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Show England to Tax Bachelors. In imposing a tax on bachelors, the London government will revive a tax that existed in England from May 4, 1693, to Aug. 1, 1706, during which period pe-riod every unmarried man had to pay an impost graduated according to his station in life. This ranged from J63 in the case of dukes and archbishops down to 25 cents in tha case of those scheduled as "other persons." "Gen- tlemen" had to pay $1.50, esquires and doctors of divinity, law and physic, $6.50, and sergeants at law $19. Benedicts were penalized, too, as well as bachelors. A duke or an archbishop was ordained to pay $250 when he married, mar-ried, $150 when his eldest son was born, $125 when every younger son was born, $150 when his eldest son was married, $250 when his wife was burled and $150 when his eldest son was buried. From these penalties there were gradually decreasing imposts down to the rank of a "gentleman," who had to pay $5.50 when he married, the same amount when any son was born, and $6 if he had the misfortune to bury either his wife or his son. Doctors of divinity, law and physic were not encouraged to marry, as the marriage tax In their case was ja.ou, but, having married, they were let off as cheaply as "gentlemen," "gentle-men," except aa regards burials, when i they had to pay $26. |