The sun., 1897-01-17
cRoss-RoAD BULL RLFFLES
A Novel Winter show for Farmers In the
Eastern Part OF fPennsyiyauis.

READING Jan. IA concern is running an
cdd winter cross road show In eastern Pennsyl-
vaniA Its chief attraction consists OF big bulls.
The owners are conducting series OF raining
matches ct taverns with the bulls. They give
cash instead Of the animals To the prize winners,
and then go on to the next stand.
The owners have regular route laid out.
and advertise literally with posters and hand
bills. One bull is put up at one tavern. and the
other at another tavern about Ave miles away.
They rafile one bull each week. which gives two
weeks time to get out the tickets AID make
preparations. The landlord generally welcomes
tho advance man. and charges very little for
his board The raffe tickets at twenty-five
cents each are put up at the tavern. and the
farmer boys very soon got 10 hear OF It, This
attracts a good crowd each evening and cards
are played for tickets. The favorite game Ia four
handed euchre, two tickets being the prizes for
each game. In this way hundreds OF tickets
are played for. over and over again, not only at
the tavern where the rafie Is TO DO held. but
also at other taverns, the landlords having been
supplied with tickets by the owners or the bulls.
Many other tickets are also sold direct to pur-
chnsors. Sometimes 25-cent ticket Is ramed
of at 6 cents q chance. five chances. In tho
country districts there arc no amusements for
winter nights, and this cross-road railing show
IN lust tho thing. In two weeks as many rs 400
tickets are disposed Of In ono way or another.
The landlord will accept q ticket In payment OF
drinks or cigars Just to keep tho ball rolling.
When tho day of the ratfie arrives Judges are
chosen and the railing 10 done IN vilo room A.
a time Seven old coppers are shaken In
slouch hat and the number OF heads turned up
q dozen or more men have tried their luck, tho
high man is allowed to sit In with the Judges.
When a higher throw 10 mado the now man
takaR tho chair watch tho RAINING. 1no
| throwing of heads goes on all day and Tar into
the night Tho landlord m busy %, npsssSisa s%s,s az
passed through humber OF hands. in a va,
watches each throw and counts the heads. Il
n's p. 'Hf tss rs: ssaSr
also large the attention Increases Bnt M .h " Ihe
third throw is low the high man smiss goo. sS.
Then some one WIN throw u, and later Sae.6sr
Ten dollarsis freely offered for ls heads. bnt
the lucky man rarely sells out Pneo IN A. whris nS
M 70 S%sa out GF 'ss s '?%"
soon known to the outside crowd and II creates
buzz z. bull CONTINUES S so
In advances that the sale Of tickets must STOP =
have been ratiied the, high man takes the bull
| ana tno low tnrOW also kets u pTlLo. huuH 40 =
fat hog, a set OF harness, n set of dishes, OF
something of equal value. The bull owner IL
| soon negotiating with the lucky man. and for
| $40 or $50 the winner 10 satisfied and the big
| bull is driven TO the neXt stand.
| The landlord has made out very WELL the boys
| have had a lot OF fun, the bull owner may have
taken In Slnb cash or more, and may leave the
tavern with about $50 clear. Az times there II
trouble In settling with the winner. and he puts
up the bull at auction and makes the owner ph,
fr M ss S 'psaarsS s. Ss%p
succeeds In getting II TO the next stand. II III
can't settle aud must sell. hen 90 elsewhere
and soon try another hnimAl A bull ts NOR,
attractive for o Iaffie than horse. Frequentl,
! n fox-chase Is sandwiched In to make q ram,
4 more attractive, and the festivities may enc
| with frolio or dance.