New Britain herald., 1928-06-26
SHAKESPEARE, tom
KNOWS ABOUT HIM
But Heeney Insists Hes a
Fighter Himself

Fairhaven, \. j., June Go
Shakespeare Sure I know about
him. That's the guy Tunney lee
lures about"
Tom Heeney was all ready for
my question. But he wants it un-
derstood he and Tunney are tight
ing for the heavyweight champion
ship and not a Phi Beta Kappa
key He dislikes interviews that
take the form of college entrance
exams.
Never. said Tom. has he been
caught in the compromising COM
pany of any book. Never has he
loitered in literature or frittered
away his evenings in lecture halls.
Il quit school in the fifth stan
dard," Heeney told me. This means
somewhere south of grammar
school in Osborne, New Zealand,
where Hcaney was exposed to edu-
cation
school didn't take" he said. Il
was glad to get out"
In u London Torture Chamber
Recently. in London, an effort
was made to graft little artistic
appreciation on the fighter. He
was conducted. forcibly, through the
National Gallery.
Where | took one swell beating, v
he admitted without shame. Il
lasted two hours, but I was uncon-
scious when they finished I don't
remember a picture. Someone
seemed to be saying Isn't it lovely?
every five minutes before ] passed
out.
Music? Sure like music. Now
you're talking. But only Jazz
American Jazz. Blimey, I'm q
fighter"
Heeneys one cultural asset is one
of environments British accent
It's not the scholarly diction o!
Cambridge or oxford, to be sure
but there is a distinct Discrimination
to pronounce an "h," and a prefer,
ence for Il sigh instead Of Il say.
Again. Tunney wallops Heenes
IlOl oIllt III lltSl dtuIt anu al |. pt
in looks. Heeney Is no Adonis
About two inches shorter than Tun.
ney. and much broader and thicker
his figure bespeaks strength rather
than symmetry His face Is good.
natured. but not handsome. A few
20. He has the tanned, deeply lineG
face Of a man who has lived much
out Of doors-as he has.
Excusing him on the scores o.
art, literature. and beauty. Heeney
seems most satisfactory as prize
fighter. He talks looks and act;
Just as you expect c fighter to, eX'
cept that he is uncommonly modes
about his proves. He admits hi
fights because it is easier than work
ing.
You don't call fighting work, i
you have actually gone 10 work
/ eaten and slept by whistle" he said
Il know what real work Is. Jus
try carrying bags of sugar weighing
from $50 to 200 pounds all day OF
your shoulders as I did in Aus
| tralia. and you'll know that f1ghtin!
! is just good exercise.
A Few Of His Other Vacations
And I've been a blacksmith, ;
plumber, a laborer in a gravel pit
: and a dock worker in Australia
You can't tell me anything abou
work that l don't know. Or sci
/ me on the idea. want my owl
| bank account. I'm going to fgh
as hard as l can. Then, me for tn
easy life"
Asked what he expected to d.
with his share Of the gate in TN
Tunney- fight, Heeney an
| swered:
II expect my managers to &C
most OF it. If there's anything
left. I'd love>to go big-same shoot
ing in Africa or buy in on a circus.
The circus is Heeney's favorit
! amusement. Baseball he doesn'
! quite understand. Rugby AM
cricket leave him lukewarm, an
tennis is blank. He is only midi
fond of movies, and hates nigh
clubs. which he considers only ex
cellcnt places to lose good sleep.
His taste in clothes is conserya
tive.
I'm not in Mayor Walkers class,
he laughed, II like good stuff -
plain. No dots and dashes. And
like a few spare suits. But T.
never be any great advertisement
fer any tailor.
You Soc he repeated I'm
fighter. I'm not competing i
looks, clothes or-or Shakespeare
All I'm doing is matching muscles.
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