The sun., 1894-12-30
routox,s sLEEPrxe CONTEST.
TIE Learned French BARRIERS Aeeouut or :
TonrnnnenA in HIs Nstira EItN.

evidently very tired. He made many desperate
efforts TO keep his eyes open and to follow
Monsleur's remarks, but finally his will gave
way. and he fell sound asleep. He awoke Just
as Monsieur was putting the finishing touches
to his beard. He apologized and Monsieur said
that he was forgiven. Then Monsieur added:
AS you lay there sleeping. Monsieur, my
memory carried me back to the great sleeping
contest at Toulon. which took place some thirty
years ago, when was still living in my fathers
house. II was a great affair, and was talked Of
for many months before and after 1t occurred"
"Ah. ha," said the fat man.
Yes" added the barber; "t was very
curious affair. and remember 1t afforded me
much amusement. The idea was so funny. 1t
makes me laugh now to think Of II. You see, a;
that time there were two fellows IN Toulon who
were noted for being long slcopers. Fat rosy
checked fellows they were strong as oxen and
yet they always appeared sleepy One never
saw them with their eyes wide open, and half
the time they were sticking their fingers in
their eyes to keep the lids from closing. Myl
my! but IL was funny. Neither one was over
twenty. and yet they were both great big.
hulkng fellows who weighed close on to two
hundred pounds. Their cheeks were so fat that
they hung down like bags OF Jelly, and when
they walked they shook and quaked. When
you spoke to these fellows they always looked as
II they did not half understand, and neither Of
them was ever known to answer a question
without waiting fully sixty seconds to compre-
hend It. They were the laughing stock of the
town. and the mschievous little boys used to
run after them and yell at them, 'Messieurs, are
you awaker But the Joke never penetrated
them They would look around in wonder, but
evidently they never thought that the boys were
yelling at them. When they went TO visit they
always fell sound asleep, and It was said OF one
OF them that one night when he was calling on
the pretty daughter OF neighbor she went out
to the theatre with his rival and got back before
he woke up. and he would never have known OF
1t II the malicious gossips had not told him.
"one OF them was butcher. and quite well
TO do. His father had kept the shop before him.
and had laid by pretty penny. He was the
only child and heir, and when the father died
he had come into q snug little fortune. Very
likely some rogue would have got it away from
him, seeing he was so dull, II 1t had not been
that his extreme slowness exhausted tho
patience of every swndler who tried him, and
his money remained invested as his father hal
placed 1t. simply because he was too lazy and
too ignorant TO do anything else with 1t. The
lived In the city with some relatives. and
osteusibly was learning the restaurant business.
His uncle, with whom he lived. was restau-
rauteur OF standing, and tried very hard to edu-
cate him In the principles OF his business. Il
was slow work. however. and the good man ad-
Jacques lay In bis getting for a wife bright
alert young woman who could manage him and
AT this time there was in town person of
the character Of what you in this city call a
man about town. He was clever, rollicking
fellow. Of vagabondish tastes, inasmuch as he
never thought OF doing any work, but with
plenty OF monev to keep him going. He had
warbler in Paris. rounder in New York. an idier
In London: he happened 3D.. to be IN Toulon. be.
S , Om Witch Rs biz
other citizens he had known ihss two tat
habits. One day. while he was watching them.
down as though they were too heavy for their
shoulders their eyes half closed. their arms
shufiing along the pavements and stumbling
over every obstruction, the idea occurred TO him
which resulted In the sleeping contest. He made
and the latter in turn impaired II TO his friends
and customers, and soon 1t became noised all
II well remember. the day that the contest
5., began Al the he roads Leading 70 Tou!on were
in TO witness the exhibition. They came with
their families, Including the babies all In holi-
OF m
also: All the shops except those Of the bakers,
confeetioners,, and restaurateurs were closed.
laughing and frollicking. The contest was
held in the largest theatre. Handsome beds
% VI.
had himself consented to act as manager. In
order TO keep our worthy heroes In heart he had
Induced IND number OF yaSa5onds to enter the
score OF beds stood upon the stage when the
curtain arose. At the last moment considerable
excitement was aroused by the announcement
that an unknown from Paris had entered the
contest, and that he was said TO be well fitted
20 cope with the two champions from Toulon.
His appearance gave every. evidence OF the
truth OF this assertion, although discerning
critics asserted that he was not fat enough to
endure long. However these parisians
sharp fellows, and IL was alleged by some who
pretended TO know that this one had prepared
for the contest by keeping awake for seventy
THE tournament was to begin at noon and at
location. and crowds were clamorng on the
streets 10 get In. When VI. Audrey stepped out
nouncement, even the aisies were thronged. and
he had TO order the police TO refuse admittance |
20 any more. When the applause which greeted
MY friends, you all know the interesting con- |
test that IS TO be decided to-day. For many |
sessing the champion sleepers OF France. How |
ever, never before has their supremacy been |
officially decided by fair and open contest with
all comers.. Now the question will be fairly !
tested and the lAurels VIII go where they prop
erly belong. The rules under Which the contest
the contestants will al retire TO their beds here
upon the stage, and the tournament will then |
may be taken by any one, medical |
examination conducted by three OF our leading |
have been under surveillance ;ur |
the last twelve hours and we can therefore con- |
hdently assert that none has partaken Of any |
opiate or drug OF any sort. or iEdulged in any /
liquor that might have sOporitic effect; and in 1
no way has any one prepared for this event by ,
unfair methods al reports to the contrary not
We viii now begin
"A chorus OF approval announced the satisfac-
ton OF the audience. ThereupOn NJ. Audrey
clapped his hands twice and the contestants.
attended by their seconds. piled upon the stage.
NJ. Pierre came first. Then FOLLOWED the Paris
Ian. After him came NJ. Jacques, and behind
him the yaga6onds. All wore long night robes,
" Lich reached TO their bare feet. My but II |
was a sleepy looking crowd. and IL was marvel |
10 me that the audience did not fall asleep
" bile looking at them. One and all they shuf-
ned rather than walked, and their heads were
SO heavy as tO bend their shoulders forward.
or each his bed Lad been selected and - IL his /
attendant conducted him. placed him under the
sheets. and tucked the latter suuEiy around his /
chin. VI. Audrey waved his hands, and by I
gestures and grimaCts announced that the con-
test now on and il behoov ed all in the house \
10 maintain silence. After one or two Cut6Ursts \
VI laughter. all became quiet.
As for the contestants. assure you. Monsieur.
hat the three principals adharily toIv he'd their
beds before they we're sound asleep ana m less I
than sixty seconds their sEoTc- soUudcI mU-iCsl-
- throughout the house. lfany person there LAl /
faI Al r