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Show COULDN'T DODGE THESE TAXES. Births, Marriages and Deaths Once Source of English Revenue. Pleased with his morning's work-he work-he had sworn off no less than $340,000 in taxes the capitalist leaned back In his chair, lighted a cigar and talked agreeably. "In tho paBt," he said, "governments were wiser. They levied taxes that could not bo sworn off. Thero wns, for Instance, tho English birth tax of the seventeenth century. A laborer paid two shillings ns blrtlutax; a duke paid 30. You couldn't get round It. "Burials were taxea according to tho stntlon of tho dend, from a shilling to 25. That, too, could not bo dodged. , "Marriages were taxed. A duke, to marry, paid 50; a common person, like yourself, paid half a crown. "In those days you paid a tax on every servnnt, on your dog, on every horse, on your carriage, your hearth, your windows, watches, clocks, wigs, hair powder, plate, ribbons, coal, gauze and candles." |