The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

"Oui, monster. it is neccaire to ad-
nit that the Midi. as we call of France
the SOUTH has much to boast. Joffre,
Garlieni. Foch, all are Pyreneans. But
monsieur, we of the north have our Car
pentier!'
50 a Frenchman of the north might tell
you, and truly, for it was at Lens-bat-
tIe-scarred Lens-in the department OF
Pas de Calais, that Georges Carpenter
Idol of French sportsmen, first saw the
light of day. Rivesaltes, down In the
Pyrenees, near the blue Mediterranean.
is no prouder of it's Joffe than is Lens OF
its Carpenter. And, by a strange CO.
Incidence both of these heroes celebrate
the anniversary OF birth on the same day,
A town of IS 600 people. busy and pros.
porous, was Lens before France was
plunged into the vortex of war. Now Its
name Is immortalized in history as the
scene of the gallant deeds of heroic war
rlors-enshrined in the annals of all time
with its neighboring cities of Arras
Douai, Maubeuge and Mons.
The latter career of Georges Carpenter
bristIes with red-blooded adventure and
breathes the very spirit of romance. yet
in his early years his life was as sordid
and. commonplace as could be imagined
The son of poor parents. he attended
SCHOOL LOT le" ycdISs anu IIich was
forced by grim necessity to go to work.
The coal mines In the vicinity of his ma
tive town swallowed him up, and he be-
came a pit boy. Beginning at a wage OF
10 cents a day, at Il he was earning the
munificent sum of 81 week.
Fate had better things in store for the
lad than life of drudgery in the bowels
of the earth. 1t was George Lavigne who
inspired in him the love for the sport OF
'Te boxe." The former lightweight
champion of the world. Canadian
in blood, was then teaching the manly
art and giving exhibitions in the land of
his forefathers. Carpenter saw him, and
from that moment he determined to be-
come boxer.
He was a slender frail lad, a ay-weight,
but in the course of his early education
In boxing he tackled lads of all sizes. He
often took a beating, but that did not
discourage him. Soon he was good enough
to appear in amateur bouts, and from
his first appearance he became favorite.
With the coal dust and CRIME washed
from his face, he blossomed forth into a
handsome. engaging youngster. Stripped
for the fray, he was as comely as Bou-
gureau's Cupid, a figure to delight the
eye of the artist. And all Frenchmen are
artists!
Carpenter was only 13 when he
fought his first professional battle. but
1T was not until a year or two later
that his earnings from the ring be-
came sufficient to provide living. He
fought first as a bantam, but soon
entered the featherweight class, and
won the French championships in both
divisions. He then fought his way to
the top of the French lightweight
heap. and repeated in the welter-weight
division.
Carpenter took on all comers,
Frenchmen, Englishmen and Ameri-
cans, while fighting his way from the
bantam weight to the welter-weight d.
visions. Even at that period he was
the idol of France, the admiration of
the men, and the pet of the ladies.
But the adulation he received was as
nothing compared with what was to
come. lid
In England and America the French
boy was not considered seriously un-
til 1912. when he was IS years old.
He had then reached the middle-weight
division on his upward climb Still
slender and rather frail in appearance,
he had developed world of science
and ring cunning.
1t was In the early part Of 1919 that