Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-08
LEAST OF WILLARD'S
WORRIES, AND ONE MORE BOUT
MAY SEE -JESSS RETIREMENT
Champion Plans to Promote Own Contest-He Is
Through as Circus Performer-Dislike of
Popularity to Drive Him Out Of Game
By ROBERT ". MAXWELL

= W - - W AshAtA
desire any newspaper Interviews. All he
wants is TO he left 10 himself
l3d Smith. tho Chicago sports writer. told
"a story uC the trials and tribulatiOna Of
Willard when he minglea with the other
people I'm Chicago.
"It is strange" said Smith. but every
time Joss aud his wife 70 into a tbcatrn
the audience forCcts the actors and spends
all of I'F tim" looking at them. This Is en-
barrassur To Mrs. Willard, and as jess
doesn't like II. they virtually are forced to
live The lives Of hernits
"On" night couple OF weeks ago was
at WIlJrIs home ana he suggested tbat
we 80 &" one Of the north side cafes to
got something tn eat The proprietor met
us as soon as we entered the place and
lrlod 70 steer us into the bar. where ne
mad some friends. less told him that he
ana not car" To meet any one, hut desired
a tabl" I'm an irconspicuous place. Tho
proprietor then tried 10 lead us across the
dance floor. but Jess again refused 90 we
TOOK our seats way over In a corner where
We thought we would hc UnrOticed The
proprietor, however. whispered to n few,
friends and soon a steady stream passed
our table willard paid no attention tn
laem, although they acted like crowd
Ea"luE upon curiosity at the dime mu-
scum
Inss finally got very angry. but it was
after We had finished our meal and sat
hh'E 10 smoke cigar. lcSs's arm was
over his chair and a Ecnteel souse-a well.
dressed person who had been gazing or,
.iGud refreshments an day-came over.
grabbed the arm, looked AT WiIlard's hand
and dropped it,
What are YOU trying 10 do asked
Jc7s whats the matter with you?'
fhe drinking person gave him II silly
smile and replied
' oh, ! just wanted to look at that
mauler you had hanging over tho chair
some mauler! Is that the one YOU broke
on Frank Morans head?'
40. ] didn't break il on Moran. hut
III hreak II on your jaw If you don't beat
It IN hurry shouted Jess. The inouisI
tive person then hed to the bar, where he
took another drink"
Doesn't Like Popularity
That kind Of popularity is driving VIII
laid 10 retirement. lie even disIiies the
circus business which nets him $500 a dav
for some 200 days year lie yants N
keep out OF the limeIigh; and tho sooner
the better. Jess Is well fixed Ue has a
comfortable bank account and rjght rnv. 10
able 10 loaf for the rest nf his dnvs ITts
tastes are simple. the kind of man who
can ne n mlillonaire on S50o0O. His wife
too, wants the champion tn get out NJ tbe
game and 60 into business Willard nov
Is thinking Of starting a garage ih chi.
cago. IT he does. il will be the first sto,
or his retirement from the ring
Last year Jess earned more than sabO -
600. His two managers Jack CurIev ana
Tom Jones, received only twenty-five uer
cent of IT, Curley gets ten per cent and
Jones flfteen per cent. Many believe that
"Spendthrift Tom" receives "a larger slice
of the money
To Back Own Bout
If Willard fights again it probably will he
his last lie will not fight for Tex Richard
or any other promoter, but win hack the
show himself and grab all Of the profts
II there are any Jess knows there is
money IN the promoting game. and n he
IS good enough TO get $4,000 for his share
he Is good enough 10 put the show on him,
| self This will be quite blow 10 the New
Workers now fighting for the Garden. but
Willard viii 20 through with his plans
Once going hack TO the '.if''-if tie "l,1,,,
IS held, that Is, il Willard boxes again.
Il Will be in Milwaukee, at the Auditorium
This place viii seat 1900. and. with the
| tickets ranging from s5 to S25, quite a
healthy gate win result