Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-19
by CLARENCE BURLINGTON
EELLAND.

Il SDarrlng partner IIolH 49,
burgh was earning ROUNDS ol
~ applause from the spectators
about the ring. lie seemed hot
more than two-thirds the stature y,
the Lithuanian sailor, but ne mao
speed and an evident desire 10 MAGNIFY
himself.
Sharkey took what the. young man
had to give for two ROUNDS In d hlail.
ner little short Of placid, then' as the
third round was ending, one sot
glimpse of the real citizen VINO lives
inside that big frame.
Sharkey ceased suddenly 10 re
ea;ye. HIS large, rather amiable eyes
au hut disappeared under oNerhanSile
eyebrows. he shifted in tWlnkllhs
from defense TO savage, relentless
attack.
A. snake strikes, as swiftly and
as clearly. he shot his right TO the
young mans jaw, anu thefe was Oh
end to the matter.
II seemed from later casual con-
yersation in the dressing room that
DEMPSEY has been knocking out ms
sparrinc partners in droves at the
Saratoga camp. A custom. appar-
entity, which does not meet ShafkeS
approval. .,. ;,
said his rubber.
Sharkev twisted his massive head
N h could cock a maliciously humor'
Gus eye over his shoulder.
The Guy Got Gay.
"He was funny-yesterday, ne
said. :.,,
PATIENTLY Sharkey is not one with
whom, If is profitable to be funny two
davs in succession.
AS Sharkey boxed in that ring with
yar;o,ls sparring partners 1t was not
his superior skill which impressed
one. but his superiority. After ah'
there i, something about pre-emlnence
In any line which marks its possessor.
No man can arrive at the point
where he is one of the three best men
in any pursuit without personality
and Sharkey has personality. AT long
range. before meeting the man, IL was
a plea sing personality. rather domi-
mating and belligerent. it is true, but
bovish and sincere.
If guile plays any part in TINS busi-
ness of prize. fighting, you know I'M
nediately that Sharkey would nave 10
hire some astute gentleman To look
sfter that end of it for him. He mn
nresses you as being fully as Sulieful
as Saint Bernard dog, two-thlrds
grown. :.
After the third or fourth match OF
tha afternoon, the boxers trainer
climbed up to the ropes and suggested
another round. In an instant the
Mace reverberated with Sharkey $
ennhatic~negative. He roared as II
he got sincere pleasure out OF roar
ing: as if he turned it on suddenly for
the sheer Joy of listening TO his own
below. -.
"BIankety Blank"
"No. No. l said no. didn't i!
Hlankety blank, l said no."
His big, broad face became blank
and menacing, and people scurrled.
Rut TO me it did not seem genuine.
II was buster, rough. boyish buster
for the sake of creating an impression.
T beg to doubt if Sharkey has de-
Iiberately vicious or mean bone In MS
fine body.
1t was we'll to be able 10 study him
at long range before coming into con-
tact with the man himself in the in
tin,acy of friendly conversation. 1t
gave one starting place, basis Tor
forming judgments.
The first OF these bases Is that
Sharkey has a profound confidence IN
himself, and no little disdain for his
antagonists. Not that he was care
less. but he seemed to delight in allow
ing them to cuff him at will just to
show them they could do no damage
to such as he; suddenly, almost
humorously. he would unleash him.
self for an instant. and then relapse
into the attitude of young man be-
ing exercised by pygmies.
The next, and perhaps most impor-
tant, thing one observed, was his per-
feet calmness. a possession OF him
self at all times. and knowledge of
just what should be done if he wanted
to do it. 1t was in that he showed
his superiority more than in any
thing else, in that mental poise. that
swarencas Of what was going on and
why, and what to do about it.
A DumbbelI? No, Indeed.
Therefore | came to the conclusion
that Sharkey is not what sports
writers are fond of calling a dumb.
hell. In his own line. at least. he is
rs intelligent as bank president is
in his line. And what more can you
K. for Sharkey is not training to be
a bank president?
When the exhibition ended ] was
passed from hand 10 hand. mounting
from one gentleman of importance to
another ot greater Importance. until
I was actually ushered into the pres.
ence. 1t seems very difficult thing
to penetrate to the presence Of a
prize fighter.
Sharkey thrust his hand out of the
shower and shook mine pleasantly
his large eyes, set widely apart under
protecting brows, were genial. One
gathered that one was an internal