JEWELS AND CLOTHES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 43, 13 November 1937, Page 12

JEWELS AND CLOTHES

TOMMY FARR'S VAN1TY .HIS REACTIONS T0 LUXURY MIKE JACOB'S HIS IDOL

Tommy Farr's reactions to the comforts and luxuries of iife with which he is suddenly deluged were expressed rather amusingly on his return to England on the Queen Mary on October 11. For the moment, at least, he revealed a child-like vanity— pardonable, perhaps, considering his rapidlychanged environment. :r.o an interviewer on the ship he displayed a naive pleasure in clothes and jewels. "Y'know, life's funny," Farr mused. "When I wprked in the mines it was my ambition to have tea served in bed — and hpre I am getting it in a luxury liner, and able to stay in bed as long as I like," he stated. Farr is back from the Joe Louis fight with two scarred eyes, nearly £9000— -which was what remained of his purse when percentages, expenses, and other charges had been met-a wardrobe of American clothes, and some souvenirs. "Smart Girl."

Eagerly he displayed his souvenirs of people left behind— -a gold wristwatch ("from Jerry, my bodyguard, and Babe Culnan, my deputy-manager. .... and it cost ?35 doliars"), a gold cigartcte case, and a white-gold and sapphire ring. "One of the smartest girls in New York gave me the ring," explained Farr, switqhing on his bedside lamp the better to display the stone's beauty. "Yes— - I'll be seeing her again when I get back to the States, but . . . don't get ahead of me , . . . we are npt engaged. "Getting married is something I just never think about, although (reflectively) perhaps a good wife might help me a whole lot ... . you know . . , . settiing down, and all that. I've got enough money now never to want for a cigar if I want one, and I am going to get plenty more." Farr then stated That promoter Mike Jacobs had put up a 50,000-dol-lar bond (£10,000) guaranteeing him another world ehampionship fight with either Louis or Max Schmeling — proyiding Farr comes unbeaten thrgugh eliminating bouts. "A Real Pah"

"Mike is ff real pal to me. See those six new suits over there. He gave them to me, and two overcoats and two dozen shirts . . . . he was so pleased with my, fight. Mike is going tp Pay me £20,000 for my next ehampionship mateli, which he plans for hexf September, but meantime i've gpt to do a lot of fighting. "These dates are definite; there's a match for me at Madison Square Garden on January 21, one in" February 20 in Miami, Florida, another in May in Chicago, and then one jn Detroit next June. And all the time I will keep up my stage act, which goeg down mighty well in the States. "I do some wise-cracking, tell them about myself, and sing a song . . . . i and what a hand those Amer|cans give me. In two days at Atlantic City 43,000 saw the show. It was when we Were going back with the takings (§009 doliars) that those gunmen tried a hold-up, but Jerry' 's driving' got us out pf trouble, "That was the only time I was scered over there. I'd rather fight two Joe Louises than meet another carload of gunmen." "It's all rubbish to say I am tied up to Jacobs for flve years," he declared in touching on his future, "Let me tell ypu that I am quite free tp fight in London next week if I want. It is merely a matter of terms. "If Wembley ofier me the right sort of -cash, and can find & real opponent for me, then 1*11 fight for Mr. Arthur Elvin. "The situation between myself and Jacobs is clear. I have a fixed contract with him to meet, next September, the winner of the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling ehampionship fight, which takes place in New York next June. Put For Fortune. "Jacobs must fix me up with a return world title or forfeit £20,000. That is how I stand. But this option does not prevent my fighting in Britain, "I want plenty of fights. I mean to earn a fortune with my fists. Believe me, I would sopner fight ten rpunds than do a vaudeville act for two minutes. I'm not actor, pr, funny turn. My job is fighting. "True, I haye promised to figure in a film, which has np thing to do with boxing." Reverting to the American promoter, Farr ndded: ".What a fella' — he's rented me a, Central Park Avenue apartment, with my pwn cook and vaiet and chauffeur for my next visit. Park Avenue, mind you, amgng the swells!" Then Farr delivered himself to his admirers, who eame storming up the fangway, his two sisters, Sally and hyliis, among them. Free at last, the family party drove off in Farr's £700 ear for a reunion. Farr drove to his home at Slough, where he was met by other mernbers of his family. Later he visited his old training quarters, and had a rousing reception.

One-day Cricket. A Christchurch critie states that one-day cricket has brightened up the batting and brought about a vast difference in running between the wickets, but in some teams there is still no improvement in fielding, and captains still place their fields to stop boundaries rather than to take catches. In the ope-day game bo>vieps must attack all the time; and dropped chances mean, that their/ good work goes for little.- - i