davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25

W. " 0UIu13y o. AGOAs
With . gradual change arising from
the multiplying Of religious scots and
the larger exercise of freedom of opin-
ion, the system Of supporting religious
through the parochisl functions
of towns was by degrees abandoned,
though authorized by law, until tho act
Of 1919 repealed section 10 Of the oct Of
1871, and empowered religious societies
Of every Christian sect to raise money
by taxes upon the polls and ratsble e.
tate Of the members' for maintaining
houses of public worship and support
ing the ministry. By the act Of July,
1927, entitled IAN act empowering r..
liqious associations to assume and exer.l
else corporate powers" religious socie-
ties, regularly organized with . name.
clerk, records and public notice, were
granted full corporate powers, with the
right Of perpetual succession and the
enjoyment Of al privileges and immu-
mites, and the subsection to all labili-
ties incident to corporations Of asimilar
nature. a.,, r.
/. After the act Of 1919 the town no
longer, by tax. built the meeting house
or supported the minister except in tho
performance of some contract before
made. The Legislature, acting under
the authority and carrying out the pro.
visions Of tho Bill Of Rights, empowered
the religious societies TO support relig-
ions worship by taxation Of their menu
bers, but did not, empower towns to.
nor has it ever done % since. i
Giving to words their natural. and
ordinary Specification, and gathering
the intent d the trainers 81 the Con-
stitution and Of the people who adopted
it from the. instrument itself, no
language appears restraining the
Legislature from taxing properly de-
voted to the uses Of public worship.
That every member Of the community
should contribute his share Of the ex.
pense of that protection 70 life, liberty
and property which the Bin Of Rights
guarantee Is not . statement Of the
right Of any person ur Of any
property to exemption from taxa
lion. The power Of the Legislature
''to levy and impose proportional and
reasonable assessments, rates and take!
upon Ill the 'sinhabitants and residents
within the state and upon all TIL
estates within the same, cannot mean I
restriction of the legislative power to
/ part of the Inhabitants and residents
and part Of the .'estates'' or propert.
within the State. The language l. to-
plain and explicit too need tho aid Q
construction, too certain to require q
trinsic evidence Of the intent Of thos
who use it.
An exemption not founded on gran
in the Constitution or any contract i
any charter or Legislative act is not pre-
scriptively established BY enjoyment
however long continued. We de
eide that tho Constitution does not e1
empt church property from tsxation
Whether exemption Of church propert
ID Constitutional is . question We do nc
decide. because it is not raised BY th
case.--New Honpshirs Snprsnss cosr
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25
WATKINS & SCARBOROUGH,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,

Successors to Levy b Scarborou9h.)
WIN practice in the District Courts Of ~
parish Of Natchitoches and Red River, a.
IN the Supreme Court Of tho State: ProMDe
Intention given to al business. Addresses
[. B. Watkins, ct Coushatts, or D. Q: SceS>
horonoh. Mt Natchitoche9, aprl0.ly
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25

TRANCE statement anu 8UOut Wuat no
,ad said he would do the next day.
Most persons thought that he intended
'ome hoax or practical joke; for a man
Without arms, and who. therefore, could
lot swim, could not 60 to the bottom OF
IN ordinary river and expect to come
pack again alive. OF course, anybody
,ould 20 to the bottom and stay there.
There was certainly some trick about it.
Curtis was known to be fond of . joke.
But whatever people thought on the sub.
ect, and there were . good many differ
mt opinions, every man and boy who
could manage to do it made mp big mind
10 20 the next day ct nine O'clock and
,ee what Curtis Blake intended to do at
Black Pond. Even il it should turn out
10 be all q hoax, this would be good
opportunity to visit the famous pond,
Tor, with 80 many people about, there
could not be much danger. Quite .
crowd of interested towns-folk Assem-.
bled on the shore of the Black Pond the
next day, and Curtis did not disappoint
Them. mai
About nine o'clock no walked In |
among them, wearing the same boots
and clothes which he had worn the day
before, and then, after looking around,
as II to see that everybody was paying
attention, he deliberately walked into the
pond.
At this, everybody held his breath,
but in q moment there arose calls to
him to come back, and not make q fool
of himself. He had no board, no life.
preserver, nor ANYTHING with which he
could save himself when he should be-
gin to sink. Bat, fearful - the people
were for his safety, not one dared to run
in and pull him back.
On he went, as he had gone before,
only walking q good deal faster this time,
and the people now stood still, without
speaking . word or making sound.
Every minute they expected to zee Cur
tbs disappear from their sight forever.
The birds, the insects and rabbits might
have supposed that there was nobody
about, had It not been for the smashing
Of the man who was pushing through
the water.
As Curtis approached the middle Of
the pond, the excitement became in
tense, and some men turned pale; but
when he hurried on, and was seen to get
into shallower water, people began to
breathe more freely, and when he ran
out on the opposite bank there went up
. great cheer.
Now al was hubbub and confusion.
Most people saw how the mater really
Was. but some persons could not com.
prehend at once, that their long cher
ished idea that the Black Pond had no
bottom was Ill . myth, and that therl
were incredulous fellows, who were
bound to have . reason for their own
way Of thinking, and Who asserted that
Curtis had built bridge under water,
| and that he had walked on It! As 70
man. without arms, could build
bridge, and walk on i, without seeding
It!
Curtis, however, soon put IN end r
Ill coniectnres and doubts BY walking
over to bottomof ~ poad, from on
side 10 ~ other, In various directions
and By wandering about In the middle
In such . WY - 10 prove to every on
that there wSs no mystery ct oil abou
the Black Pond, and that L was nothing
but o wide and nearly ciroulaf piece o
vatar. With a GOOD hard bottom. an(
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25
PRo1EsgI0NAL CARDS. es
VIZ. II. JACK. Z. 4 DUCxN11
JACK & BUCKNER,
ATTORNEYS At LAW
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
NATCHITOCH LA.

WIN practice in tho District Courts Of Natso:
lt0cheS, Red River, Winn, Grant, Sabine aD4
DeSoto, and in the Supreme and Eed90
Courts. n0vl1.10
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25
J. II. & mi, J. CUNNINGHAM,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,

WIN give prompt and personal attention ~
Ill business entrusted to their care.
Practice in the District and Parish Cou10
in tho Parishes Of Natchitochos, Red RIVE
DeSoto and Sabine, and before tho Supre9o
Court at Monroe and New Orleans. jan, nv
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25

win practice In the courts Of the Par1shee 9
NetchitocheS. Sabine, VIM and Grant, an0o
Che Supreme Court Of the state.
Prompt attention given 70 81 bul1neec =
trusted 20 his care. mAyW-V
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25

the town Of Danford . man named Cur.
tbs Blake, who was we'll known on &C.
count Of peculiar personal character
istc. He had no arms. He had been
soldier and had lost them both in
battle.
Curtis was strong, wen-made man,
and as he had very good pair of legs
left to him after the misfortunes of war,
he used them in going errands and in
doing anything by which walking could
be made useful and profitable. But, as
there was not much employment of this
kind to be had, he frequently found
himself with great deal Of time-not
on his hands exactly-but which he
could not advantageously employ. Con-
sequenty he used to rambfe about a
good deal in purposeless sort of way,
and one summer afternoon he rambled
into the Danford woods.
| He found it very cool and pleasant
here, and he could not help thinking
what q pity it was that the towns-peo'
pie could not make q resort of these
woods, which were so convenient to the
town and 30 delightful in every way
But, Of course, he knew it would never
do for families, or for any one, in fact
to frequent the vicinity Of such dan
gerous piece of water as the Black Pond
And, thinking Of the Black Pond, ht
walked on until he came to it and stoot
upon its edge, gazing thoughtfully on
upon its smooth and somber surface.
"H l had arms" said Curtis to him
self, I'D 20 to work and find out JUS
how deep this pond is. I'D have . boa
carted over from Stevens's Inlet-it'
only four or five miles-and I'd row on
into the middle Of the pond with al TIL
clothes-line I'could buy or borrow in tn
town, and I'd let down . good, heav.
lead, that wouldn't be pulled about b,
currents. I'D fasten on line after line
and l think there would certainly b
enough rope in the whole town to reac|
to the bottom. But, having no arms,
couldn't lower . line, even If had
boat. So can't do it, and I'm not 60
ing to advise any other folks to try il
for ton to one they'd get excited an
tumble overheard, and there would b
an end of them, and I'd get the blam
of it. But I'd like to know, anyway
. a a
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25

When Curtis was fully convinced tnat
this was the case. and that ne nad
walked pretty nearly all over the bottom
of Black Pond-at least, that part OF the
bottom where the water was deepest
he came out and went back to the town.
Curtis met no one as he hurried along
the road from the woods, but as soon as
he reached the town he went into .
large store, where he was well acquaint-
ed. There were q good many people
there, waiting for the afternoon mail,
for, at one end Of the store was the post
Office.
"Why, Curtis Blake!" exclaimed q
man, as he entered. "You look as II
YOU had been half drowned"
~ ought to look that way" said
Curtis, "for I've been to the bottom OF
the Black Pond"
No one made any response to this as
founding assertion. The people Just
stood and looked at one another. Then
Mr.. Faulkner, the owner of the store,
exclaimed:
"Curtis, am ashamed of you! You
must be tipsy."
"No man ever saw me tipsy," said
Curtis, without getting in the least an
ery. He had expected to astonish peo-
pie and make them say strange things.
"Then you are crazy replied Mr..
Faulkner, "{or no man could 60 to the
bottom Of Black Pond and come back
alive"
"There isn't any bottom!" cried one
of the little crowd. Chow could he "a
| to the bottom when there Is no bottom
therep"
This made the people laugh, but Cur:
tbs still persisted that what he had told
them was entirely correct. Not q soul,
however, believed him, and everybody
began to try to prove to him, or TO thu
rest, that what he had said could moi
possibly be true, and that it was all stuff
and nonsense. There was SO much in
terest in the discussion that no ont
thought of going to see It any letter!
had come for him. There could be NJ
more exciting news in any letter or news
paper than that . man av0wed he ha<
gone to the bottom of Black Pond.
"Well," said Curtis, at last, "thes'
clothes are getting to feel unpleasant
now that I'm out Of the sun, and l don
want to stay here any longer to tai!
about this thing. But IN tell you all
and you can tell anybody you choose
that tomorrow morning at nine o'clocl
I'm going again to the bottom Of BlacI
Pond, and any one who has . mind t
can come and see me do it,"
u And with these words, he walked of
There was . great deal of talk tina
evening in Danford about Curtis Blake
strange statement and about what b
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-25
Taxing Churches.

The public worship Of God and public
instruction in morality and religion were
recognized in the Bill of Rights in the
New Hampshire) Constitutions Of 1874,
1892 and 1876 as "gtving the best and
greatest security to Government" and
to promote these the Legislature is
empowered Ito authorize, from time to
time. the several towns, parishes, bodies
corporate or religious societies within
this State, to make adequate provision
ut their own expense for the support OF
public Protestant teachers Of piety, re-
tigion and morality."p -' aaI F." .
Prior to and at the time Of the adop-
tion of the Constitutions of 1854 and
1892 public religious worship was very
generally supported by q tax laid by the
several towns. The town, in fact, was
the parish or religious society which. by
authority Of Legislative acts, furnished
the Westinghouse and contracted with
and paid the minister. The Provincial
statute Of 1714 empowered towns to
choose ministers and raise money by
tax for their support, subject to the
right and liberty of conscience. The
same power Of enabling towns to sup.
port public worship by means of . tai
was fully set forth In section 10 Of the
oct a February 8, 1871.
With sgrsdual change arising from
the multiplying Of religious scots and
the larger exercise of freedom OF opin
ion, the system Of supporting religious
worship through the parochial function
of towns was by degrees abandoned
though authorized by law, until the &C
Of 1919 repealed section 10 Of the oct d
1871, and empowered religious societie
Of every Christian sect TO raise none,
nv taxes uDon tho polls and ra&ablo ca
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
Town Lot F6s. Sale.

EOR SALE, on easy terms, a town
4 lot iii Lake Charles, 30 x 200 feet,
fronting on Kirby street, between the
lots of Ell. Boyer and A. Seekendorf.
Apply to j., w. BRYAN,
Agent.
Apiii 81, 1880, On.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
THE best PAPER !!
TRY TIT
BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED
Goth Y ear
The scientific American.

1.-THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is large
a. First Class Weekly Newspaper Of Sixteen
Pages, printed In the most beautiful style,
prefuselv AtaGtfatotl aciM beautiful engrdUiags,
representing the newest Inventions and the
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including New and Interesting Facts in Agri-
culture, Horticulture, the Home, Health
Medical Progress. Social Science, Natural
History, Geology, Astronomy. The most val
uable practical papers, by eminent writer's in
all departments of Science will be found in
the Scientific American.
TERMS, $3.50 per year, H. q 80 half year,
which includes postage. Discount to Agents.
Single COPIES ten cents. Sold by all News
dealers Remit by postal order to MUM d
Co, Publishers, 81 Park Row. New York.
fHlEE ! D Scicnfific American,
Messrs. MUM d co. are Solicitors Of Ameri-
can and Foreign Patents, have had IS years
experience, and now have the largest estab-
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on the best terms. A special notice is made
In the Scientific American Of all In
ventions patented through this Agency with
the name aud residence Of the Patentee. BY
the immense circulation thus given, public
attention lis directed to the merits of the new
patent, and introduction often easily effected
Any person who has made a new discovery
or invention, can ascertain, free Of charge,
whether patent can probably be obtained,
by writing to MUM II Co. We also send free
cur Hand Book about the Patent Laws Pat
ents, Caveats, MARKS, their costs, aud
how procured, with hints for procuring ad-
yances on inventions. Address for the Paper
MIJNS a. co..
81 Park Row, New York.
Branch Office, cor. Il d. It'll Sts,, Washing
ton, DC. Nov. 20, 1880.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
A BARGAIN.

rJNHE DIR. BRAsHEAR PLACE, ON TER
A Calcasieu River, just below Merton, I Old
Town. with all the Buildings and Improve
nent-, and O,tc Hundred and Sistg Aeres Of
Land. Terms-Three hundred dollars, sasf
Apply to GEO. III. WELLS, Agent, Lahe
Charles, La
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
a Good Inlyestrnpeslt .

jIaOR SALE, for cash only, about nineis
~ acres of land, with improvements, on esfi
side West Fork Csleasieu river, mouth Of In
dian Bayou Best location for country store.
commanding heavy trade in logs, ana with
log men. Apply 70
r. A. GALLAGHER,
Jan. -, 18So--tf Lake Charles. Ia.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
Town Lots for Sale.

RI 1HIRTY-THREE TOWN LOTS, In the
Il southern portion Of Lake Charles Terms
easy. Apply to w. II. Haskell, at the Haskell
House, Lake Charles, La.
Feb Is. 1eSO.-tf
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-22
FOR SALE.

DOR SALE Two hundred and fifty-
Al three ind a half acres of and, on
the Bayou Nez-tIiaue, in this parish.
in Sec 43, T. 2, S. r. w, La.
Address lake Charles Eoao.
feb 81, 1873.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23

bear through the chamber of commerce,
two members of the board
having decided to make a change, until
their Judgment was swerved by a petition
signed by some fifty members Of that
body embracing leading property holders
of the city He thought the board should
select the engineer, but if there was to be
change, he favored the plan
of electing by the people.
Finally vote was taken on the amend
ment of Col. Crooks, and it was lost, and
the section as read was then adopted
Another section provided for the cleo
ton of street Inspectors in the same man
ner as the city engineer After short
discussion in which general senti-
ment was developed in favor
of placing the entire charge
of the streets under control of the engin-
eer department, action on the section
was deferred for one week, with instruc-
tions to the city attorney to amend the
provision as indicated.
Still another section provided for chang.
ing the aldermanic boundaries of the
Fifth ward. making the division on the
of the st. Paul & Duluth railroad, which
was agreed to- Adjourned
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23
Hoe the Christianity Lie Traeels.
[Chicago Times.l

lCnlcaS0 11meS.
Ramsey, Mr.. Hayes humorist in the
cabinet, was showed under, as is very well
known, in the senatorial caucus, Nc
MILAN securing his reelection to a seat
St. Paul Pioneer Press is not reconciled
to the situation, and gives such insight of.
Minnesota methods as to convey the i'm
preston that, though young in years,
Minnesota is old in the scandalous meth
DDS Of politics. 1t is particularly moved
to anger because some canting elder of
the church proclaimed McMillan's vic
tory triumph of Christianity, and de-
clares that cit was common remark
among the German members of the legis-
lature that the only candidate who set
up the beer for the boys, was Mcmillan;
and the beer and whisky, in fact, floated
in rivers at all the bar rooms in
or near the Merchants hotel,
TO swell the triumph of
Christianity A large proportion of these
German members, by the way, were
originally opposed TO Mcmillan But
they were invited to wine supper at the
Tivoli by certain German otficeholder,
and there, by means Of peculiar personal
arguments, well moistened with the con-
vivial cup, were won over to Mcmillan,
and Christianity then achieved one of its
most hilarious triumphs. 1t was another
triumph of Christianity when a member
of the legislature opposed to Mcmillan
was persuaded to vote fof him by the
promise of Territorial judgeship for a
friend. Another member, who had al
ways been outspoken for Ramsey, was
bought off in asimilar fashion by the
promise of an Office for friend, and
Christianity again triumphed." And,
continuing to charge a variety of cor
rupt bargains, it sneers at a triumph
which has more suggestion of diabolism
than anything else.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23
THE COURTS.
District Court.
Before Judge BRILL
GENERAL TERN.

GENERAL TERN.
E. NJ. D. Wright, VS.. Vim. L. Ames. Ger
dict for 500 in favor of plaintiff.
The State vs. John Sunckel, alias John Back
er; Louis Murphy and Joseph Harrson sub
penas issued by the court.
State VS.. Adolph Mueller, Jr.; assault
armed with dangerous weapon. Plea OF guilty
entered, and defendant sentenced to the reform
school during minority.
j. H Brown vs. St. Paul Plow Works. On
trial
The State VS.. Charles Wilson; uttering a
forged acquittance. To plead ON Monday.
The State vs.. Frank Mantor; larceny. To
plead on Tuesday.
The State vs.. John P. Chinn; keeping a
gambling house To plead on Tuesday
The State VS.. George Eggleston; same.
Same.
The State VS.. W. L. Fitzgerald same Same.
Before Judge Simons.]
SPECIAL TERM CALENDAR.
State of Minnesota ex rel. S. D. Lord VS.. S.
Lee Davis, auditor; application for mandamus.
Continued until next term.
John Warner VS.. city of st. Paul; demurrer
to complaint. Submitted and taken under ad-
yisement.
Thomas Jebb VS.. aity of St. Paul; same.
Same.
Mary Leidwig vs.. August Zegler ct al.
garnishee disclosure. Referred to j. B. Beals
10 take disclosure
VIM. H. Cornwall VS.. NJ. NJ. Giebert ct al;
application for judgment Heard and decree
signed.
Michael Keynes VS.. J. II. Schuman; applica-
ton for judgment. Decree signed.
7. P. Wilson ct al. VS.. August Ziegler ct al.
Referred to J. B. Beals to take disclosure.
Prince 81 Holton VS.. D. Mcneil and Z. A.
Richards, garnishee. Referred TO H. B. Hor,
ton to take disclosure.
Assessment for opening and extending Til
ton street; Judgment ordered against all the
property assessed, except as to A. Botzet and
G. A. Schlick.
VIM. H. Cornwall vs.. c. D. Gilfillen, ct al.
application for decree. Heard and decree
signed.