Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-14
0blo Statesaan, :l:l
Renaissance Of the Custom
House.

his glass of port between his finger and
thumb; "No!.. you'll never catch me
answering for the contents Of anybody's
boxes to the custom-house officers again."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Mr.. Harbord,
the, rector of the parish, my fathers
friend and guest. "Bitten once, chi Z"
"You remember Solomon's words,'
replied my father, who had the Proverbs |
at his fingers ends; "He that surety
for stranger. shall smart for it."
"But," observed the rector, 'the Gus
tom-house officers make merely nomi-
nal search through your boxes. I've
often seen them content with just rails
ing the lid of one of them"
"They're lax enough now in this
place." rejoined my fether, "because du-
ties on imports are SO much larger than
they used to be that it isn't worth any
ones while attempting to smuggle but
! remember the time when they were far
stricter." - ~ tssas .2.55a- -sa-szsz
: 7..Was that when your adventure hap
pened. then?" remarked the inquisitiye
parson. d s-s |
My father slowly slipped his wine for
"a minute or two, then answered: '"Well,
! see you're curious SO I-don't mind
telling you the story, 80 ss.....
"The circumstances am going to tell
you of happened some fve-and-twenty
years ago, and the Isle of Man was
then refuge for all the fugitive debtors
and promiscuous scoundrels in Great
Britain, You can't form any conception
of the immense changes that quarter
Of century has effected here in this
respect and many others; one change,
however, I could very well dispense
with-ands that is change in prices.
Why, when came here first, you could
get the best meat at -threepence and
fourpence "A pound all. the year round.
and butter at 6vepence; but now the
prices are more than doubled. 1t was
just the same with tobacco and spirits
no duty worth speaking of was paid on
them. so they were sold dirt-cheap. Why.
you could get brandy then here for less
than a(third of the price you pay for it
in England now. OF course, therefore,
the custom house officers had to keep a.
sharp lookout to see that passengers to
England didn't load their boxes with
these articles and carry 'em off without
paying duty, though I've no doubt that,
with all their keenness, hundreds of
pounds of tobacco. and scores of gallons
of spirits, found their way across the
channel toll free. - i '9a'7 iLi~ eea 'ss ai5ae
"I was pretty well known at the time,
as l am now, among, the revenue officers,
and my luggage was in consequence al
most always, permitted to pass without
search, as they.relied upon my position
and my character for honesty. Well, a
neighbor of mine had lady staying
with him who was rather nervous about
travelling, especially by sea. I had met
her once OF twice, and had liked her
very well from the little I had seen of
her; SO that when my friend asked me,
asa particular favor If would be kind
enoughpt to see her off by the steamer on
a certain day, as he himself was unable
'te do so.. I willingly. consented to oblige
him. -. 11.,.-,, ~ ,' ..,s,s...
"Tke port. from. which the steamer
sailed was about ten-miles from my
triend'srresidence, and as the vessel start
ed punctaally ats A. NJ, we had to leave
home pretty early in the morning. I
found my companion rather down in the
mouth, and in great dread of the voyage;
but as it was fine day., I partially re-
assured her by descanting on the pleas
ures of a sea-yoyage in good weather.
At last we arrived at the port. AS soon
as we stopped, asked the lady for her
keys, saying, with smile ESQ
"Of course, you have nothing contra
band 2 eoz7f o9i p sssass aEe
"Oh dear MOI was her answer. ata
"Then.' I added, 4 can easily save
you the Inconvenience of having your
boxes searched ~ io mrs ssrls
"sOh, thank youi she exclaimed, some
what eagerly; 1 should be so glad if you
could. ...,--.'lail 81 sa.i. .:--@ b. -afi 'a
t. III was deIaved for a moment in assist
| ing her from the carriage, and in the
meantime the luggage had been taken to
1.-THE customs Office in charge of nv own
Ematl-servant,, to whom I had handed the
KEYS. I fastened after him, and Just as
| / entered the inspecting-room, 1 saw an
officer in the act of unlocking one of the
Iadv's .boxes. 7 knew the man well, so
| | said rs,.sa 4aq-5v i.'-s
atOh, Anderson, YOU needn't disturb
the contents of those boxes; can an
swer for there being nothing contraband
among them S-lfN5 F-.k c2o
"..fnst nominal. SIR. said Anderson.
] in a tow voice, pointing over his shoulder
| I'd several bystanders. Mustn't let 'em
see that you're favored more than the
others, sir @' s'sl- 2 -'a- = . a . =, y
q 81 took the hint, knowing the man was
only doing his duty. He opened the lid
of one trunk, and passed his hand hur-