I peaked as a researcher when I visited Brooks's Club in London and found this 1783 wager in their archive.
@CaitlynBBS The story in the book "Around the World in Eighty Days" is started as a wager whether one of them can succeed in what the title says
@CaitlynBBS I would love to read through all of these wagers! Is there an archive for White's Club as well?
@CaitlynBBS The way this ramps up is very funny to me. “F***s a woman” (everyone nods) “In a BALLOON….” (murmurs) “One THOUSAND YARDS ABOVE THE EARTH!!” (screaming, whooping in the club)
@CaitlynBBS @johnfeath There was such a betting craze. One inspired a play I wrote about John Day, the man who boasted in 1775 that he could sink a ship while in its cabin and emerge unscathed 24 hours later. It didn't end well.
@CaitlynBBS First recorded use of a typewriter?