The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-12-08
A New Year
Day Contest
By F. A. mitchell

New Years day died suddenly. It be-
gan in New Amsterdam-now New
York-having been brought over from
Holland when Manhattan Island was
settled by the Dutch.
About the middle Of the nineteenth
century, when the custom Of calling
on the LIST of January was observed by
all classes, two co1ored gentlemen of
the blue grass region Of Kentucky
were rivals for the hand of the same
dusky girl. They happened to make
up their minds to propose to her on
the same evening. Nose links was In
the act of declaring himself when in
came Pete Carpenter for the same pur-
pose and surprised his rival pouring
forth his love.
"Yo' git right out O. heyer," said
Pete. "Wha' yo' think-dat Sarah
AIMS gwine to put up with any SIGH
niggah as your"
"Do you spect dat Sarah AIMS gwine
Ito take UP with field hand lax you
dat a house sarvent-a lady's maid.
tools gwine to marry good for moth
in con hoer?'
Reckon Sarah Ann knows what
she's about
"Spec she does. She's gwine to tax
me-
"She's gwine to tax me-
Meanwhile Sarah Ann stood spec
tator to this struggle for her hand.
But at this point both suitors looked at
her appealingly. Finding herself call
ed upon to decide between her two
suitOrs, she said:
"I feels mighty complerented at be-
in axed by two SIGH gemmelen and 20
bofe so fine that I dom know which to
take
"Tak one or de udder," said Nose.
'Tak' de udder; OATS me-" said Pete
81 tell yo' what I do. Tomorrys
| New Years day. You two come here
| tomorry AFTERNOON at fou' o'clock, and
| de one what's made de mos calls
take"
Oats far enough" said Pete.
'Huh! If yo' hadn't interfeared Ia
been engaged by dis time" said Nose.
| However Sarah Ann would not de-
| eide between them in any other way,
| and Nose was obliged to consent. 1t
| was arranged that a committee OF
three be appointed by the lady to ar
range the terms of the contest. This
committee decided that the contestants
| start at IL o'clock in the morning and
| finish at T. Each was to carry pa
/ per on which the names of the women
| he called on were to be entered by
! some one who knew how to write or
! by making a mark.
| Naturally the contest excited great
| deal of attention, for 1t was known
! far and wide that the two suitors for
| Sarah AIMS hand were to contest for
| it by making calls on New Years day.
| Each had his adherents, and there was
| determination on the part OF these
| persons to aid their favorite.
The rivals were started on opposite
extremities Of the field of operations.
Each selected friend who could write
to attend him SO that he might be sure
| all the calls he made were recorded.
(. AS the morning wore away, however,
| each had train of followers that was
constantly increasing. AT l O'Clock
| the bride to be sent out friend to
bring her a report as to how the affair
| stood. She learned to her satisfaction
that Nose was seven calls ahead. At
8 o'clock-an hour before time would
! be called-she sent out another inquiry
and learned that Nose had lost his
overplus and six calls besides.
Jim" she said to her messenger,
"can't yo' fix Pete SOS he'll fall behind
ag'in?"
Reckon kin try" was the answer.
There was a stream between the two
/ parts of the trial ground which was
| crossed by means of a log. Jim went
ito where Pete was calling and waited
till he wendell his way to the other
side of the stream. When Pete was In
the center of the log. followed by SIX
attendants close packed, Jim made
rush for the rear man, and the seven
! men, including the contestant, went
against each other like falling card
houses and into the stream on either
side of the log.
+! Of course Pete could make no more
calls till he had changed his Clothes
and he hurried away for the purpose
This unfair proceeding greatly out
ragged his followers, and since they
were not making calls themselves and
didn't mind wet clothing they ran on
Ito find Nose in order to take a SINH
lar revenge. They found him near a
Idyehouse, and one Of them going into
the house came out with bucket OF
dye, and, throwing it over Nose. turn
led him to bright scarlet.
Unfortunately for the contestants
they were both delayed beyond the
hour named for return. At $3.50 Sarah
Ann sent Jim out to learn the sitrd
Ition. Jim returned at five minutes te
a and reported that Pete had changed
Ibis clothes. made several additional