Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-02-02

class Of people VINO have bat few OF
this worlds goods, but It win 'touch
mp; the wealthy class as they pass out
Of this vale Of tears, some of whom do
not pay taxes on as liberal q scale as
they should, for there is q heap Of
tax dodging done in this world Of
trouble.
Compulsory education seems to be
gaining ground. A bill is now pend
ing requiring parents to send their
children between the ages Of 8 and 16
to school at least four months each
school year, under penalty Of $40
fine for each offsnse, and 1t is made
the duty of teachers TO inquire into
the cause OF non.attsndance of chill
dren and report them to the nearest
Justice Of the Peace.
Dogs viii "catoh 1t In the neokp from
this House. Mr.. Cole, OF Rails, has .
bill pending impesing tax Of 81 on
all dogs, and II one person keeps more
than one the tax VIII be $3.50 on each
additional dog-alI this dog-tax money
to 90 towards paying the sheep men
for sheep killed by dogs.
Mr.. Tnbbs, OF Usage, Is an "old Ro-
man" In legislation. He has been
here twelve years and lie one of the
most earnest school men in the House.
The uplifting Of the educational stand-
ard and the onward movement in
the Public School system seem to be
his greatest aim. BE has a bill look
ing to the establishing of high school
course In connection with each school
district, and enthusiastic school men
over the State will, no doubt, give the
"oid mani helping hand.
hir. Ragsdale, Of Dade, is desirous
of cutting down debtors exemptions,
under Section 1905, Rev. Statutes,
from $500 to $3.50.
Tuesday last in the afternoon when
the House had about run its course for
the day, the Reform School Band, Of
Boonvilie, made its appearance and,
by resolution, was invited to come in
and give the House an exhibition Of
their musical training, capacity and
general demeanor, and in they
marched in fine style. Chairs had
been arranged for them in the open
space In front Of the Speakers stand.
There were rs Of them, ranging in age
from Q or 10 10 II or IS, and all were
neat, tidy. well uniformed and good
looking boys. At signal from their
director they arose and faced the
audience, which had increased until
the hall was packed, ''iobby, gallery
and all" A wave OF the directors
wand brought out "Dixie" in grand
style. The old hall rang with hand
cIaps, shouts and "rebel yells," and
one could almost see Stuart, McO Oulloch,
Price and Hill and other brave soldiers
OF the ''lost cause" as they rode to
battle In the days OF long ago. The
whole House was enthused and many
an eye was moist with tears, so touch
ing was the recollection of other days.
A momenrsrest for the boys and then
came "Marching Through Georgia, y
and the whole House again yelled and
applauded and the boys felt proud
and happy and looked like they were
glad they had come to the hall where
votes are cast to give them a home
and bread and a, start In life. They
played several pieces and then by
twos marched out of the hall, down
the dimly-lighted corridor and great
winding stairway and out in the
bright sunlight, their instruments
giving forth the very sweet strains of
''In Dixie's Land,
I'll take my stand,
To live and die In Dixie"
The Reform School OF Missouri Il
situated at Boonville. There are 426
Inmates In it-from "a out of the Ia
counties Of the State. It is an insti-
tuition OF which Missouri is justly
proud. As l looked at the bright
faces and weIl-developed and hand
somely -clad forms of these twenty
Ave boys / wondered IL there wa'
one man or woman In the State who
begrudgingly pays the tax necessary
to carry on this Reform School for the
wild and wayward boys, whos without
father or mother, had drifted out or
the ocean Of life and had been caught
by charity's noble hand ere it was toe
latel In the band was little fellow
certainly not over 10 or II years O
age, and In his hands was little horn
1 could but repeat to myself the olt
nursery rhyme:
"Little Boy Blue,
Blow your horn,
Sleeps In the meadow
| And cows In the corn"
The little fellow blew for dear life
never once taking his eye from hi
music sheet, and seemed to fill hi
1 nlaca wall In tha grand svmphouy o