Year: 1874




Washington letter writer tells the following
good joke on Conkling:


"Chandler's great hobby is his skill as pu-
gilist Roscoe Conkling is also great boxer
He has private gymnasium in his residence
at Washington, where after dinner he invites
such of his friends as are gymnastically inclin-
ed for friendly little bout with the Gloves
as he is a very large, powerful man, he gener-
ally has it in his own way with the guests who
are bold enough to put the gloves on with him.
For some time it was an open dispute between
Chandler and Conkling which was the better
boxer of the two. Chandler would, after every
dinner party of which he was member, calm
ly assert that he could lick any man of his
weight in the United States.


One day last winter Chandler dined with
Conkling, and the latter inveigled the great
war Senator into the private gymnasium. The
gloves were donned and the two doughty cham
pions began to make graceful senatorial passes
toward one another according to the most ap-
proved rules of the P. R. The bout, however,
was of very short duration. Chandler sudden
ly received blow between the eyes, which
caused the huge senatorial form to go over
backward his trusty legs failed him, and then
he sat down so hard that the tears came out of
his eyes 1t took four men to get the war Sen
ator upon his legs, but he threw up the sponge
at once.


Conklng and Chandler were much together
in social way, and it was not long after the
above occurrence when Chandler received an
other invitation to come up to his house and
spread his legs under Conkling's social board.
Chandler sent back word that he regretted very
much his inability to be present, but he had at
his house guest, valued constituent from
Michigan, and he could not leave him. Conk-
ling sent back word, "Bring your friend along"
With this form of invitation Chandler con sent
ed to come up. He brought his friend with
him, and introduced him as Mr.. Howard, of
Detroit.


Conklng was in a great gee during the din
ner. He told over and over again the story of
Chambers discontinue as a boxer, and never
seemed to tire of asking him what he thought
of his ability to lick any man in the United
States. Chandler took all these remarks in
an absent minded way, as if suddenly he had
become lifted above any such petty ambition
Of considering himself fine athlete.


After dinner Conkling led his guests into the
gymnasium for general smoke and chat
"Come," said he pleasantly to Chandler, "don't
you want another bout with the gloves?" and
then Conklng laughed again in his most
oh furE fu1a ba ,rf
pair of gloves


"I don't want to box" said Chandler; "but
perhaps my friend here would consent to
amuse you." Turning to Mr.. Howard, Chan
dler remarked, "You box, do you not?"


Mr.. Howard looked sad eyed and absent
minded. He did once know something about
it, but it was such long while ago, "Come,
come," said Conkling, ''let us have a friendly
bout l won't hurt you" Evidently the great
New York Senator was pining to knock some
one down. Mr.. Howard, evidently fattered at
the prospect of being even knocked down by
so distinguished man, began to slowly put on
a pair of gloves.


AS he was drawing on the gloves Chandler
was observed to walk down little to the back
ground. A contented look was upon his face,
and every now and then he would raise his
huge right foot up under his swaying volumin-
Gus coat-tail and give himselfa congratulatory
kick, expressive of rapture. The sad eyed man
now came forward, and the round began
Conkling was for proceeding at once to knock
his opponent down, and would have done so
had he not found great difficulty in getting any
where near the sad-eyed man. The affair cul
minated by the sad-eyed mans suddenly rush
ing forward and landing thunderbolt of fist
between Conkling's eyes.


The Senator went over like great tree, and
rolled into the corner Of the room, where he lay
for moment stunned by the conclusion. He
was heard to say afterward that he thought
house had fallen on him. Conkling had enough
of boxing for once.


Judge of Conkling's feelings the next day
when he learned that Chandler had played
joke upon him by giving Mr.. Howard 500 to
come up and bounce Conkling. The Mr.. How
ard, of Detroit, Michigan, was none other than
the notorious pugilist, Jem Mace.


>OS-