THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 137, 16 April 1879, Page 2

THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.

A few days before the Pientz troupe of female minstrels arrived in Carson their gay posters were plastered up all over the town, displaying life size pictures of handsome women in abbreviated petticoats, and out of petticoats in some cases. The local business of the Tribune is done by " Ed." the Deacon's son, and about the time we are speaking of, Ed. came into,the office one day, and the Deacon rose to -a point of order. " I say, Ed., have you noticed those pictures of nearly nude women that are plastered all over the town ? " "Oh, yes," said Ed., "I've taken that in, of course—those are the bills of the Rente troupe. They're way up, too." " They are, eh ? " said the Deacon, looking a trifle displeased at the unctuous manner in which the young man spoke. " Now, sir, I think such exhibitions are disgraceful to any community that tolerates them—yes, sir. And I want you to give 'em the devil in a local article. Put a good big heading on it, too —a rasping heading. Head it, 'Brutal and Degraded Exhibition ! ' or something like that." " All right, if you insist upon it," dutifully responded Ed. ; "all right —it goes as you say. But perhaps you're not aware they've given me an order for a lOdols. ad. and 15dols. worth of job work." The Deacon was struck speechless for a while. Then he took off his spectacles, wiped them carefully, and readjusted them on his nose with great deliberation. Then he turned to Ed.— who was busily writing up a fierce denunciation of the troupe as per order—and remarked : "Well, now, look here, Ed., this show may not be so loud, after all, as a person might think from looking at the bills." "Of course it may not," assented Ed. " Confound it anyhow," continued the Deacon, " we're not licensed guardians of the people's morality. I tell you, Ed., I believe I'd give 'em a pretty good sendoff. Head it, 'Chaste and Classical Representations of Ancient Statuary,' " and the old boy took his hat and walked out, remarking, " I guess I'll go over to the Capitol and see what those d—d Legislative thieves are doing."