New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
Freddie Welsh and Head
of Roycrofters Were
Close Friends.
LITTLE CHAMPION
A LOVER OF BOOKS
His Letter 10 Hu5Dard'S Son a
Remarkable and Touching
Literary Effort.
~ IGOE

I
bert and Alice Hubbard with the others,
no one grieged their passing more than
Freddie Welsh, the lightweight cham
pion CT the world. Welsh ana Huo-
bard were chums.
II vas natural that they should be.
Hubbard was as enthus astic over am
letic5 as ne was over letters. Welsh
haunted The RovcrOft shops, at Eas'
Aurora. because ne loved books above
everything else. Even his babies and
his blooded Welsh terrier came after
his books. This only strengthened the
friendship between Hubbard and the
little f5tic warrior
When particularly beautiful speci-
men Of the bookmakcr's art came oil
the Roycroft presses Welsh was always
presented with one. IN his apartments
at the 81. Paul Hote he has a splendid
assortment OF Hubbard finest books,
including a bound collection Of some
OF Hutbard's notes written on every
conceivable kind Of paper.
in the centre Of his bOokrack arc
three Great leather-coYereG Scrapbooks.
large enough to hold full newspaper
page article. These books were given
10 Welsh by Hubbard. that he might
keep the newspaper accounts OF his
work IN the ring. Stamped on the
backs in gold appears the words
welsh champion
When the Lusitanla went down Welsh
was in Venice. Cal. While there e.
bert Hubbard ID, wrote. asking him to
send on 20 the Roycroft shops some
word Of FRA Elbertus that might be
included in a Hubbard memorial cdi-
ton.
In answer 20 this Welsh wrote re
markablc appreciation Of his literary
friend. proving that winning and re
tainlns % worlds title is only one Of
his mary mpiishments. Mr. Hub
bard's letter 20 Welsh follows:
July 9, 1915.
From Ebert Hubbard, cast Aurora,
which is IN
Erie County. New York.
Nr Fred Welsh. New York. " Y:
Dear Mr.. Welsh have received
such q choice lot OF letters, resolutions
Of love and respect, and expressions
Of friendship for Ebert and Alice Hub
bard. that we have decided to compile
them IN the form of Eoycroft Memo
rial Book. This labor Of love will be
q genuine Roycroit production. and J
believe that il will be highly -rized by
the thousands Of friends Of Ebert and
Alice Hubbard In the book we will in
ciudo some of the very best newspaper
and magazine articles which have ap-
peared in TIE last few weeks.
/ want something from you. because
it seems to me you should be repre-
scnted ia this book on account OF your
friendship Tor them. So ! wish YOU
would send ne a little article or let
ter. b-ief or lengthy, as you may see
fit just something that comes from
v ~ heart for Ebert or Alice Hub
bard. or both an expression OF your
personal Impression. L you please. !
viii appreciate exceedingly this mes
sage from you.
You will, 7 am sure, be glad TO know
that although the death Of our beloved
chief and his gracious helpE2te was a
severe blow to Us, the institution they
founded is making head and viii go
forward II is my ambition to perpet-
uate the Roycroft snors and make
them worthy the name of Hubbard.
If you are ever down this way hope
you will come and make us visit.
With all kind wishes, ever yours very
sincerly. EBERT HUBBARD II.
Welsh wrote:
Venice, Cal, 20 Florence Az.
August 81, 1915.
Miriam and Bert Hubbard.
Dear Friends: II Is easier TO phil
osophize ootimistically about death
when one is not so close to the subject
or not right up against it, as Ebert
and Alice Hubbard were. However, 1t
is but logical 10 suppose that both
faced death as they had faced life
came and unafraid. Knowing Hubbard
as did, ! picture him using the last
moments in this world speaking words
of love and encouragement to Alice, mis-
mate, who was 70 take the final little
journey with him OIL the ship that car
ricd them 10 Na'hGlla.
During the thirteen years that ] have
been familiar with Ebert Hubbard and
his writings ! grew 20 know more OF
the bigu sss. wholcsomeness, kindness
and courage Of the man. He was a
genius that the coming generations viii
appreciate more than he was gppreciat-
ed during MS lifetime. No man or
woman climbed 20 the prominence Fra
Elbcrtus attcined without "treading on
the toes" of envioUs critics. and Ebert
Hubbard wa no exception IN this re-
spect.
No one who fcarlessly taught the
life lessons be did. o. who spoke the
truth a. nc understood It for the benc-
70 of mankind, ever escaped the mud
thrOwC-s. Honest ,ritIcism Hubbard
appreciated. and his epigrammic advice
not 10 take ones self too damn seri-
GUS was meant foc himself. too.
In our strolls through the woods at
East Aurora and when he would visit
me in Now York City he would relate
many good stories; and he had that in
his nature which enabled him g. laugh
when the Joke was on him. Re stood
for everything that vas clean, natural
and beautiful. lie lived the simple but
strenuous life. lie worked hard men
tally and kept himself physically q,
because he understood the value OF
exercising his body.
Just before nc sailed on the i'll fated
shin he wrote nc in reference 70 our
opening @ health home near New York
where we could show how il is pos
sible for b:air workers to double thei,
working capacity By building up thc;:
nervous md Physical energy Elber;
Hubbard had more working energy than
my man | ever met. lie always
found time for exercise md sport
whether 10 be hiking over the hills
wood chopplnF, horseback riding Oh
baseball. He would discuss the boxing
situation with me with the enthusiasm,
Of fan. and he wound Up ore Of his
last letters 20 me by writing. so her,
is love and blessings TO all GOOD sports
a1d If there is no squared circle box.
ing ring in hell, you and viii ar
range one"
II Robert Ingersoil were alive TO-DAY
he would probably say Of the ERA" q.
he wrote Of Abraham Lincoln: "Hc
was natural in life and thought: mas
ter o. the story tciler's art: I'm illus.
trntion APP; In application. perfect:
liberal in speech. shocking Pharisee,
+ and Prudcs using any word that vii
could disinfect'
TsfI.-N U.II..I