Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-08

luSeu, ne silall pe exempt from SAID
taxi
Then l posted the speaker as to
what we had on hand, and he re-
Gutter as soon as he rose.
The rules were suspended and the
bill was read twice. Thereupon we
had a jovial debate, Interpreted
with all manner of gibes against
bachelors. One speaker opposed
the bill.
I" I'VE have adopted the ad valorem
system" he argued; "we tax ac-
cording to intrinsic values. There
fore, we impose no tax or contents
of the rag bag, or the chips in the
woodward ; why, then, on any arti-
Gle SO utterly useless to society as
an old bachelor ?''
Finally, the rules again suspen-
ded, we actually passed the bill
rather taken by surprise, when the
vote was announced, at what we
had done, and little concerned as
to how our constituents might take
it. But we were in no mood to re-
consider the vote. So we urged the
clerk to report to the senate at once.
Then, having adjourned the house,
we followed, accompanied by the
young ladies, to see the result.
The spirit Of frolic is infectious.
The senate took up the bill at once;
1T was read a first and second time,
and put on its passage. Then two
or three of the more "grave and
reverend seignors made serious
stand against it and, finding the
tide for the time too strong against
them, availed themselves Of the
lateness Of the hour to procure an
adjournment of the senate. Next
day it was laid on the table by a
small majority.
afterward asked our governor
if he would have it signed.
"Why not?" he replied. 81 see
no improperly in the bill; and to
its expediency, you gentlemen OF
the house and senate would have
been responsible for that"
Our circuit judges were elected
by the legislature; not a good plan,
| think, as it virtually left the
choice to the delegation from the
judicial circuit. Yet the Judges
were of fair ability and more than
fair for honesty of purpose. If they
sometimes wrested the law from its
strict legal construction, it was
usually in favor of what to the
popular sense seemed natural JUS
tice. They were much respected ;
more 50 than the easy-going iamil-
iarity which commonly prevailed in
the courtroom, even between bench
and audience, would have led an
outsider to imagine. l call to mind
an incident in point which some Of
our old inhabitants still remember,
though it occurred nearly fifty years
ago.
A certain antiquated dame, hale
and self-posSessed, widow of a we'll
known farmer who had settled at a
very early day near the town which
had taken the place of the ancient
French post of Vincennes, had
been summoned to that town as
witness in circuit court suit. She
was dressed in the old.fashioned,
short-waisted, straight-cut gown
that has since disappeared, and
wore what was called a poke-bon-
net, composed of pasteboard COW
evered with printed calico, pro.
jecting much in front, and fringed
behind with a wide calico cape as
protection to the back Of the neck
from the sun,
Though lively and loquaclous,
the old lady's voice had no longer
the ring with which it had been wont
to summon her husband to dinner
from his distant labor; and the
failure Of a few front teeth since
then had tended further to weak
en- it.
Madam" said the judge, after
this witness had answered ques-
ton or two, "try to speak little
louder"
But the second effort succeeded
scarcely better than the first, and
he again addressed her:
f" The court cannot hear word
you say, my good woman. Please
to take off that huge bonnet of
yours"
OFT, sne replleQ Oomp1sealy,
and speaking distinctly enough this
time, the court has o perfect right
to bid a gentleman take off his hat,
but it has no right at all to require
of a lady to remove her bonnet"
" Madam" rejoined the Judge,
"you seem so well acquainted with
the law that | think you had better
come up AID tahe 4 seat with us on
the bench"
Whereupon she rose, dropped a
low courtesy to the court, and, to
the infinite amusement OF the by
replied:
II thank your honor kindly, but
there ere, old women enough there
alreadVH