Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-28
Today's Cron
N. Y. BOXING EXPERT DECLARES.
AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
MAKE HERO OF LES DARCY
Compares Australians Act in Running Away
From War to Brave Deeds of Carpenter
and Anthony Wilding

WHILE tho American fighting fans are
w making n hero OF Les Darcy the Aus
trallnn heavyweight n sane view OF the
pugillst has been taken by Jimmy Slnnott,
of the New York Evening Mail slnnott
says
II have seen Les Darcy, of Australia
saw him in Broadway restaurant. He
was with Tex Richard. He was laughing
and smiling at the men and women who
made the place gay. Everybody was point
ing him out There's Darcy" they were
saying, the great Australian fighter p
II didn't go over and meet him. He looks
like, pleasant sort OF fellow, good
natured boy, who has the physique that
would seem to indicate great prize ring
possibilities
II didn't meet Darcy because as
watched him there rose up before me an
other picture, far different from the one he
made. II was the picture of another man,
an Australian. His name was Anthony
Wilding, and he was the greatest ennis
player In the world until he went to his
death In the great war abroad.
IAN could think OF as looked at Darcy
was Wilding lying dead. Wildlng, OF Aus
tralia, gentleman OF education and re-
fnement, doing work that meant something
In the cause OF civilization, and withal one
of the worlds greatest athletes, answered
the call OF his country and was killed. The
newspapers ran accounts OF his death.
Glowing eulogies were printed. But the
death OF Wildlng did not begin TO create
the furore that the arrival OF Darcy has,
and Darcy has run away, not from military
service. for there is no conscription in
Australia yet but from the possibility OF
being forced TO make the sacrifice that
Wilding made voluntarily.
Must BE No HerOies
There is no great reason 10 censure
Darcy Tor not enllsting as long as there Is
not conserlption in Australia. Even his run
ming away might be condoned in a meas
ure, for he is very young and may have
been poorly advised. There Is every reason
In the world 70 eensure the attempt TO
make a heroic figure OF him. If this is suf-
fered TO be done II Is indeed a sad COM
mentary on the spirit OF the American peo-
pie.
Hundreds OF thousands OF Germans.
Frenchmen. Englishmen. Russians. Italians, |
Australians, Irlshmen and Bull |
garlans lie dead on the bRttlehelds OF |
Europe or are In the trenches-men OF /
brains great artists, literary men. men /
from the ranks Of business lawyers doc /
tors. engineers. every type OF professional /
man known, Darcy Is a young man whose Il
10 the advancement OF eiyiliza
lion Is ability 70 ight In a roped ring his
profession Is supposed 70 be dghting. and Il
ne Npu4u hot even stay IN MS own country L
and obey a law made necessary BY a great Il
var IN which hia fellow Australians are
lighting And some would make him a hero /
1T Is said now that Darcy win 20 into
He is not even going to night
N the ring for while
Georges Carpenter
I'm sharp contrast 10 the case OF Darcv
5 that of Georges Carpenter heavyweiubt
champion OF Europe. He has been ln ~
7rench army since the outbreak of the ,,aar
Twice he has been decorated Tor braverv
II carpeniieF does come to this country
,ross relief work. Darcy should nof ~
flowed 70 meet him. Il does not mate
hat Il would Be wonderful heht card
here are fsw thinss less Important IA ~
han bQxips anyway,
seeeffes Carpenter has done too lnnch
eal work d have him indulge ii anr nl.oa