Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-09-25
From the New York Spirit Of the Times
: SAVING AN INSPECTOR.
BY THE OLD 'UN.'

In one of our maratime ports of entry a
few years back, On the accession of ne W
administration. very verdant youth from
the interior presented himself at the Gus
tom House i'll, and was duly sworn
and possessed of his commission as In
spector of the Customs for the Port Of
-, and was also duly impressed
with all the importance and gravity of his
new duties. AS he seemed very prom
Islng subject, wag of "a brother inspector,
who had received an intima,ion that his
services would shortly be dispensed with
by the Government, and who, was intrus-
ted with the indoclrlnation Of the more
fortunate individual, resolved to revive in
his behalf all the old saws time -honored
tradition bad handed down, and apply them
TO this modern instance He first inn
parted some general instruction, and put
him through the duties of attending to the
discharge of one or two foreign vessels.
At length the awful period arrived when
the infant inspector. emancipated from his
leading strings, was to go alone. That the
duties of his berth might gradually dawn
upon him, vessel from Nova Scotia. la
den with plaster "a free article was as
signed to his charge, and permit given
him 10 land 100 tons plaster from the
Bouncing Sally He showed it TO his
tutor with smile.
That's easy done said he, 'ain't it2
Plasler's fee
The old ra. shook his head mournfully
Nots so easy IS you imagine it. Do you
understand geometry?'
Yes-some-I went through it to the
academy. but that was darned long while
back said the victim.
'Fourpence for the oath, said the Tormen-
tor sternly. The coin was instantly paid,
and found its way 10 the pocket of the tor
mentor. Now, continued he, you've
not to ascertain, by actual measurement,
the cubic contents of each piece of plaster
in that-what description of vessel is it2'
dts sIupe.'
'Ah a sIoop; very good. You'd bet.
ter go to work immediately
The victim Immediately fastened TO the
pier, and the crew commenced dischar.
ging. A huge cube of plaster was firs
landed on the wharf. This looked promi
sing. Our euclid measured The sides and
calculated the contents Of the cube. Blu
while thus engaged. another and another
piece of plaster tumbled out, all Of the
most complicated figures.
H.Il M. ,hnro = yolled the victim
I've got my hands full for III days. Them
eternal rhomboids and paraIleopipeds are
enoug to- drive human bein' ravin' mad
| know | can't du it, by gravy never
studied comic sections, and I'm sure it's
snmew here there, or faint nowhere
Hold on = he screamed as the crew con.
tinued to work, 'or else't I'll report you
right away, and have We took up and fiued
five hundred dollars each kin do it, anC
| will do it, by gravy !
With this resolution. he was rushing a
way to report the Inflated siupe, when he
encountered his tormeniOr. " no offered tc
take the JOB off his hands. and ge, at the
amount by general average ~ by pro-
cess of his own which he could not im-
part.
On another occasion, soon after, when
in charge Of another vessel, the tormentel
sauntered down To tie wharf 10 see how
his victim got along with it. when he OBJ
served The steward was colorrd man.
you've got niger steward observed
he, carelessIy.
Wall. know hev-whs Of it?' an.
swered the victim. rather tartly, for he was
beginning to feel his OATS
oh! no,hing-onIy you must look out
sharp for him, was the reply.
oh he hsint got nothin.' I've search
ed his baggage, and in fact The whole YES
sci. All's right-he haint got nothin.'
But has ,Door said the Tormentor, in
low, hoarse whisper.
WelI-what of that?' asked the victim
terribly afraid Of being convicted of some
relnissness ia the discharge Of his duty.
1. pays duty of seven cents pound.
Wall thought that ere come under
the head of 'necessaries of life
You are not aware that these niggers
drive great trade of smuggling then
1DoOt ashore. are YONG
Mo | wasn't, said the movie, turning
deadly pale.
Did you never notice, continued the
Tormentor, calmly. that almos. all these
foreign blacks. day or two after arriving
in port, all have their heads tied up in
bandanna handSerchiefs
The novice had noticed this fact, hut
had drawn no inference important to the
revenue department.
They watch chance, when the In
spector's back is turned. to whip up to the
BARRIERS and have their heads shaved. The
bandannas are afterwards used to conceal
the fraud upon the government. | may
be deceived in this man-but he looks
suspicious The looks to me like SNUG.
gIer, and | advise you to watch him very
closely. There's no way of yo1r getting
at the quantity automatically. is there?'
None as knows Of; but I'll consult the
books tonight
L don't think you'll find it there said
Tormentor, as he sauntered away.
/ From that moment the steward was an
object of intense anxiety to the unfortunate