Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-08
THE END.
Ancient Money,

Ancient Money.
Before the invasion of Julius Caesar. the ma
tives of England had tin plates, iron plates and
rings, which were money. On the authority of
Seneca, curious account is given when leather,
appropriately stamped to give it certain legal
character. was the only current money. AT a
comparatively recent date In the annals of Eu,
rope, Fredck the second, who died in 1850 at
the siege of Milan, actually paid his troops
with leather money. Nearly the same circum-
stances occurred in England during the great
wars of the barons. In the course of 1850,
King John, for the ransom of hisroyal person,
promised to pay Edward the Third, of England
three millions of gold crowns. In order to
fulfill the obligation, he was reduced to the
mortifying necessity of paying the expenses of
the palace in leather money, in the centre of
each piece there being little bright point of
silver. In that reign is found the origin of the
travestied honor of boyhood, alled-conferring
a leather medal. The imposing ceremonies ac-
companying presentation gave full force, dig
nifty, and value to a leather jewel, which noble
men were probably proud and gratifed to re-
ceive at the hand of majesty
So late as 1874, there was an immense issue
of money in Holland, stamped on small sheets
of pasteboard. But further back in the vista
IF uaors Nup,o Dow r;ll;,,s +lo sooood L;xo. oe
Rome, who reigned six hundred and twenty-five
years before the Christian era, made money out
of wood as well az leather {. knowledge Of
which might have influenced King John in the
bold project of substituting the tanned hide of
an animal for gold and silver. we'll known to
his subjects to be exceedingly precious.
Both gold and silver appeared to have been in
extensive circulation in Egypt, soon after their
potency was understood in Asia. From thence
they were introduced into Carthage and Greece;
and, finally, travelling further and further in
westerly direction, the city of Rome discovered
the Importance of lcgalizing her circulation.
Weight always having been of the first i'm
portance in early times, the shape of money ap-
pears to have been regarded with perfect indif-
ference for a series of ages.
When the bits and portions of metal re-
ceived as precious were extensively circulated, it
is quite probable that each possessor shaped
them to suit his own conception, as practised
to some extent at this time in remote places in
the East Indies The pager always cuts off
parts with shears till he obtains, by exact weight
the stipulated amount. 1t was thus that men
travelled with the evidence of their possession in
a sack. But great inconvenience must have
resulted from this often tedious process and as
nations advanced in civilization and the econom
ic arts, q certain mark or impression on certain
sized pieces were acknowledged to be the sign of
a certain weight.
This facilitated negotiations, and afterwards
led to further improvements, both in the shape,
weight and beauty ofthe external devices. By
and-by, the profile eff the king, the date of the
coinage, and the record of important events,
gave still more completeness and character to
the circulating article of exchange.
-------s.o.s--
The NAvAJoE INDIANS Woman's Rights
The Navajoe is the largest and most powerful
tribe of Indians in New Mexico, and can call
to the field three thousand warriors They are
at present on terms of friendship with Ameri-
cans. They believe they are the greatest peo-
pie living. This arises from the fact that they
have never seen any array of forces equal to
their own. Power is the only thing an Indian
will respect. They raise a great number of
sheep and horses, and manufacture a good arti-
Gle of blanket, They also produce considera-
BILE corn and wheat, more than is necessary for
their own consumption. The Navajoes differ
in their customs from most other Indians. Their
females are more respected than with any other
tribe, except, probably, the Pueblos. Indeed,
the doctrine of g woman's rights" is practically
adopted among them. Frequently the females
have as much authority in the affairs of govern
ment as the males. Authority is vested accord
ing to the value of property possessed. The
women have a voice in the councils and have
tuelr own property, over winch tne husband
has no control While authority follows the
possession of property, and participancy in leg
islation is limited to property-holders, yet the
privileged classes are very cautious in their ac-
tion' Indeed, they dare not invade the rights of
the masses In this there could not be purer
democracy. Any law that does not, practical
ly, respect the rights of all, is rebelled against
and totally dsregarded.
Every family ought to keep kitten to amuse
the children. They should also keep children
i To amuse the kitten