsimmons, whose book, Physical Gull
ture and self-Defense," he published.
But Biddle's real chance 10 devote him
self to his favorite sport came when his
grandfather, A. j. Drexel, died, in 1893
leaving Tony S,O0O,Oo0. Some might think
that with this undoubted position in the
front rank of Philadelphia society and
with 100000 to enable him to support
that position fittingly, young Biddie 10,
drop the company OF prize ring bruisers
and become a dignified and exclusive per-
sonage. But nothing Of the sort happened.
Biddle merely dropped what little reserve
he might have had and went in heart and
soul for the fighting game.
He startled the Quaker City bluebloods
by announcing that he would appear In tbs
ring as the second OF Jack" O'Brien In the
bout the latter celebrity was scheduled Il
pull off with one Jack" Blackburn. And
Biddle actually did It, Doffing his dress
coat and waistcoat, he climbed into the
ring on the night of the fight, and spongec
and towelled O'Brien between the rounds,
while the sports howled themselves black
in the face with approval.
Strange TO say, the pugilistio tendencies
Of Biddle caused him TO grow more and
more popular with the bluebloods of the
Quaker City. With bloods OF other colors
he was, Of course, tremendously popular
He appeared In the ring to fight Jack
o Brien. and Philadelphia gasped, while
sporting writer's made merry over what
they regarded as a farcical bout But any
one who knows Biddle and knows what hi
can do and has done all his life with the
gloves knows that he can give any pugilist
fairly good run for his money.
This is the man who has for years beer
giving his time TO philanthropic work in
PHILADELPHIA. He is a member OF the fash
ionable Church OF the Holy Trinity, in Rit.
tenhouse Square. In the parish house OF
the church, which is equipped with com,
mOdious gymnasium. Mr. Biddle has found
ample room for the furtherance OF his ideas
OF what up-to-date Christianity should be
Bible in hand. he leads the large Bible
class on the DAYS set apart for such teach
Ing. and with those same able hands bidder
In padded gloves he teaches the member
OF his class how TO take their own par
and give good account OF themselves II
any troubles that may come to them In TIN
world without the peaceful portals OF tn,
parish house.
In telling the story OF his fist effort
TO combine puRiism with Christian teach
ing Mr.. Biddle said to the writer the othe
dav:
Il am satisfied I am doing a good worl
and am on the right lines The oombina
ton OF religion and athletics seems 4
work well. We began with plain athletic
and basket ball couldn't be at A. YER
long without bringing boxing into the pro
gram, and was surprised at the frs
tentative effort TO find that the member
OF my class were quite ant with the fist
and entered with delight on the plan I
introduce boxing In the exercises.
Some night we had eight men at /
occasionally as many as twenty wer
punching away at one another. had Z