The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-21
How Blonde Side-Whiskers
Broke Into Boxing Game
By JAMES j. CORBETT
Copyright, 1917, by King Features Syndicate, Inc)

Copyright, 1917, by King
While I WAS boxing i,I5tructor in
the Olympic A. G. in San Francisco
I decided upon a tournament in the
club gymnasiums which was to settle
the amateur cham pionship of the
Pacific coast All OF my pupils were
entered In this affair and so were
many other prominent boxers from
the different organizations in the city.
To make the affair as general as pos
sible, e. notice was posted on the bull
letin board stating that any members
of the club, whether boxing pupil
or not, could enter the contest.
Two days later I was hailed by a
gentleman named Larkiu, known as
the Dude" He wore a. beautiful
set OF blonde side whlskers, ase
glasses. and n medal emblematic OF
some sort of fencing championship.
Mr. Corbett. Lab wish-ah-to enter
into the boxing contest"
I was surprisad--a whole lot.
But you've never boxed" I OBJ
jected
"Bahs- retorted Larkin. Boxing
IL but game OF pofnts--of science
of speed. And I assure you. sir. I
have both. Otherwise. I could not
have won the fencing title"
But strength counts something In
boxing too" l said.
Don't attempt to discourage me,
sir" returned I.arkin, haughtily. II
insist upon boxing In that tournament
And I shall expect you. as the club
instructor. to teach me. The contest
won't take place for two mouths
sufficient time. str. I assure you. for
me to pick UP all that is necessary
in the science OF boxing. I am an
apt pupil"
But he wasn't. For nearly eight
weeks I devoted as much time as
possible to teaching him the game,
But Iarkin used to become so en-
crossed In telling me of his fleming
triumphs, or in manfcuring his
boxing knowledge into him. Several
times I intimated to Larkin that ii
might be best for him to wait few
months longer before aking on a
boxing foe. But each time he showed
resentment.
Permit me to inform you. sir. that
am sufficiently skilled right now in
this so-cailed manly art to try con-
illusions with the best men"
The day before the tournament
Larkin came into the gym stiil be-
decked In his tDandreQries" Reaiiz-
ing what howl OF laughter 1t would
draw from the crowd II he wore those
whiskers into the ring, / said:
Don't you think. Larkin, that il
might be better II you got rid OF
those?' and / pointed to his side
burns" r-r.
Tarktr syfarad
And what. may l ask. has facial
adornment. or the lack of 1t. to dc
with success as a boxer"
'Oh, notwithstanding at all"
replied. Let those whiskers stay"
Rival for the different bouts were
determined by drawings, The names
OF oil the contestants In the different
divisions were placed In q hat. and
then pulled out two al a time. thus
determining the pairtpgs. I waited
anxiously for the drawing of Larkin s
name, hoping that he might get n
soft" one But from out OF the hat
with Larkin's name was drawn that
OF Mike Lucey, the toughest Kid in
San Francisco; a slame bang boy with
a punch AS terrible as a mules kick
and possessed Of the aggressiveness
and rushing tactics of Terry McGovern
and Tom Sharkey.
T doubt II any boxers entry into
the ring provoked greater laughter
than that of Larkin. Down the aisle
he came with dainty. measured stride,
head held high, his blonde whtskers
tapping in the breeze his walk Great
ed. and his figure draped In a dainty
light blue bathrobe OF the kind that
one associates only with femininity
And on the bridge of Larkfn's moss
rested hts eye glasses ~
He climbed through the ropes With
the studied grace OF a drawing room
dowager. Carefully he walked over
TO his corner. busted his chair with q
ksrchief and then sat down without
seeming to pay the slightest attention
to the gale of laughter that swept
through the crowd. Larkin removed
his glasses. handed them to one OF
his seconds, ard then after removing
his bathrobe. lay back In his chair.
Fan me-" he ordered OF his Sc
conds.
And they did, They swing not only
one. but three towels before him and
every time the boys swung those blond
whiskers fiuttered back and forth like
pendulum OF a clock.
AS Isarktn sat there the crOWd Won
dered who was to be his opponent.
But 1t didn't have TO wonder long
Down the aisle came Lucey In chin
chilla overcoat. hair cropped close,
cap terked down over one ear and
with shoulders as broad as piano
movers. Lucey had a fat nose and
a ferocious look on his face. AS he
climbed through the ropes and walk
ed into his corner the crowd took
another look at him and then one
at the behwiskered Larkin-and. oh.
what another outburst of laughter.
The gong Hanged for the frst round.
Lucey as was his custom. rushed
from his corner like q wild bull;
I.arkin came out with digntfied step
But he didn't take many-perhaps no
more than three--when Lucey was on
him. Then Lucey swung for the jaw.
The blow missed its MARI. II struck
IArkin on the shoulder and only with
a CHANGING effect. L.ucey drew back
his right to swing again-but 1T Was
unnecessary. -I.arkin- had tiaoped to
the floor as though hit by a hold OF
lighting The referee began his count
but the chanting of the fateful num-
bers was almost .inaudible because OF
the bellows OF laughter from the
crowd. During the tumult Larkin
M istook the count seven" for the
count ten and just as the referee