Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04

fowling piece. This incident is a very good
second to the Eyes, ma'am," story which
still continues to be prime favorite on the
rounds of local gossip,
Everybody Is Enjoying Life.
But apy impression prevailing to the
effect that all those who inhabit the eastern
shore are illiterate, ignorant and clownish
is entirely erroneous The surrounding
country is now we'll supplied with schools
and churches and the people generally are
above the average In brightness aud intelli-
gence. They are without exception peace
able iR their disposition, domestic in their
habits and consider good health and con-
tentment as more to be desired than fine.
clothes or expensive modern residences.
Everybody seems to enjoy life, even if 1t
appears more simple here than those in
the larger cities are accustomed to view it.
While no fuIl-hedged theatrical COM
panies ever make transforming invasions
into these parts, vet thers is an abundance
of amateur entertainments charades, oyster
ba1es, and voting contests in which the
rivalry of local beauties play an important
part. These voting contests are rather
unique in their way and differ from the bet
ter known variety in that an open ballot
ioned system of secret count and the an
nouncement of returning board.
These contests are held in the diitrict
schoolhouse, and the mode of operations is
simple, although regarded here as a trife
exciting. Some young gentleman, who is
either suffering from financial depression,
or whose affections have not become con-
centrated on some lady for whom he hopes
10 secure special distinction takes charge of
the blackboard and acts as master OF cere-
monies The proceedings are then ready TO
begin, and the lists are opened to all con-
testants, none being barred because of age
or deficiency in personal charms When
the first gentleman steps forward, produces
a 50-cent piece and asks that ten votes be
recorded to Miss Jones, that lady's name is
Immediately placed On the board with the
number of votes opposite
All the Votes Are Purchased.
Other gentlemen then step up and an
nounce the names OF their favored lady
friends, producing at the same time vary
ing amounts of subsidiary coin with which
to emphasize their Judgment by the pur-
chase OF votes The gentlemen friends of
each lady whose name appears on the black
board then rally to her support, and the
voting at once becomes lively, expensive
and uncertain. This battle OF ballots, each
one of which has q specified value in the
much despised nickel, continues for 80
minutes, when the polls are declared closed.
As this exciting moment approaches the
excitement often becomes intense, and this
innocent amusement becomes deadly tragedy
to the enamored youth who at one and the
same time stares defeat and bankruptcy in
the face.
When travelling men from the north visit
the eastern shore they apparently labor
under the impression that the native popu-
lation is still comparatively uucivilized.
AS matter of fact the outlying country
around Exmore was reasonably primitive
before the construction of the railroad. As
the proprietor of hotel at Belle Haven
expressed it, he was but years old, as he
only dated his existence since theeday that
locomotive first passed down the penin-
sula. Many amusing stories are told OF the
enormous crowds that congregated at this
point to see for the first time the product of
Stevenson's S inventive genius.
1t 10 said that when the first bar-room
was opened in Exmore benighted country
man from some moss hidden inlet dropped
in during the month of August and asked
tor q glass of water The dispenser of
liquids, who it is supposed, did not have
the modernized white tie, apron and eight
inched diamond stud, complied with the re-
quest and placed upon the pine slab that
served as bar glass of original, unadul-
terated water in which foated an octagonal
duty in preserving the low temperature of
some beer imp orted from Norfolk.
Never Heard of Ice in August.
The native inquired with some solieitude
as to the character of the foreign substance
-. l.. ;ofa ii -
ice, he denied the statement with indigna-
ton Upon being assured that it,was the
actual product Of nature he scornfully
said:
"Ice, nothing. Who ever heard tell of
ice in August?"
A careful canvass has been made among
the Oldest inhabitants to ascertain, if possl-
BILE, the why and wherefore by which this
station became known to an admIring world
as Exmore, but with extremely limited sue
cess. When the railroad company first
opened an Office here for the transaction of
business the station was known as Belle
Haven, out of respect to the little town of
that name located one mile and a quarter
from the line. Some time afterward, ac-
cording to q carefully guarded legend, the
owner of plantation in this vicinity i'm
ported some horses from Scotland, the ami
mails il question belonging to the widely
known 'Exmoor breed" An official of
the road was struck with the name and de-
termined to bestow the same upon this
little hamlet Through series of blunders,
aided and abetted by sign painter, who
had ideas of his own concerning orthog.
raDhy, the station house eventually became
labeled with large pine board bearing the
simple legend "Exmore. The time cards,
tickets and stationary were eventually
changed to meet the views of the artist
whose skill will long be perpetuated on the