The evening world., 1911-02-04

able circumstances, thanks to the e,
Atten's story Is one OF success from
the start. Some fifteen years ago Attell
was q scrappy. almost incorrigible Kid,
around the street OF Frisco. No school
would keep him more han a couple OF
weeks at a time. His mother. left a
widow. with a family OF twelve when
Abe was only nve years ola. could do
nothing with her third youngest. lie was
a constant source OF trouble to her and
so 1t was that during his school days.
giving up sll hope OF ever making any
thing of the boy she shipped him OFF TO
his uncle at Los Angeles.
He Tried to Be Good.
II was like doing time for Abe. away
from home and his schoolboy fights. and
he soon realized that good behavior
would mean q quick return to Frisco.
Meanwhile his uncle had become Inn
pressed by Abe's change Of tempera-
ment and decided that a musical educa-
ton would be the proper thing for Abe.
Much against his will. Abe was sent to
q music teacher and was soon blowing
his head off into the mouuhpiece OF a
cornst.
When his enforced stay In Los An
geles ended In fifteen months, Abe was
quite a musician. and even to-day plays
the instrument well. He has one al
home now on which he blows out all
the popular tunes.
Abe hadn't lived down his reputation
as a scrapper when he got back %
Frisco. He found that several OF the
youngsters he tried to beat up IN I'M
promptu fights on the streets u goae
into the amateur boxing game and were
making a big success OF 1t. one In par
t!cular. Kid Lennett. whom Abe used Ia
lick every recess hour had won ten
straight fights.
Atteli Induced to Fight.
The other boys soon goaded Abe into
fighting. too. anu Alec Greggains. who
was then promoting four-round BOUTS
induced Abe to match himself with
Lennett. Abe ran home TO ask HE
mother. but she put her foot down de-
cisively and said NO. Abe went back
and Told Greggains that his mother
wouldn't let him fight, but by that time
the printing vas out and the card IN
bold letters announced Abe Attell vs.
Kid Lennett. four rounds. Again Abe
rushed to his mother and showed hei
the printed card.
The boys are all calling me a gutter
Please let me fight. mother" Abe
begged.
The mother finally consented reluct
antly and away went Abe to fight. Ill
won In two rounds and got SIS. which
he carried home as fast as he could.
In those days 1t was a lot OF none,
In the Attell household. There wer'
thirteen mouths to feed and every do!
lar counted. A second fight soon afte:
ward Melted SIS more. and then Abe
satisfying his boyhood's ambition. so
a Job as messenger boz. He was soor
nicknamed 1.-THE hghting messages
boy" and IN several little scraps won
lot more than he earned a. a messen
ger. His mother always got the money
One day Eddie Toy. who Is now fight
ing around New York, suggested tina
Abe take a trip East with him. Tn
idea was big to Abe. and with his car
fare. borrowed from his mother. he ant
Toy found themselves IN Denver tw'
days later.
Abe soon got a fight there with Ki,
Buck, the "Newsboy's PRIDE and woi
In jig time. This fight brought hin
his first big money-s6O. He won severs
other fights after that and was sendln.
money home regularly. Finally he wa
Matched with George Dixon. then tn
champion of his class. Whom the new
reached Frisco It created despair In III
Atteli home. Telegram and letter
were sent to Abe In Denver Oeggin
him not TO night Dixon, His brother
thought him crazy and assured hlr
that It was almost suicide to think c
fighting Dixon. II paid no attention t
the ~pleadings from home. but went o
with the match" aid Abe, II was
ten-round draw.
Had Some Standing Then.
..Then | was somebody" said Abe RI
aectiyely to-day. Young Corbett wa
the big noise IN Denver at the tim
and soon ! became his sparring par
ner. He had beaten a lot OF good me
and was ticloled to death to be In h
training camp. Meanwhile, corbett va
a,ckering for a match In the East wit
Terry McGovern.
"Tn beat Mcoovern.' SAID Co
pstt 70 ne. TN come back and give ye