Wrestlers May Be “Tough” But They Are Human

Southland Times, Issue 23838, 8 June 1939, Page 11

Wrestlers May Be “Tough” But They Are Human

Professional wrestlers are not as “tough” as their horseplay and grimaces in the ring would make them out to be. The following Story, taken from The Weekly News, Auckland, sheds an interesting light on the character of one of the “he-men” at present wrestling in New Zealand:—

An eager, excited boy greeted me when I called at a house in Devonport one day last week with news that I thought would please him. “I know! Paul is arriving on Monday.” The good news had travelled quickly, and young Jack Probert, the crippled boy who has won the friendship of Paul Boesch, the wrestler, was already counting the hours to the arrival of the Aorangi. The classic example of unequal friendship undoubtedly is that which existed between David and Jonathan, a friendship between a young lad who at that period was but a shepherd boy, and the son of a king. The friendship between Paul Boesch and Jack Probert is also unusual, but just as unselfish and strong as that between Jonathan and David. It has been kept alive over a period of three years, and during that time the long days of a crippled boy’s life have been made much shorter.

Jack’s room at Devonport is a veritable trophy room; not a trophy room of the chase with heads of animals and fish in glass cases demonstrating the prowess of some hunter in the field, but a geographical trophy room that speaks eloquently of someone’s kind and thoughtful heart. The walls are decorated with dozens of pictures sent by Paul from all parts of the world; small pictures most of them, but all characteristic of the many places that Paul has visited since he left New Zealand three years ago. There are also numerous .gifts of the kind that would delight the heart of any boy—a Mexican hat, a model of a cowboy on his horse neatly executed in some sort'of reed grass, mementos from fairs and exhibitions, MOVEMENTS FOLLOWED A big map of the United States caught my eye; it was marked out in pencil with red lines and dots. A lesson in history? Something to do with the American Civil War? No, just a history of the movements of Paul Boesch since his visit three years ago. Thus does a small boy keep in . touch with his Jonathan and follow his course of life even though the seven seas separate them. Paul saw a different Jack when he arrived on Monday. Jack is now three years older and much more mature, though, alas, still a cripple and lying upon his back. He is now an excellent typist and has learned the art of photography. It is rather remarkable that he manages to develop his own prints with some little assistance fiom the members of his family. The printing does not trouble him to the same extent, as he uses daylight,' and the difficulties are not insurmountable. Jack is, of course, a mine of information about wrestlers and wrestling and one must watch one’s step if the conversation turns upon the results of matches; and Jack is almost certain to be right. However, there is only one real wrestler in the world to Jack and you would not win a prize in a guessing competition if you named his choice first shot. The pictures of others adorn his walls, but pride of place is given to Paul Boesch, whose unselfish interest in his welfare has lightened the hours of at least one crippled youngster’s limited existence.