Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-12-20

IOrce payment OUT inc 1DClenC law Qua
not recognize debts Of this kind, any
more than does the law Of more mod
ern days. They were accordingly
non-suited, and their debts declared il.
recoverable.
In the early part Of the present cent
ury sporting men we're fond of betting
on the duration of the lives of celeb
rites. Napoleon L was especially the
subject OF these wagera 1t is related
that at a dinner party in 1909, Sir
Mark Sykes offered to pay any one
who would give him hundred guineas
down, a guinea day so long as Napo-
leon lived. The offer was taken by a
clergyman present; and for three years
Sir Mark paid him three hundred and
sixty-five guineas per annum. He
then thought he had thrown away
enough money, and disputed further
payment The recipient, who was not
at all disposed to lose his comfortable
annuity, brought an action, which,
after lengthy litigation, was decided
in favor of the baronet
A foreign Prince staying in Paris
made heavy bet with member of
the Imperial Club that he-the Prince
would, in the course of the next two
hours, be arrested BY the police with
out committing any offense or provok-
ing the authorities in any fashion.
The way he won his wager was by
dressing himself in 9 tattered old
blouse, a pair Of mouldy boots full of
holes, and disreputable burlesque of
hat. Thus attired, he walked up
to one of the most aristocratic
cafes in Paris. and seating himself at
table, called for cup Of coffee.
The waiter, as was only natural, did
not care about serving SO suspicious
looking customer before he was as
sured that payment would be forth
coming, so he told the Prince that he
must pay in advance. Upon this, his
Highness pulled bundle of bank
notes out of his pocket, and picking out
one of considerable value told him to
take the price of the coffee out of it
and bring back the change. The man
Immediately went in search of the pro-
prietor of the cafe, who, when he had
heard the facts of the case, ordered the
coffee tn be served, and at the same
time sent to the nearest police station
for a sergent de rille. The Prince was
of course arrested and taken before a
commissary of police. He announced
his rank. and told his reasons for as
Stunning such an unprincely costume.
The authorities were obdurate at first,
but finally they consented to send the
Prince under escort to the Imperial
Club, where the gentleman with whom
the bet had been made proved his iden-
tity. and paid his Highness the money
he had fairly won.
Vieuxtemps, the well-known violin
ist, used to tell strange story OF 3
wager which he averred he had really
witnessed whilst on a visit to London.
1t was to the effect that one day as he
was walking across London bridge, a
poor wretch jumped up on to the para
pet and leaped down into the river.
There was at once a rush of eager
spectators, and voice shouted: I'm
bet he drowns!' 1.-TWO to one, he'll
swim ashorer' s'Done" Meanwhile,
Vieuxtemps had FASTENED to get a boat
and was rowing with waterman to
the rescue of the unhappy creature,
who was foundering about, and just
managing to keep himself afoat. As
they reached him and were preparing
to pull him into the boat, there was q
roar from the bridge: leave him
alone-there is bet on!' The water
man Immediately lay on his oars. re-
fusing to make any further attempt to
save the drowning man. and Vieux-
temps saw him sink before his very
eyes.
A bet was once made in relation to
the Master of the Revels to George
H.. named Heidegger. whose ugliness
it was declared impossible to surpass.
One of the courtiers wagered
that he would produce some one
who should be pronounced uglier than
Heidegger. He was allowed q few
days in which to unearth his champion,
and it is said that he employed them
in personally ransacking the worst
slums in London. Somewhere in St.
Giles he found an old woman whom
he thought sufficiently plain to con-
front with Heidegger When the two
we're put face to face, the judges said
that it was impossible to decide which
ofthem was entitled to bear the proud
title of ''ugliest being in London" A
courtier, however. suggested that
Heidegger should put on the old
woman's bonnet This he did; and the
additional ugliness it gave him was
such that he was unanimously de-
clared the winner.
A notorious gambler of the last cent
ury finally ruined himself by very
extraordinary bet. He had been play
ing with Lord Lorn; their stakes had
been very high. and luck had gone
steadily against him. Exasperated at