The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-12-24
A Bachelors Exploit with a Baby.

One or the best looking and most
young business men Ill Utlca,
n. T., says the Herald of the 30th. had bis
gallantry put to a severe test Friday. A
charming married lady friend wagered Sl5
with him that he dare not carry her baby
through Genesee Street from Bagg's Hotel
TO Oneida Square. Whether the gentle
man felt particularly brave and happy after
his enjoyment of Thanksgiving festivities,
or for some other reason, we know not,
but certain it is that he accepted the chal-
lenge and carried the baby, but-such
work as he made of iii The baby in ques-
ton is the prettiest little seven-months
mortal in Utica. Its father is one OF the
wittiest and finest-looking men in the
county, but the baby gets its lOvelIest
charms from its mother. The boy IS the
bride of its parents hearts, and if kisst'
would stick, its lips would be covered with
rock candy to the depth of six inches every
dav. The young gentleman who was
challenged envies the father, mother and
baby every day of his life. When he
started out from Bagg's Hotel with tie
chirping cherub in his arms his face was
ROSY with bushes and radiant with happi-
ness. The mother and other friends TO
the child were to follow IN carriage to
see that the task was completed according
to the terms of the wager, and they did
not lose sight of the tOiler for moment.
At the outset the child weighed about
twenty-five pounds. The supposed father
and his elegantly dressed baby attracted
general attention upon the business por-
ton of Genesee Street. The gentleman S
friends were not certain that they had
heard of his marriage, and he had been
seen at the Opera-house frequently OF late,
and each time with different charmer,
but this must have been owing to the at
sence of his wife and-the baby, probably.
While conversation after this style was 60
ing on in the stores, the bachelor reached
the City Hall, and at that particular
moment he was ready to assert that
the child weighed seventy-tive
pounds. From this point upward
was the tug of war. The hour chosen
was one in which he generally takes an
airing, and all of his window friends eX-
pected TO see him, but-nOt with baby.
Then the baby commenced to get uneasy.
and it was hard work to hold it out at
arms length and call it "Sweety,
"Ducky," Darling" ETC., etc. Three or
four merry maidenS in an uptown resi-
dence rustled the curtain in such manner
that the perspiring tOiler knew that he was
seen; but do well or do i'll he was bound
to win, and win he did. Those who wit
messed the affair in all of its stages, say that
it was difficult to tell at times whether teh
child was upright or reversed, perpendlcu
lar or horizontal, for the reason that It's
position was changed so frequently. Its
ordinarily sweet voice was harsh and crisp
before Cottage Street was reached, and bul
for the true grit which the gentleman pos
sesses, and the love he bears for the baby
it is believed that the baby would have
been tossed into a convenient fountain
any thing fora change. All the young Ia
dies upon Genesee Street seemed to bt
standing in their windows as he passed
Opposite Eagle Street ne met a particular
lady friend in a carriage, and then the ba
by weighed full ton. When the mother
received her darling child from the hand,
of the brave one, cold and huge drops o
perspiratiOn poured from every pore OF hi
face: his necktie was gone and his collar
was nnbuttOned. The contents of the
Philadelphia mint would not tempt him
down the street with similar accOmpani
ment. The wager was paid, and the moth
er and her baby rode down town, while
the brave bachelor wendell his way bach
to his place OF business through Park Av
enue and other quiet streets, solitary
thoughtful and alone The next time ht
carries baby through Genesee Street hi
friends may be certain that it is his own
and that the other stakeholder in the cher
ub is within reach.