The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-17
folrt tke 2Don,e. 5Gmttlf.
Correspondence uf tbR 1rHurrat.

a My last letter left me near Burlington, Ver-
mont Our distance then to Rousest Point, .
was about twenty miles. This'poi"t is the
place where the dominions of her majesty,
the Queen, begin. An incident occurred here
which amused me exceedingly. What mag
nifcent farce of examining baggage is enacted
here to the infinite delight as well appre-
hension of the uninitated, Among this latter :
number was your correspondent. The extent 81
of the examination-i in my case was as follows:
Imagine. a dreadful ommotion-made upEof a
shouting, yelling hackmen; the trundling of
baggage to convenient quarter, and the buzz
and roar of a crowd divided in purpose and
rushing in every possible direction The Rag
gage Examiner came to, me and asked, what
have you in your trunk?' tClotkesl Moth :
ing else? "A few books Common ordinary
books?' Yes, Sir 8 At this juncture there
evidently was several sheets in the wind be- r.
sides having veryimperfect knowledge of our "a
good Mother tongue. ftYou 90 Montreal ~
1 Yes, SIR saidI. Ven We gopre.Now.' The
Examiner came toward the terrified French.
man at this moment and taking hold of his
Vaise asked, what have you here sir?' Wheth.
er the Frenehman had decided aversion to
4 custom houses in general, and considered it 6
impolite to be thus questioned, or whether a
sirtuous indignation at the free and authori-
tative manner of the inquirer seized the heart
of lie Monsieur it would he difficult to tell.
I At any rate the spirit of his ancestors came
down upon his SOUL and in rapid information
he responded 'no-no-no-my baggage
But what have you in the valiseP Mine
ct ize mine-no-no-no.' 4 know it is yours,
but what have you in it. l says tAh mine my
baggage! no-no-no--no! go way-way-
way-Monsieur. The indignant Frenchman
was aroused to consciousness Of his obliga-
tions to the man dressed, ia his brief authori-
: ty by heavy hand laid upon his shoulders
!. To the next query, he trembhngly responded
, ''clothesr Nothing else?' Some tools.'-
: what sortP Fools he could only respond;
: : and his knowledge Of English was insufficient
. !. to convey to bis persistent Examiner, the
character of the tools which he had dared to
attempt TO import into the dominions of her
majesty the Queen. So the infurated per-
picked Frenchman must needs be led off to a
% little distance in order that the suspicious ma
ture of the tools might be determined and the
:, safety and glory of the Canadian Government
:, preserved intact against the cunning schemes,
perhaps the ipenades and fusillades, &C., of a
oI tipsy Frenchman. say the scene wos anus
ling, and although the novelty and excitement
le of my position ought possibly to have repress
ed all under risibity,I i was unequalto the occa
re sion and shook with inward delight. and follow
ed my friend LIE Monsieur, to ascertain the mys
If terious character of the tools. He proved tc
be the most innocent of men, and the suspi
cious character of his replies were immediate
ne ly explained by the two palpahle facts OF tip
siuess and a meagre acquaintance with thu
nd belle lanque' of England.
But leaving Custom House officers and thu