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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1894)
THEICOURIER k ; Xfl H If Thero has been littlo to occupy the attention of tbo social world this week. Warm weather has como on apaco and most people havo been kept busy keep ing the dust out of their eyes. It is the season for lawn fetes; but thero is as yet no evidence of an inclination to indulge in this form of hilariotts dissipation. Another week or two and the picnic season is due. Just now thero is a notablo dulness all along the line. A favorite amusement at this season is planning for summer out ings and excursions. Not one outing party in ten whose formation is so enthusiastically projected ever materializes; but the knowledge of this fact does not havo any appreciable effect on tho ardor of those who, in the spring time, plan to get away in relect parties to some distant mountain side or sequestened lake, there to enjoy tho beauties of naturo and, incidentally, each other's society. In this community tho proportion of those who must needs toil and spin in return for tho privilege of living is large, and it is not an easy thing to so arrange matters that a congenial party can be got together at a given time. Plans are made, tho destination is agreed uion, and a list of tho outing paraphernalia is drawn up, but at tho last minute a number of unforseen things are pretty sure to occur. Tho men find that they will have to stay at homo to attend to business, and the women aro provented from going by a variety of reasons, and so the idea is given up. Eut it's lots of fun getting ready, even if you never really get off. If it is a camping out party the amount of genuino amusement that can be extracted from the preparation of the list of eatables and cooking utensils is unlimited. Who cannot remember tho pleasures of debates as to whether potted ham should bo taken in preference to corn beef, or whether Brown's brand of condensed milk or cream is better than Jones', or whether one sack of salt or two should be put on the list, or whether it should be one or a half dozen cases, etc., etc.? You get pretty well acquainted with people and their character istics when you are camping out with them. You also get some thing of an insight into their character and tastes and prejudices in a discussion of this sort. Finicky people will insist upon all kinds of ridiculous impedimenta, obstinate people will press their ideas with distressing insistence, and people who imagine that camping out is only another term for a gowrmandizing exploit will demand pate de foiegras and mushrooms and terrapin and ox-tail soup in a manner that may be annoying to those of simpler taste, who would bo satisfied with a life-sized ham sandwich and a small cold bottle. There are many delightful places of more or less easy access from Lincolr. Those who cannot get far away may find much pleasure in a brief season of so-called roughing it on theChautauqua grounds at Crete, or in tho groves at Milford. Many people who have not been to Milford have little idea of the beauty of that place. Tho Blue is nowheio prettier than here, and tho rolling hills and splen did groves make this little town, only twenty miles distant, a most attractive resort. Long Pino, where thero is a big cut or canon, with a sparkling stream and abundant shade, is another pretty place easily accessible from this point. Outside of Nebraska there are a number of places within twenty four hours ride, more or less, that are popular with Lincoln people. Besides those who go to the fashionable hotels there have every year been outing parties to various Colorado points, and ono doesn't tiro of Colorado easily. In tho last threo years Spirit Lake, Iowa, has been a favorito resort for Lincoln peoplo, most of whom havo preferred to live in cottages -or tents on Okiboji rather than wear starched linen at the Hotel Orleans on Spirit Lake. It is probable that this town will bo represented at tho Iowa lakes ns usual this year. Fishermen havo long been acquainted with tho advantages of certain localities in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and since tho com pletion of tho Burlington's lino to Sheridan a new section of Wyom ing has b-;en opened to sportsmen and tourists. Last year tho streams and canons of tho Big Horn mountains in northern Wyom ing attracted several parties from this city. Tho further extension of this lino of railroad during tho summer will call renewed atten tion to this territory, and it will doubtless bo a popular objectivo point. Tho country is now and it rivals Colorado in beauty.. Thero is no hotter fishing anywhere than in tho streams which can bo reached within a few hours stago rido over good roads from Sheri dan. Salmon trout and whitctish that havo hardly icarncd tho fear of tho angler wait tho hook and aro deluded into snapping at arti ficial Hies with ease. Hot Springs, S. D., is an all tho year around resort; but its great est patronage comes in tho summer. Tho caves adjacent, never yet fully explored, and tho beautiful surrounding country add greatly to the interest of this place. Miss Anna Dunn left Wednesday for a two weeks visit with friends in the east and to attend the McDonald-Dunn wedding at Monmouth, 111., which occurs tho 23d inst. Miss Kato Norman, of St. Joseph, Mo., who has been visiting MiBB Mae Burr, returned home Tuesday. Miss Ross, of Hamilton, Mo., who has been Mrs. D. E. Thompson's guest, returned homo Monday. Miss Brownie Baum, of Omaha, will bo in Lincoln tho first part of the week. Sorosis met on tho afternoon of May 14 at the residence of Mrs. A. J. Sawyer. Tho subject for discussion was "Singlo Tax,' and bo logically and forcibly was it presented by Mrs. Sawyer that the ladies were almost persuaded that it was tho most equitable way of raising revenue. Thero were some modifications suggested to suit the cases of those rich men who have their wealth invested in stocks and bonds. It was agreed that we were hardly ready to allow whisky and tobacco to go without some sort of tax, but those matters would bo adjusted when the day for singlo tax arrives. Henry George starts out with the assertion that tho rich are grow ing richer and the poor poorer. The causes for this are tho private ownership of land and taxation as now administered. The poor people pay 73 per cent of all tho taxes, and the rich 3 per cent. The system is a seriously complicated machine, and one-tenth of tho people are at present eupported by the remaining nine-tenths. Tho imposing of a tax on land only would dispense with three-fifths of the officials now in service, and tho opportunity for evasion would be taken away, because the land is in the sight of all and its value jould not be misrepresented. It would be just and equal to all. The man who had by his own industry and thrift made improve ments on his land so that it was worth double of his shiftless and improvident neighbor would pay no moro tax than he, because tho land will be taxed regardless of improvement, that being the result of man's exertion. The present system of land taxation is a fine on industry and improvement. This system also recognizes the "un earned increment'' of wealth. The present cost of maintaining our government is about 8880,000,000 per year. Tho amount which the land taxed 5 per cent would yield, would equal nearly or quite 1,000,000,000. Tho poor man who now pays a tax on tho clothes he wears, tho dishes he eats from, tho stove his food is cooked on, tbo tea, coffee and sugar ho drinks, tho eggs he eats, tbo paper he reads, tho stone he places on the grave on his friends, and in fact every article of use in the home, not excepting 25 per cent on the Holy Bible, will then only pay a tax or rental on tho land ho Bets his foot upon and calls home. The farmer is one of the most earnest advo cates of the single tax system; but thero are many things yet in tho