How different the old school was! The most prolific of all fight publicists was the late Francis Albertanti, who for many years was my star boxing reporter on the _Telegram_. He prepared more fighters for the opening bell than any one I knew, and his camp reports, when he was in charge of the ballyhoo, were tops. I know of no writer who could beat him in obtaining human interest material. He often had the other reporters tearing their hair because of the number of “scoops” he scored for our paper. Many a bonus Francis received from our Managing Editor, Fred Walker. On one occasion when Francis was out of work, Mike Jacobs asked him to take charge of Billy Conn’s camp when Billy was preparing for his second fight with Joe Louis. Mike offered him $1,200 for three weeks work plus all expenses. Francis turned it down. “You need the money more than I do,” he replied in a huff. “I’ll take the job for $5,000—nothing less.” Then he added: “You’re a millionaire; I’m an ordinary working man. I can get along on ham and beans. You need steaks daily.” So Mike and Francis parted, and for the first time in years, they were not on talking terms. But Francis was a frequent visitor in Conn’s camp, and one day after Billy’s workout, a mediocre one, Joe Williams, who took my place as Sports Editor of the _Telegram_ asked Francis for his opinion. “Billy looks great,” said Francis with a straight face. “He’s full of energy. He is fast, sharp, hits well, punches with accuracy. He’s clever and game. He’s determined to win.” Then after a short pause, Albertanti wound up his commentary with a knockout punch at Uncle Mike’s ballyhoo: “But I pick Louis to take the kid out any time Joe wants to. He’s a cinch in my book to keep the title.” * * * * * Ed Smith was another scribe who played a dominant part in American sports for half a century. The by-line of Ed Smith, so well known to readers of _The Ring_ for which he wrote for many years, was known throughout the world of sports. For twenty-six years he wrote for the Chicago _Chronicle_, the Chicago _American_ and the Los Angeles _Examiner_. Back in the “good old days” it was sacrilegious to stage a fight or a wrestling match of national importance without Smith acting as referee. Recognized as one of the best referees, there was never a complaint about his honesty or his ability. He was third man in the ring when Luther McCarty fell dead in his bout with Arthur Pelkey in Calgary. He also officiated at the memorable international wrestling championship match between Hackenschmidt and Gotch at Dexter Pavilion in Chicago in 1911. He took part in thousands of other famous contests, a complete list of which would fill a record book.