GENE TUNNEY ABROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 11

GENE TUNNEY ABROAD.

ENTERTAINED BY AUTHORS. CHAMPION'S APT SPEECH, f PRINCE OF WALES' RECEPTION, [from our own correspondent.] LONDON. Sept. 7. Mr. Harry Preston, the unofficial king of English boxing, arranged a dinner for Gene Tunney last week, and in respect for Tunney's literary aspirations, his guests wero carefully selected An interesting account of this amazing dinner is given by the Daily Express representative. By 8.15, ho says, Arnold Bennett was there, frankly amused. Gilbert Frankau held forth, over the cocktails, on any and every subject. Sir John Lavery seemed quiet. Hugh Walpole, rather less oracular than formerly, looked moro commercial and less artistic than usual. Sir Henry Curtis Bennett seemed to bo holding his brief in reserve. George Graves was lively, but so was C. B. Cochran. Young Lord Plunket paired off with tho young boxing Marquis of Clydesdale. Jeffery Farnol was in high spirits, but then boxing was his meat even before dinner. Lord Dccies, as the heavy-weight income tax champion, shared with Lord Dalziel an air of senior responsibility. At 8.25 Tunney arrived—largo, kindly, deferential, but not crushed. "How do you, sir 1" was his response to each introduction. His black tie, in contrast to the white tie of tho guests, was not immaculate. llis dinner jacket failed to hid© his shoulder muscles. Ho was not quite tho "intellectual" of the newspaper reports, no. This first impression was that of a mountain guide who ought to bo something better, of a man you would trust your sons with on a camping holiday, of a man you- would trust your daughter with anywhere. That was Gene Tunney on arrival.

Thirty Guests at Dinner. Dinner was served. There were somo thirty guests. Distinguished men, most of them. It was impossible not to smile. a "This could only happen in London." That must have been said a dozen times. The King was toasted. Everyone stood while the band played "Cod Save the King." Then the President of the United States was toasted. The band, somewhat perplexed, played "01' Man River," but English phlegm proved supreme. No ono moved until the music was over. Subsequently Lord Decies proposed tho health of the guest of honour. He spoke of Tunney's "great mental intellect." Ho said, which seemed a little improbable, that every man's ambition was to be a heavy-weight champion of the world. He also hoped Mr. Tunney, who was a great gentleman, would have much success in his chosen fieid of literature. • Tho young Marquis of Clydesdale followed. It was a fine, modest speech, attractively delivered. It had the homage of the amateur to the master. Then Tunney rose. He smiled. Ho seemed shy, yet, paiadoxically, at ease. "When I left America," he said, in a soft, almost Southern accent, "I wanted a rest from tho roar of the crowd, tho harassment of photographers, and the persistency of reporters. That is why I came to Europe. But, gentlemen, I underestimated Europe." The Perfect Phrase. Every one gasped. Here was perfect phrase, here was tho orator to whom words were music. Here was the speaker who hacl knocked language cold, and claimed his championship over its dead body. "I don't know why you make this fuss over * me," he said. " What is boidng? The ability to co-ordinate mind and muscle at a critical moment—that is aIL Yet you receive me with all this acclaim. If I had been a great painter I would have been met by a couple of longhaired men and short-haired women. Had I been a famous litterateur my welcome would have been left to posterity."

His hearers listened in wonderment. The legend had come true. Tunnev, "tho pug," was a thinker, a philosopher, with all the kindly contempt that thinkers and philosophers have for the excitements of th'> mob. He recalled ' his fights, how h.} fought on simply to show that his first victory over Dempsey was not a fluke. He denounced the "killer" as a menace to boxing, and said the only joy in a fight was while tlie other man was your physical and intellectual equal. "Why have I given it up ?" he asked. "Because I have passed by best. Yefc the painter still thinks his masterpiece is to come. The author, no matter how long ho has written, still sees his greatest n6vel in tho future. Tho business man hopes to achieve his outstanding financial coup in tho future. Boxing held no future for me—so I gave it isp, hut I am grateful for the money it has given mo for my modest needs." After such a speech, after such a triumph of sincerity that carried all befufc it, no other speaker had a chance. To Meet Mr. G. B. Shaw. A special correspondent chased Mr. Bernard Shaw many miles in Switzerland to get a word'"from him regarding his meeting with Geno Tunney. "I shall bo back in London on September 15," said Mr. Shaw, waving a towel. "Tell Gene I shall be delighted to meet him. In fact, I have overy intention of making his acquaintance. "But I must hereby announce to tho public and to Tunney himself that I do not intend to have sis photographers and six reporters present. We shall meet as private gentlemen. 1 shall discuss boxing and he will discuss literature, so wo ought to get on very well. Later, however, wo may prove to each other that neither of us is l»!;e certain other writers who can only discuss a single subject. Tunney "is very sensible to give up boxing now he intends to many. Look what happened to Carpenticr and Dempsey. Marriage softened them and finished tliem. Tunnev will also join Savers in remaining an undefeated champion. All I know about Tunney's literary taste is that he disapproves of inv early book, 'Casliel Byron's Profession.' So do I. It shows lie has some taste and also that we have something in common."

A Private Chat at York House. Tunncy added ono more laurel to his wreath, when ho was received by tho Prince of Wales privately at York House, pugilist and Prince talking together for half an hour. * This signal honour was tho result of the extraordinary impression Tunncy had ma<' 1 at the dinner party. The two men had much in common in their meeting. They are both sportsmen'-both excellent speakers, and both hayS endured publicity at its fiercest heat. Americans in London and at homp were lighted at J the honour done to their chain, M Tunncy is described as .behvg impressed with the Prince's%m minute" knowledge of t»vent& < delighted hv tho facU&ty-v>e vl nce ~fo. • y.j' quired about hi® an ceo, ' Ti' c ! act ** ma j '* %^po*w|*' pression on Ahe Loudon . of the Ainr.jricah fc ?w ' s P, np £v nn ev t 6 Princo himself door at tv; 0 end of' the M ; y?■ hack, ill listing that tJ?, • *sf e the boxing via# act of < curtesy deeply a I I . .