The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-06-27
The King Of the NumskuIls.

Life.l
The king Of the Numskull Land va.
one Of the wiScst of monarchs.
The Num.kulls had been in the habit
II sending their grain to the Land Of
Nod, receiving in exchange therefor
shoes, wagons and farming tools The
men who made shoes in Numskull
Land told the king that they we're be-
ing ruined by cheap foreign labor So
the good king put heavy tax on all
foreign shoes and leather Then the
-hDcinakers Of Numrkull Land waxed
r.hi but those who worked for them
were not able to buy the shoes they
made.
1t was thought 10 be a shame that
Nurnskull LRnd shouldn't Manufacture
it, own wagons 90 the good king put
"a heavy tax on foreign wagons and the
materials Of which the wagons were
made. Then the men who made the
wagon, grew rich, and 4 good part Of
the grain Of tie farmers went to pay for
getting it TO market.
To further protect the infant indus
tries Of Numskull Land, the good king
put a heavy tax on farmers tools. Then
the manufacturers Of farmers tools
waxed rich, and the farmers mortgaged
their farms to pay for implements to
work them.
The king had been made to believe
that these taxes would cause his treasu-
ry to overflow with coin but it hap.
peued that no shoes or wagons or tools
came from the Land Of Nod to be taxed
and hi, account of cash showed an alarm
ing scarcity Of ducats. lie could still
tax the people, and he proceeded To do
SO. But lis tax collectors came back
empty handed, saying that the people
had given all they had to the men who
made shoes and wagons and tools, aud
had nothing with which t, pay the tax.
Though the king had little money he
wanted a carriage, but the price aston.
ishcd him when he ordered one. II
used to get better carriage" he said.
for less than half the money in the
Land of Nod" True, o king" re-
piled the manufacturer Of wagons, "but
to the cost Of manufacturing and our
regular pr, fit We must add the tax, and
interest on the tax, and all that. But
you have the satisfaction Of knowing
that you are protecting our infant in-
dustries." THAT is n great consola.
ton" said the king, "and will gladly
90 aioot; but | must get some new
boots"
When he was measured for Il pair of
boots he was astonished at the price. Il
used to get them for a third of the mo-
ncy in the Land of Nod" said he
True, o king" replied the shoemaker,
but you must pay an extra price for
the privilege Of protecting our infant in
dustrcs." THAT is rather hard" said
the king, "but will gladly 60 barefoot,
ed for the sake of protecting those in,
FAINT industries
Then strange thing happened The
makers Of shoes and wagons and tools
had great stocks Of goods on hand, and
they began to 90 into bankruptcy.
Great king" they said, eve are suffer.
ing from overproduclion, a politico-cco-
nomical disease for which we are not
responsible. Your people are unable to
buy our goods, because we are not fully
protected Give us more protection, or
the infGnt industries must collapse"
at seems to me-" replied the good
king, rs he scratched his head, "that
there is some mistake here. The people
are poor, and | am poor, and you are
the only ones who have made any profit
by this protection, and now even YOU
are getting poor, The infant industries
have had good chance to grow, at the
expense Of the rest Of US, and they
oug mt to be big enough to 60 alone. So
| shall throw open the gate aud let them
toddle."