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Show One on Mason. In a humorous article designed to convince his subrcrlhcrs that he has been outside of Sevier at least once in his lire, the editor or the Salina Sun uses an expression that leads one to believe that he has visited tho land of tho badger and has participated in that sport of all sports, a badger fight. To have found one who has watched the struggle between great Intellectuality Intel-lectuality and the badger is like meeting meet-ing a brother. Ah, old boy, what can equal tho excitement of tho throng as the honored one with a mighty pull yanks his victim from his lairl What expectancy as ho heaves and struggles, what shouts of applause osthc victory Is won! 'Twerc worth a king's ram- som to have witnessed at least one badger tight. Tiik Rki'Uiilican man recalls a night at the French Lick Hotel In Southern Indiana, and a story that is famous there. French Lick and West Radcn springs arc great inland rcsorts,four million dollar hotels there entertaining each year tho "biggest guns" of this country and many foreign notables. On this night, an enthusiastic enthusias-tic expert arranged a badger tight In honor of Hon. Thos. E. Mason, democratic dem-ocratic scntator from Illinois. Hon. Thomas Taggart, one of the principal : owners of tho French Lick hotel, and Geo. P. Howell, superintendent of the "Motion" railroad made a big affair of it and advertised It thoroughly. Tho opcia house attached to the hotel was crowded with notables, all of the sterner sex of course, and Hon. Thos Mason as the honored guest with sutll-clent sutll-clent courage and "Intellectuality" to drag the badger fiom his den and act as refeiee In the tight, was tho cynosuic of all eyes. Rets and exclt-ment exclt-ment tan high, as the badger was known to bo a particularly fierce one and of prodigious size. Kid McCoy was theio that night and was selected as time-keeper and oiliclal scorer. When time was called, the Hon. Tom grasped the chain attached to the badger and though of consid-ci consid-ci able ponderosity about the girth and shoulders, railed to bring the animal from the barrel. Tom was cheered and Jeered and finally removed his coat. A valiant tug, and the ani mal came Tom's way. lladgcr stock went down only to go up again as Tom's wind began to give out. With desperation born of despair, Mason rolled up a sleeve and with an ex-clamationlthat ex-clamationlthat sounded like "d it, come out of that," gavo a pull that landed the puller on tils back and the badger on top of him. That crowd yelled as It never yelled before and Mason's raco was a study ror a painter. The joke cost him no less than a hundred hund-red plunks in cigars and suppers. For the benefit or those who have never seen a badger light and mav never havo tho opportunity, It may be stated stat-ed that the "badger" Is nothing moro nor less than that most popular American vessel which In many homes occupies a position Just under tho southwest corner or the bed. The ono Tom pulled was or tho live-gallon kind tilled with beer and pretzels. |