How a plucky New Brunswick, N. J., girl won a wager from one of her doubting companions. [more]

The other evening a party of New Brunswick, N.J., society belles who move in the highest circles called at the police station and asked a policeman to be shown through the engine house of Liberty Hose Company, next door, an explain to them the apparatus. The request was unusual, but the officer assented.

The girls expressed their admiration at everything they saw, fed bon bons to the horses and seemed particularly to admire the perfection of the fire alarm system.

“Oh, what is this police for? Said one of them.

He explained that the firemen slid down the pole form the dormitory.

“How lovely! Can you do it?” was the next question.

The policeman was not sure of his ability, but he would not acknowledge it, and successfully made the effort.

“Now, Laura, it’s your turn,” said on of the girls, and before the astonished officer could interfere, she had encircled the pole and disappeared through the hole in the floor.

She struck the rubber mat below with a bump but recovered herself quickly, and dared her companions to follow.

When all met on the floor below the girls told the policeman that the girl had won a new had and a box of candy by sliding down the pole as the result of a bet between her and her companions.

The apparent eagerness to inspect the apparatus was merely a ruse.

Reprinted from National Police Gazette, October 3, 1896.

They are infatuated with two minstrel men, but their mothers interfere, Winchester, Ind. [more]

A scene was enacted at Winchester, Ind., by the reckless escapade indulged in by two young ladies of Greenville, O., who became infatuated with two members of Cleveland’s Minstrel Company and followed them from Greenville to that place. Friends of the girls suspected their intentions, and had in turn followed them. The girls registered at a hotel, and were just on the point of retiring, having engaged separate rooms, when they were surprised, not to say paralyzed, by the sudden and alarming appearance of their mothers. The old ladies “had blood in their eyes,” and a dramatic scene was only averted by the quick surrender of the girls and their departure for home. The entertainment hadn’t closed when the ladies left, and the two disappointed showmen afforded spectators considerable amusement by their efforts to locate their friends before they learned of the old ladies’ visit and the announced change of programme. The showmen are married men.

Reprinted from the National Police Gazette, December 8, 1894