Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-17
How the Customs OfficeIs Dive into the
Mysteries Of the Eemjnine Toilet,
Fror. the New York Times.

Fror. the New York Times.
There is bride among the passengers-a
sweet thing, the soul OF conscientiousness.
When the question, 'Anything dutiable?" is pro-
pounded by the matter-of-fact, custom officer to
her, she appeals to Harry, standing by her side,
with confident ''You know "Rut really, I
don't know my dear. You can tell better what's
in your trunks than can," from Harry. .'Oh
but how can tell % she continues In despair !:
81 don't know what is wanted. I have some
presents for friends; some little things bought
for myself but really don't KNOW" would
$50 cover the cost ?" this from the staff. 81
think it would but perhaps you had better say
$50" GAN right, you will swear to that %
Yes but please wait minute perhaps
ought to think again before / swear Oh Harry
dear. is there anything I have forgotten It
would be so dreadful if should swear to a lie
Let me see; (after a minutes calculation), YES;
really think $50 will cover the utmost" When
the bride has vanished the staff takes occasion
to remark that this is quite an exceptional case
Usually" he continues, 81 much prefer a
mans declaration to womans. AS rule. you
can't depend much on women. They have no
sense Of responsibility, and with most of them
the desire to smuggle something amounts to a
mania"
To the Inspector the face is an open book
the feminine smuggler is caught and she knows
it. Her cheeks glow as if with fire. great drops
VI pciSpiIdtiOl stalu oIl ilcT lOTelledQ her eyes
have the look of a frightened hare-and all the
while that wide-awake inspector is getting
deeper and deeper into the mysteries of young
woman's toilet. 1t is the custom for inspectors
to pass rather lightly over some articles. to
make as little ado about them as possible be-
cause long experience has taught them that
women have feelings about some things which
even custom house officer is bound to respect
But this is no common case. Duty is duty
business is business. Nothing must be sighted
Each article is, therefore, separately unfolded
luctantly put aside.
Quite another picture is this It is the brides
trunk that is now undergoing examination. Be-
sides the Inspector there is deputy appraiser
present inasmuch as ner declaration made it
certain there would be something for him to do
A delicate perfume ascends as the lid of the
trunk is lifted. And, as the examination pro-
cceds. scarcely single article is displaced.
Whatever the mysteries of the toilet hidden in
that capaciOus receptacle they remain so for the
most part, for what Inspector would not spare
the bushes Of a bride2 4 glance informs the ap-
praiser what the value OF any articlei Is, and in
twinkling he has prepared schedule, figured
the cost at S45 (auite shade below the sum to
which the lady was willing to make declaratiOn),
the duty at S14.50, passed her over to the col
lector's deputy, who accepts the money. gives a
receipt therefor, and the business is finished.
1t may be remarked here that the customs Off
GERS seldom evince any disposition to go behind
the declaration. Thus the articles on which the
bride paid duty were intended for friends &C.
cording to her own declarations; had she said
they were her own, for personal use, nearly all
would have passed duty free. One article, for
example, was a handsome fan, another a scarf
pin, another lace collar. etc. Some people will
speak of her as lady, Others fool.