THE PRIMITIVE INSTINCT

NZ Truth, Issue 1215, 14 March 1929, Page 10

THE PRIMITIVE INSTINCT

In The Boxing Ring

Tunney Applies "Culture" To Photographer

DID HIS MENTAL GEARS SLIP?

Gene Tunney, world's champion boxer, knocked out a press photographer at Cannes because he doesn't like publicity— so he says. In view of this display of the primitive instinct,' a contrast with his recent history is interesting, for Gene has always; bean anxious to make the world believe that, although a boxer, he is a being with brains right out of the ordinary.

PRIOR to his Tom Heeney -fight, i Tunney delivered a lecture on Shakespeare at an American University, and he was then boosted as an intellectual — a freak of the 'hempen square. After he had made a terrible mess of the gallant Heeney he completely renounced the boxing: ga.me and went to London posing as a man of culture. He even met the sarcastic Shaw, the' gentleman who seems to v regard it as his special right to deliver literary upper-cuts to all and sundry. On this occasion, however, It is stated, he preferred to discuss the finer points of self-defence, probably choosing to be a little careful m the presence of a world's champion despite the latter's claims to culture.^ And m the light of later events' he was wise. When Tunney got married he again announced to the world that he was finished with the fighting game for all time. Apparently the instinct was stronger than he thought, or perhaps he has not yet been able, to get his mental gears into top and accidentally slipped into reverse. Whatever it is, this much is certain 1 . He is not the MAN some Americans thought he was after that Shakespearian lecture. ' It is not so long .since Tunney, at the bottom of the boxing game, was glad. to shake hands with press photographers and, get all the publicity the press would give him. And surely a "Shakespearean scholar" must realise that it was publicity that brought the huge crowds to see him fight and put fabulous sums into his pockets. Tunney should be as (grateful to pressmen as to his two big, powerful paws.

After this display of thuggery, most people will say it is better to let such a man sink into obscurity and be completely forgotten. But perhaps Gene has studied Shakespeare too much and some of those thrilling passages on murder have created an Irresistible impulse within this "natural fighter," as he waa once described. It may even be that he called Shakespeare to his aid to express his feelings m that moment of tremendous trial when he saw the photo man having a shot at him. He might have taken that 'passage from Hamlet, m which Horatio speaks to the ghost, and applied It to the photographer this way (with many apologies to Shakespeare, of course): — What art thou that usurp'st this time of day, Together with that\dark and warlike form, In which the majesty of my buried past Doth too often march? by Heaven, I charge thee, Bang! And if Gene were to get 24 hours for that assault, he might declare, with all his "intellectual" dignity. "A Daniel come to jug-ment." Again m view of this latest episode, he may find the fighting instinct m him so strong that he will suddenly don the gloves once more and, m the desire to box something, exclaim: "Friends, Romans, countrymen,, lend me your ears." ' At a recent function m England, Gene led the gathering m prayer for the King's recovery. Now that His Majesty is well on the road to health and able to read about the champion's doings, he will probably say a prayer for Tunney.