The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-08-13

LETTER FROM AN EDITOR on HIS
FARM.
From the Richmond Wing.
GoochIaad County, Va. July Il, 1910.

Go0chland County, Va. Ja!y Ia, II 10.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
Fellow Citizens Ga this day vas wait.
ed upon by the gentleman appointed TO take
the census for this county for, although
one Of the editors Of this paper, have resl
ded, from necessity, much IN the country,
since the year 1887. furnished him with
what properly constitutes ceEsaS-ihal IS,
a lis, Of The persons, black and white, male
and female. young aud old, composing my
family. This being completed, rather
embarrassing silence for bali minute en-.
sued, which spoke as plainly as silence could
speak that something remained behind
which the census taker felt awkward about
introducing. | understood what il was,
and, TO relieve him, observed that | pre-.
sumed his duty comprehended other partic.
uIars besides listing the members of my
family. With slight confusion, as
thought, he then pointed to various iuterro
gatories which it had been made his duty
TO PROFOUND to the citizen, portion only oil
which annex, for the amusement Of those
Who have not seen them, and, as few co.
PIES Of the Wing are sent 10 Europe, for the
illumination Gf GalIgnanl will do me the
honor 10 COPY Of those who, In that quar-.
ter ofthe world, curlously observe American
proceedings. | had heard before, general.
iy, Of the minu;eness Of the inquiries direct.
ed by the sovereigns al Washington to be
made Of The People through the instrumen.
tally Of the census takers but, until came
to read them 10 printed form, had no con.
cepllon Of the ludlcrous and ridiculous extent
to which the inquIsliion had been pushed.
That | do no, exaggera,e, let the follow.
ing Interrogation literally aud exactly copied
from printed circular, issued, no doubt, BY
the Marshal Of Eastern Virginia, MAJOR
Edmund Christian, attest.
What Is the number ofyour horses and
mules :"
How many neat cattle have you ~
How many sheep? How many swine
lbogs.")
Whit is me estimated ralae of your
POULTRY Of al kiads ?"
How many bushels of wheat did Won
grow in 1897 How many bushels OF
oats Of rye Of buck wheat Of Indian corn
wonder they had not called il maize.) y
How many pounds Of wool Of hops Of
ndr' How many bushels Of potatoes =
How many tons Of hay Of hemp end fax
How many pounds of,obaccol Mime turn.
ed out so badly that am determined not 10
let the Presden, know how The mnt,er
stood.) How many pounds Of rice How
many pounds Of cotton have you gathered
How many pounds of silk cocoons How
many cords Of wood have YOU sold VIVA,
IS the value Of the produc, Of your orchard
"ha, IS the value Of the product of your
marke, garden IN 1889! OF your nursery
and greenhouse ,"
The census taker in this county is rela.
ton Of nine, and for that reason, and for nv
personal respect for him, did no, reply ia
his exhibit Of these undergraduates as they
deserVed-ihat Is TO say, by telling him
that would see him and his employers al
Washington in the Red Sea before would
answer them. Bot fatty refused 10 an.
swer single one Of them upon which Ma.
lor Christians deputy folded his book and
SAID no more; approving fully, as believe,
and would fam hope, both the resolution
and the scorn which dictated il, although
himself good Government man.
Is this Federal p,ying into the domestic