As a Source of Revenue.

Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 49

As a Source of Revenue.

" They manage thtse things so much better in America. There's a justice of the peaoe in a country town not far from Philadelphia," says & wtedinan who his but lately returned from a tour in the United States, "who has a scheme that will make bim a millionaire if he slide* to it for » year or two. •' You oce, the towu has an ordinance forbidding bicjcle- riding on the sidewa'k". A good many cyeli#ts go thit way, bo wh&fc docs this juttice do but secop out a hole and make a great big mud puddle clear across the street right in front of his office. Of course, when & wheelman comet along, rather than ride through tho mud he turns upon the sidewalk. That's what the justice is waiting for. He has a constable

on the watch, and the two rush out and o*toh the oyoliet. "I w«s caught in the snare myself, once. Though I protested I only intended to keep on the walk till I had passed the mud, ib was of no avail. I was Seed sdol, nud had to pay it. I got a chance to look at his book when he was recording my floe, and theio was a record of som* 23 wheelmeu who had been served the sain-) way that day, aud it w«s still early in tha afternoon. " It made me angry, and I began abusing tha eld fellow for having sue-h a mud pud<Ue in the street. '"Why dou'fc you fill it up?' I asked, 'if i you want wtnelmMi to keep in the road P ' | "He grinu»d in tho most exasperating manner, aud answer- d without so much as a blush : •' ' S'pose Wb're goin' tj destroy pucU a source of revenue as that niud puldlo ? No, sir 1 John,' turning to the roniilabfr, ' you'd better take the hoe an 1 Ruffea ifc up a httlo, ready for the next fellow ' ' "