A Chattering Match.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 1

A Chattering Match.

Some time ago two German ladies— or females, we are rather inclined to say, in consideration of what is to follow — with betting propensities, competed for the doubtful honour of being the greatest coffee drinkers in the empire. The numerical re salts were satisfactory, and from tnrther consequences we would not in charity again lift the veil. The folly of this wager has recently been matched by another, undertaken by two Frenchwomen, who represent the exact prototype of the German female bettors. In order to ascertain which of the two could talk the faster, a regular tournament was arranged, in which a friend acted as umpire on either side. It was agreed that the prize of 1,000 francs should be the winner's meed, and the time for this battle of tongues was fixed at three hours, during which one of the champions, reading from £ug£ne Sue's feuilleton, succeeded in pronouncing 503,560 words. She wa?, however, defeated by her adversary, who managed to jabber 296,411 words during the same time. It is difficult to say whether the Cerman or the French bet is more objectionable and unwomanly, but making St. Mark the judge in the case, who says, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man," then the Frenchwomen are decidedly the losers.