ON THE TRIBUNE 



throwing dice against the house. If you won there 

 was handed over a disc representing value in money, 

 for entertainment, cigars or cigarettes. That was one 

 of the contradictions about the law there : they were 

 allowing this general form of cheap gambling, yet 

 they closed the racecourses and wouldn't allow a 

 boxing match. There was also a threat to stop 

 wrestling after one or two poor exhibitions had been 

 given ; no one would have missed that. Yet all 

 the men met about town were such good sportsmen 

 themselves. They loved sport, were open-handed in 

 hospitality, welcomed visitors and read everjrthing 

 there was about the boxing taking place in other 

 states, and appreciated anyone who could talk on the 

 topic. Jack Johnson had not taken his big bar when 

 I was there, but had just been matched with Flynn — 

 another of Jack Curley's enterprising moves. 



When I was there they were trying to boom Associa- 

 tion football, and it may progress, but the process was 

 slow. The Corinthians visited the city and played 

 three games. I told Wreford Brown and others I had 

 known in England what great missionary work they 

 were doing, and if they could only go more frequently 

 the march of the game might be quicker. 



332 



