Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
WYE LA BAGATELLE.

The following jcu d esprit rs too good thing to be
kept from readers Who is the author of :-sald
10 be al. Hooper, Esq From what quarter did II
emanate What press first ushered it into light? II
seems to US TO be equal TO any thing which appeared
in the first Sam Slick, Che second, The Auache
which out recently, IS decidedly inferior TO ITS
ssllustrious predecessor 1t is worthy of the best
portion Of the " Georgia Scenes Ii is worthy OF the
comic pen Of Judge Longs,reet himself Whoever BE-
it's author, should like to hear from him again
The whole piece is the happy production of that rss
cOmicG, whch knows well how 10 seize upon the
amusing scenes of "many -coored life = yet to draw
out not the tear Of pathos, bat the smile OF humor IL
is such Yorcks these, that "set the table in roar
We sure, that of readers, at least, will
thank for relief from the graver subjecs of dis
many OF .nem rnuss be polem'cs or
the day "No Chicken, are, in the graver
matters Of the State customed TO The of words
we confess almost sa,iaed ourselves with the
orders Of the day We not little fa,gued
with the "stlll beginning, never ending contests OF
the Presidential Election-with the names OF the can
d,da!es-the srifes of part'zans-the character,
position, and votings of the National Convention
We sigh for little variety We desire some change
in the tune. The long and serious face requires
casonay relaxation OF the muscles And at
what time can better submit change of the
regimen, than when lay before our readers the
long and "unsurpassabe'' exposition of Rep Raps,
with the longer notes of his commentator. "A little
cvet, good Apothecary! little Farce after your
long Tragedy, if you please. And where can we find
"Chicken Mau = Here 1t is, that we how one Of
the tricks of the Wings, in 1910, supposed 10
work 10 the West-how their taking of the Census is
sketched in its Comic consequences-how that "Old
Vllyan, Van Buren,, was represented as taking the
Census, for the purpose of taxing the Chickens
OF the Old Women, in order to purchase his Gold
Spoons, and support HIS Sandng 4rmy!
TAKING THE CENSUS IN ALABAMA.
by "cHicKES MAN OF lc4O
The collection of statistical information concerning
the and industry of the country, by the
sisant marshals who employed to take the last
census, was very difficult work. The popular i'm
preston, that tremendous would follow the
minute inrestga ION Of the private aars OF the people,
caused the census taker 10 be viewed in no better
light than that oa gatherer; and the consequence
WINS, that the information sought by him either
withheld entirely, gwen with great relucance.-
The returns therefore made by the msrshas exhibited
4 very imperfect view of the wealth and industrial
progress Of the country. In some portions of the
country, the eXcitea,sn against the unfortunate Off
GERS who were known the " chirh"p -rca"-made
il almost dangerous Tor them To proc ed th the bus
of taking the census; and bitter the taunis,
threats and abuse which they received all hands,
but most particularly from the old Of the coun
try. The dear old souls could not bear TO be cate
chised about The produce Of their looms, poultry yards
and diaries; and when they did "come down upon
the unfortunate inquisi,or, 1t with force and
volubity that was sure to leave an Impression. We
speak from experience and ieelng'y this sublect
for it so happened that the Marshal of the Southern
District of Alabama, proposing especial confidence" in
ability, invested day with all the powers Of
assistant Marshal, and armng with the proper guam
tty OF blanks forth count the noses of all
the men, women, children and chickens resident upon
those nine hundred square miles Of rough country
which constitute the county of Taapoosa Glorious
sport. thought we; but it did mt turn ont So True
escaped without any drubbngs, although we came
unpleasantly catching Dozen and only escaped
by a very peculiar knack have of 'sliding OUT
but then quizzed, laughed at abused, and
nearly drowned. Children shouted "Yonder goes the
chicken man-men said, "Yes, d-n him, he II be
after the taxes soon and the old Threatened
if he came to enquire abou, their chickens set The
dogs on him., while the young women observed "ihey
did mt know what man wanted to be so periic lar
about gals ages for without he was gwine a court
in We have some "reminiscences of our official pc
regrnatons that will do to laugh now although the
occurrences with which they connected were at the
time, anything but Misunderstanding TO us.
We rode up one day to the residence Of widow
rather past The prime of fe0ust that period which
nature supplies abundantly the oil which lubcars
the hinges OF the female tongue)-and hitchng The
fence walked into the house
Good morning, madam, said we, in our usual bland
and somewhat insnuaug manner
"Mornn said the widow prutlly
Drawing our blanks from their case we proceed |
ed am the man, madam that takes the census,
'The mischief you are said the old tern,aeaut.-
"Yes, I've hearn of you Parson " told me you was
coming, ano 'oia MN ]st what tell you, that if you
said cloh soap Hr Chickens me, Id set the dogs
on ye. Here, Bull here, Pomp." Two wol6sh ours
responded to the CALL and laid down on the steps,
Now, continued The old she savage, .ihem's The Sc
veresi dogs in this connty. Las, week. Bill S,oneck
ers two year old steer jumped my yard fence md Bull
and Pomp tux him by the throat, and they killed him
afore my boys could break them loose, 10 save the
world"
eyes. ma'am,' said We, meekly "Bull and Pomp
seem to be very fine dogs
"You may well say that what tells them 10 do,
they do-and if was to sick them on your old horse