Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-28
A. c. BRIscOE. Secretary.
WOMAN PAYS HER BET.

Selling FOrty-TwO Bushels of Peanuts
to the Crowd on Boston Common.
Probably the last of Boston's novel
election bets was paid on the common to-
day, says a Boston special of Nov. %.
All other unique wagers have been upon
the general result and, accordingly, have
been paid by Blaine partisans. To-day's
loser was sympathiZer with Cleveland,
and woman at that. Shortly before 9
there appeared on the fremont street
mall of the common, near Park street,
small, striped tent, with a table in
front piled with peanuts. Upon a neigh
boring tree was hung a sign: "Paying an
election bet" Promptly on the stroke of
9 a well-dressed lady took her stand be-
hind the imprOvised counter, hung up a
notice, peanuts 10 cents a bag,v and
began doing a lively business with the
large crowd that collected. One of the
first corners asked her:
''What sort of peanuts are you SELL
ing?"
''Cleveland peanuts"
''ROw's that? Cleveland was elected"
"Well," laughingly replied the lady, 81
wagered $50 against $500 that Gov. Cleve-
land would have 10000 plurality in New
York State. The other condition was that
l should make the $50 selling peanuts on
the Common from O'Clock in the morn
ing until 9 o'clock at night and 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 30 years old, de-
cidedly stout and quite distinguished in
general appearance. Her hair is snow
white and she wears it in a peculiar heap
on top of her head. She was dressed in a
well-itting Newmarket. large cameo
breastpin fastened a white lace collar
| around herneck and Il pair Of black bowed
| eyeglasses hung upon her breast. 1t 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 a gentleman and two
other ladies 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 arrived, but the demand did
not slack. Almost every one had some
thing to say in the way of Joke at her
expense. She took it all in good part,
giving as good as was sent in many cases.
About noon Lewis Hayden, local Blaine
man of some note, came along. He
sympathized heartily with Mrs. MulIibeen
and bought three packages under the i'm
preston that sne lost on 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 1 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
she u hours were gone 42% bushels had
passed over the counter in 2,15O paper
bags. Mrs. MullIbeen bore the
tiresome test remarkably well.
The terms of the bet were
fulfilled in every particular. 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 $215, and
she will probably net about $3.50 by the
operation. After the bet is paid the sur
plus will be used to supply Thanksgiving
dinners to many poor families. This is
the second time she has sold peanuts.
When she was young lady she made a
similar bet on Fremonts election. In
those days she was a resident of the
South. AS she lost her bet she paid it on
a fair ground. In three hours she sold
twenty-five barrels.