New Britain herald., 1928-04-13
DUMbNESS REALLY
 WINS SOMETIMES
If Doubtful, Just Question
 Cunboat Smith

Wall street, New York, April 13.- That dumhness we call youth | that's what makes the world go round" You arc iiste ening. If you please, to the philosophy of Gunboat Smith, one-timc prospect for the worlds heavyweight boxing championship. later movie actor and now head runner for Wall street brokerage concern. ''Dumbness and youth can land tho knockout blow to wisdom and age. every time" went on the Gun boat 50 long as you are dumb the world is yours. Once you get wise and try to use your nut you start slipping
 The first 30 years are the dumb est. he has found. and hence the best. After that one is apt to get little sense in spite of himself. And when dumbncss starts to so, the landslide is almost as inevitable and as rapid as when a woman's looks start tobogganing.
 Next to the prize fight ring, Gun loat loves Wall street. Of the 2o boys" who carry and collect bonds and checks for him. some have had 1heir own businesses. some arc col lece boys learning their way around. and others are bugs who can't keep away rom the ticker region. Lately n. broke in Arturo Ramos. the Argentine husband of the famous hcir@ss. Millicent Rogers. Ramos wanted to learn about stocks and Gunboat was his first tutor.
 They arc all alike when you get them in the street." avcrred Gun boat. Wall street is the most democratic place in the whole world. No, meet the good eggs and the bad and its all mp to you.
 'Its the place too, for youth, and dumbncss. Wouldn't I love to be 2" acain-just starting out here: I'd go at it like ] used to fieht--likc bull. l was all energy then. NO direction. No sense. Dumb as they come.
 But Hc Managed tn Get Ky.
 "I felt all he time just as did m a boat race we had in tho navy was sure our boat couldn't help win ming if everyone else would just drop his oars and let me TOW it alone.
 "I used to fight bigger. heavier mon who knew lot more about boxing than I did, and often beat thcm. A prizefighter has to have dumbnoss and youth. If he had sense he wouldn't stand up and let some dizzy guy punch him till h's paw was broken. his molars knock led loose, and his lamps put out knowing it was the only mug he ever have.
 "For awhile. everything vas jake. Then the younger and lumber eggs began to beat mo. You can outgucss youth for while. but not for long At 30. my old bus began to haNt flat tires and need new parts My fighting days were over. Then came the question. what should I do next I'm still wondering.
 If had struck Wall Street al 20. well and good. l could have gone into the game right. That same dumbmess and dosgcdn"ss that makes you take punches and never doubts you can give back better thar is sent--that's what puts the boyf over down here. You've got to mak' your pile and get your stride be fore YOU wake up and wonder Wha all the whanging is about.
 You have to be dumb and Ntunt 10 believe you can be ono of tho fortunate ones. and that Genera Motors and Bank of Italy didn't sky rocket for VOLT particular benefit
 Gunboat has learned a lot abou stocks. just carrying thtn around.
 But [ am cagey.' he qualified "I was several years collecting m. own bank roll. and l don't care t' kick 1t around. I have no yen t hook the family jewels or trim Ill the Brooklyn homestead with mortgage. I'd like to feel that m. wife. child, and myself would ge three squares the rest Of my life so I don't feel so like spcculatine just watch
 And in the Mo.ies-I.ack Of Tattl,
 That old dumbncss that woul have made mo rush in first an pick up the pieces, if any, later on [ gone It was the same way in tn movies. had good contracts an good parts. But I wasn't playin with d kids faith, When they SUE snsted I he free lance, whic means take a meal when you ca get it, and don't mind if you n'is plentX.sI rebelled.
 I've learned just this about lif' Non have to be plain nuts abo, your job to make T go of if, or yo have to hc lucky. Any job is abo' nine tenths breaks. and one-tcnt you.