New Britain herald., 1916-12-28
WONDER WHO HE MEANS

Oily MCGeenan ICllS Oh T1Sntef
Who Loves to Fight-For Big
Money.
w. o. Mcclellan, sports writer for
! the New York Tribune, under the
caption "A Slackers Letter Home"
contributes the following in this
mornings issue.
Dear Awkins:
The fight game in these ere States
| is in fine shape. I ad ardly landed
when a lot of Johnnies were after me
offering as Ugh as five thousand
pounds for a match. But I didn't take
none of em-not me. I'll wait till
they go a bit igher.
You know as ow the war spoiled
the fight game in Australia All Of
the boys who used to pay quid or so
to see a match as gone to the front
won't be able to get a -quid to see a
champion in action no more. This
country asn't been it by the war.
That's why it's such a good place for
fighters.
I told one of the newspaper John
MES as ow Bill Squires went and en-
listed. ad to laugh when I thought
of old Bill in that silly khaki Of
course Bill always was rotten fight
er. That's why the silly old dear ad
to go an enlist.
I suppose that my first go will be
with the Frenchman, Carpenter, I
think his name is. Els been a couple
of years in the French army, SO he
must be jolly we'll out Of condition.
Those soldiers lead an irregular life,
and it's ard for them to keep in con-
dition. T was warned that the SOL
dier's life amt ealthy for g. fighter.
Anyhow soldiers are rotten fighters.
Look at Bombardier Wells. Who did
he ever whip?
That's why I amt afraid of this
fellow Carpenter. He's been eating
that rotten army grub, and he don't
get no time to do any road work.
Johnnies who have been in the army
say that the trenches are always
damp and they breed rheumatism.
You know that I always gets lots of
fresh air and exercise and sunshine
to keep myself in condition. A fight
err as got to do that. It's a duty he
owes to imself and the fighting game.
What T like about this country is
there amt much blooming war talk.
You know how that annoys a fight-s
err who is trying to keep himself in
condition to old the championship.
Ow can a fighter attend to is training
when a lot of silly women are anding
him white feathers and taking is mind
off fighting by asking i'm why don't
go to the war and fight.
Ow in ell can a fighter fight in the
war and why in ell should e? They
amt paying no kind of purses over
in Flanders, are they? Leastways they
amt offering no five thousand pounds.
You mark my words as ow this man
CARPENTER will be soft for me, going
and getting himself all out Of condi-
ton by breathing poisonous gas and
letting his muscles get fabby lying
around in a trench. E won't be able
to fight a lick when e gets ere.
I am sorry to say that a few of the
people ere are bit silly about the
war thing, SO I ad to say that I would
go for soldier as soon as I ad a .
couple of bouts. But don't get alarmed
If you should happen to come across
that in the papers. You know that
there is nothing Of the silly ass about
me- Awkins, old top, I amt going to
ruin no fighting career for no silly
war. But most OF the people are SEN
sible They says as ow I am pref
tv foxy boy to ave kept out Of this
war and to ave kept myself in condi-
ton by taking plenty Of good food and
fresh air and exercise.
opes as peace will be declared
soon and maybe I will come back to
Australia, though I guess the war as
spoiled the fight game. No use trying
. make money fighting when every
oodys away at the war.
War is a pretty tuogh thing on us
lighters, but 7 am doing pretty we'll.
If you see Old Bill Squires in his silly
give him the RASPBERRY for me.
N11