Joe Humphreys, who at one time helped me to collect data for a life story of Terry McGovern, in one of our many conversations told me, “Nat, there was probably never a fighter who believed more in lucky omens than Terry. I’ll never forget the day he fought Aurelia Herrera in San Francisco. He climbed into the ring all smiles, greeted his friends at ringside and then sat down to await the instructions of the referee. “Suddenly, one of the spectators signalled to Sam Harris, Terry’s manager, and pointed to McGovern’s left shoe. It was unlaced. “This was one of Terry’s deepest superstitions. During the preliminary work, between the time that McGovern entered the ring and went to the middle for instructions, the trainers had purposely neglected to tie the lace. “When the referee motioned the fighters to the middle of the ring, Terry took off the unlaced shoe, spat in it for good luck, put it on again, and told one of his handlers to lace it.” A mass of superstitious fears, the Brooklyn Terror also believed in the “lucky kiss.” He was convinced that unless he received a good luck kiss from his wife before a fight, he would be sure to lose. * * * * * Tiger Flowers, the Georgia Deacon, boxed in New York City quite frequently during 1925 and 1926. The Deacon, who won the world middleweight championship from Harry Greb, not only would kneel and pray, but would carry a Bible into the ring and offer to the Almighty a few words from this precious book. Unfortunately, an eye infection resulted in gangrene, and Flowers died soon after becoming champion. * * * * * During the vaudeville tour of Jim Jeffries and Tom Sharkey, I listened to Jeffries tell his audience that he regarded a twisted lace as a sign of ill-fortune. Whenever he noticed that a lace was twisted, he made his handlers remove the glove and relace it. He also said that he insisted on having a certain seat at the training table in camp, and would never permit a change to be made after the arrangements had been completed. A change, he said, meant bad luck. On my visit to Burbank to attend Jeffries’ seventy-fifth birthday, he told me a story about a dirty penny which he found on the road in Asbury Park while training for his fight with Fitzsimmons. Jeff and Tommy Ryan were taking a run, and when they halted Jeff kicked aside a penny that was in his path. The coin was covered with mud, and Jeff was loath to touch it, fearing bad luck. He asked Tommy to pick it up. But Ryan was also superstitious and refused. Jeff then remarked: “Tommy, I’ll pick it up. If it’s heads up, I’ll surely beat Fitz. If it’s tails, I’m a sure goner.” Heads it was, and Jeff told me that he was as happy as a lark that day. And he, of course, won the battle. * * * * *