People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1896 — Page 7
A REMARKABLE MAN.
WONDERFUL FEATS WITH LEGS MADE OF ALUMINIUM. With Their Aid He Can Do Many Things Which m Kan With Inga of Flesh Would Find DUS colt—ptade Them Himself and * Says He Prefers Them to His Old Ones. James T. Farrier is probably the most remarkable pedestrian that ever walked on a pair of artificial legs. He is willing to walk against any man who wears artificial legs for any distance from one mile to five miles for the championship of the world. And he is confident of his ability to win. His dexterity in using bis artificial limbs is wonderful. He never thinks of using a cane, a crutch or a staff for assistance, as do so many who move about on old fashioned wooden legs. In fact, any stranger seeing him pass through the street would never suspeot that he was not walking on the legs that nature gave him. He is a tall man, his gait is natural, and he walks with a swinging stride. Farmer Farrier 1b now a resident of Chicago, but until recently he lived on what he calls "a little farm of 1,500 acres” in the Bed River valley, in northwestern Minnesota. It was near the town of Crookston, in Polk county. There he was engaged in farming, and he raised wheat, oats and barley on an extensive scale, until misfortune overtook him. One winter’s day he got caught in a blizzard. This tells the whole story to any one who has ever encountered a genuine blizzard, whether in Kansas, in the Dakotas or in Minnesota. But those who have never had the experience know very little about the nature of a real blizzard. Early in February, 1898, when the mercury was ranging low and there was an ominous look in the sky, business took Farrier away from bis home on a trip to Minneapolis and St Paul. He transacted his business in those cities, and, after an absence of 17 days, started back with as little delay as possible. He knew that his wife and children would be waiting in great anxiety until his safe return. He had several miles to walk across the bleak prairies after he left the railway station nearest to his farm, but he thought nothing of this at the time, for he was muscular and fearless and could walk at a gait that would keep an ordinary pedestrian trotting beside him.
"•“I had come within sight of my boose, ” he says, in telling his awful experience, “before I began to feel that there was anything dangerons in the air. Then I knew a terrible storm Was coming, and I poshed forward with renewed energy. The color of the sky was like lead. No wind had been blowing for some time, bnt now I began to feel particles of sand and ice catting my faoe. Then I noticed for the first time a pale brownish yellow haze, or clond, extending many hundred feet above the earth. The air seemed charged with electricity, though it was bitterly cold. Deep snow lay over the whole country, and it began to swirl in blinding eddies. Still, I didn’t think I was in any danger. I felt sure I would be able to reach borne before the storm became violent, but it was not to be. “I was about 70 rods from my house when the blizzard struck me with all its fury. It seemed to come out of the northern sky like a flash. I have not been fearful about many things in r.y life, but you may well 'believe that uie first grip which that Minnesota biiza*rd laid upon me struck terror 10 my hearc. I one longing farewell look at my house the moment before every object in the heavens or on the earth was shut out from my sight and then made a herculean dash to reach it before the fury of the storm should overcome me. I could not see a foot before my face and was quickly carried out of my course. I missed the house, as I afterward learned, by about seven rods. Night oame on, darkness fell, and I was still standing buffet against the raging madness of that blizzard. At times it would lift me from my feet as though I was a leaf or a twig and then drop me to the ground. It was a night of despair. Again and again I would struggle to my feet and grope my way in blind confusion against the blast. At length, exhausted, I fell upon a drift, face downward and folded my arms under my head for a pillow, so that I could breathe. Then and there I gave up the struggle. I had a smothering sensation, but did not suffer any pain from the oold, although I knew I was slowly freezing to death. My last thoughts before I lost consciousness were of my wife and children awaiting my return at home, which I felt must be very near by. “The next morning at daybreak they oame out upon the search, and after ' much weary trailing found me two miles from home in the snowdrift where I had fallen. I was carried home as stiff as a petrified man. Both my feet were found to be frozen through and through as solid as chunks of ioe. The temperature was 42 degrees below zero. Three dayß later they, brought the doctors and had both my legs amputated a short distance below the knees. That is how I lost my legs.” It will probably be hard for him to keep out of the clutches of the dime museum men after obtaining the notoriety which this publication will give him. Although he has reduced his height in the manner described, he is still away above the average in tallness and as a high kicker has few equals. It is no trick for him to stand and kick an ordinary chandelier as it depends from the ceiling. In fact, he oan easily kick a foot or two higher than most chandeliers. He has often won wagers from men who were told that he wore artificial legs by kiobing a hat held seven to eight feet above the ground. In like manner he has won wagers by his natural style of walking from those who would not believe he was wholly dependent on artificial legs. Since his limbs were oat off and he adapted himself to his new pedals, he has made a
reoord of 15 feet in three standing Jumps, or five feet at a jump. As a dancer he is vigorous, enthusiastic and graceful. He danoes the schottish, waltz and cotillon with equal skill and grace. This remarkable man continued to do his own plowing and general farm work up in Minnesota for some time after he had adjusted his artificial limbs to his person. This made him the wonder of the entire neighborhood. People for miles around came to see him perform these seemingly impossible feats. Before sustaining the loss of his legs he was known over the entire countryside as ode of the greatest athletes and lover of outdoor sports in that section of the state. As a sprinter he was never beaten. Not only was be a champion runner, but as a long distance and high jumper he never met with one who could defeat him. He also rode one of the old fashioned high wheel bicycles with astonishing success. In a short time he expects to make his debut on a safety. He will also show to the world what he oan do in the way of fancy ice skating as soon as the winter rinks are thrown open. The artificial legs which he wears, and with whioh he is enabled to do bo many wonderful feats, were evolved out of his own brains and made by himself. They are made of sole leather and aluminium. The main body is stiff sole leather and the joints are aluminium set upon rubber bearings. The feet are made of rubber and wood, with toe and ankle joints and shoes are worn just as upon the natural feet. Farrier’s artificial legs are distinguished by their light weight and by the natural manner in whioh the joints work. They weigh only 2% pounds eaoh. Some of the old fashioned wooden legs, he says, weigh more than fonr times, as mnoh as his invention. His legs are held in place by means of a supporting strap which passes up over the breast and shoulders and about the neck. He sits down and rises from a ohair without the help of his hands, and crosses his legs and assumes all natural and easy positions with apparently as little effort as any man on earth.—Chicago Times-Herald.
A LONG TRIP.
Novel Journey Planned by an Indiana Man In a Launch. Algernon S. Orr of Michigan City, Ind., has constructed a steam launch, on which he will embark from Chicago on a long trip. If Mr. Orr’s initial trip is successful, he will undertake, with the aid of a companion, to encircle the globe. The little launch will steam out of Chicago within the next few days, following the course of the drainage canal to the Mississippi river and out through the delta into the gulf of Mexioo. Mr. Orr will hold his compass on Florida, following the coast, and steam northward, stopping at all the points of interest, but ultimately reaching New York. His trip will be continued np the Hudson, where -he will find his way to the great lakes, following the chain around, through Lake Ontario, the Niagara river into Lake Erie, f:>->uy Lake Erie through the St. Clair : «era: 1 Lake St. Clair into Lake Huron, .iiroi the straits into Lake Michigan a;,d southward to Chicago, the place of starting.
WON’T SHOCK BOSTON.
Wooden Fence Will Hide the Bacchante’s Beautifully Chiseled Limbs. The MacMonnies statue of a bacchante is going to Boston, after all, and is to be set up in its destined place in the courtyard of the Public library, which Architect McKim is bound that it 6hall decorate. It has been refused once. Then an attempt was made to give it to Brooklyn, and that city declined it. Now a decorous wooden fence will be built around it, which will hide the chiseled limbs of this representation of physical delight from the eyes of all except those especially bidden. It is said, however, that it will be only a matter of a short time when this environment will be removed, and the beautiful figure will be open to the inspection of all who visit the library.
TO PLEASE HIS WIFE.
Meek lowa Man Pleads Guilty to Bigamy to Preserve Peace. Gustave Erickson of Sioux City, la., went to the penitentiary to please his wife. He was alleged to have married in Omaha several years ago, to have deserted his wife after a time, and, coming to Sioux City, to have remarried without having previously secured a divorce from No. 1. He entered a plea of guilty to the charge of bigamy and was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. “I was really never married to more than one woman, ”* he remarked as he followed the sheriff from the courtroom, “but my wife; was determined to send me to prison, and I’d do anything to please her.”
Ia the Vernacular.
To go back to the previous question for a moment, it has to be confessed that the snltan still has the ball, even If the playing has mostly been done behind his ten yard line.—Detroit Tribune.
Indian Sommer.
What heights of rest are in these stlenoest What thirst of plains the sunlight seems to slake! The meadows bask. No bitter north winds wake The tree tops from their fruitless dream of ease. The slow brooks murmur like a swarm of bees, And some shy sreature in the tangled brake Darts and is still, and trooping sparrows make A moment’s chatter in the cedar trees. Then on far skies they quickly seem to cease, Or, wheeling, drop behind some stubbled mound, But all day long the brooks find no release And lift their wandering undertones of sound. This is the year's full flower, the crown of peace. The sunlight’s harvest and the south wind's bound. i —ld. Frank Tooker in Boston Journal.
THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER. IND.. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 19 1896.
HER NEW ROLE.
Kim. Smh Bernhardt Becomes a ntn. liner by Proxy. Mae. Sarah Bernhardt’s millinery shop is an accomplished fact. Thirtieth street, just off Fifth avenue, New York, rambled with carriages and rustled with silk linings as a tribute to the aotress who has gone into trade. Mile. Largta Bernhardt and Mile. Yette de la Piedra are Mme. Bernhardt’s representatives. They are wonderfully busy in the most delightful French fashion, assuring captious customers that the incomparable Camille, the unapproaohable Gismonda, the unparalleled Izeyl, herself seleoted the bonnets they are to sell. They are both rather attractive young women, as carefully and artistically made up for their work before the plate glass windows and the mirrors as their distinguished patroness is for hers before the footlights. They have a couple of rooms at 18 West Thirty-first street, where these wonderful Frenoh creations in the bonnet line, looking glasses of flattering make, a photograph of the invisible ruling spirit of the establishment suspended against the wall by pink ribbons and a sofa, “where one may recover from the shock of their prices, ’’ said one of the visitors who did not become a purchaser. The hats and bonnets they display reflect infinite credit upon Mile. Largta’s versatile aunt Mile. Largta was, before coining to America to sell headgear herself, an actress. She says that she gives np the histrionic profession without regret, intimating that it is difficult for a seoond Bernhardt to gain renown before the footlights. Mile, de la Piedra does not forfeit any theatrical laurels by engaging in millinery. She maintains that she goes into business because Bbe is tired of all other diversions. New York Journal
LAST MAN MUST DINE ALONE
Unique Organization, With Headquarters In Ligonler, Ind. There exists in Ligonier, Ind., a very unique organization of men, the like of which is not known In the United States. Twenty years ago ten yonng men, the sons of prominent business men, formed themselves into a society the name of which is the A. S. A. They were joined together by the usual solemnity of an oath, and the organization was created to exist until there was bnt one member left The last survivor, on the night of the annual banquet, which commemorates eaoh year of the society’s existence, is to have plates laid for ten, eat his supper alone, and thus end the organization. All members are now married, and since the organization, 2jo years ago, there has been but one of the raystio circle taken away by death. It has been the custom on the 11th day of January of each year to have a banquet, and this has boon kept up during the entire term of existence. Jan. 11, 1897, will be kept as the twenty-first anniversary. The banquets are elaborate, and the society numbers among its members residents in Chicago, Toledo and other cities. The loyalty and fidelity exhibited among its members are equal to those of ai.. fraternal or beneficial organization. I’, is tbe wish of eaoh of the members that he will not be loft to be the participant in the final banquet A loving enp, which is handsomely designed and has the name of each member and the date of the organization of the society engraved npon it, will be kept by the surviving member at the final banquet. In northern Indiana the organization has gained a reputation for its hospitality and the manner of entertaining its friends. It has bnt recently been made public that the organization is to continue until there is bnt one member living. —Chicago Times-Herald.
ALL SORTS OF QUERIES.
Some of the Queer Things Mail Carrier* In the Country Want to Know. An amusing inquiry was received at the postofflee department Saturday from a star route carrier in the west who has been put down as a Populist. He wanted to know: “When I am riding with the United States mail, am I obliged to turn to one side of the road to give a wagon a chance to pass? Have I not the right to keep in the middle of the road?” Inquiries of this character are frequent from mail carriers. A few days ago one of them wrote that while on his ronte he had stopped for dinner and turned his horse loose in a field, whereupon one of his creditors seized the animal on a writ of attachment. “Had he a right to do this?” asked the delinquent mail carrier. “Did he not violate the laws of the United States mail?’ ’ A tollgate keeper also wrote to inquire whether he had a right to stop a United States mail carrier if he refused to pay full toll.—Washington Post.
She Sot For Victoria's Figure.
There is an old lady lying in the Pennsylvania hospital with a broken leg who once sat for the figure of a life size painting of Queen Victoria. She is Miss Blanche Sully, and her father was Thomas Sully, in his time a famous painter of portraits. In 1887 he went to England with a commission from the St. George society to paint the portrait of young Queen Victoria. He took his daughter with him, and as she was very nearly of the same stature as the queen she sat for the figure in her father’s picture of Victoria, thus saving the latter the annoyance of long sittings. During the sittings Miss Sully beoame quite intimate with her majesty and brought back with her to this country many delightful memories of her royal friend.— Philadelphia Record.
Remember Don.
We earnestly recommend to the Spanish government that it not only read but that it lay to heart the adventures of one Don Quixote. —Chicago Dispatch.
WHEAT CROP OF 1896.
THE GOVERNMENT REPORT OF THE WORLD’S HARVEST. An Interesting Report of One of the Grant Staples of Food Products—The Harvest of 1896 Was Over 188,000,000 Bushels Less Than That of 1808. The consular reports of the world's wheat orop for 1896, just issued, is very interesting at this time because of the recent spectaoular jumps made by wheat in the stoek market and the reports of the approaching famine in India. Following are extracts from It: The result of the last wheat harvest, although completed in some countries, cannot be ascertained precisely as yet So far three estimates concerning the harvest of 1896 have been published, namely: 1895. 1898. Hungarian ministry Bushels. Bushels. of agriculture 2,609,784.000 2,866,838,000 Parisian Echo Agrioole 2,664.822,183 2,883,890,000 English Grain Trading Journal of Dornbusch 2,579,688,868 2,420,106,888 It must be stated, however, that in all these reports, as well as in the following tables, the figures for Russia are only preliminary and approximate. According to the reports, the world’s harvest of wheat for 1896, in comparison with the preceding year, is below the average and considerably less satisfactory in quality as well as in quantity. The late and exceedingly oold spring had a bad effeot on crops, and the drought spoiled the crops in Europe—to a great extent in southern Russia, but in Spain and Portugal especially. As to the transatlantic countries of the southern hemisphere, in whioh grain ripens in December to February, the conditions for the growth of wheat were also unsatisfactory. The drought during the first period of the growth of cereals and the continual rain daring the harvest had a bad effeot on the last orop of wheat in the Argentine Republic, Uruguay and Chile, while the drought also damaged to a great extent the crops of East India and Australia. This information, of course, refers to the harvest gathered in those countries during the last days of 1895 and the first months of 1896. The greater part of the small surplus in these countries entered the international market long ago and was consumed during the seoond half of the last campaign, bnt in view of the faot that the new grain from these countries will not enter the European markets before the second half of the present campaign and owing to the insnffloienoy of information con erning the outlook for the future hurvess the report of the present campaign for these countries has been made according to the figures of the last harvest. From figures sent in by different consols it is seen that, in general, the harvest of 1896 decreased bushels as oompared with the harvest of 1895. The harvest in the United St ates, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Australia and the East Indies shows a decrease of 165,892,959 bushels. Of the European producing countries, only Russia shows a large decrease—s6,s7s,467 bushels. The countries of consumption harvested 87,206,128 bushels more than last year. Only Spain and Portugal among them had a bad orop. France harvested this year nearly as much as last year. An increase compared with last year is to be observed only in Italy and Great Britain. The decrease of this year’s harvest is due also to the decrease in the wheat acreage. Already, last year, in nearly all the large wheat growing countries the area under this cereal had greatly decreased. The great decrease took place in the United States, Russia, the East Indies, Austria-Hnngary, Argentina and Germany, the principal canse of whioh was the extremely low prices the last three campaigns. The information concerning the other cereals and grasses is very poor and of such indefinite charaoter that any estimate, even approximate, is impossible. In general it may be said that the decrease in the rye harvest is still greater than that in wheat. The Hungarian ministry of agriculture estimates it at 164,765,714 bnshels. Here the deorease falls mainly upon the exporting countries, especially Russia. Of the other countries, Austria-Hungary has scarcely an average harvest—a little below last year’s. The bad harvest of breadstuffs is not oompensated this year by a good harvest of fodder grasses, exoept maize, which promises a good yield. A deorease compared with last year’s harvest of oats and barley is very probable in the* principal countries of production in Europe and in the United States and also in the importing countries of Europe, bnt this decrease is not of suoh significance as that of wheat and rye.
It Followed Them to School One Day.
News has reached Williamsport, Pa, of an adventure with a bear in the wilds of Brown township. While Miss Lulu Beaver was teaching the little country school of 20 pupils all were thrown into a state of panic by observing a good sized bear entering the schoolroom. Boys and girls alike dashed through the windows, while the bear stood in the aisle, startled by the commotion. Miss Beaver, the teacher, hastened down one side of the room and ran out, closing the door after her. In the meantime several woodsmen heard the commotion, and, hastening to the scene with a rifle, quickly dispatched the animal. The hide will be presented to the teacher.—8t Louis Globe-Democrat
Nothing; More For Chicago to Annex.
Chicago is very proud of the faot that she oast 46,586 more votes than New York and 15,080 more votes than New York registered. But then, Chicago has annexed everything she could find, While New York is just New York.— Buffalo Courier.
RECIPROCITY.
Mexioo Swapping Her Oranges For Onr Com. The shortage in the orop of American oranges this year has opened np an opportunity to the orange growers of Mexico, who will send us supplies of that fruit The shortage in tbeoorn orop of Mexico this year has been met by the corn raisers of this oonntry, who have already shipped large quantities of that grain to the republic which lies next tp ours. In these exohangea there is a beautiful illustration of the operation of a principle advantageous to both countries. The yield of oranges in Florida, Louisiana and California has been inadequate, and so Mexioo offers ns hundreds of carloads of them. The yield of corn in the Mexioan states of Guanajuato, Aguas Calientee and Vera Cruz has been inadequate, and so the United States stands ready to furnish them as mnoh of it as they need. Load the ships with American corn for the Mexicans! Load the railroad oars with Mexican oranges for the Americans! It is a pleasing spectacle. On Wednesday we copied from the New Orleans Times-Democrat an interview with Mr. Joseph Ball, a New Orleans orange dealer, who said: “Mexico will famish about 650 oarloads of oranges, 800 boxes in eaoh oar, nearly its entire surplus orop. They are juioy and good oranges. ” All right; we need them. The exportation of American corn from Mobile and other southern ports to Tampico and Vera Cruz began about a month ago, and sinoe that time more than 2,000,000 bnshels have been shipped from Mobile alone. The Mexioan government had temporarily remitted the customs duty upon oorn importations and had made provisions for the sale of tho grain at a very cheap price. That was shrewdness.—New York Sun.
DIRECT PROOF.
Chicago Most Be the El Dorado of Departed Americana. Any one who has doubts about reincarnation should take a look at tho Chicago city direotory. It may surprise the general publio to learn that Riohard Wagner, who died several years ago in Bairenth, 1b still doing business in this city as a lawyer, a painter, a clerk and a laborer. Sir Franoia Bacon, who is said to have written Mr. Shakespeare’s plays, is now employed by the Illinois Central road as an architect, while Shakespeare himself is running a restaurant on South Halsted street. Ulysses S. Grant is now engaged in ringing up railway nickels here, while Garfield is making harnesses for a living. Tennyson is now managing a feed store on the West Side. On the South Side he is a olerk, a cabinet maker, a laborer, a lather and a finisher. Dante, the inferno man, is now in the plastering business on North Rookwell street. William Cnllen Bryant is working at the oarpenter’s trade on Carroll avenue. George Washington is doing business here at nine different locations. Thomas Jefferson, who fathered the Democratic party, which seems to have got lost this year, is a house painter on the North Side. Andrew Jaokson has taken to preaching, to bookkeeping and to driving a oab, while Robert E. Lee is a porter in a hotel and also attends the Ohioago university. It may be a matter of contemporary interest also to note that William J. Bryan is running a grocery on Cottage Grove avenue, while William MoKinley is clerking in the Rookery building, runs an engine at 44 Crosby street and lives at 19 Soott street —Frank 8. Pixley in Chioago Times-Herald.
GIFT FOR M’KINLEY.
The Big Illinois Campaign Horn Goes to Canton. The big tin horn, 80 feet long and 6 feet in diameter at the end, which was a big feature in all the Repnblioan campaign parades in oentral Illinois, is to be carried overland from Decatur, Ills., to Canton, 0., and presented to President Eleot McKinley at noon on Jan. 1, 1897, as a New Year’s gift. Six men have been seleoted to oarry tbe horn every step of the way. A firm at Decatnr will forfeit SI,OOO if the men fail. A citizen will give SI,OOO if they succeed. The men are to start with the horn, eaoh without a cent of money, and before they reach Canton they are to earn SI,OOO by the sale of pictures of the horn and of themselves. They are to report daily as to the progress of the trip and send to a bank each day every cent they may have realized at points visited on the journey. All of the big cities will be visited.—Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
A Free Silver Colony.
R. J. and William Homap, brothers, who were extromely active in preaching the silver doctrine during the campaign to the crowds which assembled in the square in front of the Denver city hall, have organized a company of free silver men, who propose to start a cooperative oolony in western North Carolina At a meeting held by some 400 of these men temporary officers were chosen, and it was decided to purchase L 000 acres of government land in North Carolina, the purpose being to start a colony there in about a month. Two hundred members pledged $2,000 as a nucleus to the fund required.
A Dong Mail Route.
The longest star mail service in the United States has just been established from Juneau to Circle City, Alaska, a distance of 898 miles. This recalls the story of the Irishman who was undergoing a civil service examination for the position of letter carrier. One of the questions was, “How far is it from New York to Constantinople?” His answer was: “I don’t know. And if that is the route you have for me, I don’t want the job.”
STORIES OF THE DAY. Seme Freak Election Beta That Are Beer Being Paid Off. With chastened heart and eye that seems The owning tear to court I give my spirit np to dreams Of sad and dreary sort. For I observe with growing dread The hour is drawing near , When I must bravely shave my head From ear to other ear. Alas, and, oh, alack) that I Should so have wagered to , Transform myself into a guy For other folk to view; But, though it fills me with despair, As you can scarcely doubt, Yet I must shave my head and wear My trousers Inside out. In ninety-two I won renown— Perhaps they’ve told you how When Cleveland licked I rode through town Bet backward on a oow. Then for revenge I fiercely prayed. And when this year oame in With hopeful earnestness I played The Democrat to win. But all this world’s a fleeting show. And all the show’s a fake. * Calm confidence delights to grow And flower into mistake. Behold mo filling ail the air With grievous groan and shout. For I must shave my head and wear My trousers wrong side out. r But lam gamel Bring razors! Bring The lather and the glass. , Though I lament, still I shall sing * Of time to oome to pass— Of four yours more, when onoe »g*in f I’ll make my llttlo bet; I smile now for my triumph then, And I urn plucky yet. I’tn plucky still, and though my soonoe Gleams llko a giant egg. And though I soom to bo a dunoe. With turned out trousors leg, And though I oauso a tearful din, The present I forget la happy thought that I shall win My nineteen hundred bet. —Chicago Reoord.
H is reported that James S. Whallon of Burlington, Vt, aged 88 yean, who last Thursday took Miss Mabel McKinney, the 17-yoar-old lass, for a bride, won his wife on an election bet. The Btoty runs as follows: v t Whallon has a divorced wife, “Effle Cox,’* who is now serving a 20 year •enftenoe in state prison for manslaughter, and, wanting to marry again, be won the love of Miss McKinney. She being under age, it was nooessary to secure the father’s consent before a marriage lioense oould be procured. So Whallon began his pleading. The father was somewhat loath to give np his daughter, but, believing in freo silver and Bryan, thought he would have no further use for a family if sound money won. 80 he made the offer that if McKinley were elected Whallon was to have the girl, bnt if Bryan won ho was never to visit the house again. Whallon aoaepted thoso terms, and ns soon as Jones gave up the fight led his prize to tho altar, where they were married. j A solon of a promim ut family paid a freak bet the other afternoon by driving a dilapidated looking mole through the principal streets of St. Louis. The mule was attached to ono of the “swellest traps in town." The harness wm silver mounted, but the mule was, to use a slang expression, * ‘strictly on the bum. ” The conveyance was varnished in red and highly polished. It was deoorated with yellow ribbons, and, with the exception of the male, the turnout made an elegant appearanoe. The young man who paid the bet sat in the front seat and wore a yellow stovepipe hat and a yellow ohrysanthemum. The winner of the bet, also a well known society young man, sat in the rear seat, wearing a yellow bat and ohrysanthemum, and at intervals oelebrated his viotory with loud and long blasts on a long tallybo trumpet. The mule was a big, rawboned, hairy specimen, with flapping ears. It looked as much out of plaoe as a pig in a parlor and seemed to realize Its position, as several times it attempted to kick over the traces and get out of the harness. The yonng man who thought Bryan would win drove the male oat Delmar boulevard as far as Taylor, then over to Lindell and up and down part of that thoroughfare and Westminster plaoe, West Pine, McPherson avenue and other west end streets. William W. Doherty of Lyuu, Mass., bad confidence in Bryan’s election and Sunday wore his wife’s bat to ohurob. It was a beautiful creation of ostrich feathers and waving aigrets, and as he wended his way through the principal streets of the city to St Joseph’s ohuroh be was the recipient of much attention. On entering the church be removed the hat and went to his accustomed seat After mass be replaoed it and went home, followed by a large crowd. The night before he offered Tom Kearns, with whom he bad bet, SSO to release him from bis obligation. He | now offers to bet that Bryan will win I four years henoe.
Two Van Buren county (Mich.) faruQQ ers—lsaac Haslet and Norman L. Jonj w —bet on the election, and as a resit the former will have to operate the 11 a. ter’s farm from Jan. 1, 1897, to Di 81 of the same year. Haslet watf “ warm admirer of Bryan and was coii dent the Nebraska man would be eletl ed, while Jones was sure MoKinljj*. would be the next president. A fejZ, weeks before election they made LU a above bet. It was stipulated that loser should take care of the stock, do all the plowing, seeding a^ en harvesting—-in fact, managing every f^ B tail of the farm work, besides paying£„iit hired belpneoessary in addition to <J n b _ his own farm work! Haslet deola^ gh de _ will live up to the agreement. years 'ia.”
At Sylvan Grove, Kan., a fooliL wager was carried out. A Republican , had the pleasure of stripping a Bryan advocate to his undergarments, and while he stood and shivered in the cold the McKinley man applied a coat of white lead. Brice Osborne of Mount Gilead, 0., did not think McKinley wonld be elected; therefore, in accordance with an ante-election proposition, he must walk to San Francisco.
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