New-York tribune., 1916-02-26
By EMMA BUGBEE.

Jess Willard ought TO be the most
popular man in the country just now,
for he fits into both sides of the pre-
paredness argument.
Listen to the applause of the pro-
preparedness folk as they hear the big
champion drawl;
Il never had a rough-and-tumbic
fight in my life. A person that knows
how to fight never has to-"
In the second round. however, the
pacifists score.
"If a man goes about looking fo-
trouble he will have plenty of it," he
said. at isn't his size, but his state
Of mind, that brings on the hght.
Look at Germany. She was always get
ting ready for war, and pretty soon she
couldn't wait any longer. She just
blew up and started something.
II don't believe in being too quick TO
fight. never start anything myself
and | should hate to see this country
get too high and mighty. Id rather
take a little from Germany than be
thrown into a war;
This from the champion fighter OF
the world!
Jess ~ Nice Man.
I. who had never seen a heavyweight
champion before, much less sat on
red sofa with one, was surprised, but
vastly relieved. 1t was evidently going
TO be quite safe to ask this good-na-
tured giant any question that fancy
might dictate, and | need not fear that
he would grow angry and flip me on his
little finger into space.
I settled down on the sofa and con-
ii ued the interview with a calm and
contented spirit. o..
Jess Willard grinned as if his spirit
was calm and contented, too. nave
a friend who travelled in the circus
with him last summer, and she had
told me what a gentle creature he
really was, in spite of his pugilistic
fame.
Hes 2 nice man." she said, by way
of grand climax.
So | found him. even when ! maze
a faux pas by asking him II II Would
be proper for women to attend the
prize fight on March %.
He only grinned. where a less anna
Bile giant would have telephoned the
city editor TO send up some one VINO
knew something about the great Amer
lean sport of boxing.
Old Days Have Passed.
at isn't a prize fight" he drawled.
"There is no such thing as prize hent
these days. This is a boxing match
with referees and laws and mitts. inc
old davs when men fought TO finlsh
with their bare knuckles have gone by.
The swearing, roughneck crowd IS no
more.
81 think il would be nice for ladies'
TO come TO the fight. II ought 10 be IN
teresting for them if they like sports
Everything is scientific now. Ihere i
as much difference between our con
tests and the old fashioned prize hgh's
as between riding in a lumber wagon
and a limousine. And as for blood ana
cruelty. we don't hurt half so many
people in a year as football does.
There is nothing bloodthirsty about
me. IN ldCN. hIl NV oSb 49,
enough, they say. I always wait for the
/ other fellow 20 start
This sums up Jess Willard. Nature
made him big, and the newspapers that
drifted into his Oklahoma ranch told
him a big man was needed TO defeat
Jack Johnson. His disposition had
nothing to do with it. He looked into
the mirror and said TO himself: Jess,
you're a good size. Why don't you try
/ it?" SO he flung himself on his horse
its the biggest horse in the state
/ and travelled down to Oklahoma City,
where he presented himself at gym
nasium as the new white hope"
That was five years ago, and al
/ though Jess Willard is the worlds
champion boxer. he still belongs on
| that ranch.
Children Jess's Pride.
"I shall walk in Central Park every
morning" he complained. though I'd
much rather ride horseback. You can't
get any real horses in this country
/ YOU have to go out West to get one BIG
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