The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-15


victims than advance science. You could NOT
make him believe that-oh no! Tell him
there were regalia cigars that cost forty dol
lars per thousand il might do to stuff down
the throat OF one Of them that knew no bet
ter ; he was none Of them. And go it was
with everything, he always knew best 1t
always appeared to be his delight to draw me
into some controversy, no matter what the
subject was, to hear himself draw forth.
tried every way could think of to circum-
vent him. and at length did succeed in laying
him out as fiat as founder. 1t was Satur-
day afternoon he came in, made his purchase,
and seated himself to deal ont his usual por-
tion ; but was awake for him.
''Captain,' said /, ssI have made up my mind
to go to California, and il you wish to 60 into
a speculation, now is your time"
GAS how" said he.
"Why you see these eighteen boxes OF ei-
gars, well, there are two hundred fifty in each
box, and will let you have the whole eigh-
teen at low rate, provided you take them
aliD
ssvery WE'LL" said my friend, alet us hear
the condtions.'
"Yon give me one cent for the first box, two
cents for the second. four cents TOR the third,
and so on, doubling on every boxo
"Done," said he, afetch on your cigars
Suppose you think have not got money
enough-eh ?"
s.Not at all, SO let US proceed Here is
your first box"
He drew from his pocket leathern purse
and out OF it handful of coins.
Sand here is yonr cent? said he. deposi-
ting green discolored copper on the coun-
ter.
"Hers is your second box"
ssHere is your two cents"
every well, here Is your third box"
"And here is your four cents,o ssid he,
chuckling.
'sHere is your forth hoxo
Exactly. And here is your eight cents! |!
ha ha !! ha old fellow. go o1.o
"Here is your fifth box" said I, handing
down another.
Sand here is your sixteen cents"
s.Here is is sonr sixth boxo
"And-ha |! ha ! ha ha here is your thirty
two cents "
"Here is your seventh box.o
Sand here--ha hal ha the joke is Citing
too rich--here is your sixty-four cents, and
half your cigars are gone"
sTIere is yoar eighth box" said assuming
a cold indifference that perfectly surprised the
fellow.
And here is your dollar and twenty nine
cents"
'sHere is your ninth box"
"Here is vour-let me see--ah two dollars
and fifty six cents"
'sHere is your tenth box.o
He drew his wallet thoughfully, and on the
slate made small calculation.
"And here is your five dollars and twelve
cents"
"Here is your eleventh box"
"And here is yor---twice FIVE is ten, twice
twelve is twenty -four-ten dollars and twe,.ty-
four cents"
At this stage Of the game he got quite docile,
and continued
"Here is your twelfth box: hand over twen-
ty dollars and forty-eight cents"
Here the globules Of prespiration, large as
marrow fat peas, stood out in bol1 relief on
his face, but at length he doled out the sum.
"Hsre is your thirteenth box pile out forty
dollars and ninety six cents.n
Here the light appeared to break into his
hick skull, and he fairly yelled out:
s.I'll see you darned first, and then won't
With that he left, and have never been
able to get near him since.
: Cnder the pure and incorruptable admins
tration Of James Buchanan the expenses of the
Government have rua up to the sum Of ss0,-
0O0, ,000!!-a sum double the revenues Of the
country. How is this sum to be raised? It
will not do to run the country into debt at the
rate Of $40,oO0,O 900 year as last year. Rev
enne must be collected in some form n our
right worthy masters, the negro breeders, will
not let US collect duties upon imported goods,
For fear that the incidental protection will OPP
crate to the advantage Of white laborihg men
(mud sills,) then there must be resort to di-
rect taxation, already limited at in some quar-
ters. As the government already costs over
three dollars per head for every man, woman
and child. and as our population is about 100,
000, Iowa would be compelled TO tax her peo-
pie annually TO the tune of 81, 100 900 for the
support Of the National Government. How
would this operate? How would our people
feel under the searching visitation Of nation
al altax-eatherer empowered to draw for so large
. pile-a sum OF money greater than all the
gold and silver at present in circulation in the
bounds OF the State.
It strikes US that this is q question nearly
Is important as the one sprung upon the coun-
try by our up town cotemporary-viz: "Did
the Secretary Of State. Mr. Sells, draw two
hundred and fifty dollars from the State Treas
ury for services rendered a. acting Governor,
Gin the absence Of the Executive) under pro-
vision Of the Ccntitution?-
On one Of the Farce Islands, James Nc.
Palmer met his death recently in . terrible
manner. Employed with . number Of others
in gathering eggs, he ascended sugar loaf hill
by path not used. Despite all lremonstrance
McPslmer took the path, and after arriving at
4 height Of 400 feet fell from the cliff into the