St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-30
The Cutting Hair Wager Just
as Popular as Forty
Years Ago.
The WheelbapPoW Racket will
Be a Fayorlte. Again
This Year.
The Nevada Bag Of Flour That
Helped Out the Boys
In Blue.

wagering upon the outcome of political
contests. been more common than in
America. The tailors do rushing bus
mess after severy presidential and mu-
nicipal contest, while the hat dealers
trade is at least quadruple.
But some betters, not content with the
ordinary chances OF fortune, rack their
brains to discover some strange and un-
usual methods of wagering, and the con
sequence is that at the close of every
election a number of more or less
ludicrous bets have to be settled. the
payment OF which occasions not only
much pleasure to the winner, but also
great hilarity among the public at large.
The ''wheelbarrow bet'' is one of the
time-honored election wagers, and has
been made probably in every city in
the country. By its terms the loser
agrees to trundIe the winner in a
wheelbarrOw for certain distance over
specified route. Several such wagers
have been made in st. Louis, one of
the most noted being that made
by 81. Clay Sexton in 1859, when
he wheeled his victorious ad-
versary for several blocks along
Broadway, followed by an enthusiastic
crowd. The election OF Mayor Francis,
in 1884, caused one rather emaciated
Republican of CarondeIet to wheel
pende Gus and triumphant Democrat
for nearly mile, compenSating him
self for his temporary metamorphOSiS
lntoa beast OF burden by humping his
passenger most severely by reckless
crossing of curbs, and in several in
stances depositing him unexpectedly
in convenient cutters, alleging his
ineXperience in this line
OF INDUSTRY
as the cause of the cataStrOphes.
Next to the wheelbarrow bet, an
agreement to carry some unusual bur-
den through the city is probably the
most common of these uncommon
wagers. 1t is one of the traditions of
st. Louis that Henry S. Geyer. one
of the leading Whig leaders, in
1882 perambulated Main street from
Vine to Chestnut street, bearing
upon his shoulder long hick-
DRY pole which had been used
during the campaign by a jackson ad-
herent. Not many years ago hOd car
rier, in fulhilment of Il wager, carried
another up the inclines from the ground
to the top floor of a fve-story house.
coffee through the streets are some
times seen at the close of an election.
A. New Haven, Conn. soap manufact-
urer was once compelled to march
through the streets carrying large sign
inscribed with high praises of the goods
OF rival house, while his partner fol-
lowed i'll the rear in the form of sand
Wich advertisement, the boards between
which he was confined setting forth in
fiOrld language the inferiority of the
product of his own factory.
In the blue grass region of Kentucky
liquor oftef was the article wagered, a
favorite bet among the Inhabitants of
the smaller villages being that The loser
should ''treat the town." For this pur-
pose large room was obtained, in
which number of chairs were placed
and Keg of the best bourbon, at which
vail comerS were welcome to quench
their thirst on the evening of election
day, the adherent of the unsuccessful
candidate settling the bill and acting as
master of ceremonies, which were of
the most
FREE AND EASY DESCRIPTION.
Another set of queer bets are those
relating to hair. The instances are
numerous of those who have agreed not
to cut their hair until the election of
certain candidate, and who are obliged
to carry about with them wealth of
locks more conspicuous than comfort
able. During the last presidential cam
palgn fashion arose among the deniZenS
of Baden of betting one hirSute adOrn-
ment against another. A Democrat
would bet his moustache against the rich
whiSkers of a Republican, or his hair
against his beard. The consequence
was that after the election number of
young Republicans We're almost unrec-
ogniZabie by the removal of much of
the hair that decorated their faces, and
the BARRIERS reaped a rich harvest. One
gentleman, the poSSeSSor of a fine head
of curly hair. came home Oh the
day after the election exhibiting to his
Mortified wife poll as bare as clippers
could cut it. while friend of Demo
cratic procliyitieS appeared in few
days wearing handsome watch chain
of plated hair. A still more unfortu-
itants of that suburb by walking down
the street deprived of one of his side
whiskerS, while the other flourished in
full luXuriance. He was compelled be
the terms of the wager to remain in
this condition for month, shaving tue
side of his face which had been bereft
of its decoration every Saturday.
The wager of this irregular kind
which attracted more attention than
any other, and which led to the great
est results, was that made by Reul
Gridley, of Austin, New, in 1862. In
the fall of that year, Mr.. Cridley, who
was candidate for mayor Of Austin on
the Democratic ticket, let that he
would beat his Republican opponent.
The terms of the wager were that the
defeated party should carry sack of
flour on his shoulder from Lower to
Upper Austin. GTidley was beaten at
the polls, and on the day following the
election set out on
HIS TRIP,
accompanied by the newly elected NAV
or, brass band and large crowd. On
arriving at the public square in Upper
Austin question arose as TO what dis
position should be made of the sack of
flour. ''Sell it for the benefit OF ihe
Western Sanitary Commission" said
some one in the crowd. The idea met
with universal approval, and Mr.. Grid
ley was installed as auctionGcr OH an
improvised auction block. Competition
for the flour was very keen, and not
until $3.50 had been bid WAS it knocked
down.
Where shall l deliver it?" said Grid
ley;
Nowhere; sell it again." shouted the
purchaser.
The idea took like wildfrc; the sack
of flour was again and again knocked
down, and when evening came it was
found that tile astonishing sum of $1,000
had been collected. 1t was during the
flush times" in Nevada, and the rival
ry between the mining camps was very
keen. The news was sent by wire to
Virginia City. and before morning
telegram was received, saying, ''Send
on your flour sack"
Gridiey at once took the stage for
Virginia City, and ON the day of his ar
rival sold it for over 5000, and still re-
tanned it in his possession. The next