The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-02-27
rnK JoxK or ARrEaus wARp.

I rue JOKE or ARTEaUs wARp.
/ Aramus was lecluring. with bis pano-
rama Of Salt Lake, 10 Canada, and ss
business was good be was 10 correspond
iugly high spirits and his pockets were
1 ful OF coin.
i The day before they were to leave,
Smith, bis advance agent, told Ward that
As silks were 80 much cheaper 10 the
I BRUSH Possessions than 10 the Uuited
ASlsfe- be bad purchased large piece ot
4 tilk aad was going 10 take il 70 biz vile
a, pte,euI Ward wss pleased With
tbc idea aud 10 il,e same confidence told
Smith that he bad also purchased piece
OF melton cloth, and both conferred win
each other as to The best way to secgele
the goods so as to pass the Custom
/ House
Ward suggested to Smith to wrap the
sllk around bis body aud Smith in torn
advised Artemus TO place bis cloth within
the folds OF his panorama OF Salt Lake.
They each agreed to take the others adj
vice aud Smith left tue next morning TO
go over TO The States IN advance. The
bundle OF silk wound around him made
him fell quite uncomfortable, especially
when be came to the Custom House and
commenced interrogating about bis bag
gage.
The official was very polite and passed
his baggage without a murmur aud then
/ invited him into his private Office, and
handed him cigar and begged him to
take a seat.
| The heat of the room made Smith very
uncomfortable aud he rose TO 60.
| Be seated sir, said the official, ! want
10 have a little chat with you.
Mo- must be going, said the genial
John. can't stand sitting SO long, aud
then I've great deal to attend to.
Yon seem to be very stoutish kind OF
man, said the officer.
Yes, said Smith, with his face getting
red, the warmth from the silk increasing,
I'm pretty solid, but can't stand hot
1 room.
Ahi said the inspector, what's troubler
Anything the matter with your chest or
lungs?
Only a.a slight oppression, returned
Smith.
Oppression abont the lungs exclaimed
the officer arising and advancing towards
the suffocating agent. Let memake an ex-
animation for you, sir, it may be danger
ous. Please remove your coat.
It's nothing; it'll soon pass away, replied
Smith, inwardly praying for way of es-
cape.
Ny dear iriend you should not allow
yourself to suffer moment, said the Off
Ger, and insist upon examining your
chest. Doubtless can relieve you of all
your trouble.
The inspector insisted and the discom-
fited agent, after vainly trying to escape
from his solicitation, finally acknowledged
the corn, and confessed to have the con-
cealed silk upon his person.
The officer laughed heartily and said
knew it all the while. Here's letter
received this morning.
He handed Smith letter written by
Ward, informing the inspector that a
smuggler would enGeavor TO pass lot
ofsilk, describing Smiths appearance
and claiming bait Of the reward for The
Inform uion. Smith was indignant OF
course, but determined to get even with
the iucorrigibe joker, so be told the eiii-
Ger abont Wnd having the roll Of cloth
coucealed in his ptnorama.4..s
The inspector appreciated the joke and
let Smith 90 with a small penalty.
The next morning Allemus Ward ar
rived al The Custom llonsc with his pan.
Drama, when the inspector commenced
inlerrogariug bin aud Insisted upon his
letting him have glimpse OF his bcanti-
/ ful pictures.
Ward tried every excuse, but the Off.
cial was importunsle and finally nc was
: compelled to have bis man unwind one
section Of the panorama before the inspec.
| tor.
Ar,emus stood by and explained The
views, until suddenly the cloth came to
} light, an ! as Il slowly unwound in front
/ OF the pictures, Ward struck au attitude
like bis performance upon the stage, and
, 10 the drawl Of the exhibitor said:
This view is slightly encumbered with
. twenty yards Of melton cloth. Thai
: Smith told you all about IL. What's tb'
q damage?
/. The ispeetor soon settled the question
of charges aud for once Arlemus found
A himself caught By bis own joke.