The House That Shadows Built (1928)

36 THE HOUSE THAT SHADOWS BUILT pores over it, trying to interpret it in terms of the screen. “Read the newspapers,” advised his teachers. With his alert interest in his new environment, he needed no such advice. In those days, John L. Sullivan was in his glory. Adolph learned from the newspapers and the other apprentices what this glory meant. Boxing had become a craze with the boys of the East Side. One evening after work, Adolph put on the gloves in a corridor of the factory with another boy of about his own age and size. He got, of course, a fine trimming; and the rest of the apprentices laughed. Thereupon, he set himself to study the art. When his wages rose and he paid back his arrears of board to the Blaus, his first extravagance was a pair of boxing gloves. He practised constantly — in the corridors of the factory, in the back yard of the Blau house on Ninth Street, even in Tompkins Square near by. He was in that flyweight class not yet recognized by the authorities; always he must box with bigger boys, making up with agility, speed, and cleverness what he lacked in bulk. One of his opponents had a pretty trick which Adolph much admired. Instead of parrying blows always with his gloves — as was then the crude fashion — he twisted his head sidewise and let his opponent’s fist go harmlessly past his ear. Adolph practised that trick, and the appropriate, useful counter to the face. Having no ex