The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
A HUSBAND AS THE PRICE.
Strange Contests In which the Participants
Were Women.
From Ta-Bas.

FROM Iu-bW.
Tho Joint birthday Of King Carlos Of Poftu-
gal and his consort was celebrated at VII
lage near Brags in a novel way. hand
some young farmer named Goethe. for whom
several local beauties had long sighed in vain.
determined TO sacrifice his freedom by offor-
Ing himself as a prize to her who should b
successful In a bullock race.
Seven handsome peasant girls appeared
at the starting post, riding barebscked on
bullocks with decorated horns and tails.
capital start was effected. but ere half
the distance had been traversed the favor
Ito was thrown and displayed her chasrin
BY selling the tail Of the second bullock In
an endeavor to impede rivals progress.
This resulted in an unpopular competitor
coming In first, whereat the onlookers were
80 dis gusted that they ducked the judge In
a pond.
New Brunswick was the scene, four years
since, OF a bicycle race. over course OF two
miles, between couple OF girls who were
rivals for the affections OF an eligible swain.
The prize himself. with a parson by his side.
took his stand at the winning post, and NO
sooner had the winner. Miss Nellie Donnelly,
passed the goal than tho ceremony was per
formed, and the newly married couple lefs
the ground amid the acclamations OF the large
concourse that had witnessed the contest.
To run to a point some hundred yards
distant, there to change dresses for others
laid In readiness on the ground. and TO re-
turn to the starting point was the trial UNDER
taken last year at Brussels by some half
dozen women to decide which should wed .
man who had offered himself as prize TO the
winner On the word being given. one at
once dropped to the rear and logged on quito
uncopcernedly, for she was aware that the
aleeves Of the dresses laid out for her rivals
had been sewn up. The confusion conse-
ouent on this enabled her to win the race
and the prize. who. 1t Is more than likely.
was we'll aware Of the ruse.
The keeper Of Havre restaurant some
eight years back offered himself as a prize
TO be run for In an obstacle race by young
women. Here, too. suspicion pointed TO
the result having been previously arranged.
for the last difficulty to be overcome con-
sisted Of wrieeling between two bars 10
close together that none but the slimmest
could pass. Six out OF seven competitors
we're thus put out OF the race. which was
won by wisp OF a girl, who. negotiating
the narrow space with little trouble. car
ried of Boniface. in accordance. probably
with that willy mans intention.
The first prize in a cookery competition
held at Vienna In the early sos was n
young man, tho owner of n pork butcher a
establishment, In whose declared opinion
good household management WAS an indis-
pensable necessity In married llfr. Some
score or more spinsters and widows displayed
their culinary skill. that OF a professional
cook being accounted worthiest of the prize.
The young man. however. stultifed the de-
cision Of the Judges by clipping with the
prettiest of the competitors.
Equally perfidious was the conduct OF q
young Liverpudlian who some years back
offered his hand and fortune as first prize
for sack race. over fifty yards to be COM
f1r by Oirla nndpr NJ n