The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-05-19
Something for Workingmen to Read
and Ponder On.
From tie Phizadelphia Gail.


The American workingman returns at nigh
from his toll clad in wooden suit taxed 81
per cent, stockings and undershirt taxed a
per cent, cotton shirt taxed 45 per cent, 6
wooden hat taxed IS per cent, nd,perchance
a pair of gloves in winter taxed IS per cent.
He carries in his hand his tin dinner pal
taxed As per cent. and greets his wife with q
CHEEKY smile as she looks at him through the
window pane taxed 60 per cent. from which
she has drawn aside the curtains taxed &C
per cent.
After scraping his boots on scraper taxed
As per cent; he wipes them on mat of bagg'
ing taxed 40 per cent; he lifts the door latch
taxed As per cent; steps in on carpet taxed
68 per cent. and gives kiss to his wife In a
wooden dress taxed 70 per cent. She has q
needle taxed 25 per cent. in her hand with
which she has been mending, with thread
taxed As per cent. an alpaca umbrella taxed
so per cent.
Ii is a small brick house, which they have
bought with their hard earnings of a building
association. The bricks were taxed 20 per
cent, the lumber taxed 16 per cent. and the
paint "a per cent, The wall paper taxed %
per cent makes the room brighter, with its
plain furniture taxed 35 per cent
Hanging his hat on q brass pin taxed 40 pei
cent, he hangs his pail on steel pin taxed
As per cent. and proceeds to get ready for his
supper. He washes his hands with CASTLE soap
taxed 20 per cent in a tin basin taxed 45 per
cent. and wipes them on cotton towel taxed
As per cent. He then goes to the looking
glass taxed As per cent. and fixes his hair with
a brush and comb taxed 80 per cent.
He is now ready for his supper which his
wife has cooked on stove taxed 40 per cent.
with pots and kettles taxed SO per cent.
The table is spread with the commonest crock
ery. taxed 55 per cent. and he drinks his wa
ter out of a cheap tumbler, taxed 40 per cent,
The little sugar that he puts in his tea is taxed
80 per cent. and he stirs it with spoon taxed
As per cent. His meal is frugal one because
hard times have cut his wages down and he II
saving every cent he can to pay the next IN
stallment due on his house.
With an appetite worthy of an ampler mea
he takes up his knife and fork, taxed 45 pei
cent. and begins to eat piece of sailed fish
taxed % per cent. He pours on it little
vinegar, taxed sc per cent. Upon his boiled
potates, taxed 40 per cent. he sprinkles salt
taxed so per cent. and eats small pickle
taxed So per cent. He ends his meal with &
pudding of rice, taxed liz per cent. and ar
orange taxed 20 per cent.
After supper he smokes pipe and enjoys
the happiness of his wife who has this day
bought q wooden shawl taxed IS per cent. 9
black silk dress taxed so per cent. and pail
of scissors ia ed As per cent. While he
smokes a d reads aloud, his wife looks UP
and interrupts him with this question::
"John, what is the tariff anyhow? Do you
and make any living out of it?'
"Well, wife, rejoins John, with vigorous
puff of his pipe, and throwing all the wisdom
possible into his face. II don't know anything
about tariff. You see it dosen't affect US
carpenters"
s'Are you sure of that?h she asks. The pa.
per says it makes you and me pay exorbitant
prices for what we eat aud wear and for
things which cannot be made in this
country
as that so? Well, I'll begin to read up on
this subject. We certainly ought not to pay
for things beyond fair price, tariff or nc
TARIFF And John looks wiser still.
s'Well, if | were you, before | voted again
would find out what | was voting for. If
the tariff does you and me no good, what's
the sense in your voting to keep it up SO
high?'
F'You're right, wife, said John, beamina
on her with an admiring smile, ''you always
could argue like streak Of lightning. I'll
look into this tariff business right away and
the next time vote, you can rely on it I'll
know Just what am voting for
And John now reads very indnstriously,
And the more he reads the more he learns
that there is prohibitory tariff that does not
protect him and his wife-the two persons he
most cares about IN this world.