Grinning for a Wager.
In 1796, at Hendon, England, on Whit-Tuesday, a burlesque imitation of the Olympic Games was held. One prize was a gold-laced hat, to be grinned for by six candidates, who were placed on a platform with horse-collars to exhibit through. Over their heads was printed in capitals—
Detur Tetriori; or,
The ugliest grinner
Shall be the winner.
Each party grinned five minutes solus, and then all united in a grand chorus of distortion. The prize was carried off by a porter to a vinegar merchant, though he was accused by his competitors of foul play for rinsing his mouth with verjuice.
Eating for a Wager.
The hand-bill, of which the subjoined is a copy, was circulated by the keeper of the public house at which the gluttony was to happen, as an attraction for all the neighborhood to witness—
"Bromley in Kent, July 14th, 1726.—A strange eating worthy is to perform a Tryal of Skill on St. James's Day, which is the day of our Fair, for a wager of Five Guineas, viz: he is to eat four pounds of bacon, a bushel of French beans, with two pounds of butter, a quartern loaf, and to drink a gallon of strong beer."
Curious Wagers.
Mr. Whalley, an Irish gentleman, for a wager of twenty thousand pounds, set out on Monday, the 22d of September, 1788, to walk to Constantinople and back in one year. Some years ago Sir Henry Liddel, a rich baronet, laid a considerable wager that he would go to Lapland, bring home two females of that country, and two reindeer, in a given time. He performed the journey, and effected his purpose in every respect. The Lapland women lived with him about a year, but, desiring to go back to their own country, the baronet furnished them with the means.