There were ten thousand men
in the arena and she was the only woman. But in all the two hours she
sat there, she was not once made conscious, by a word or glance in her
direction, that anybody had noticed her presence. That I think is a
perfect example of perfect mob-manners.
Perhaps that instinct, not only for fair but for chivalrous play, which
also characterizes the Native Son, comes from pioneer days. Certainly it
is deepened by a very active interest in all kinds of sports. I draw my
two examples of this from the boxing world. This is a story that Sam
Berger tells about Andrew Gallagher.
It happened in that period when both men were amateur lightweights and
Mr. Gallagher was champion of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Berger challenged
Mr. Gallagher and defeated him. The margin of victory was so narrow,
however, that Mr. Gallagher felt justified in as asking for another
match, and got it.
This time Mr. Berger's victory was complete. In a letter, Mr. Berger
said, "A woman cannot possibly understand what being a champion means to
a man. It isn't so much the championship itself but it's the slap on the
shoulder and the whispered comment as you pass, 'There goes our
champion!' that counts.
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