Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11

We're hung in tasteful design. Here an
artistic poster announced beer at & cents
there We're set forth the allurements of a
Christmas eve celebration, 81, wine ex-
ira. All sign boards on the broad and
easy path.
Prices From Two to Thirty Dollars.
The hall was filled. Prices ranged
from So to $50. the former being most
popular 1t admitted to standing room
behind the chairs. of which there were
fifteen or twenty rows around the ring.
Many of the more expensive seats were
taken by men who looked as though
they thought they were in society. The
women would not be picked out immedi-
ately as descendants of French nobility,
or anyway they had descended pretty
far.
Mrs. johnson Belle of the Ball.
An exception must, of course, be made
in favor of Mrs. Jack johnson, who sat
in the front row and was evidently the
belle of the ball. She had with her sew
'eral auxiliary females, and they all I'M
derstood great deal about boxing, Civ
ing Jack Johnson useful hints when he
was in a tight place.
The crowd, taken as a whole. was much
like a Canadian or American assembly.
ties, We're always ready with advice and
encouragement, and showed that delight
full freedom and readiness of expression
SO characteristic of American base ball
games and so unknown in stolid England.
There were no pop bottles
Garry Politeness Into Ring.
The preliminaries were interesting
rather than instructive. They consisted
of three bouts, one middle and two heavy
weight. The contestants hammered away
in windmill fashion, with an occasional
foul. The French carry their snowy but
shallow politeness into the prizering; it
deserts them only in the crises of life,
such as getting on street car or when
they have to do something unselfish.
AT length, about a quarter after II,
when all good people were in bed. the he
roes sauntered to the ring. Both were
received with cheers of relief. They
tossed for choice of gloves, and Jack, the
winner, grandiloquently waved to his op-
ponent TO choose first. Jim johnson Is
shorter than Jack, with very broad Shout
ders and strength rather in depth of chest
than in muscular development. He ap-
peared to be in good condition. but Jack
was evidently overweight. His weight
was given at 226 pounds. Jim's at 235.
Amid sarcastic remarks from the FESTIVE
crowd they delayed fully ten minutes to
have their hands bandaged.
Jack Confident, Jim Afraid.
At the commencement Jack wore his
usual smile, but Jim seemed to be nerv-
Gus. Perhaps he was not; it may have
been his customary expression. but if so
/ think he would do better in circus
sideshow than as pugilist.
Jack had the best of the first few
ROUNDS. When he is in good form it is a
treat to see him box. He combines grace.
agility and power to a greater extent
than any other man | have ever seen.
He did most of the leading and would
follow in and lean over his opponent s
shoulder. whispering sweet nothings in
his ear and smiling at his smiling wife.
Jim crouched low with both arms ex-
tended, looking for all the world as
though he were praying for mercy.
The Crowd Cried Fake"
This went all right for three or four
rounds, but gradually the audience de-
sired to see something more than an in
"fake!' lin French, for. of course nearly
every one speaks French here. Jack
made spasmodic efforts, but seemed to be
tring badly. Jim still confined himself to
making races. The crowd grew more up
roarious. They demanded their money
back, even those who had got in for moth
ing.
The continuous cry of "Cheatr seemed
to perturD Mrs. Johnson more than her
blIsn hpf
pale.
American Humorist Not Understood,
An American humorist interviewed. but
un!uckily the crowd could not under
stand his dialect. Amt you supposed to
hit him, JIM" And when the latter did
finally land blow. Here. now, Jim, you
leave him alone Neither sarcasm nor
rage nor abuse had any effect.
1t seemed as though the two had a duty
to perform, that of dancing and waving
their arms for ten rounds Of three min
utes each, and that they desired to cause
as little inconvenience to each other as
possible in that time.
The fight dragged on, with crowds of
people going after the eighth and ninth
rounds.
the American suggested Cant we have
scorched him with a look
Jim Receivers Presence of Mind.
Jim Johnson had all this time been re-
covering his presence of mind. You could
tell that by looking at his face. Evidently
he was surprised to find himself alive at
the end of the ninth round! Anyway,
when the gong rang for the last round
he jumped up, waved his arms about,
shouting. Now I'm going for him; you
just watch me" He repeated this ad-
duration live or six times in the first
| minute OF the round.
You just watch me-" evidently I'M
aware that we had all Tor most Of us)
paid good money for that very purpose
He rushed things more than in previous
rounds and his opponent didn't seem
| equal to the task.
| Evidently the invincible Jack johnson
was on the down grade.
| This was the impression given me by
| the contest. l am perhaps wrong in say
| ing that Jim was afraid. My American
humorist told me afterward that he didn't
! like the look of the fight and that Lang.
ford would beat either one.
Doubts Broken Arm Story.
| OF course, all this is changed if Jack
johnson broke his arm in the third round
| ! went in the ring and saw his arm inn
mediately at the finish. / am far from,
being an eminent medical authority. bu,
have my doubts. Moran says that II
was smashed. He explained at length