The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-27
A NEW YEAR CONTEST
nx ApELAIpE RuTn HILL.

GY AOELAiGE N4tI1 fTfA-NH
copyright, 1903, by American Press Assoc
ciation.l
@The New Year day" OF old New
York--and it was then great func-
ton with the Dutch men and Dutch
women Of that town--was at hand. It
was In transition state The simple
visits Of the inhabitants. where they
made few calls and spent plenty OF
time drinking schnapps at each call
were passing out with the growth Of
the place, and already some OF the
fashionable young men were begin
ming to boast OF the number OF visits
they would make.
Miss Kate Van Gaasback was then
the belle Of the town, and two of the
rity "bloods," Derrick Schermerhorn
and Beekman Van Corlaer. were as
pirants for her hand. A few evenings
before the list OF January they hap
pened TO meet In Miss Van Gaas-
backs parlor. each hoping for favor
able answer to his suit.
II desire" said the lady, 'for a hus-
band one who viii join with me IN
successful society career. You two
each take notebook with you when
you call on New Years day and have
every lady you call upon enter her
name Ia IT, Begin calling at 10 o'clock
III the morning. ending your rounds
here at IN the evening. He who can
show the largest number Of signatures
shall have preference over the other
Now. II was not that the lady had no
preference. she had a very strong
preference for Derrick Schermerhorn.
But at times d woman moves ike
crab. backward-that is. when she is
expected to 90 forward she proceeds IN
the opposite direction This. however,
will be recognized at the end Of the
story At 10 o'clock on New Years
morning the two suitors. dressed In
the height Of the then fashion and each
with a big bouquet in his buttonhole,
started to make the rounds Of their
lady friends Derrick. who from the
fact that hts father was a rich brewer
was popular, had been able to make
the larger list Beekman relied this
and had great fears that his own list
would be exhausted before the limit
Of time had elapsed. However. be
could do only what be could and &C
cept defeat, II Il came, like man.
The FIRST call Derrick made was on
Miss Van Horn. After few remarks
he was bowling himself out when the
lady reminded him that it was not
complimentary that be should hurry
and he must have some refreshment.
He waited half an hour for the re-
freshment to be served. then, after
partaking OF 1t. got away as soon as
possible. At hts second call the lady
insisted on reading to him from her IA
vorite book. and he found Il impossible
to leave her under three-quarters Of an
hour. Even then she reproached him.
The third call was made with d similar
delay After this came d number of
visits which were completed with dis
patch. And so passed the day. About
one 10 three OF those he called on de- /
Iayed him.
Now, 1t happened that about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon the two suitors met
at the house OF Vanderpoie Ten Eyck.
manufacturers Of calico, in King
street. There were number OF girls
in the party. aud they had heard that
a contest was on between the young
men as to who would make the most
calls. A bevy surrounded each OF
the contestants, testing him to reveal
his score. Both refused. Then one OF
the girls snntched Beekman's note.
book from his pocket and ran away
with It. Having examined it. she sang
out:
''Thirty-two calls.'
This was sad news to Derrick. who
knew that he had made only twenty
eight. 1t was half past 1. and even If
Beekman made no more visits Derrick
must make FIVE more to beat him. He
started TO 80. but the miscellaneous Girls
locked the front door. But rear door
was open. and he plunged through #.
followed closely by his opponent. This
door led through passageway uniting
the dwelling with the print works.
The two men rushed through this pas.
sageway and found themselves NOV
ing on a raised platform on either side
Of which. their upper edges rising
some twelve inches above it. were dve
watts. A brilliant idea occurred to Der.
rick. Lessening his pace. be permitted
Beekman to oyertake him and gave
him push. Beekman's heels caught
against the protection Of a dye vat,