Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-30
The Smith ueD.Il,ou 4, Connecticut.

Glastonbury, Ct, is at last known TO fame.
1t is the scene of what we are given TO I'M
dcrsland by some Journals is an instance
of that resistance of tyranny which the copy
books tell us is obedience to God. To or
binary folks it seems more like an unsuc-
cessfu attempt to cvadc the payment OF
taxes.
Let us draw near and examine the feat
ures of the situation: Two maiden ladies OF
the somewhat uncommon name OF Smith,
own a house and land in glastonbury. They
are very well-tO-do persons-in fact, ac-
cording TO village standards, rich. Now, In
glastonbury, people Yho own property pay
taxes, and the Misses Smith were from
time to time presented with tax-bills. IN
this respect no strange thing bad happened
TO them, but only one of the commonest
consequences Of Adams fall. The same
thing happens yearly TO every property
holder among our forty millions of people.
On an uulucky day the Misses Smith read
in the Woman's Emancipator, piece ad-
vising all women 10 resist the payment OF
taxes till they were allowed TO vote. The
Misses Smith followed this advice, and re-
luStu uiNill VI AhN ihoN gNhN y o'oN9
till they could vote in town meeting. Had
they been allowed to vote by the town au-
thurities the votes in when they parlici-
patcd would probably have been invalid,
women not being voters 10y the State Con-
stltution, and consequently the town au-
thorilies did not let thom vote.
The blood o! the Smiths was now up. The
refusal to pay the bill was persisted in,
and the other day the tax collector, in the
ING
al cows belonging 10 tue cUntumacious la
dies, and sold them. This act OF heartless
tyranny is detailed by Abby Smith, appa-
fcnlly the leading spirit oi the twain, IN a
letter to a contemporary. We are told that
the younger sister wept Us the cows were
driven away Uhey were pet cows, seven OF
them, aud Aldcrneys to DJot), and tue cid
or sister argued. The younger sister had
names for the COWS, aud they would follow
her in single file, at a gallop, Us she went
about her work. When a new tenant came
to live with tue thrifty sisters, they Chc
'vws) would ne, cr let h'tn come neIr them
~ 4 the Younger sister " has been obliged
to slaud at their heads, where they could
see her, Tor ever 80 long This artlessly
gifiSh STYLE reminds our contemporary OF
Dpioe. Ii reminds Us of the gushing aud
artlcss Miss Merrie" Pccksnlil. The pat
thctic effect Of these Interesting, though
somewhat irrelevant items, is somewhat
Smith are among the weathest persons in
Glastonbury, and abundantly able TO pay
their taxes ii they wanted TO save their cows.
The Misses Smith then went To Hartford
"seven miles, VIC are plalntiVelN told,
from glastonbury, as If the men at that
place were somehow responsible. The law
yer apparently was not able 10 do much for
them, for the cows were sold at auction, and
Miss Abby Smith complains that 1t il hard
lor women 10 "',e"d IN auction ia midiwin-
ter, evidently forgetting tnut tGe 10y II
transgreSsors is generally hard. This is
the end Of the story. though it u likely to
have a sequel when the next tax bill comes
round.
We have been unable to speak very seri-
ously OF this Glastonbury rebellion, for II
seems very ridiculous and mock pathetic
business to Us. But although scarcely rec
oguizing ia Miss Abby Joan Of Arc OF
Maid of SIrgosSa, we do not mean to he un-
kind to her We say rather, let us reason
together; perhaps the logic OF the Woman's
Emancipator may be faulty. Miss Abby's
taxes went TO pay Tor police, for roads, FOL
fire engines, for schools and for a govern
ment as necessary to her as 10 any man IL
Glastonbury. IfMiss Abby refuses TO pay
taxes we suppose she is willing To dispense
| with the protection of the police, to avoC
| the roads and walk crOss-luts, TO keep hei
| little nephew or she has any from school
| and finally to withdraw herself from the
| country that she may derive no protection
| from government she refuses 10 pay for
Has Miss Abby considered this side of thu
| subject, and is she ready t. do as suggested
| If she is going 10 stand on principle let hel
stand on II with both feet.
She has probably been mjS'cl by tn,
| maxim. I" no taxation without representa-
! tiOn," which is only half truth. Other
wise all he taxes levied hv human govern
mentS, except in this country AID England
and even there down to within a couple o
| centuries, were mere rohhCric-. Whethe
] women lax payers. in Justice. need more
| representation than they Get til Ougd men
whose property Interests are identical will
| theirs, is question over which ADLER PEG
| pie than Miss Abby are now puzzlinG
| Woman suffrage is problem into which
much more important factors enter thar
| taxation, and it is with reference TO then
rather than the question OF dollars and cents
that it will be settled.-SprinDield Union.