Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-11
KRAMER'S POPULARITY
ABROAD OVER WHELMING
Yankee Cyclist Centre OF Inter-
est Wherever He Makes
His Appearance.
GETS MANY MASH NOTES
Unable to Understand Their
Contents, but Scruti-
nizes Signatures.
(By the Paris Correspondent OF the Eve
ming starr

(By the Paris Correspondent OF the Eve
ming starr
PARIS, March 1.-The popularity
Frank Kramer, the champion cyclist,
enjoys in Europe is truly wonderful.
1t may be popularity or it may be Gu
riosity which makes him the cynosure
of all eyes over here, but be that as
it may, the Yankee athlete marvel at
tracts far more attention in Europe
than he does in America. On his
present trip abroad Kramer is even
more popular than ever before, and
it is surprising how well known he Is
on the streets and in public places.
Wherever he goes Kramer is recog-
nized, and when he appears in hotels,
theatres and cafes much chatter fol-
lows his recognition, and he soon be-
comes the centre of interest.
Kramer Posters Plentiful.
Posters of Kramer are displayed all
over Paris, and his strong and I'M
usual features, with the protruding
chin and the blond hair, leads to in
slant recognition when he appears in
public places. 1t is said here that
Kramer is recognized by more people
than any one French athlete with
the one exception of Georges Carpen-
tier, the French boxer, who holds the
heavyweight and middleweight titles
of Europe.
Following his races at the Velo-
drome. OLIVER in Paris thousands of
spectators wait outside of the track
to get q look at the Yankee as he
leaves for his hotel clad in street
clothes. Even though he is topping
over one after the other, all the best
of the French riders, Kramer is given
sincere and hearty ovation and
many pretty compliments lin French,
which he does not understand) are
hurled at the champion as he elbows
his way to his waiting taxi.
Brussels Fans Greet Him.
When Kramer went to Brussels
few weeks ago to race against Joe
Van Bever, the Belgian sprint cham
pion, an immense crowd was on hand
to see the arrival of the great cyclist.
The Belgian capital was decorated
with wonderful colored posters of
Kramer, and hardly had he poked
his nose out of the door of his COM
partment on the train when a shout
of recognition went up. outside of the
manager of the track in Brussels and
few newspaper men there was prob
ably not a person in the crowd who
had ever seen Frank Kramer before.
They all knew him, however, when
they saw him.
Two of the accompanying photo
graphs were taken at the railway sta
ton and show q small part of the
crowd that greeted the American
champion. One of the pictures shows
Kramer posed alone for the camera
man, although the inevitable small
boy is pressing him hard, and 1t VIII
be noticed by the apparent doWncast
features of the champion how much
he cares for this Establishment. The
more honor than is thrust upon the
old champion the less he seems to
care for 1t and the more retiring he
becomes. At times It seems as though
he were about to turn on his heel and
run from the crowds that mob him
following each successive victory at
the winter track here, The only time
he seems pleased to the extent OF
smiling is after a victory. In one of
the accompanying pictures, taken fol-
lowing his defeat of Van BeVer In a
single match and his great triumph
over van BeVef ana QUO IHounteu on
a tandem, the champion is shown with
a broad smile on his face. To show
that he is at least human, Kramer
has affected stage smile with which
he greets the crowds here following
the usual ovation extended the Visl-
tor when he makes his first appear
ance on the track, but it is obviously
an affected smile.
Receives Many Mash Notes.
If Kramer could read French and
the other foreign tongues of the con-
tinent he would probably enjoy read
ing some of the innumerable and del
lea teIy- tinted and sweet-scented notes
that reach him through the mails
every day. But he cannot read French
or any other language except English,
so he puts the missiyes to his nose,
draws in the odor, smiles and then
methodically tears them up. How
ever, before destroying these literal
heart throbs he carefully scrutinizes
the signatures of the bold mademoi-
selles who send them.
nnVIrTH I~nn AnnT.II