Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-18

the most amusing voting contests yet
inaugurated in connection with a free
trip To the Worlds Fair is Just an
nounced from Osceola, Iowa, where a
local cigar manufacturing company
proposes to reward physical ugliness
most handsomely. The ugliest man
in Osceola county. under the terms
of the voting contest, is to be sen to
the Worlds Fair. armed with a round
trip ticket, money to pay his hotel bill
and tickets Of admission to the ex-
posion for one week-all gratis.
Every person buying one of the five
cent cigars manufactured by the con.
Germ that is conducting the contest
is entitled to deposit one vote for his
fayorite homely man, thereby express
ing his opinion as to the identity of
the ugliest citizen of the county. In
order t protect all voters from pos
sible wrath, the ballots are to be Sc
cret. No one is known who casts the
votes, though the progress of the con
test is to be published from time to
time in 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 January / and
July | will be accompanied to the
railroad station by a brass band and
a delegation of citizens, including the
prettiest girl from each township in
the county. There will be farewell
speeches and bouquets, and possibly
the pretty girls may be permitted to
kiss the lucky ugly man goodby.
It is stated by the Worlds Fair cor
respondent at Osceola that there is a
great stir amongst ugly men through
out the county. Some of the Osceola
men. who have been tacitly suspected
of LONELINESS throughout their career,
have 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
that they are homely-glory in 1t, in
fact-and have put themselves into the
race as avowed candidates for the hon
or Of representing Osceola county at
the Worlds Fair. Those men are ask
ing their friends to help them win.
Like political candidates, they are
out after votes. One of them, in par
ticular, is said to have announced
his intention of making a thorough
canvass OF the county, exhibiting him
self IN each town, township, ross-
roads settlement and little red school
house, SO that all smokers OF five-cent
cigars may take note of his LONELINESS
and zeal him In mind when casting
their ballots. A rival candidate de.
clares that he will buy up q large
quantity Of the cigars himself. cast
ing votes for himself, and present the
cigars to his friends as an inducement
to get them TO buy cigars and
cast votes. 1t is quite legitimate, he
claims, for a candidate to pass around
the cigars-it is done in every cleo.
tion.
The Osceola correspondent says that
during this cold weather the cand..
dates are not 50 active as they will
be when balmy spring arrives. Il IS
expected that they will bestir them.
selves vigorously about the LIST OF
April, and that eyen some of those
who have taken 10 the woods to keep
from becoming candidates may be
come SO highly Interested in the CON
test that they will return to town and
nnounce their candidacy.
In this connection II may not be
miss TO re-tell the story Of Abraham
Lincoln and the homely man. When
Mr.. Lincoln was a young lawyer he
came face TO face with a remarkably
ugly man. the men stopped and
stared at each other.
"Sir, / am going to XIII you.' cried
the stranger.
And why. may ! ask" coolly In
quired Lincoln. What have you against
me. sir?"
Il have nothing against you-nothne
whatever was the reply. In fact
am very sorry that ! must kill you
but there Is no way to get around Il
II ] let you live | shall be breaking
my solemn word Of honor, and tnit
sir. ! cannot afford to do. Have yt'
any messages to send TO your folks
80 u.ot,II 49,. H. A. --n.sN