The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-21
QUEER ELECTION BETS.
Some Of the Odd COnceits Of Voters
Who Think Their Opinions Need
Substantial Backing.
From the Times-Hefald.

rom Tie 1luleS"I1cEdlus
One Of the queerest bets which has
been recorded Is that made between a
man and his wife in Colorado. In the
centennial state the women are allowed
to vote and many of them differ in
their political views from those held by
their husbands. Sometimes they have
long arguments on the political issues
Of the day. Such dispute arose be-
tween q man and his wife in Denver.
For days they debated the question,
but the man failed to convert his wife
and the other was just as obstinate.
The public library was ransacked for
arguments to hurl at one anothers
heads. Finally after many a meal had
been spoiled by lengthy discussion Of
the silver question they agreed to drop
the topic. although Of course the man
was forced to consent that the wife
should have the last word. Then they
fell to discussing the question Of who
would be elected and one day the man
remarked that he was going to make q
bet on Bryan.
"That would be foolish, said the wife.
You VIII lose your money and you need
all that you have. If you want to make
bet, make one with me, and the money
will remain in the family"
"Ali right. It's 60, replied the hus-
band. But then 1t dawned upon him
that he would have to furnish her the
money to pay him IL she lost and so he
would gain nothing. He told her this
and then she had brilliant idea.
"I'll tell you what We'll do," she said.
''I'll make this bet with you. If Bryan
is elected I will promise to chop all
Of the wood for the fires every morn
ing for month. On the other hand
If Mckinley should win you must prom
ise to do the family washing every
Monday for the same length Of time"
These terms were agreed to, and If
Mckinley Is elected he will do the fam
lily washing each week, while If Bryan
should win she will chop the wood for
the fires every morning for a month.
A TEXAS WAGER.
There are two men in Dallas, Tex.
who are as different in their physical
build as they are in their politics. One
is a Mckinley gold man and the other
Is a Bryan silverite. One Is short and
fat, not more than five feet four inches
in height, although he weighs rather
more than $50 pounds. The other is as
slim as a rail and could make money
as living skeleton in dime museum
as he Is six feet two inches in height
The two men are great friends, how
ever. and one day while engaging in
the luxury Of a joint debate on the Is.
sues Of the day the fat man proposed
with the thin man that they make a
wager The terms proposed were tina,
il Mckinley won the fat man was tc
wear suit Of the thin mans clothes
for month, while on the other hand
II Bryan were to come out at the tor
of the poll the thin man would weal
the others clothes for the same length
of time. Their friends are very much
interested in the outcome of the move
wager, although 1t Is suggested thai
the thin man has rather the better OF
the wager, for he will be covered. ex'
cept at least as much as the average
bicycler exposes, while the fat mar
could not get into the thin mans raj.
ment without bursting 1t.
Wheelbarrow bets are common, bu
a score have been made in every city
under the terms Of which the winner
Is to be wheeled by the loser through
the principal streets, but two Philadel
phia men have invented q new varia
ton of the old theme. They have
agreed that after the election the losel
is to walk on his hands from Philadel
phia to Wilmington, Del, a distance o.
thirty miles. Meanwhile the loser viii
follow after trundling his feet as If h,
were q wheelbarrow. Such q journey
will occupy rather more than thre,
days, during which the loser will re-
pent that he was rash enough to be
lieve In the success Of Mckinley o.
Bryan as the case may be.
The employees OF q circus now in win
ter quarters became involved in a dis
pute on the result Of the forthcomin,
election and out Of It grew a bet be
tween two Of them by the terms O
which the loser, IL Bryan were elected
was to drive cart to which eigh
donkeys, representing the triumphan
Democratic party, would be hitched
through the principal streets of tn,
city. But II Mckinley were successful
the other man agreed to drive az man.
elephants hitched to chariot through
the streets. 1t IL suggested that tn,