davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Tax OnnrpSsinn.

In our opinion the tax laws OF this state
are unnecessarily iIliberal and oppressive.
During the year our attention has been rc-
peatedly directed 10 cases of hardship and
suffering occasloned by the work OF officials
in their attempts TO enforce an exceedingly
savage personal tax law.
Persons who are able TO pay their taxes
easily give very little attention to the situa-
ton OF others, ut IL some of them would
take the trouble to watch the collection Of
delinquent taxes in this city, they would be
come convinced that the constitution and
laws of Missouri need revision.
We do not believe that the necessities Of
government in this state demand the taxa
ton Of the clothes on "a poor mans back.
We do not believe the civilization OF the age
is i'm accord with revenue policy that per-
m!ts the sale Of the bed and bedding of a
poor person for taxes. We are also of the
opinion that the state exercises poor econo-
my when il increases its funds by the sale
Of the tools of citizens who from negligence
or misfortune may have failed 10 pay n few
cents due the personal tax fund.
From time 90 time we have been inclined
10 berate the lawyers in this city who make
a business of enforcing the collection OF per
sonal taxes.
The acts of cruelty required are such that
we often w nler that persons can be found
WllllUR 10 90 the Nolh loF IT. ices. DuL
the fact remains that the constitution AMI
laws CT the state authorize such proceed
ings.
The amount of revenue gained from the
enforcement Of extreme personal tax cases
in no sense iustihes the law. In many de
lnquent cases the fees and costs aggregate
five times the tax levy. A tax "a small rs %
cen g, when paid at the end Of an execution,
involves an expense of 81 TO the victim Tho
tax agents are the real benehc!aries in all
such cases
In Kansas, personal property 10 the amount
of 500 for each family is exempt from taxa
ton. Family libraries and school books of
, every person and family, not exceeding III
value in any one case so arc also exempt.
These provisions are wise, economical and
humane. They are calculated TO make the
citizens friend Y to the state, and they in
crease rather then lessen the number of tax
payers.
The member Of the legislature Of Missouri
who shall investigate this matter and for
ward the required changes in the constitu-
ton and laws will engage in "a work of hu
mainly and wise political economy. The
exemption of personal property to The value
Of even 800 would afford relief 10 many
persons who are now made the victims of
ovcrzcalous fee scelSers.-kansas City (Mo.)
Journal
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Dangerous Bridges.

A professor of civil engineering writes 20
the Indianapolis Journal to say that hun
dreds Of railway and other bridges in the
country are unsafe, because Of ignorance and
dishonesty He calls Thorn dcath-traps, and
says: zone would suppose that tho safety
of a highway bridge would be of great in
tercet and importance u the public, but ap-
pee snces point the other way. AS long as d.
br1usse stands it is considered to be safe, and
in nine cases out OF ten the community will
call the man fool who has the courage 70
say their bridge is not safe. They will point
10 the structure, as much as TO say: 1T has
stood so many years, and it viii probably
stand as many more Owing TO their ignor-
ance they do not know how good bridge
should behave under a load. and rather than
believe a man OF experience who says the
bridge il unsafe, they prefer to peril their
lives every time they cross the structure
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
NOlern Ilani-Made Shoes.

"There's no more business for us making
shoes 10 order" said a cobbler back of q
thriving shoe store. Nowadays, when YOU
20 into 10 a store and order pair of shoes
made, they take your measure and act inst
as though they expected TO make the shoes
right there: but what they really do is 10
send your measure u one of the big factories
down town, where shoes 10 tit are picked out
or, if ne, essary, made, and the name of the
bile maker put ON them conspicuously
They are apt % look more stylish at frs,
than regular hand made shoes, and they are
deal cheaper for the store, although the
Gus omer pays about the same. OF course
they don't wear like the real thing"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

VIII my youngest American hcarors-my
very youngest-plcase give me their atton-
ton.
An, here you are, Wen, my little ones, az
You very soon are to begin to learn your let
tcrs, if, indeed, you arc not already learning
them, it may interest you to know hat the
babies of other countries, as well as baby
Americans, arr expected TO know their al
phabcts at very early age; and some Of
III, IN because there are more letters in their
alpaa6cts, have even harder time than YOU
do Some, again, have less TO learn. For
instance, rs sprightly and learned CORE
spondent informs this pulpit, the Sandwich
Island alphabet has only twelve letters; the
Burmese nineteen; the Italian, twenty; the
Benglese tWcnty-Onc: the Hebrew, Syriac,
Chaldee, Samaritan and Latin, twenty-five
each: the French. TWEEN. three; the Greek,
twcnty-four; the German and Dutch, TWEEN
ty-six each; the Spanish and Slavonic,
twenty each. But on the other hand,
the Arabic has twenty eight; the Persian
aud the Coptic, thirty two; the Georgian,
thirty five, the Armenian, thirty eight; the
Russian forty one; tho Muscovite, forty
three; the Sanscrit and Japanese, fifty: the
Ethiopic and Tartaric, two hundred and two
If III information bewilderS you, my
poor little lettcr-learncrs don't mind il. II
W II keep One Of these days you VIII be
able 20 play tag, and, later on, base ball ia all
these languages Then IA few letters more
or less, in any one Of them will b. matter
Of small Consequence 10 you. Even now /
dare say, after what i have told YOU you'd
be able 10 play with the letter blocks of any
country. In truth, If Were YOU, / think |
should prefer a box of Ethiopic or Tartaric
letter blocks 10 begin with.
If You wish, TN mention this matter to
Santa Claus.-Jack in thc-Pulpit, in ST
Nicholas
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Wife-The physician thinks that you
need tonic. John, and has left me a
prescription.
Sick Man-What is il?
Wife (reading the prescription)-
Well, there's beef--iron---
Sick Man-Yah, beef and iron. what
good is that fool stuff going to doP
Wife, haven't finished reading il
yet. John; there's beef, iron, wine
Sick Man-Wine. too? Well you
send over TO the drug store and get lot
Of it put nm and we'll see what it's like.
-Epocb
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Something Useful.

Have you decided on your presents for the
boys yet, my dcarl' asked Mr.. Hendricks,
after the lads had left the breakfast-table
tor school Not quite all. But have docid-
cd, William, that they shall be given some
thing useful. There is no use Of wasting
money on useless toys for them 10 break
and, by the way, we need a new rug for the
parlor and dozen tumblers, William -
"Ahl Well, why not get the rug for George
and give the tumblers 10 ohnl'-Harpcr' $
Magazine
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
ALMA,

Taking ono consideration with an-
other the lot of the millionaire can
not be said to be happy one. In his
lifetime he is vexed and pestered more
than other men. He is expected TO
pay his taxes like the rest fthe world,
and though he has hitherto evaded it,
and thought, and he is compelled to
waste some of his substance in bribing
officials. Then again there are incon-
siderate persons who insist upon kick
ing up fuss about monopolies and
railroad robberies, and iniquitous
trusts, and other sources from which
he derives nine-tenths of his immense
income. These attacks compel him to
give subsidies TO those newspapers
who are willing to defend him and TO
abuse and calumniate his enemies
Then he is eternally bothered by the
solicitations of agents of worthy chart
ties, who seem TO think he is bound TO
subscribe because he is rich. So he
is far from happy during his lifetime
But what are these troubles TO those
which beset his poor body when he is
dead and embalmed and coffined and
hid away in mausoleum? Then
burglars endcavor TO steal his remains
and hold them for ransom. William
Ii. Nanderbilt's resting place on Stat
en- Island is in the big family mauso-
leum, which is watched by Pinkerton
detectives armed with Spencer rifles.
One man patrols on the outside, and
another inside the grated gate, in
company with the family collins.
Wealth obviously has its drawbacks,
and in n certain sense it pays a man
to be poor
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
An Encouraging BIT of News.

There is less drunkenness in the profess
sions nowadays than ever before in the
worlds history. There are fewer drinking
clergymen, fewer drinking lawyers, fewer
drinking journalists, fewer drinking physi-
clans, fewer drinking statesmen. Temper
ancc is recognized not only as virtue but
az an element Of success in professional life
The young man who tries TO accelerate his
progress by alcohol makes the greatest mis-
take of his baltimore American
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Waved from a ki,d Climate.

Some people are much more troubled
about Mr.. Cleveland's future than Mr..
Cleveland himself We know Of know
man who has moro To hope for. He has
won the respect Of the country He il at
the meridian Of life He has ability,
character, fame, moderate fortune and a
lovely wife. This enumeration of his bless
ings Is, OF course, climatic Macon (Ga. }
Telegraph.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

A good old colcrcd brother thus sent word
to the bishop TO send a minister out TO
preach 20 his church in Alexandria Valley
last Sunday: "Send US a bishop TO preach.
If you can't send US bishop send a sliding
elder: II you can't send "A sliding elder send
him send US u circus rider; IL you can't
spare him send us locus preacher; II you
can't spare a locus preacher send us an
exhauster." That settled il and he got q
prcacher.-Anniston (Ala.) Waterman.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
A blizzard of n Tune.

Mrs. Way Outweste (who is visiting her
sister in law, Mrs. Harvard Of Cambridge
"That music just strikes my ears where
they live, Celia What's the tuneE' Mrs.
Harvard That's the TIE Deum Isn't il
ecstatic, divine" Mrs. Way Outwcstc
yes. Reg lar blizzard Of a tune. Call IL
TIE Deum because il relieves the te dunn II
the service, s'pose, don't thcyW Collapse
of Mrs Howard. Cambridge Daily
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Wife and Mother.

Blinks-Think your wife would object
20 having you go of duck-shooting with
me?
Jinks-Tm afraid she would IL ] ask
ed her, but I'll tell my little son TO
order her 10 let me go, She always
obeys him. Time.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
A Y road Wreck.

WILKEsBAm "a, Nov. 2l.-While run
ming thirty mills All hour the head car Of a
passenger trai on the Bloomsberg and
Sullivan railroad jumped the track last night
four miles from Bloomsberg, rolled down
the embankpent and caught fire and the
twcnty-fv passengers, many Of whom were
slightly hurt, were rescued by being taken
1ut of the windows
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Great Won in Demand.

1t is reported that the New York World
has offered General Master Workman
Powdorly 5000 year for six hours work
day on that paper. Some ether news
papcr-namc not stated-has offered Col.
Lamont 5000 year "a its Washington
correspondent Thus do we soc tho press
scooping up the labor and capitol OF the
country. II is a great rower.-N ashington
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
A New German Indu airy.

At Halle the skcleton-like, fibrous cover
ing of species of tropical cumcumber is
now being converted into q substitute for
sponge, and is already being exported in i'm
mense quantities 10 England and other
countries. The curious substance is known
as loofah. II is not only valuable as an add
junct Of the bath, but Is found useful for
making inside soles for shoes, and is being
applied 10 the under side OF saddles 10 keep
the horses back cool
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
An Exp~ns. of the Future.

Wealthy citizen (fifty years hence): "Yos,
am willing TO subscribe to the campaign
fund, but my money must not be used to cor
rupt voters" Ward statesman NO, in
deed, sir II will be spent in purchasing silk
and velvet voting dresses for the ladies what
supports our ticketn-Philadelph Record.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
The Question Settled.

Magazine Editor: II am arranging sym
postum on the subject, rs Marriage "a Fail
urei' Would you like TO contributors Az
thoress married year.; Indeed would
III contribute a photograph of Just the pref
test baby you ever set eyes Puck.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
The Rage for the Antique.

Deacon; DO they use the revised edition
of the Bible at your church, Mrs. Hymnali'
Mrs Hymnal: Eve used to DO so, but since
this craze for the antique began we did not
wish 10 be behind the age, so we adopted the
other book. Lowell Citizen.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Mr.. Whittier, the poet, himself n
Quaker, says be thinks that the Quak-
ers viii be absorbed by the Methodist
church, which comes nearer than any
other to the Quaker ideal.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
He Went.

cts beautiful day for walk" she
said, looking out of the window. Indeed
it is" he SAID, doing likewise "Would you
like TO take waikiki she continued. above
all things" "Then why don't youi''-Har-
per's Bazaar
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Family Pride

New Haven storekeeper Ito customer) (:
"What decoration is that you are wearing,
sir, on your breastr' Countryman proud
ly): "That, sirl That is medal our COW
won at the cattle show Mrs. Grundy.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
Lost Her Grin.

well, Uncle Cicero, what makes you look
so grumr' "Well, sab, to tell you tho trufe,
my ole woman has begun TO make buck
wheat cakes and she hasn't got into the
swing o. n yet, sab. New York World.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

A struggle for shorter hours is APP
pretended by English employers. The
eight-hour movement is being freely
agitated, and it looks very much as
though the laborers meant TO carry
their point this time.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Humans life in Columbus at this
time is very much rs Tilden's was at
Gramercy Park in his last years He
spends most OF his time ut his residence.
He remains up reading until about
3 o'clock in the morning, breakfasts at
ten, plays with his grandchildren, and
then resorts to his library. Occasion
ally he goes up street, calls at the Office
OF his son, and drops in on few old
friends.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Men are not allowed TO maltreat
their wives with impunity in the good
old commonwealth OF Massachusetts.
One Sheehan OF Braintree, who at
tackled his wife with an AK and IA club
and knocked her down with two saw
age blows on the head, has been con-
victed in the district court, and has
been sentenced to Imprisonment in the
county Jail for four long, weary
months. This is quite a parallel for
severity TO the five dollars fine i'm
posed in Detroit upon man who shot
at another.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Apropos of the discussion regarding
the Sunday newspaper, the Springfield
Republican says: The Sunday news
paper has come to stay, and is an in
valuable vehicle for reaching the peo-
pie. This being so, it remains TO
make il a means for doing good and
conveying wholesome instruction.
One by one the best newspapers of the
United States have added a Sunday
edition, believing it TO be for the best
interests OF the public that good jour
nails should hold the field against SEN
sational publication.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

One of the newest devices for utiliz-
ing sawdust is the scheme Of a Cana
dian mechanic. He claims that by
grinding the refuse into uniform fine
ness, mixing il with refuse gas tar
from the gas house and COMPRISING
the substance into cakes, n fuel can be
made in every way superior TO soft
coal for open fires.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

The shipment of 10, 900 Chinese cool
les to Siberia, says the San Francisco
Chronicle, will mark new departure
in the relations between China and
Russia. For a long time the frontier
has been rigidly guarded and no Chi
nese have been able TO settle in Sibe-
ria, while China, on her part, has pre-
vented any European miners from
working the rich gold deposits on the
Amoor river. Many parts of southern
Siberia offer good field to the adven-
turous Chinese who have been cut of
from this country and Australia.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

Professor Mansell, in his meteoro-
logical almanac for 1889, not only pre-
diets a favorably season for crops in
America, but also gives the cheerful
assurance that our competitors in
India will suffer from droughts and
high temperature, and that bad har-
vest weather will damage the crops of
Great Britain and Northern Europe
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-05-09
She Was Forced to Vacate.

When Chief Justice Chase left his
seat and stepped forward to administer
the oath to Grant an unknown woman
stepped out of the crowd behind the
chairs and took his place. When he
turned to resume his seat he saw that
1t was occupied Reckoning the Mar
shall of the Supreme Court he said:
Clear my seat Madam" said the
Marshal, turning politely to the wo-
man, you have taken the seat of the
Chief Justice, and he wants it again"
Il don't care, > she responded sharply,
not budging an inch; Il am free born
American citizen, and | have as much
right to it as the Chief Justice, and
won't get up" Your Honor said
he, turning to the Chief Justice, .'you
hear what she says
Clear my seat said the Chief JUS
tice firmly, and with a look which
meant cor I'll have your official head
struck off," Moved by the look. if
not by the words, the Marshal turned
to the woman and said: Madam YOU
must surrender this seat. If YOU don't
1 shall have TO summon two negro
messengers to remove You by force"
This brought her to her feet. Fake
your old seat she said, with a stamp
OF her foot aud mounting color in her
cheek, as she disappeared in the crowd,
while the Chief Justice took it with a
sigh of triumph. echoed by the Mar
ShaTs sigh OF relief Washington Let
ter.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-05-09

HoEsEsH1Es OF RUBBER-The pro-
posed substitution Of India rubber for
metal III the manufacture of horseshoes
is based upon the various supposed ad-
vautageS, one Of these being that the
former enables The horse to go easier
over all kinds of roads and rough or
slippery ground without slipping.
According TO this design, the shoe con-
slsts of an India rubber bottom pie &c
nodded to fit over or around The frog of
the hoof, with ledge protecting rim
risising up the front and around the
level where the nails are clamped, the
protection having a ledge under which
steel band or other appliances can be
drawn and Iippcd tight to retain the
rubber shoe. The band is connected by
studs, which pass through tie heel part
of the boof. this being cut away from
the inner side for the purpose and the
stud or studs may work eccentrcally to
obtain grip OF fixing. II the rubber
shoe is used with an iroa shoe the frog
portion, or pad, has front plate and
two side wings partially imbedded in it
to hold the rubber shoe in place If the
rubber shoe be divided or made thin in
the center swivel or other bar can be
contracted from the rear to reduce The
width Of the pad, SO that it enters easily
and also expands so as to fix the rubber
shoes in position.-NewY York Telegram.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-05-09
Rules of the House of Representa-.
tiVeS.

A most timely article in the Century,
by Mr. T. b. Reed, of Maine, closes as
follows: 1T is impossible, and per-
haps would be indiscreet in advance of
due popular discussion, to indicate the
remedy for the evil which the forego-
ing simple narrative of facts discloses,
but that some remedy should be applied
admits of no doubt. The remedy ought
not to besradical or wild in its charac-
ter. Indeed, from the nature of things
it could not be so, There need never
he any fear lest an avalanche of legis-
lation could bust upon the country.
Do the best we can our parliament
will be clogged, like every other SINH
lar assembly in the world of like scope
and magnitude. Two and probably
three changes ought to be made, and
the effect should be faithfully tried.
The morning hour, the length of which
should be entirely under the control
of the House, would, if restored to its
full power and efficiency, afford means
for the transaction of all business of a
simple nature requiring little discus
sion. Then a provision enabling the
majority of the House to select from
the public calendars such measures as
it prefers to act on, with due preced-
ence for revenue and appropriation,
would insure such freedom of action
as would destroy the iIlegitimate power
of the few and eXalt the just power of
the people acting through their own
representatives.
Ito guard against the abuse of mo-
lions to adjourn, to fix the day of adj
journment and for Il recess, the simple
amendment devised and read in the
House recently by Mr.. Cannon of Hi
nois would be ample and valua BILE.
That amendment provides that those
motions shall be confined to their
legitimate and honest use and shall
never be used as dilatory motions for
simple delay. If it is objected that
this places too much power in the
hands of the Speaker, the answer is
twofoId. No Speaker would pronounce
motions legitimate on their face dila-
tory and intended for delay until that
fact was apparent to the whole world,
and if he did unjustifably exercise
that power reposed in him as the organ
of the House an appeal to the House
would easily rectify the abuse. The
danger in free country is not that
power will be exercised too freely, but
that 1t will be exercised too sparingly;
for it so happens that the noise made
by small but loud minority in the
wrong is too often mistaken for the
voice of God.