The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-17
A NewYea
Day Contest
By F. A. Mitchell

1t is now something like forty years
since the custom of making calls on
New Years day died suddenly. 1t 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 colored 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 Jinks 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
to take up with field hand lax YOU
dat a house sarvent-a ladys maid,
tools gwine. to marry a 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 a 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:
81 feels mighty complerented at be-
in axed by two SIGH gemmelen and yo'
bofe so fine that don know which to
take"
TAX one or de udder," said Nose.
TAX de udder; OATS me-" said Pete.
81 tell yo' what l do Tomorry's
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 I'd
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 committee Of
fhran ha onnninfa1 nv hn 1o6v 70 r.
range the terms of the contest. This
committee decided that the contestants
start at II o'clock in the morning and
finish at 4. Each was to carry a pa
per on which the names of the women
he called on were to be entered by
by making mark.
Naturally the contest excited a great
deal Of attention, for it was known
| far and wide that the two suitors for
| Sarah AIMS hand We're to contest for
| 1t by making calls on New Years day.
Each had his adherents, and there was
a 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 a train Of followers that was
constantly increasing. At / o'clock
the bride to be sent out friend to
bring her n report as to how the affair
stood. She learned to her satisfaction
that Nose was seven calls ahead. At
3 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 I kin try" was the answer.
There was stream between the two
parts Of the trial ground which was
crossed by means Of log. Jim went
to 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 a
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 of
to find Nose In order to take a SINH
lar revenge. They found him near a
dyehouse, and one of them going into
the house came out with a bucket of
dye, and, throwing 1t over Nose, turn
ed him to bright scarlet.
Unfortunately for the contestants.