The Van Buren press., 1869-11-09
,Ans srnelnis1 1vuyGIer 81 the Nsw Yak
fx140m Hoeo


An Eneiish ttAveler writes from this
~ a slM London Duly Nsss T. seL
|l0Fa
The Cunard steamer, cn5 which ! en-
|bafked for America, catered the ipnss
|bay OF New York at s 4. m. and ! fondly
Imagined that In half an hour should bs
sitting down to breakfast on terra dfma-
Alas ! had not reckoned upon the Gus
tom house, tt 8. psir ~ through which
all who visit foreign climes have to pass-
Our boat soon reached. the quay, and We
were ushered into big barn; eur lug
gage was carried into u, and amer some
delay each passenger gathered hisimped-'
iments about him. Se5wly, one BY enc.
we passed before the open window Of an
office, where we were given printed towns
to fill up, specifying the number Of our
packages and their contents.
The forms were collected by clerk,
who sent US back to our luggage in CON-
pany With a subordinate. Ny keeper
was young man ofdemure appearance,
who might haze been taken for a village
schoolmaster In obedience TO his or
ders opened all my boxes The nrst
thing which he lit upon wes some ciga-
rottes. 1 pointed out thasJ hsa entered
them, in the ptintcd form, and they were
laid aside. Beneath the cigarettes were
some gloves. The schoolinAster shook
his head =. 10 you know that gloves
ars dutiabie e. he said. ! replied that !
had not been aware that a traveler, would
be charged for few pairs. Thoy. were
placcs with the cigarettes. Then 6hsued
4 search that thought would never end.
Everything was turned out 'Phc scheok
master prisd into my boota, and peleq
his fingers into my bears grease, bceeuss
as he observed, +" watches or Jewels may
be concealed anywhere" AS | am not
in the habit Of carrying these costly ar
tiolos either in my boots or my. pomatum
pot, none were forthcsE,ing, and w went
back to the Office with the gloves and CT.
garettcs On the latter ! paid two dol
lars and ilfty cents per pound, besides an
ad valoretn duty Of twenty-five per cent,
but tho former centended we're wearing
apparel, which it was absurd 10 tax. sAa
10 come to just conclusion uponthc
subject, one OF my cigarette boxss was
opened, and each clerk lit q cigarette.
The schoolmastcr observed that he was
mot a smoker himself. but that hs hAtfa
cousin who was, aud be thought that
perhAps this relative would Ike 4 hox OF
cigarettes. ! begged him not 10 banlk
his family affections, and d hox was put
aside for the cousin. Ry this time ths
conclave, worked by the fumes Of my OK
celIcnt Latakia, had decided that the Uni
ted States treasury were to derive ne
profit IRON my gloves, and they and my
cigarettes were carried back 10 my trunks.
IL got you Off fifty cents a pair on those
Gloves observed the schoolmaster,
/" and I.thipk they would Just fit me-"
My number is seven and three. quarters;
the schoolmaster had Il hand like leg
ofmutton, but, overlooking this physl-
cal difficulty. ! gave him q pair, which no
ut once obsorbsd into his pocket
My goods and chattels were put back,
and my trunks were locked ip fths0gkt
that my friends excftfons had como to
an ond--not at all sslfi had nov xcen
for me- he said, lyon would havo paid
VI duty on those gloyss, now don't.you
think'-and he gave me . cunning, greedy
look. ! responded with some dollars,
Yor, a. a matter ofcuriosity, was deter
mined to test to the full the capacity for
robbing possessed by this guardian Of
the public purse, and ! saw no more Of
the schoolinastcr.- sr-~-