Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-05-19
PASSPORTS.
A Correspondent Describes the Obstacles He
Encountered in Getting One.
WRITING OUT A STATEMENT OF
ONES Personal APPEARANCE.


ONES Personal APPEARANCE.
A person about to visit certain for
eign countries Russia, Germany,
Spain, for example-must, as is we'll
known, provide himself with pass
port, or in other words, credential
from his own government, stating
who it is, and containing descrip-
ton of him personally. The paper
may serve, too, as protection for
the traveller while abroad.
Such certificates are given to citi
zens on application at Warrington.
But it may happen that a person, set
ting off suddenly IN an unexpected
voyage, or from some similar reason,
may find it inconvient to apply, with
proofs of citizenship, at Washington.
In such cases, application can be
made to the Mayor of the city in
which the person chances to be, and
where an accredited agent of the
country which he proposes visiting is
resident.
A correspondent of the Companion,
who was recently in New Orleans and
wished to go Immediately to Havana,
Cuba which is under the govern
ment of Spain, -procured his pass
port, or pape-' equivalent to one, by
the last-named method. He thus
describes the obstacles he encounter
ed:
At the Mayors office | learned that
the first requisite was that l should
be satisfactorily identified. AS L
was a stranger in the city, this was
attended with some difficulty. At
last 1 thought of the cashier of tho
New Orleans Bank to whom | had
been previously Identified; enlisted
his services in my behalf.
On my way back from the bank l
was fortunate enough to meet two
gentlemen with whom was somewhat
acquainted. Their kindly offices,
backed up by certain papers in my
possession, effected my satisfactory
Identification in the eye of the Mayor
and of the law, as (sic) "a citizen, a
respectable person and one of good
standing in society"
A blank was then handed me to
fill out, in which 1 was required to
state my place of birth and of resi-
dence. Also my age, height in En-
glish feet and inches, height of fore
head, length of nose, color of eyes,
ditto of hair, character of my chin,
size of my mouth, thickness of my
face mot cheek, etc, etc.
1t was rather embarrassing to be
asked to do all this for myself. But
by aid of a pocket looking glass and
. two foot rule I attempted to do it.
More embarrassing still, was then
told to go to Notary Public, before
whom l must swear solemnly to the
truth and accuracy of my above per-
sonal statement and description of
myself.
The awful consequence of having
made some vain mistake in the size
of my mouth, or of having put my
nose down as medium length, when
those terrible -Spaniards might
choose to consider it long nose, now
flashed upon me. But in desperation
swore it was accurate, paid the fees
and proceeded.
The paper thus subscribed and
sworn to by myself. was next
signed and stamped by the Mayor.
Then was hidden pay fees and go
in search of the Spanish Consul, who
might or might not have the grace
to Use my document.
After hot walk and the mounting of
many stairs, the blacked-eyed, mus
tachioed who represents the majesty
of Spain at New Orleans was found.
As he spoke shockipgly bad English
and / the same kind of Spanish, we
did not make much progress in I'M
Outstanding each other for some min
utes.
was compelled to spell my manu-
script out to him at length. He did
not like It In fact rejected it, and
sent me back to the Mayor with it
twice before he would give it his Of
fetal certifcation and signature.
But the business was done at last,
and I went to my dinner with pass
port, or something which I suppose
will answer for one in my pocket. 1t
had cost me tiresome and disagree
able forenoon's work and five dollars
more or less, in fees. Youths Com
panion.