The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-29
A WOMAN PAYS HER BET.
Selling FOrty-TwO Bushels of Peanuts to the
Crowd on Boston Common.

Selling Forty-Two Bushels of Peanuts to the
Crowd on Boston Common.
Boston Special.
Probably the last of Boston's novel election
bets was paid on the Common to-day. All other
unique wagers have been upon the general result
and, accordingly, have been paid by Blaine par
tisans. To-day's loser was a sympathizer with
Cleveland, and woman at that Shortly before
there appeared on the fremont street mall of
the Common, near Park street, small, striped
tent, with table in front piled with peanuts.
Upon neighboring tree was hung sign: "Pay-
ing an election bet" Promptly on the stroke of
9 a welldressed lady took her stand behind
the improvised counter, hung up notice, Pea
nuts ten cents bag" and began doing lively
business with the large crowd that collected.
One of the first corners asked her:
What sort of peanuts are you seling!"
Cleveland peanuts"
"How's that Cleveland was elected"
well, laughingly replied the lady, II wager
ed $50 against 5000 that Governor Cleveland
would have 10, 900 plurality in New York State.
The other condition was that should make
the $50 selling peanuts on the Common from
o'clock in the morning until 9 o'clock at night,
aud should not eat or drink during that time"
The Cleveland peanut vender is Mrs. John
Mullibeen, who is pretty well known in Boston.
She is about ifty-five years old decidedly stout
and quite distinguished in general appearance.
Her hair is snow-white and she wears it in a pc
culiar heap on top of her mead. She was dressed
in wellttting Newmarket. A large cameo
breastpin fastened white lace collar around her
neck and pair of black, bowed eyeglasses
hung upon her breast. II was decidedly chilly
all day, but she wore no outer garment, neither
did she at any time leave her post behind the
counter. Trade was so brisk that she had to get
the assistance of gentleman and two other Ia
dies most of the time to assist either in making
change or in putting the peanuts in bags Baked
beans could not have sold faster, and her stock
was soon exhausted. Several more bushels soon
arried, but the demand did not slack. Almost
every one had something to say in the way of
joke at her expense She took it all in good part,
giving as good was sent in most cases. About
noon Lewis Hayden local Blaine man of some
note, came along. He sympathized heartily
with Mrs. Mullibeen and bought three packages,
under the impression that she lost Blaine.
Finding out to the contrary he threw the nuts
to the ground and said he would be ashamed to
eat Cleveland peanuts, and would not take them
home. When first accosting the lady, Uncle
Lewis commended her for her patriotism.
The crowd at times numbered several hundred
people. They were very quiet and INDUCED in
nothing more serious than frequent clapping.
Two policemen kept them from crowding up too
close. This was the only thing that troubled
her
''They look at me as though l was a wild
beast she said
Toward night the dimes came in in a perfect
shower. The supply had to be replenished two
or three times, and before the twelve hours were
gone forty two and one-half bushels had passed
over the counter in ., $50 paper bags Mrs. Null
libeen bore the tiresome test remarkably we'll.
The terms of the bet were fulfilled in every par
ticular. She not only went without food and
drink, but she did not once sit down at her
work But the moment the stint was done she
hurried to waiting carriage and was driven
rapidly to her home. The crowd cheered her as
she left The gross receipts were $2l5, and she
will probably net about $3.50 by the operation.
After the bet is paid the surplus will be used to
supply THANKSGIVING dinners to many poor fam
lilies. This is the second time she has sold pea
nuts. When she was young lady she made
similar bet on Fremonts election In those days
she was resident of the South. AS she lost
her bet, she paid it on fair ground. In three
hours she sold twenty-five barrels.