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Taxes are a compulsory contribution individuals and/or businesses must make to the government. The primary purpose of a tax is to fund governmental activity, however, the purposes of governmental activities may be broadly defined. Along with funding the necessities of government, the purpose of taxation frequently expands to include economic and social objectives. Taxes may be used as a method for developing a strong, vibrant economy by fostering or limiting certain businesses, or they may be used as a means of redistributing wealth and encouraging social reform. Taxes have been a part of society from the time the first governments developed. Payment of animal skins to a chief, who could use the animal skins to buy weapons which he would use to supply warriors who would defend the village, was a type of primitive tax. Taxes have been used by governments to pay for public works, fund wars, control economies through tariffs on imports and exports, and, sadly, fill the coffers of rulers at the expense of the ruled. Some of the oldest records of civilization tell of taxes. The following examples are by no means complete but indicate how long taxes have been a part of people's economic lives:2000 BC, clay records discovered in Iraq tell of onerous taxes.1400 BC, Egyptian records detail subjects paying taxes to their Pharaoh.600 BC, the first graduated income tax was in use in Greece.300 BC, the Ptolemy dynasty of Egypt instituted various taxes, including tariffs on imports, poll taxes on salt, legal documents, sales and rental of goods, fees for grazing cattle on state land, and a tax on produce.125 BC, tax collection in the Roman Empire is a well established system.1050 AD, the story of Lady Godiva highlights a tax protest in England.1427, income and property taxes are instituted in Florence, Italy.1450, in Mexico taxes could be paid to the Aztec government in the form of exotic feathers.1643, a faculty tax is adopted in New Plymouth, Massachusetts. A precursor of income taxes, a faculty tax was applied to a person's "faculties," his or her ability to earn income from property, trade, or a skill. In time most of the colonies were to establish faculty taxes.1793, the first general income tax is established in France.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ...n' ifour majesty, the King of Navarre is dying, and Madame de Sauve is dead." The clock struck four, and Catherine was feeding with crumbs of bread some rare birds which she herself attended to. Although her features were calm, and even melancholy, her heart beat violently at the least sound. Suddenly the door opened. "Madame," said the captain of the guards, "the King of Navarre is" "111?" inquired Catherine, suddenly. "No, madame, thank God I his majesty seems excellently well" "What then have yon to say?" "That the King of Navarre is here." "What would he with me?" "He brings your majesty a small monkey of a very rare sort." And at this moment Henry entered, holding in his hand a basket, and caressing an onistiti (a small species of the monkey) which was in it. Henry smiled as he entered, and appeared quite occupied with the small animal he had brought: but yet preoccupied as he was, he gave a glance which was sufficient under his peculiar circumstances. As to Catherine, she Was very pale--deadly pale, indeed, as she saw the cheeks of the young man, as he approached her, glowing with color and health. The queen-mother was stupefied at this, and accepting mechanically the present he made her, and complimenting him in a troubled voice on hjs healthy appearance, added: "I am the more pleased to see you in such health, my son, after having heard that you had been unwell; and I remember you complained of indisposition in my presence; but I see now," she continued, irying to force a smile, "it was only an excuse that you might have your time more freely to yourself." "Why, I really was very unwell, madame," replied Henry, "but a...
Alexandre Dumas (24 July 1802 - 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (French for 'father'), was a French writer. His works have been translated into many languages, and he is one of the most widely read French authors. His novels have been adapted since the early twentieth century for nearly 200 films.
The Queen's Necklace is a novel by Alexandre Dumas that was published in 1849 and 1850 (immediately following the French Revolution of 1848). It is loosely based on the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, an episode involving fraud and royal scandal that made headlines at the court of Louis XVI in the 1780s.
Kin-Fo, a well to do Chinese man living in Shang-Hai, is accused by his good friend Wang of not having had any discomforts in his life that would make him appreciate true happiness. When Kin-Fo, receives news that his fortune is lost, he arranges for an insurance policy to be taken out on his life that would cover his death, even by suicide; which he is planning on committing. When Kin-Fo can't bring himself to end his own life, he contracts Wang to do it, by even giving him a letter that will exonerate him of the deed. Then Wang disappears and then Kin-Fo feels much discomfort, especially when he is informed that his fortunes are not lost. He travels around China, hoping to avoid being murdered before the contract expires. His discomfort increases when a note from Wang arrives saying that he regrets not being able to fulfill the contract, so he has turned it over to his old friend Lao-Shen, a notorious character.
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