The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-06-06

This seems to be the season Of the
year when all the retired has-beens be-
come seized with the notion that they
can come back and renew their youth.
The coming of spring brings new life
to the old timers, and once more their
ambition awakens. During the past
few weeks no fewer than four promf-
nent ringsters generally supposed to be
through with scrapping have suddenly
shown signs of activity.
Packey Mcfarland is the most prom
inent and no doubt the most capable Of
the men i'll question who are contem-
plating a return to the ring. The Chi
cago crack mas lent an ear to an offer
from New Orleans promoters to box
Jack Britton, the new claimant of the
weterweight title. At least such is
the report. although it may be nothing
more than an attempt to advertise Brit
ton.
Mcfarland, however does not deny
the allegation. but those who know him
best place little credence in the idea
that he would consider twenty round |
battle No doubt what he is waiting
to hear is how New York takes the |
news that he again is ready to don war |
| paint. That $47,50O plum recently /
/ pluclled by Jess Willard has aroused /
+ Packey's envy. it seems lie probably /
+ figures that if New Workers can afford |
/ to spend their money in such fashion |
/ it behoovcs him to get in on the good |
thing. But he is sensitive person, |
and he fears a rebuff Therefore he
will not be ready to announce his real
/ intentions until he finds out what kind
of welcome he would receive.
Whether New York fans are ready
/ for another dose of Netherlands box
| ing is uncertain. There is a great out
cry in some quarters following his
bout with Mike Gibbons last summer,
and the Chicago wizard was accused
Of many things not to his credit. But
for the most part that was from dis
gruntled persons with axes to grind.
The great majority of the spectators
appeared to he we'll satisfied with the
bout and seemed to think that NIcFar-
land had done remarkably well con-
siderfng his long retirement from ac-
tive service.
Besides. Mcfarland always did stand
apart from other boxers. What is per-
missible and even laudatory for him
would be a crime for the average ring
ster. Netherlands personality gets the
crowd and holds its attention so that
his open handed sIaps receive as much
consideration as the knockout blows Of
another fighter. He simply mesmerizes
the spectators, and even the rules Of
the ring are revised to fit his style.
| Certainly he. is the only boxer in the
b ring who can obtain credit for scoring
r. a point when he slaps with his open
Il glove.
II Mcfarland always has been great
Il card in New York and probably he
II would draw well again. 1t is easy to
II criticisc his methods, but the fact re
|! mains that the average ring goer is
i deeply interested in him, and as long
/ as the general public wants him it is
i up to the experts" to stand aside.
II Tommy Burns one time heavyweight
II champion. is another of the old guard
Il who have felt the touch Of spring
II Burns announces that he is training
Il for the purpose Of landing a few wal
II Tops on Carl Morris, who suddenly has
Il become an object Of interest once more
Il for some unknown reason.
II In the Oil region, where Carl holds
Il sway, he is more popular than the
Il champion himself, and any has-beer
II who once was the owner of a rep
II can pick up a small fortune by min
Cling with the cumbersome engineer
hence the sudden rush for Oklahoma
Of all the rundown warriors from al
parts of the country.
Burns tried a comeback shortly afte
he had failed to make a champion on
of Arthur Pelky over two years ago
Burns always did have a keen nos
for a ounce, and he picked on one Bat
Ting Brandt, q half witted characte
who entertained the haIlucination tina
he was Il fighter. The bout was bun
h lesque, and Burns was cured for th
time being Of his desire to put tn
white hopes in their place. In all prot
- ability he will not go much furthe
with his present plans.
nm Jim Barry after an enforced absenc
of year has bobbed up again. Fror
the fact that he misses no opportunit
er to be introduced from the ring it j
evident that he is looking for a chanc
ne to pick up few dollars by acting a
,rl the receiver general for one of our a
legged star heavies who desires to fu
ther his X. 0. record without undu
foi risk.
Johnny Coulon is the fourth of II
- veterans with the comeback idea. Coz
''"g Ion made good the other night by on
pointing some ambitious youngstt
from Milwaukee He aims to get al
other match with Kid Williams. WI
has outgrown the class and might I
mark for even the Chicago vetera