The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-10
Curious Stories of Smuggling

Perhaps the oldest phase of snug
Cling (for smuggling it really was) was
patent in practice which prevailed for
several years in Dover, and was carried
on openly in full view of the preventives
and all the inhabitants of the town.
About lSl9.20 the fashion came up of
wearing Leghorn bonnets of exorbitant
dimensions They were huge straw
plaits, nearly circular and averaging
about a yard in diameter; they sold in
England for two, three or more guineas
each, according to their quality, and
nearly half their cost was the duty paid
paid on importing them. Now, accord
ing to the law, duty is not demanded on
an article of dress worn by travellers.
\ clever dealer in Leehorns contrived to
profit enormously by this law. He
hired troop of the poorest women and
girls-ragged, squalid and wretched
looking creatures they were to be sure
and paid them almost a nominal fee 70,
accompanying him daily in his voyage
to and from the French coast, contract
ing with the captain of one of the steam
boats for season tickets for the whole OF
them. The troop regularly left Dover
in the morning with scarcely handful
of bonnet on their heads; they dined al
Calais, if they could afford to dine, and
came back in the afternoon, two or three
score of them, each with q bran new
Leghorn of the fullest dimensions on her
head, the rag bonnet worn in the morn
ing being stuffed in their pockets On
landing they were all marched to the
SPECTATORS warehouse, denuded of their
luxurious coiffures and dismissed for the
day. A hundred times at least have /
seen these forlorn and tattered purvey-
ors of fashion both going out and COM
ing in, and | could tell the boat they
travelled by, while it was yet miles
away, by the straw.colored amber lines
which under cloudy sky would glim-
mer like streak OF sunshine ere the
hull of the vessel was distinctly visible.
"a form of smuggling" says writer
in the Pail Mall Gazette, (which is not
likely soon to die out, is that practiced
by tourists, who think it allowable to
shirk paying duty on things which they
have bought for their own use. Public
morals on this point are slightly elastic,
and those of the gentler sex are espe-
cially apt to think that nothing compels
them to declare volumes of Tauchnitz,
cases of eau de Cologne, yards of Lyons
silk or pieces of Brussels lace. Here is
a story which will illustrate feminine
notions on this subject and perhaps con-
vey moral: 4 Belgian bridegroom,
being about to start for Paris on his
bridal tour, was informed by his bride
that she thought of concealing several
thousand francs worth Of lace about
her, hoping by its sale TO pay the cost
of their journey. The bridegroom was
not smitten with this frugal project, and
pointed out that there were custom
house officers and female searcher at
Ercquelines who were sometimes struck
with an unaccountabe fancy for exam
lining passengers pockets. This he said,
being a timid man, and his bride, to hui
NOR him, promised 10 give up her plan,
but then she secreted the lace at the
same time without telling him about it.
Now, as tie train approached the
French frontier, the husband reflected
that if his wife was not searched. his
fears would be Knocked at as having
been groundless, and he would start on
his married career with prestige i'm.
paired This was Tot desirable rather
it was essential that be sholld from the
very outset assert his infallibility. So
when tho train s,oppel at Ercquelines
and the passenger, alighted the Belgian
bridegroom left his brides arm for
moment. ami sinirs up 20 doua-
nier, Whispered, # think if you search