The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-04

rell, won the decision from him and got Sl5. With such q roll the temp tatlon was great to buy a railroad ticket and ride in state but wasn't sure that l could get anything to do in Philadelphia without a long wait. l decided to hit the blinds" again and keep my fifteen in my pocket to be sure of something to eat for the first week there.
 O O O
 When $15 Lasted Five Weeks.
 That "fifteen,' however, would have beer, been enough to put me up at a first class boarding house for five weeks. In those days we thought we were swell when we could say we lived in S3 boarding house. It Is true that purses of s5 to S25 that l received for preliminary bouts Tn those days are ridiculous to what young boxers get these days. But it must be remembered that living conditions have changed.
 When I was starting out. as said, good board could be obtained for s3 week. l always had a hobby for nice clothes and I was able to gratify my whims because fine suit cost no more than $S, s1 was an cXhorbitant price for a hat and the flashiest pair of shoes the most fastidious could desire were not more than S1.50.
 Against this figure what the pre- lminary boy has left out of his purse today. First comes the mana gers cut. usually very big one because managers can't be bothered with youngsters. Then he has to pay for training in gymnasium, for be- ing rubbed and treated. and also he does not get the opportunity to work as frequently as we did in those days. The difference in the cost ot living and clothing oneself is too well known to the layman to dis cuSs.
 Finally l arrived in Philadelphia and presented myself 10 Thiel. He said he would be glad to take care of me. He sent me to a boarding house where 1 got room and three big meals a day for S3. I still remember the table that that old Irish lady used to set. If you didn't take three serv- ings she considered it an insult to her ability as cook and a slight to the quality of her food. One of the most popular entrees on the daily bill of fare-one that she never had to force on her boarders, was beer, Large cans of foaming beer were placed between every two customers at the festive boards.
 No Work in PhiilS.
 As l expected, Thiel couldn't get me work at once. but l was able to pick up little money by helping John Henry Johnson, colored boy, do the laundry and clean out Thiers gym mas lah on Eight street every morn ing. Tiel told me I would have to be patient. as no one knew me around Philadelphia. and they wouldn't offer purses to a punk stranger when they had a lot of local prices at their dis posal.
 The letters I had received from Hayes gave me too glowing an ac- count of Philadelphia. and l was be- ginning to get homesick for Chicago. Of course, Hayes had established himself in Philadelphia and he was doing fine. But I was getting no place and I was about on the point of going back to Chicago and taking chances of going to pjail or any place. A Fault That Was n Vltrue. All the boys around Philadelphia used to compliment me about my boxing and they often asked me how had uicked it up. I used to tell | that it was just safety first" measure. I wasn't filling outo very fast physically, and wasn't too strong. Most of the boxers I was meeting to stay l had to keep away from them. When there is sufficient req son. one ought to be able to do most anything. Too many young boxers today confine their attention to be- coming tremendous hitters. Without learning how tohandle themselves,