The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-03-09
GENE ADDS
FRIENDS As
He Goes
BY Davis ]. Walsh

NEW YORK, March 9.--Accortl
ing to adyices arriving today sew
eral weeks in advance OF the youna
man himself, Gene Tunney has
added copiously to his personal
popularity during his tour Of the
American box offices, now drawing
to a profitable close. Every one
knows that he has added about
$150,00O to his personal fortune
which is a good trick even IL you
don't do it, but popularity usually
is acquired by painful degrees, like
q bunion.
It is, in fact, the worlds greatest
open field runner and for d tins
it was feared that Tunney was to
miss the tackle with beautiful pre-
clsion.
The trouble was that he de-
elined to play the role of cham
piOn in character. He sexper-
fenced almost no difficulty at
all in restraining the impulse
to drink the contents Of >
finger bowl and never once did
ne try to cut his peas with
knife.
The old timers, viewing these
phenomena from afar, were first
nonplussed and then resentful.
They neglected to remember Of
course. that the pugilistic tendency
these many years has been toward
the dinner coat and away from the
turtle neck sweater. They also
forgot that they had resented
something In almost every heavy
weight champion since the days Of
John 4. Sullivan.
They didn't like the Gentleman
Jim idea about Corbett, particu-
larly since he had beaten the man
they revered. Jeffries' taciturnity
repealed and annoyed them. John.
sons behavior, perforce, affronted
everybody. and Wizards lack of
personality and ability, coupled with
his size, made him a shining target.
With Dempsey, it was the army
Issues the Wills issue. the money.
he made and the so-cailed easy way
he made it. Almost without excep-
ton, however, these men improve
on more intimate Acquaintance.
1t seems to have been 50 with
Iunney. who has afforded the i
public . much closer personal
view than did his predecessors,
what with his Inherent lack Of q
Immunity to the pEOn1OtOrial
tendencies OF Chambers OF Com
nlerce and what not.
And, considering his. unfailing
courtesy, which seems to be innate;
his pose and excellent address, 1t is
not surprising that Tunney has
he ~
reasonably near the line Of ecrim-
mage Say what you will, a. man
meeting Tunney at the banquet
board. on the court house steps
or side by side upon the speakers
platform at the annual flag raising,
cannot fail to be impressed by the
champions well-bred manner and
his air Of fully agreeing with
Longfellow that life is real and life
II earnest.
That sort Of thing would sit well
with a high school principal, ris-
ing young barrister or the cashier
at the first national. It fits rather
inadequately the common Illusion
of what q heavyweight champion
should be but common illusions
don't so, in Tunney's case.
He became q boxer merely
through the circumstances Of
war time boxing. Naturally,
he cannot be expected to act q
part that he doesn't come by
honestly
But, then, a mans minor char
acteristics become a major sin as
soon as, he wins the heavyweight
title. Dempsey is highly popular
now, which only goes to prove that,
contrary to the usual thing. the
possessor Of title is. a good fellow
only. when he hasn't got it.
II IL u y lARlll