“When a boy,” he continued, “I was sent to Moosehead Lake to rid myself of asthma. I was brought up by a maiden aunt who decided that the change of air would help my ailment and also help to build me up. While en route, I became acquainted with three lads who took a keen delight in teasing me. They called me ‘Sissy’ and other names I didn’t like, and my pride was hurt. I made up my mind that I would learn how to defend myself against such attacks, and that’s how I came to take up boxing. “On my return home, I told father what had happened. He laughed it off but consented to have Tom Long, a former fighter, teach me the manly art. When I was in the third year at school, I became the lightweight champion. Then I took up wrestling, another sport I liked, and by the time I matriculated in college, I was pretty good at both.” He told of the day he stopped by the Harvard gymnasium for some recreation and exercise, and one of the members of the Harvard boxing team invited him to spar. Roosevelt admitted he was quick to oblige. They donned the gloves, stepped to the center of the ring, and as Roosevelt put forth his right hand for the customary boxing handshake, he received a powerful blow to the jaw. The punch staggered him, and according to the President, he was flabbergasted at the unsportsmanlike display. “The students were quick to note the discourteous act,” he said, “and cries of ‘shame’ and ‘foul’ filled the air. Much to the discomfiture of my opponent, I held my hand out until he complied with the courtesy of the ring, and then I proceeded to hand him a business-like shellacking. “I taught that fellow something,” continued the President. “I taught him that boxing was a sport for sportsmen in which the rules of fair play must be observed, and he and I were the greatest of pals throughout the remainder of our college days.” * * * * * Roosevelt, when Police Commissioner of New York, followed boxing with a keen interest. When the police attempted raids in the old club membership days, he urged them to be lenient. Often he had them stand at the ringside to guard the contestants until the fight was over before he would permit them to interfere and make the arrest. Back in 1916, when I was sports editor of the New York _Press_, I went out to Oyster Bay to get an interview with the retired United States President. At the time, the boxing game was being threatened by certain disgruntled politicians and blue law agitators, and things looked black for the sport. The flame against boxing had become so widespread that it seemed as if nothing could extinguish it, and I thought that a talk with Roosevelt would be timely. I remembered my interview with him years before, and I recalled how ardent a fight enthusiast he was. So I figured that a story from him on the good points about boxing would help our cause. Here is his statement as I published it: