Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-07-01

Mr.. President, Ldfies d"d Gen'tc-
., Dien:
Having been assigned topic for an
essay, of which my ignorance only is
conspicuous, must preface my remarks
by reciting little anecdote, very appr'-
pirate to the condition. in which find
myself. A little boy once asked his
father what was done with all the money
that was collected from the people rs
taxes. The father replied, MY son, you
have asked me question that ] am not
able to answer. You must remember, my
son, that your fathers knowledge has its
limitations" so has my knowledge OF a
good many things, and especially of the
subject imposed upon me. This being the
case | must beg of your lenency short
while to listen to few eide thoughts of
an-idle fellow"
1t has been so long since interviewed
the people of Rome, and exchanged opin-
ions with them on the weather and other
interesting subjects, that my memory will
have to pay tribute to Imagination, and
fancy furnish the facts. 1t was never my
good fortune to gather impressions 10y
actual contact and mingling with the
Patricians, or sojourning among the low
er order OF the inhabitants OF the Seven
Hill-City, and hence the few faint con-
ceutions obtained from fables and DIM
mer traditions, concerning that race of
mankind, have faded from my recollec-
ton, and ergo my dependence upon the
more Illuminating light of Imagination.
Small and attenuated data are obtainable
from the records of several hundred years
of the Eternal City," that began its ex-
istence by the energy and enterprise OF
two gentlemen, brothers, named, respect
lively, Romulus and Romus. L will dis
pose of these individuals, by parphrasing
little and say
Romulus was the first man,
And Romus was the other,
Romulus was a bad man
Because he killed his brother.
Exactly the cause of this fratricide lie.
gend does not say, but it is likely that
their foster-mother did not yield nourish-
ment enough for both lusty youths, anc
Romulus, like many hogs of our OWL
time, wanted it all. In order to get clos
er to my subject l must pass by many
interesting incidents and accidents thai
paralleled the career of that ancient com
monwealth that evntually spread its pom
derous proportion along the banks OF the
river Tiber.
Social secretaries were exceedingly scarce
in Rome, even in her most palmy days
no society notes appeared in daily o
Sunday papers, consequently many per
remarks and spicy bon mots never en-
joyed the light of publicity. The Goodies
of Fashion had no niche or altar in tn
Pantheon and her devotees worshipped a
the altar of more practical deity, who's
motto was Comfort and Commonsense. ,
Leaving these generalities / will special
ize and make few remarks anent TIN
proud and haughty descendants of tina
bad boy who killed his brother.
The classes were divided principall
into two-Patricians and Plebians-als
- into male and female classes. The male
at one time greatly out-numbered tn
females, for they made raids into tn
enemy's country and gathered female
by the armful and appropriated them fc
domestic use. Many of the men wei
accounted mobiles. They were very selet
and proud, having, by means best know
to themselves, acquired distinction, an
a sense of superiority, based upon ii
amount of money, or other evidence I
wealth. They delighted to climb the
genealogical tree, without any though
of its leading them back to the brambl
that housed their traditional foster-mOtl
er. There is nothing tangible in legel
dairy lore as to the style of their breech
or OF their neither garments, for the