Year: 1874

One Of the best looking and most
sOught-after young business men in


Utica had his gallantry put to a severe
test Friday. A charming married Ia
/ dy friend wagered SIS with him that


be dare not carry her baby through
Genesee street from Bagg's to Oaeida
squsre- Whether the gentleman felt
particularly brave and happy after his
enjoyment Of Thanksgiving festivities
or for some ether reason. we know
not, but certain it is that lie accepted
the challenge and carried the baby,
but-sueh work as he made o. il The
baby in question Is the prettiest little
seven months mortal in Utica Its
father Is one of the wittiest and finest
looking men in the county, but the
baby gets its lOveliest charms from Its
mother. The boy is the pride OF its
parents hearts, aud IL kisses would
stick, its lips would be covered with
rock candy 20 the depth OF six inches
every day. The young gentleman who
was challenged envies the father.
mother, and baby every day OF his
life. When he started Out from BaRg's
Hotel with the ehirpi1g cherub in his
arms his face was rOsy with bushes
and radiant with happiness. The


mother and other friends of the child
were to follow iR carriage to see that
the task was completed according to
the terms of the wager, and they did
not lose sight of the t0iler for q mo-
ment. At the outset the child weigh
ed about twenty-five pounds. The
supposed father and bis elegantly-
drSssAd baby attracted general atten-
tlon upon the business portion OF Gen.
esee street. The gentlemRn's friends
were not certain that they had heard
OF his marriage, and he had been seen
at the Opera-hOuse frequently Of
late, aud each time with q different
eharmer, but this must have been
owing to the absence of his wife aud
the baby, probably. While eOnver-
satiOn after this style was going on In
the stores, the bachelor reached the
City Hall, and at that particular mo-
ment he was ready to assert that the
child weighed seventy-five pounds.
From this point upward was the tug
of war. The hour chosen was one in
which he generally takes an airing,
expected 70 see him, hut--not with
baby. Then the baby commenced
10 get uneasy, and il was hard work
TO hold it out at arms length and call


it "Sweety," ''Dueky," Darling"
&c, &c. Three or four merry maid
ems in an uptown residence rustled
the curtains in such a manner that
the perspiring tOiler knew that
he was seen but do we'll or do i'll, he
was bound to win, and win he did.
Those who witnessed the affair in all
its stages, say that it was difficult to
tellat times whether the child was
upright or reversed, perpendicular or
horizontal, for the reason that its pO-
sition was changed so frequently. It's
ordinarily sweet voice was harsh and
crisp before Cottage street was reach
ed, and but for the true grit which the
gentleman possesses, aud the love he
hears for the baby, IL is believed that
the baby would have been tossed into
a convenient fOuntain-anything for
a change. All the young ladies' upon
Genesee street seemed to be standing
in their windows as he Passed.
Opposite Eagle street he met q par
tieular lady friend in carriage, and
then the baOy weighed q full ton.
When the mother received her dar-
ling child from the hands Of the brave
one, cold and huge drops of perspira-
ton poured from every pore of his
face; his necktie was gone and his
collar unbuttOued. The contents Of
the Philadelphia mint would not
tempt him to return down the street
with similar accompaniment. The
wager was paid, and, the mother and
her baby rode down towd, while the
brave bachelor wended his way back
to his place of business through Park
avenue and other quiet streets, sOlita-
ry, thoughtful, and alone The next
time he carries baby through Gen
esee street his friends may be certain
that it is his own and that the other
stakeholder in the ehsrnb is within
reach.