Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-18
CORN HUsKINa roR LOVE.
A Novel Match In Which Pretty Cir
Was the Prize.


A Novel Match In Which a Pretty Girl
Was the Prize.
Chicago Herald.
A discussion of corn huslxing, ancient
customs in general and the vaunted
superiority Of the old boys over the
rising generation led to most interest
ing match last week. The scene was
laid ten miles north of Charlottesville,
Ind, on the farm Of Dr. Wilkes, where
1t had been announced there would
occur grand husklng match, not
exactly an Old fashioned one, for tho
corn was still on the stalk.
The young men of that section were
out in force to participate or back q
favorite, but when the spot was reached
it was found that Grant Layton and
Charles Parker were the favorites, and
all declared that one of them must
surely win. As the others did not care
o suffer defeat, it was mutually agreed
to withdraw, and the race was between
the favorites. The young men, who are
leaders in tho social four hundred there
abouts, were raised on adjoining farms
and for years bitter rivalry has existed
between them. Grant leads the choir
and the singing school, but Charley is
generally the last man down at spell
ing match. Grant dances divinely and
Charley is not 10 be sneezcd at IN that
line. Besides, no dance can be Il success
without the latter acting as a prompter
Grant can break any colt in Indiana,
and Charley is beyond the range of ordi.
nary vision at shooting match. Both
are athletes and both arc proud posses
sors OF very swell outfits in the horse
and buggy line. In word, their accom-
plishments are about equal and their
leadership in social circles is undisputed.
But, strange to relate, both have
hankering "for the same" u bright,
black eyed little charmer, the reigning
belle Of the neighborhood and still in
her teens. Heretofore 1t had been nip
and tuck between them, but there
seemed to be an understanding between
the three that marked preference
would be shown to the winner of the
husking match, SO the boys were only the
more anxious to meet on the sands of
DIR. Wilkes 40.acre cornfleld.
AT o'clock the contestants, each ac-
companied by wagon, two horses and
a driver, entered the arena and few
minutes later time was called. Grant,
with as much composure as his great
nanesake ever exhibited during the
heat of battle, sailed off down the long
rows of that big cornfield, husking the
golden ears with as great avidity us
Samson slew the Philistines with the
Jawbone of an ass. Charley, the cham
pion, was fairly wild and husked as he
had never husked before.
At one end of the field the boys
always cast their eyes towards GER
tain spot where stood the little charmer,
between father and big brother, but
smile or nod would send them back
to the next row with renewed energy.
During the afternoon there was no per-
ceptible vantage. 1t Is what in dice
parlance is termed 'horse and horse,n
and money was going up all the while.
But at length the sun declined to shed
more light, and all hands, bowling and
cheering like mad gathered to hear the
count. The supreme moment arrived,
and the Layton faction fairly split the
blue canopy of heaven when the official
counter, from the bottom of an inverted
sorghum barrel, announced that Grant
Layton was the winner having husked
15l bushels and 6S pounds to Charley
Parker's 149 bushels and 49 pounds. TO
add to the discomfort of the Parker fac
ton, Layton also broke the short time
record by husking 81 ears in one minute
and throwing 30 of them in the wagon.
When the cheering had subsidized and
the Stockholders had distributed tho
cash the conquering hero was hoistcd
by some half-dozen of his enthusiastic
hackers and carried to the supper table,
the head of which, as seat OF honor,
had been reserved for the winner. The
tired but happy husker bore the ire
mendous honors very modestly, while
the pair of black eyes that had acted as
the great incentive and were now spark
ling with no less intensity than his own
lowered about that end of the table and
loaded it with all the delicacies that the
house afforded. A free and easy, good
old fashioned dance followed, in which
Layton, who was too weary to navigate,
did not participate. Neither did
Stakes" but as they sat there smiling
and happy and the centre of attraction,
there was more than one who " lowed
they would make spanky team"
Parker, the vanquished, bore his
defeat with good grace, and received
many compliments on the good fight he
had made, even though victory had not
perched upon his banner.