Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-02-19
Columbus Letter.

The westker has been very fine the
psst week, and the capitol city has
seemed more gay and lively than 1t
ordinarily appears to visitors and So
iourners. Although Columbus boasts
of a splendid new opera house.
city is almost as barren of respectable
smussments IS Sahara is of vines ana
fig trees. Occasionally q "star" con-
descends to illuminate the opaque
dreariness of this political zenith, IN
his OF her flight across the State, but
such visits are few. There is 'theatre"
here-so called-that from current re-
port deserves indicting as nuisance
Once a week there is a chop" gwen
at the Central Lunstic Asylum. We
went out one evening, in company
With = number of visitors, to see the
Iight-hesaed inmates "trip the light
fsntsst;e toe" The hall used on such
occasions is large, ven arranged and
rather elegantly finished. The males
and females occupy seats on opposite
sides of the hall, and when the order
is given to take positions on the hoor'
Abe gentlemen precipitate themselves
70 the opposite side, in search OF part
ners. Siih an aIacrity that would in
dictate their 'fheads to be leveP in the
matter of lady cOanpanionship. Ihose
of the visitors who desired the PRIV
lege, we're permitted to participate IN
the dance. So far as concerned de-
pertinent on the floor, the locker on
could not easily distinguish between
tbe sane and the ianGtic, each party
seeming to have about the sane modt-
cum of brains in their heels. In enc
or two instances ar excited looking
individual felt at liberty to indulge IN
some rather extraYsgant pedal gyrnas-
tics of the "ho- down" variety, evident
" much gratifed with his own per-
sormauee. The music on these oeca-
sions is furnished by a string band, and
Is quite ine. 1t is said that these
sahopsn have a beneficial effect, mental
" and physically, on the unfortunate
persons sent here for relief from their
dreadful maladies, by cultiEating Eocia-
bility and cheerfulress, and promoting
healthful exercise.
On Wednesday last the bill requiring
areEurn of statistics, came up for con-
Sideration. A Democratic member pro
posed an amendment including q. S.
Bonds as one of the items Of statistics
that township assessors should be re-
ouired to return in their reports to
County Auditors. The manifest object
of this is to ascertain the amount Of
Bonds held IN Ohio and the amount OF
money thus invested that is not taxed,
Some of the Republicans Immediately
took issue with the proposition, assum-
ing that the object in view was the
taxation of these Bonds. 4 seEeEhst
rambling discussion ensued on the
question Of taxing bonds, but was not
confined to strictly partizan debate, a
number of Republicans faToring the
return of bonds as a proper item of
public information, and leading to q
more equitable assessment of personal
~. The Democrats, however, had no
higher or worthier motive than pro-
Yiding themselves with AN item of
material for their stump speeches in
the next political campaign. We
opine there viii be number Of Demo-
Gratis who will not like to report their
bonds, and Who will curse the imperti-
nent curiosity of their political friends:
On Thursday the Standing Commit
zee on Roads reported g bill, the dis
eussioz of which consumed that day
and a part Of the morning session Of
Friday. a nam5er Of amendments
we're made and the bill was passed by
the House. It will probably pass the
Senate at an early day. If this bill be-
comes a law, its practical workings
will not perceptibly EsEy from the old
familiar road laws under which the
people Of Ohio have worked fos more
4han thirty years.
A few days sinoo the certificate of
incorporation of the youngstown, New