The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-05
DAN PUTS UP A JOB
CUPID TRIES TO MARRY OFF MISS
M'NICKLE, LAND WINNER.

One on Postal Card; Stron,
Arms, Protectors and Some Plair
Husbands; Declines Them All.
Chicago, Nov. "A proposal o.
marriage on postal card and Others
oh, lots and lots of them-On scented
paper and foolscap and business sta
tionery, are trophies incidental to tn,
pursuit of agriculture that led Mis-:
Mabel d. McNickle, 1880 jackson Parl
terrace, to hold lightly the wisdom o.
man.
Miss McNickle, who is thrifty, bus
inesslike and self-reliant young woman
scorning the need of "a strong arm tt
lean upon," has just returned to hel
Chicago home from Spokane, where &
few weeks ago she was one of 99,S6(
would-be tillers of the soil to file &
claim in the land rush at the Spokane
Indian reservation, and day or two
later the fortunate winner of the sec
ond choice in Uncle Sans land lottery
Postman Overworked Now.
But l6O choice acres of virgin soil in
the state of Washington was not the
only prize that the Chicago girl drew
Every day the postman has been
mounting YEARLY to her door with
letters by the score, and upon her re-
turn she found offers Of
swell, everything from toothpicks to
gold Bricks" declared Mrs. Lovina Nc
Nickle, proud mother of the land win
ner, for the young woman herself
firmly refused to discuss the silly
contents of the missives, ardent and
otherwise, of which she is the recipi-
ent.
Meaning by gold bricks" was sug-
gested.
'Oh, strong arms and protectors and
just plain husbands"
Wants to Be a Farmer.
''They seem to think / had to wait
to get some land before / could get a
husband" observed Miss Mabel. ''But
am not interested in strong arms
merely in dollar bills. 1t is true | have
lived in a city all my life, but that is
no reason why should not make a
good farmer.
G 'Why, 1 wouldn't, give up my state
of Washington for all the Chicagos on
the map. L was thinking as 1 came
through the back gate last. night that
there would be only four months more
of drudging all day and getting home
at dark and then I'll have l6O acres
to dojlas please upon.ff
"Whati can a girl do all alone with
l60 acres?" she repeated the question.
"Well!nT probablyawon't be all alone.
But u hat doesn'd mean matrimony-not
muchli + ,9iutrt od5
"How Many Men Are Fools"
81 am just beginning TO find out, 1
guess, how many men are FOOLS" she
observed severely. "Of, course these let
ter writer's are strangers.eH they knew
me they would never, never do it. 1t
would be amusing ifrlitf wasn't-pa-
thetic."
Thus having abused Mere man and
his vain ambitions, Miss McNickle de-
clined to say more about her one sided
correspondence.
"There had been only fifteen out
right offers of marriage the last 7
heard, and one of those was on a
postal card" said the mother, dispas-
sionately, "but then the old flames
have seemed to gain courage"
Whereat the young woman resolute-
ly closed the chapter
81 believe fruit farming will be very
profitable" she said, giving rein to
the commercial spirit. ''Of course,
am not going to get this land for
nothing. There are l60 acres and the
price may be. as high as 81 an acre
but then you have to pay only one
fifth down and there is five years to
make the other payments.
81 am going to keep the land and
prove up That much have settled
in my mind. | probably will 60 out
there in the spring, but beyond that
my plans are unknown to myself. OF
course this opportunity comes rather
suddenly, and would be rather q
large problem for anyone.
81 was out west visiting a sister at
Ellensburg Wash, which is near Spo
kane, and l filed claim because cost
only 5 cents, and that's what every
one was doing. / didn't really expect
to get farm, but | thought if [ did
would be able to take care of it
without any Strong arms at that"
Husky Brother to Help Her.
"She has pretty husky brother,
observed Mrs. McNickle, "and broth
erin law, for that matter, so sh
won't be all alone"
Miss ,McNickle is stenographer ant
has spent practically all her life, witt
the exception of the recent vacation il
the west, in Milwaukee and Chicago
The farm she has won is in the frui
!country of the northwest and her win
lining rights are valued at $4,000 abov
wnat the land actually will cost.
Il really would like. to tell yo1
A IL