East speculation," which may be remembered by the older inhabitants. Hard-working farmers swapped their farms for one in the eastern part of Maine, which was worthless. Tradesmen and others were ruined. This, however, was only a small steal, compared to later speculations. Study the operations in Chicago and Galena railroad stock; in Michigan Central, Erie, and, nearer home, in the Eastern Railroad stock. What magnificent bonanzas some of our New Hampshire fellows have made out of railroads. The conductors do not do all the stealing. In many instances the getting of charters for railroads that never can pay for themselves is a species of legal stealing, or what amounts to the same thing. A few rich and influential men concoct a scheme to build a railroad, petition the Legislature and get a charter; next they manage to induce towns to vote to take a large amount of stock. In most cases the substantial farmer, who has not a goodly amount of wood and timber, is robbed by subsequent taxation. This is now stopped by constitutional amendment. There is also a species of legislation which is legalized robbery, known as special legislation, legislation in favor of certain parties who de-sire to build mills or work-shops, exempting the same from taxation. Such a plan works admirably when taxation falls equally on the small and large owners of property, but unhappily the greaer burden generally falls on those least benefited. Too often, parties start a good business under such auspices and run a few months or years at most and then fail, or, more politely, "suspend," and who gets bitten? Largely the farmer and mechanic.
There are laws against gambling and games of chance. Now and then you read in your daily of a descent upon gamblers and the taking of an hundred or two dollars worth of tools and materials. But what police can disturb a stock board or the gold board? Look at Black Friday. In all the annals of gambling no day equalled that. Why. may be asked, cannot government, a government framed under the benign influences of the Christian religion, lift an arm to stay a robbery that bankrupts thousands and disturbs our finances for months. As well ask if Germany would dare arrest a Rothschild if he stole a horse. The Rothschilds can make peace or war. So can the stock-brokers and the bond-holders in this country. We owe those fellows too much to trouble them. We can only let the " bulls " and " bears" devour each other. Gambling is the artistic branch of robbery. It is sheep stealing with the mutton smell taken out, even as hog's lard is made into first rate bear's grease by apothecaries and perfumers. Gambling is a fine art. High gambling is played with stocks, polities, cards, dice, etc. The best players with the latter are found in Europe; and the gambling is high so long as the play is legitimate, that is, confined to the rules, and it lasts till the party who loses is out of money: sometimes longer, for gamblers in a past age have gambled away their liberty for a term of years. Low gambling is when the cards are marked, the dice loaded, etc. Lords and ladies are not expected to indulge in low gambling. They are, however, allowed to deal in mining stocks and in confederate bonds, in our own U. S. Bonds, and they have made fortunes by it. The South Sea Bubble speculation was one of the greatest Europeans ever engaged in, and one of the most disastrous. Those who are curious in such matters will find it an interesting-study to grapple with a few problems in small stealing — stealing almost microscopic. One is by the skillful use of the postage stamp. You will find hundreds of advertisements for the cure of consumption or other disease; how to make your fortune; $100 per month and expenses paid, etc. Generally the advertisement is read with small wonder, and no more is thought of it. Just investigate by writing. Be sure to send stamp. The retired physician or clergyman who once " resided in India" will send you a prescription. Among the simples or ingredients will be found one of a strange and unheard of name which no apothecary or pharmaceutist ever dreamed of. You write the doctor or clergyman, and he replies that if you will send him a dollar, or two or five dollars — notwithstand-
