The New York herald., 1921-08-28
Transformed From Bibulous
Roysterer to Philanthropical
and Studious Citizen.
BY CHARLES II. WATHIsoN.

to 1892 and the most popular title holder
In the history of the ring, was by no
means a prohibitionist Yet his life fur
nished one of the strongest and most
| convincing arguments In favor of tenn
perance that could possibly be advanced.
During his career in the roped square
Sullivan was a bibulous, boisterous man,
jocose or sullen at intervals, throwing
| his earnings about with lavish hand.
living strenuously to-day and consign-
| ing the morrow to take care of itself.
Although Sullivan was followed about
by a horde OF kotowing servitors, he
himself knelt at the throne of King Al
cohol and was a most loyal subject of
that monarch of misery.
When Sullivan as result of his riot
Gus existence had lost championship,
money and friends, he suddenly, to the
astonishment of all who knew him,
| made a radical change in his mode OF
his life. He deserted his alcoholic maj
esty, restricted his beverages to pure
| cold water, became a sedate, dignified
citizen and useful, respected member
of the community.
While other less noted men have
abandoned the drink habit to their great
advantage, the Transformation of Sull-
van from the registering and at times un-
| pleasant person to a peaceable and ami
able gentleman was startling to those
| who had followed him during his ring
career.
John l.. as n Temperance Lecturer.
Having once decided to cut Mr.. John
Barleycorn off his visiting list. Sullivan
embarked en- career as a lecturer, and
he seldom failed to dwell on the subject
of strong drink. In fact his verbal at
tack on King Alcohol was even more
savage that his assaults on ring oppon-
ents. In time the lecturer acquired a
competence, established a comfortable
home near Boston, the city Of his birth.
and lived there happily to the time of
his death, February 3. 1918.
When ono considers the pace at which
Sullivan travelled from the time he won
the title from Paddy Ryan in 1882 till
he lost the honors to Corbett in 1892,
and for several years after his pugilistic
downfall, the reformation OF the man
was little short OF wonderful.
In the days OF his pugilistic SUI
premacy Sullivan was unmarageable,
and only when in jovial mood was he at
all bearabic. 1t was his delight to scat
ter coins to the ncwsboys. who trooped
after him in the streets and bailed him
as hero. On the other hand. If boxing
enga gements interfered with convivial-
ity they were summariy cancelled, and
the promoters received scant courtesy
from the champion If they demonstrated
with him.
Prior to the loss Of the championship
Sullivan, mellow or morose, according to
the influence of his libations, stalked the
streets sovereign of all who surveyed
him. and those who shook the hand Of
Sullivan were treated with kingly
condescension that might have been ex-
pected Of the head Of a reigning family
But Sullivan was democratic and he
treated newsboy with the same con-
sideration he showed to bank presi-
dent In fact the champion unbent
bit to a newsboy or a bootblack and
occa asionally chatted familarly with one
Of the clan.
But woe be to the unhappy wight who
attempted to assume a free and easy
attitude In the presence Of the gladiator.
Even after his defeat Sullivan insisted
on the same homage from his admirers
as he exacted when he was the ruler
OF the heavyweight class.
Shortly after his return from New
Orleans, where he had made a few
well chosen remarks in expressing his
pleasure that an american had won
the title" Sullivan was seated with
cluster of friends in the Hotel Wander
bilt 1t was a sort of wake over his
pugilistic remains, and many were the
consolatory speeches delivered between
copious draughts Of vari-colored bever-
ages.
Sullivan sat with a scowl on his face
listening patiently to the sympathetic
utterances of his friends, and az he
was not inclined to make any extended
remarks, his contributions to the con-
versation consisting Of grunts of dissent
or appreciation, an interval of silence
ensued in which all present peered
gloomily into the future.
The stiffness, which had became pain
full in It's intensity, was suddenly broken
by the shrill voice of a young man in
the back row of the circle of mourners,
who piped his lamentation over the
downfall of the pugflist:
Never mind. Johnny. he can't do it
again."
The appalling familiarity Of a man
addressing him, John Lawrence Sulli-
van, as Johnny" caused the beaten
gladiator TO straighten and rise from his
chair. His face darkened like an ap-
preaching squall and his eyes blazed like
Goals OF fire. After a searching look at
| each man in the party sullivan roared:
"Who was that called me Johnny?"
There was no reply and the culprit
covered behind the man next to him.
After another threatening look at all
present Sullivan said "I don't allow
any man to call me Johnny. | am Mr.
Sullivan, and I don't want any one to
forget IT.
He then sought consolation in a beaker
or ale. during which operation the youth
who had called him Johnny made his
escape from the room.
More OF the suilivsnisttc Ego.
An incident OF his career while he
| still held the title is also Illustrative OF
the Sullvanistic ego. He was visiting
a Western city and was warmly re-
ceived, everybody apparently desiring to
shake his hand.
One enthusiast was not satisfied with
| one handclasp. but after shaking hands
| with the champion would walk about IN
a circle and come up for another hand
| shake After he had repeated the opera
| ton for fifteen times Sullivan said with
| much gruffness: SAY, young fellow
| don't do that again"
The young fellow did not do II again
When Sullivan trained for his bout
with Corbett his quarters we're In the
Shinnecock Hills, eastern shore OF Ions
Island. He wns taken there In order
10 remove him as far as possible from
the haunts OF civilization and intoxicat.
ing liquors but the attempt was only
partially successful.
The champion found ways TO obtair
solacing beverages, and while he trained
with more earnestness than usual, as h,
felt that he was about to engage In ths
hardest battle OF his life, yet there were