How I Married Jack Johnson.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 October 1911, Page 4

How I Married Jack Johnson.

CHAT "WITH THE WIFE OF THE WORLD'S HEAVY-WEIGHT

CHAMPION

"Would I many him again? Gee, but that's a dandy question! Sure I would, for I'm quite happy. Jack Johnson is my (husband, and to me, at least, the fact that he is a coloured man is of no importance. I'm real proud of him. Of course, when L married folks told me all sorts of awful tilings likely to result from a mixed marriage, and a good many of my women friends were considerate enough to shudder for me. But 1 loved iliim, and now, after a year's marriage, I realise I did the right tiling. I'm satisfied, sure en'ough." The T.-B. man had approached Mrs Johnson, who is the white wife of the champion negro pugilist of the worhl, wifJb natural diffidence. The questions he had to ask were not easy, and, not knowing the lady, it was impossible to tell whether she Would take kindln to the queries. But Mrs Johnson seemed hy no means displeased. Certainly her answers were ready enougjh. WHITE WIFE-BLACK HUSBAND. The thought had come to the T.-B. man as lie watched the black fighter on his arrival in London, force his way in a huge motor-car through an enthusiastic mob in Piccadilly. What did his white partner -think ab'oait it? Did she participate in his triumphs, or was she just living in the background? Was she ostracized a little because she was a black man's wife, and, above all, was she happy? When a. white woman who is o-ood to look upon, and who possesses a certain amount of culture and refinement. mariers a negro, there are a good many people who wonder whv she did it. For to put it bluntly, the American negro is not a man one can take home and introduce to one's sisters or mother. He is. in spite of civilized surroundings and opportunities, a good way down the ladder of life. ft is only common fairness, however, to mention that Jack Johnson is a very different type of man from that generally supposed . He is re- | markably good-tempered, very intelligent, and apparently quite free from thtose vices that make the average coloured man a person to bo shunned. "LIL ARTHUR" APPEARS. The flat in Shaftesbury Avenue where the pugilist and his wife are staying was decked with many floral offerings from admiring friends. Littered about were trunks and suitcases still unpacked. On the walls were pinned gorgeously-tinted "official souvenirs" of Reno, and there was the heavy, luxurious odour of the beautiful flowers. It was "Lil Arthur' '(himself who received the T.-B. man—wit'li courtesy and good manners, let it be said —but it was his wife who supplied the answers to the questions. Mrs Johnson is an American, daughter of wealthy New York people. She is a .handsome lady with a

wealth of light-coloured hair and a pair of very beautiful hazel eyes. She is frankly pround of her giant Ihusband.

"JACK'S REAL GOOD TO ME."

"Why did I marry him " Jack Johnson's famous golden smile came across the table as lie listened. "Well, now, why does any woman marry?"

Mrs Johnson, probably without I.knowing.it, looked down at her hands, where gleamed quite a small fortune in magnificent- gems. "I admit the step I took was one tha,t required thinking over," she continued in her quaint American drawl, "but T am satisfied and 1 am happy. Jack's real good to me. "I met him in quite a social way at t'he house of some friends of mine who wc-ro giving him a dinner, and I married him because lie had such an awful go'od 'heart. There wasn't a thing he wouldn't do for me. "People naturally imagined I married 'him for his money. But they were wrong. Sure. 'My people are wealthy, and long before I met Jack I'd pretty niuc.h .wliat I wanted.

"I've known a good many white men in my time, but- I've never yet met a man like Johnson. He's always tlie same never crankv and out of temper, like most white folk, and lie's the most generous man living. Even though lie's a negro. I /think what every woman thinks who has married tflie man she loves, that T've got the best husband in the world." THE RADIANT, GOLDEN SMILE. "If lie sees any dandy little trifle in a shop window what he thinks I'd like, sure enouglli' he goes and gets it. He doesn't regard 1110 as so many men regard their wives—as cooks, housekeepers, nurses, and ■wives all rolled into one. Ido pretty muoh as I like, and in spite of the fact that he is one of the world's strongest men, and could practically crush me if he wanted to with one liand, I manage Km ouite successfully, and can generally succeed in bringing ihini round to my way of thinking when it's necessary." Once more Johnson smiled liis radiant, golden smile and : he uttered an amused "Sure thing, that!" "T-t just doesn't -bother me," went on Mrs Johnson, who !> rough out her collection of wonderful jewels for inspection, "that my visiting list, isn't over long. I'm" a home bird myself, and I'm not one for over much gaiety. If folks don't want to know me because I'm a black man's wife, T guess I don't want to know them.

"What does it feel lilce to be the wife of a champion fighter? "Well, pure, I'm quite used to it by nio-w. At first it was pretty ticklish. Crowds whenever we went out of the ■house ar.d cil 1 earing. One doesn't get much privacy or peace as a sportsman's wife.

' "Rut I 'ni not a sporting woman my.relf, though naturally I take a groat interests in any of Jack's fights. I keep right iliome. and I just love cooking." Mrs Johnson is of Spanish descent, and the pugilist is her second busban:?.