"That's stupid, all round," promptly spoke the Briton.
"I thought," exclaimed John, resentfully, "we'd changed our State constitution so's to forbid the levy of any school tax by a county or township except on special permission of the legislature."
"So you have," laughed the General.
"The devil!" exclaimed the Englishman.
"O, we had to do that," interposed Proudfit again, and Gamble testified,
"You see, it's the property-holder's only protection."
"Then Heaven help his children's children," observed the traveler. John showed open disgust, but the General touched him and said, "Go on, Shotwell."
"Well, seh, we didn't like the missiona'y's proposition. We consid'ed it fah betteh to transfeh oveh that three thousan' a year to Rosemont, entire; which we did so. Pub—? No, seh, Rosemont's not public, but it really rep'esents ow people, which, o' co'se, the otheh don't."
"Public funds to a private concern," quietly commented the Englishman—"that's a steal." John March's blood began to boil.
"O," cried Shot well—"ow people—who pay the taxes—infinitely rather Rosemont should have it."