Frugality

Americans frequently express their pride in unlearned immigrants who come to our shores, and from small beginnings rise to the possession of considerable fortunes. It is therefore unusual to see condemnation heaped upon the head of a young, uneducated foreigner, who comes to our shores with few advantages, and small capital aside from the muscles

Yet this is the case of Luis Angel Firpo from Argentina. Firpo recently discharged his excellent American trainer Jimmy DeForest, presumably because the latter's salary cut into the Argentinian's profits. In DeForest's stead Firpo engaged Senor Horatio Lavalle of Argentina, who serves without pay. The press remarked that Firpo was " hard to beat at figures." Firpo has fought a number of low caliber performers, thereby gaining certain gate receipts. The press remarked that Firpo was " fond of his purse" and dubbed him " Business-Man Firpo." This criticism is evidently aimed at the young Argentinian on the grounds that he engages in sport and that a sportsman has no particular right to make a good living by hard work. Professional boxing is notoriously a sport for the onlookers, but business for the participants. The conduct of the last three world champions has not been such as to give the public any other impression. Perhaps Firpo is short-sighted in refusing to pay a good trainer, and in fighting "small" bouts. He is, however, simply, straightforwardly striving to make money by his profession.