The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-09
TUNNEY IS AT
! RAINBOW END;
GOLD IS There
'Fairy Princess Inspired
/ Champion on Long Road
K to Fame and Riches.
WEDDING IN AUTUMN
Son of Irish Immigrants
> Wins Proud Daughter
of Wealth.
BY MORRIS DE HAVEN TRACY
United Press staff Correspondent
(Convright 1928, by United Press

United Press Stdn NOIEcSpOAluCAS
copyright. 1928. by United Press
NEW YORK, Aug. 9.-The love
of a man for maid has given the
world it's most remarkable heavy
weight champion pugilist.
The champion, of course, Is Gene
Tunney, now retired. And the maid
is Mary Josephine Lauder, Green
wich, Conn, daughter Of one OF the
country's first and richest families.
They will be married this autumn
or winter, probably in New York.
The engagement was confirmed
last night by friends of Tunney and
of Mrs. George Lauder, Jr., the
Hiother. So it becomes possible to
tell the true story Of why Gene
Tunney not only became cham
pion and a millionaire, but also a
Shakesperean scholar, a man OF cul-
ture, received into the salons OF the
elite, activities which often brought
him jeers from the followers OF pu-
giliSn4,
The romance goes back five or six
years, when Mary Josephine Lau-
der was a girl of about 16. Tunney
was a friend of her brother-in-laW,
Edward Dewing, of Hartford, Conn.
Through Dewing, quite without de-
sign, he met Miss Lauder.
Charming to Tunney
She proved to be a sprightly girl,
athletic, a daring and skillful rider,
artistic, girl Of culture and refine
ment. Tunney found her altogether
charming.
After his usual thoughtful method,
he took stock of himself. He was
\ Just a young prize-fighter, about
enough money to finance himself
from one fight to another. His
education was that of the common
schools and the marines. His social
position was that of the son Of Irish
Immigrants, born in Greenwich
Village, N. Y, and turned prize
fighter.
Mary Josephine Lauder was the
daughter of George Lauder, Jr., and
wife, related to the Carregies, and
worth millions made in steel. Blood
of the Varicks of New York and the
Rowlands of Connecticut ran in her
veins.
It was a tough problem for any
man. Until he could enter the
Lauder home as man of wealth,
Tunney could admire, but not at
tain the side of the fairy princess.
He must have even more than
wealtt-culture and social standing.
Starts After Rainbow
1t was at a time when prize fight
ing was just entering the million
dollar" phase. Tunney disliked prize
fighting. But he needed wealth to
win his fair lady. He had boxing
skill and a strong, clean, athletic
body as perhaps his only tangible
assets.
For the next couple of years he
fought his way up over the rough
route which leads to pugilistic
greatness. Then came that night in
1926 at Philadelphia when Gene
Tunney battered Jack Dempsey off
the throne.
When the announcer held high
the right hand of Tunney and pro-
claimed the coming of a new king
Of pugilism, Gene Tunney saw al
most within his reach, the little
fairy princess riding in the gilded
coach.
1t wasn't long until that section
OF fandom which Graves its "killers"
and takes its fighters raw, was jeer-
ing at Tunney. He read books.
He quoted Shakespeare. He knew
lot about philosophy.
Nearer the Goal
There came the fight at Chicago.
Tunney trained, surrounded by
wealthy and socially elect friends.
He was jeered again as bridge
table champion. But he went into
the ring and once more battered
Jack Dempsey into bloody defeat.
People who listened to the broad
casting of that fight will remember
that Tunney came to the micro
phone and sent greetings to every
one, "and especially my friends in
Greenwich, Conn"
Those who heard didn't know it,
but they were listening in on the
romance of Gene Tunney and Mary
Josephine Lauder.
The fight over, Gene counted his
money and found that, with all ex-
penses paid, he had pretty close to
a million dollars.
"One more fight will be enough, 3"
he said to himself
Wins Fairy Princess
He continued to read and study
There was much jeering once again
when he lectured on literature at
Yale. 1t was considered a great
joke. But it was mighty satisfac-
tory joke to Tunney.
Then he fought Tom Heeney and
won again in his greatest fight
Two days later he announced his
retirement.
Gene Tunney, born in Greenwich
Village, the son of Irish immigrants,
had won the fairy princess.