The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-11-04
FREAK WAGERS
Numerous Curious Rets That
Have Been Laid on This
Election.
st. Louis Young People Staked
Matrimonial Happiness on
the Result.
Some Bets Requiring Nerve in
Execution Wager of Dem
yer Women.

ST. Louis, Nov 4-The Globe Demo-
crat serves up to its readers a couple of
columns of freak election bets. Most
Of them are ludicrous, though some Of
them call for the display of some men.
tai, physical or moral quality in the
loser.
There is one extraordinary bet, mas
much as both bettors are on one side.
They are a handsome young woman
and an industrious young man. They
have wagered their happiness on the
Judgment of a majority of the American
voters
1t is related that at Rockford, Ills,
Miss Carrie Harris has staked her hand
on Bryan's chances of election, Robert
Thornton taking the Mckinley end Of
the bet !: but the local wager is alto
gether different. Both the st. Louis
young people are McKinieyites, and
the Ohio statesman's triumph at the
polls meant that they would be married
on Jan. next. Otherwise, their nu-
tials will be indefinitely postponed.
They have wagered their wedding
against free coinage. And there is a
large quantity of prudence in their
wager. The prospective groom is q
clerk in down town dry goods store.
Some time ago he fell in love with the
young woman. But he was reluctant
to propose until he was certain that he
could support wife in a manner fitting
the station of his ipamorata. He went
to a merchant friend, explained the sit.
uation and asked for aid.
The business man promptly offered
to start his young friend in y CONNER
cial establishment of his own in the
event Of Major McKinley's- election.
Il have in view" he said, "a thriving
little town less than 100 miles from
here where you ought to do-well with
a $1,000 stock. But wouldn't be able
to help you il Bryan is elected" OF
course the young man gratefully ac-
cepted the offer, and went forthwith to
the young woman. He told her of his
love. The happy pair commenced to
plan their future. The story leaked
out through the groom elects earnest
advocacy Of the sound money cause.
Advertises His Woe.
Pedestrians passing Broadway and
Olive street at 3 o'clock next Saturday
afternoon need not be surprised if a
lugubrious. appearing individual, attired
i'll gunny sack bespattered with ashes,
hobble along the pavement in front of
nd l,o
inscription in white letters, Il was on
the wrong side" will be suspended from
the unhappy mans neck.
The following story of a freak bet
comes in from Evanston: A carpenter
living on Barrow street agrees to keep
his neighbor's sidewalk clear of snow
all winter if Mckinley wins, and the
neighbor, who is a shoemaker, agrees to
mend the shoes of the carpenter, his
wife and two children all winter for
nothing if Bryan wins the victory.
This One Requires Nerve.
But probably the wager requiring the
| greatest exhibition of nerve is that re-
ported from Colorado Springs, where
the majority of the people are said to
be deeply tinged with McKinleyism
There Fred Sharpless assumes to drive
an English dog cart and tandem to the
summit of Pixies Peak il. Bryan is
elected. The proposition does not par
take Of the hazardous to one at D dis
tance, but mountain whips will realize
the perils Of the Job. In the first place a
cart sits too high for comfort in making
the sharp turns that confront the driver
at every 100 feet or SO, and without q
brake the cart is likely to rattle the
wheelhorse and precipitate the outfit
over the edge Of the road, which at
some places has o sheer descent of 500
feet without tree or shrub to soften
the fall. The grade is in places 25 per
cent, aud nothing but the finest driv-
ing and the coolest Judgment can pre-.
vent wreck.
| Another bet requiring nerve for exc.
cution is that made by two Galveston
men. The loser Is to ride q wild Texas
steer through the streets Of Galveston
for 20 blocks.
| This One From Denver.
| Among the women voters of Denver
there is one bet that is peculiarly ap-
propriate to the sex. 1t is to sit on a
| gallon jar with the heel Of one foot .n
the floor supporting on the toe the heel
CT the other foot. In that position the
loser to thread a needle without falling,
or to persist until she succeeds. The
performance is billed to come of in the
sacred precincts of Capitol Hill dis.
trict club in the presence Of all the
members. Failure implies that the
loser may qualify by setting mp the
dinner for the members
| Fatally Cut In Quarrel.