Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-11-07
TOURISTS TRUNKS.
How the New York Custom Omcials
Go Through the Luggage Of Pas.
ssnSers from Europe.

Go Through the Luggage Of Pas
ssnSers from Europe.
New York World.
The new brooms i'm the custom hO,,s
sweep exceedingly clean. The care wit
which baggage Is now inspected at III
steamship docks surpass anything seen ,
this port for many long years. and the sill
pr1ses given to travellers returning fros
Europe are alike startling and nncomforta
D bic. Yesterday morning the Italy. of til
>. National Line, from Liverpool, and tn
!, Vile de Paris, of the French line, frou
s. l1avre. landed their passengers At tliei
e respective docks and turned over their bag
r. gage to the scrutiny of he customs in
d spcctors. A weli-known clergyman,
e . passenger on the Italy, was one of the frs
9 victims.
''What are those glcves?'' asked tie in
10 spector, holding up several pair of dainty
0 SKIS. OF Jouvin's best make.
: ''rhey are for my wife," was the re
ply.
''i,ave they been worn?'' asked the in
spector.
Don't you see they are stretched" was
the retort.
'Have they been actually worn?'' insist.
ell the official.
''Not that know off,
"TIen they'll have to pay duty" and
the inspector laid them aside, and tumb-
ling all the other articles into the trunk,
he slammed down the lid with an air,
as though to say, mo fooling me, my
friend.''
"A well-knOwn actress. who was pas
senger on the steamer. had a large amount
of baggage, including dresses and frippery
of every description, but they were passed
without much trouble. probably under the
classiictiOn Of ''tools of trade They
were carefully handled, too. tor the lady
was in no hulnOr to see her cherished pos
sessions tunbled about.
They are not made of IRON" she re-
markell scntcntioIsly. rs one of the officers
took up a delicate Partisan hat
''All right. am" was the re;oint'cr,
and the lids of the actress trunks were
| soon closed.
| But no such luck awaited 4 merchant of
this city. tolerably well-known in political,
| circles. who. with Il somewhat abrupt man
ner. inquired:
"How long am to be kept ierc before
my things are looked al: g
No reply being vorchsaftd. he waxed
angry. and addressed one of the ins pectors
who happened to be the least amiable OF
The corps. he exclaimed:
1T nc!, hnrn I h.r.. nntl,;n.r .lntiahln
me 60
..Where are your keys?' asked the in
specio suspiciously. -
They were given him and he proceeded
Systematically to unlock every tr'nk. box.
bag and case. the merchant standing by.
blue witt, Indignation. The Inspector
needed him not. but rummagcd around
in tile most methodical manner, taking his
time.
Are these for your own use? he asked.
at last. holding up an overcoat and TWO
pair Of trousers. which were evidently TOO
large for the merchants wear.
'.Yes. am going to use them. of course.
what do you suppose bought them for:"
was the reply.
.'TIave they been worn -
mo. but they will be soon."
"By your
"Oh. pshaw!' exclaimed the merchant.
sswhat's the use Of asking such questions!
They are for my father. and if you want
me to pay duty on them. say so. and hurry
ND your bill and let me get away"
But the inspector did not hurry over
much. He soon came to dozen pair Of
kid gloves. which lie put down very care
fully in the tlirtiest place on the dock, with
a look at the merchant which was the re-
verse of alniable. After going overall the
packages twice. he finally repacked the
trunks and released their owner from fur
ther inquisition.
| A gentleman. his wife and seven children
were the next victims, and. as their torture
promised to be prolonged, the mother and
offspring went on and the father remained
10 stand the brunt of the investigation. He
was not bothered long. but when the ex-
animation was ended he was left alone to
repack his wife's trunks, and. when last
seen by the reporter. was still ut work.
piling boots or bonnets In frantic effort
to make things fit.
He was succeeded by dapper little gen.
tlen,an from the west, who evidently
thought he knew the ropes. He unlocked
his trunks and travelling bags. laid things
out in nice order. and awaited his turn
with pleasant smile. The inspector came
along, looked at the gentleman. glan"et' at
tie clock and Immediately chalked the
trunks and lmgs without looking at any
thing. much to the gentleman's disappoint-
ment, apparently.
On the Vile de Paris the passengers
were very many, and the inspection OF
their baggage begun at 7:3O a. ~, and did
not end till nearly midday. A well-known
opera bouffe actress was among the pas
sengers, and three trunks and several pack
ages were among her possessions. They
were all opened, ami the little lady almost
cried as she saw her treasures of millinery.
hosiery and heatl-gear tumbled about by
the horny handed laborers Of the custom
house.
), ..Oh, will you be careful?' she exclailn-
ed.
..That.s all right, Miss, won't hurt 'em, .
was the reply.
But it did not reassure her, and after
standing the torture as long as she cO'll.
she had her maid kneel down at the trunk
AMI, taking the things out one by one, ex'
hibit them to the officers until. their pa.
i thence being exhausted, they let her go.
II A German gen lenan. y merchant In
New York. saved himself and the Oliiceri
, much trouble exhibiting the contents o.
his own trunk and promptly calling theil