Independent Statesman

LETTER FROM KEENE

Keene, April 28.

Taxable property continues to increase
under the new law. The following towns
have reported an increase: Roxbury,
$1,000; Westmoreland, $100,000; Harrisville,
$20,000; Richmond, $12,000;
Alstead, $70,000; Fitzwilliam, $20,000;
Hinsdale, $25,000; Winchester, $100,000;
Rindge, $75,000; and Surry,
$7,000. Who can say it will not some-day
be a popular statute?

A WATER-WHEEL WAR

Has broken out partly in our midst. The
Humphrey Machine Company, of this
city, has fired off a pamphlet of sixty-four
pages, into the camp of James Emerson.
It is evidently designed for a
bomb, and it is heavily loaded with a discussion
of "Hydraulic honesty at Holyoke."
While the author, in loading his
bomb, has put in not a little of bombast,
making needful to the ordinary reader
the movable glossary accompanying, he
has evidently found sufficient genuine
powder, to seriously shake and batter the
works of his unscrupulous enemy. Mr.
Humphrey is an upright man, and a
thorough mechanic. He is neither desirous
of building up himself by the overthrow
of others, nor willing to be grossly
misrepresented by the falsehoods of
others. Those interested in water-wheels
should not fail of sending their
address for a copy of the pamphlet.

ET CETERA.

Improvements in our various stores
plainly indicate a more cheerful feeling
in our business circles. Under inflation,
concerns sprung up like mushrooms.
Some sappy sticks, of course, were
framed in. In course of time the sheriffs
had to remove the rotten sills to
make room for timber better adapted to
the strain of business. Signs are being
renewed, rooms enlarged, and conveniences
improved. Altogether, spring
business looks bright.

We have not yet quite emerged from
our flood of varied performances. The
Lilliputian Opera gave a pleasing exhibition
of Little Folks, last week. We
must enter our protest, however, against
all performances that exhibit drunken
scenes, in any way calculated to please.
A drunken man is a sad and horrible
sight, and no varnish should make him
otherwise.

Beaver Brook.