The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1899-10-28
"In A Multitude of Counse-
lors There Is Wisdom"

always rules even if it exists; but il we
can infuse little Into business deliber-
atoms it will serve as leaven to igno-
rance. Noticing your comments upon
the unsatisfactory working Of our road
laws, conclude TO mention q few facts
in connection with the practical opera
ton of the road laws Of state in which
/ resided. Perhaps they may suggest
something that be utilized to advantage.
Each county was DIVIDED into road dis
tricts, and the County Commissioners,
same as our Police Jury. appointed a
man, known as road Oyerseer to keep the
roads in his district in good condition.
Whenever he thought they needed men
ding he notified such of the male citi-
'zens in his district as he needed, over
eighteen and under fifty years old TO ap.
pear on certain day at an appointed
place TO work Oh the roads; while giving
out the notices he instructed them to
bring such implements as they had. No
one was exempt on account Uf occupa-
ton or bodily iufrmity. All within the
ages specified were compelled TO work
two days during the year or pay two
dollars per day or furnish a substitute.
Even those in small towns had to com.
ply with the law; there was no kicking
on account Of living in town, for 1t was
there. as it is here everybody subject to
duty had wife. children OF sweetheart
whom he occasionally took riding to in
hale the country air or to visit the
orange groves, as well as for various
other purposes, do not know what law
there was to force the idlers without
visible property to work the roads. but
[ do know that saw men at work on
the roads who looked as II they owned
nothing bat the scant clothing that con-
,cealei their dark skin. II we saw q
Mexican without mustang with sad
die and bride generally worth more
than the horse. we might safely con-
'clude that that Mexican paid nothing
out poll tax,
/ often think OF my experience in
'obeying that road law, for it formed a
memorable eventof my younger days.
and raised me many points in the .es-
TEEN of that rural commuHity. for was
then filling position which the average
citizen thinks is adapted only to lazy
man. I was summoned as afterwards
learned, in the spirit Of joke, but 1
knew the nature Of the Ieputed joke. it
was tn make me hand out four dollars
of what they considered my unearned
salary for no one thought that l would
brave the hot sun with hoe or shovel to
work on the public road. They were not
aware that back in my native state in
frosty and freezing weather I had lis
tened to the echoing sound Of an axe In
my own hands. When we assembled
that cloudless morning to begin work
and were requested 10y the overseer to
take the implement preferred rOar of
derisire laughter went oHt when took
up heavy and unwieldy pick; some to
increase the merriment inquired. what
are you going to do with thatp" calmly
reply wait and see. They did not know
that understood the motive in sum-
moning me, aud that went ont to re-
buke public sentiment and those who
had planned the joke. My acquaintance
with the best known Of that gathering
did not exceed fifty days. They had ne
yer known me to do anything moro Ia
bOrious than to hunt quail and cotton
tail and jack rabbits, but that sport had
made me familiar with the character OF
the ground over which the road was to
be built. consequently, knew how firm
ly the powders were imbedded in the
earth and that the pick was the imple-
ment hest suited to loosen them. Be-
fore the MILDLY sun bad looked down
upon us they realized that had chosen
we'll. But doubtless when that unre-
strained wave of laughter spread out
they thought, figuratively speaking. that
was as green as the spring grass
We stood upon. To properly comprehend
the novel situation in which was pla-
ced, you. Mr.. Editor, must keep In mind