THE EXACT CENSUS-TAKER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 105, 27 August 1880, Page 3

THE EXACT CENSUS-TAKER.

: The most precise and thorough census enumerator is just now passing thiough a mining camp iv Southern Nevada, and he is having a hard time ofit. As an illustration he called at an old prospector's cabin the other morning, and taking out his big blank book, proceeded to put the miner through the entire catagory of questions as follows : — " What street do you live on ?', " Don't live on no street ; I live yer in the rocks." " What's the number of your house ?'' asked the interrogate!-, Btill adhering to the text ot his blank form. "The number of my cabin?" quizzed the miner; "it's No. 1 reckon." " What's your name ? : ' "Bill Lamar." "Are you white, black, mulatto, Chinese or Indian ?*' "Wai, now," said Bill, slightly ruffled and lising. "I don't know what yer driving at, stranger, but 1 want, yer to understand that 'round this yer camp I bears the reputation ot bein' white" "Are you male or female?" solemnly inquired the questioner. <• Me,— me?" shouted Hill taking a step nearer his visitor and starting to roll up his sleever — " Me ? — l'm a man every inch of me !" Still pursuing hia duty the governmental agent continued : " Are you sick or temporarily disabled. *' Disabled ? disabled ?" — roared Bill dancing wildly before the young man with the big book—" you blank fool— no ! « Blind !" " Not much !" hissed the miner with eyes flashing. « , , . ■. .-„ "Idiotic? 1 ' Wild wi'.h rage and glaring like, a madman, at this, question., BJlT shook .his^fis^un^ . theagent^s nose just as 'tle*laitefiooked'" mildly up and innocently followed up his queries with — " Insane, crippled, bed-ridden ? This was too much-.* Bill's nY came down on the census taker's un fortunate head like a rock-hammer, while at the same time his number fourteen brogans sought such a leverage under the poor fellow's coat tails as lifted him clean out of doors, book and all. The amazed enumerator gave one glance back at the advancing form of the most dangerous looking hu* mas ] heft/Vis ey<o h|i£ 83 Qsted ,un~wand started fof^A f^ulcu a hundred yards away, where he rubbed down his bruises, and, seating himself on a rock, opened his book, and after the name of "Wfl/fjtyijiai? 1 ' wrote these words : <j ; ' ; ; , ■ •'Maimed, crippled or 6'thefwise disabled ?" "No!" , 1 "Yes"!"^" J " •'