New Hampshire Statesman

For the Statesman.

MR. EDITOR,

I fear the Selectmen of the town, some of the heads of families, and those persons who think themselves at the top notch of the circle, are bringing a serious evil on Society, by the encouragement of vice, folly and extravagance.

For several days last week, our village was disturbed by the exhibitions (or impositions) of a little black fellow by the name of Potter. It is said that the Selectmen of the town gave him a licence to play his tricks of deception, and to gull the people out of as much money as he could in one week; and I am sorry to say that many of the respectable inhabitants, were seen following this retailer of nonsense—encouraged by their example; every apprentice boy, and every child ten years of age, must be furnished with twenty-five cents each to buy a ticket.

Now I am a poor man, have a large family of children, and by hard labour am hardly able to support them from year to year. On entering the house one day last week, four of my children came to me with a hand bill, setting forth all the wonderful feats which were to be performed by Mr. Potter; I told them they could not go, that I had not paid my taxes, and had no money to spend in that way—but my wife who differs a little from me in matters and things, took side with the children; she told me I was an old fashioned sort of a fellow, that if I had my way our children would grow up in perfect ignorance and know nothing of the fashionable world. That these exhibitions were encouraged by some of the first people in town, that all the children in the neighbourhood were going, and ours should go let it cost what it would. I found it was of no use to remonstrate, for I hate family quarrels above all things, and was about leaving the house in silence, when my wife called to me and said I must give them one dollar to purchase tickets.—Now this was the worst of all, for I was obliged to get out the old purse, and I assure you Mr. Printer, I never emptied it with more reluctance in my life. The little change that I had saved from my hard earnings was now reduced to a single 4d, and my taxes are still unpaid.

Now Mr. Printer, these things are intolerable; if our rich folks have money to spend, cannot they spend it in a way that will be more honourable to themselves, & more beneficial to society.

It is in the power of the Selectmen to prevent these things, and it is to be regretted that they have not the independence, good sense, and sound judgment, to set their faces against such impositions, and prevent the people from being gull'd out of their money by such stale nonsense as that exhibited by Mr. Potter.

HOMESPUN.