Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1894 — Brought to Terms. [ARTICLE]

Brought to Terms.

In Prance, as in soma other countries, people like to see the highways improved—widened and straightened —but would rather it should be done at the expen-e of somebody else. Baron Haussmann, having been made sub-prefeet of a new department, had set at work with his usual ;eal to put the roads in repair, and .ordered a troublesome and needlessly sharp curve remedied at the expense of a hedge. But the hedge was dear to its owner, and he came in a passion to the subprefect, declaring that he would station himself with a gun behind it. and the first man who touched it would be sorry. Tue official answered him in the mildest manner. Nobody will put a scythe to the hedge without vour consent," said he. The householder thought he had won a great victory, but the next day he saw a surveyor setting a line of stakes straight through the finest part of his vineyard. He ran to Baron Haussmann. ‘Well, sir,” said the sub-prefect, ‘ since you will not let me touch your hedge, I have no choice but to take possession of your estate, and instead of reducing the curve. I shall make the road straight, which in one way, of course, will be much better. But I am sorrv for you, and should think you would rather let me do as I first intended.” The householder thought so, too. At Baron Haussmanns suggestion he wont away for a fortnight, and when he came home and found the road straightened and the damages all repaired, he became one of the now officer’s most devoted adherents.