The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-04-15
Sport B4t.

A paragraph is going the rounds OF
the papers that an invention for wat
er-proo6ng clothing, make it "hold
water like a pail" has been brought
out in Springfield. We guess the in.
vention is not a new one. About ten
wears ago a Hartford sporting man
was bit to the tune of 500 by just
such an arrangement. He had never
heard of the trick of water-proofng
cloth, but the chap who took him in
had, and "laid" to trap HIM on the
scientific discovery. He sent pock-
ct handkerchief by mail to the firm Of
Cowles & Co., then on Courtland St,
with the requestthat they would water
proof one-half of the handkerchief,
leaving the other half IN its natural
state This was accordingly done,
and duly returned by mail.
Then b., who had designs on the
sporting man whom we will call p,
laid low for ducks. He invariably
carried the magic handkerchief with
him, SO as to be ready when the
proper occasion presented itself. lie
had not long to wait, for the sporting
man had penchant for bantering b.
to bet. If the latter attempted to
make n positive statement about any
thing p. would invariably cap it by
offering to bet that it wasn't So
One day, while in company with sew
eral persons, the sporting man being
present, b. modestly took from his
pocket the magic handkerchief, and
handing it to one Of the gentlemen,
quietly remarked:
"Do you observe anything extraor-
dinary in the appearance ofthat hand
kerchief?"
After a close scrutiny they all
agreed they did not.
VERY WELL" answered b. "Now
| dare say that some of you might be
a little astonished il | should tell you
that | could make that handkerchief
hold water or not, at my pleasure. T"
This statement was greeted with a
loud laugh, and of course p. wanted
to bet 500 on it. b. turned to the
latter with an injured look, saying:
"Why are you eternally upsetting
my statements by offering to bet they
are not true?"
Then why in thunder" retorted
P., don't you say something that a
man can believer"
"B.. pretending 70 get mad, an
swered, you amt got pluck enough
to bet that two and two make four"
This brought out F. with his pock-
et-book. In a few seconds, 500 a
side was put up, hinging on BIS. abil-
ity TO make his handkerchief hold
water or not, just as he desired. The
sporting man was delighted that he
had bullied b. into making a bet at
last. And such bet. p. thought
he had sure thing. 1t was surer, if
possible, than three card-monte or
the nimble game. A pitcher of
water was brought, and b. stood
ready with his Handkerchief for the
trial.
Now" said b., what shall / do?"
well, Mr.. B." cunningly remark
p, "if you have no objections,
would really delight to see that hand
kerchief hold water.
Pour" said B., holding the hand
kerchief with the waterproof side un-
der the nose of the pitcher, And
pour they did. and not q drop of
water went through.
"Are you satisfied that it will
hold water" asked b.
Perfectly" responded P.
Then / suppose the stakes are
miner" querried b., as he firted the
water from the handkerchief
Not much" vigorously answered
p, keeping bis eve on the handker-
chief. Il want to see that bit of cloth
not hold water"
'All right" said b. "Pour,' This
time the other half of the handker-
chief was presented to the nose Of
the pitcher, and to the great astonish-
ment Of the cunning B. the water
ran through in a stream.
"Sold!" exclaimed p, as he start
ed for the door. Il am going to New
Haven to get square"