Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-19
FOR HOnELIEST MAN.
Weeks Visit to Worlds Fair. All Ex-
 penses Paid. M


 penses Paid. St Louis, Feb. 1O.--One of the most unique voting contests yet inaugural ed i'll connection with a free trip to the Worlds Fair is just announced from Osceola, Iowa, where a local ci- gar manufacturing company propos- es to award physical ugliness most handsomely. The ugliest man in Os- ceola county, under the terms of the vlt1ng contest, Is to be sent to the Worlds Fair, armed with round trip ticket, money to pay his hotel bill and tickets of admission to the exposi- ton for one week--all gratis.
 Every person buying one of the , nve-cent cigars manufactured by the concern that is conducting the con test Is entitled to deposit one vote for his favorfte homely man, thereby ex- pressing his opinion as to the identity of the ugliest citizen of the, county. Tn order to protect all viters from pos- sibie wrath, the ballots are to be. se- cret. No one is to know who casts the votes. though the progress of the contest is to be published from time to time Tn the local papers. so that all may know what candidate is in the lead and how the others stand - The man receiving the largest num- Der of votes between Jan. 1 and July l will be declared elected. When he starts for the Worlds Fair he will be accompanied to the railroad station by brass band and a deleSa ton of cit 1zens, including the prettiest girl from each township In the county. There will be. farewell speeches and hou- quets and possibly the prettiest girls tnI fn 1yfc &1,nh roI~ry ugly man goodbye. l~. It is stated by the Worlds Far cor respondent at Oceola that there is a great stir amongst ugly men through out the county. Some of the Oseeola men who have been tactily suspected or homeliness throughout their careers nave taken to the woods Others known to be In danger have begun wearing more attractive clothing, keeping their whiskers and hair trim med, and cultivating winsome smiles. But there are several men in the county, 1t is stated. who acknowledge tnat they are homely--glory in it, in fact-and have put themselves into the race as ayowed candidates for the honor of representing Osceola county ar ehe Worlds Fair. These men arc 1 asking their friends to help them win. 1 ~, after votes. One of them, in particu- lar, 1t Is said to have announced his intention of making thorough can Vass or the county, exhibiting himself Ill each town, township, crossroad set. tlement and little red schoolhouse so tnat all smokers of five-cent cigars may take note of his homeliness and bear him in mind when casting their ballots A rival candidate declares that he will buy large quantity of the cigars himself, casting the votes for himself, and present the cigars to his friends as an inducement to get them to buy nose cigars and cast more votes. It is quite legitimate, he claims, for candidate to pass around the cigars--it is done, in every cleo ton.
 The Osceola correspondent says that during this cold weather the candi- dates are not so active as they will be when balmy spring arrives: It is expected that they will bestir them selves vigorously about the first of April, and that even some of those | who have taken to the woods to keen from becoming candida tes | may s,he. come so highly interested in tie con- 1 test that they will return to town and announce their candidacy.
 l In this connection 1t may not be amiss to retell the story of Abraham i Lincoln and the homely man. When Mr Lincoln was young lawyer he came face to face with a remarkably home1y man. The men stopped and 1 stared at each other.
 "sir, am going to kill you!" cried the stranger. a&:
 And why may askr' coolly in, | vea>H ho, xya against me, sir7"
 l "I have nothing against you-noth- ing whatever" was the reply. ssIn fact, I am very sorry that must kill you, but there is no way to get around it. If I let you live shall be break. ing my solmen word of honor, and that, sir, cannot afford to do. Have you any messages to send to your folks, or would you like to pray.". !
 "But first tell me-" insisted lin cold "how 1t happens that you have got to kill meY'
 Simply this way, sir," replied the stranger. ''Many years ago was pronounced the ugliest man on earth and I gloried in tho honor. made a solemn vow that if I ever found an. other man who was ugIier than my self would kill him."
 Lincoln looked searchingly at the stranger.
 "Do you think I am an uglier man than your" he asked.
 CT do."
 "Then kin me at once." said Lin. coin.
 The sequel to this story is that the ugly man, highly complimented by this caustic cut, went to Osceola county, Iowa. and settled down. One of his sons. who inherited the fathers claim to distinction, is now said to be o candidate or tho Worlds fair