Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-12-17
ODD BETS OF HISTORY.
Money Stnkcd ON Quccr Issuos-Cleo-
patra's Wager with Antony.

pNNrhS NhScr WIN antony.
History relates some curious wagers,
one of the most unique of which is that
told of Egypt's queen, the beautiful
Cleopatra, with Mark Antony. The
queen invites her Roman lover to up
per and bets him that she will eat at
one meal u sum equal to SiOS, 6i3. so.
Antony accepts the invitation, but upon
coming to the table and observing moth
ing extraordinary upon it begins to
rally the queen upon the frugality OF
her repast. She makes no reply, but
dctaches from her ears two pearls OF
great value, one of which she throws
into liquor prepared for the purpose,
by which it is speedily dissolved, and
swallows it in the presence of Munatius
Plaucus, the chosen arbiter of the
wager. As she is about to do the same
with the other pearl Plaucus snatches
it away from her and declares that she
has already won.
The celebrated wager Of Asclepiades,
the physician, was not less extrava-
CANT He wagered against great for
tune that he never would be sick in his
life. Besides the money he had bet his
reputation OF being the most famous
physician of his time was at stake. He
won his wager, for, in fact, it is re-
corded that he never suffered single
hour from illness while he lived, having
died from fall he received in extreme
old age.
A certain French count made wager
with u duke for 1000 crowns that he
would go twice and back again from the
Porte St Denis to Chantilly in a certain
time. He had his whole body tightly
bandaged round and leaden bullet in
his mouth to refresh him by keeping up
supply of moisture. Relays of horses
were disposed from space to space. and
| every embarrassment prevented that
might in the least re etard his progress.
The swiftest horses were chosen. A
clock was attached to the Porte St
| Denis to mark the time
He set out with the speed of an ar
row, and in moment was out of sight
| Never did man cleave the air with
such rapidity. On arriving at each re-
lay, without alighting he sprang from
one horse on to the other, and con-
tinued his fight. He arrived at the
Porte st. Denis, having performed his
four courses eighteen minutes before
the appointed time. He said he was
still able to go to Versailles to bring
the king tidings of his success. All
bathed in perspiration, he was put in a
warm bed, and afterwards died from
the effects of his effort This noble
man. remarks the narrator of the ex-
plot, deserves no praise for having run
/ ftnt I. r,,1 .~f
him is that he would have made the
best post-boy in the world.
One of the widest wagers ever made
was in Paris in 1Ts5, and caused the
greatest excitement, eventually getting
into the courts. That year it was SC
rainy that it seemed the flood gates OF
heaven were really opened. All the
rivers overfiowed their banks and com
merce was terribly affected. Some SUI
perstitious persons predicted u second
deluge, and many were greatly
alarmed. A Partisan banker named
Bulliott, having remarked that it had
rained excessively on St Gervais' day
June 10, persuaded himself that il
would rain for forty days continuously
thereafter, basing his opinion on the
truth of the old proverb that if Il
rained st. Gervais' day it will rain forty
days after"
infatuated by his faith in this saying
and being on that day in the Cafe de il
Regence, near the Palais Royal, he en-
tered into conversation with some per
sons on the subject of the incessant in,
undations which were destroying thu
hopes of a good harvest Bulliot OBJ
served that there would be more cause
for alarm if the rains continued fol-
forty days longer, and that he wa
ready to wager that this misfor tun,
was inevitable. His evil progno osi
was received with bad grace by thos(
present and he was asked upor
what authority he based his predic
tion. 81 am sure of it," he confidently
replied. Let anyone bet against me
l am ready to put down my stake" HI
then threw some louis on the table u
excite the curious and defy the incredu
lous. His wild talk was not considere,
at all by many present, who refused t,
enter the lists against him; but others
more Interested, and hattered by tn
hope of winning, put down stakes TO
| Uuc SdilC dlilOQhG Ihdt hS llu IL
money was deposited in the hands o
the coffee-house keeper and the wage
registered thus: Ii it rain, little o
much, during forty days from ST
Gervais' day, Bulliot has won; if it dis
continues raining even for one singl,
day during the forty days, Bulliot ha
lost.
This wager irritated the cupidity G
the whole cafe, who were eager to ap
propriate the louis in which Bulliot S
abounded, so that after having stakes
against all who would bet against him
. and after having emptied every purse
he demanded with sort of insult
there were any others ready to oppos
him. Believing himself sure of victory
he proposed to those who had no none
to stake their gold-headed canes, gol
snuff boxes and other valuable jewelry
which were duly appraised and place
in the hands of the same depository. ii
ayan conSentad that thOSn who ha