The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-01-11
VOWEL WEBBING PRESENTS.


New York, Jan. 1.-Have bologna
sansages and canned meats become
fashionable wedding gifts among the
400f 1t is a fact that a package was
recently received through the custom
house, which was supposed to contain
wedding presents for a number of the
400, but which on being opened was
found to be filed with sausages and
canned meats.
One of the most fashionable of the
fall weddings in this city was cele-
hrated at ST. Thomas church on the
evening of Nov. 81. The contracting
parties Were Mr.. VIM. Mcneil Bode-
wald and Miss Eleonor Louisa Hoff-
mann. the beautiful daughter of Rev.
DIR. and Mrs. C. T. Hoffman,, of 81
West Fifty-third Street. Over 1000
invitations were issued and the church
was handsomely decorated with fiow-
ers. Rev. DIR. Eugene A. Hoffman,,
uncle of the bride, ofiiciated at the
wedding.
Mr.. Austin Whitehouse was the best
man. The ushers were Anson Moran,
Austin Poole, Walter Taylor, Walter
Kemlys, George Camman and Henry
Cooper. The presents were numerous
and expensive. Everything was IN
keeping with the social position Of the
parties and the wedding did not differ
materially from other fashionable we'd
dings. The happy couple started on
their bridal trip, followed by the best
wishes of all their friends.
While the bride and bridegroom
were enjoying their honeymoon Mr..
John Dewitt Warner, o lawyer whose
Office is at No. so William street, re-
ceiyed letter from some friends who
were in Paris. Mr.. Warner was in
formed that several friends of Miss
Hoffman, desired to send some pres
ents In honor of her wedding. They
had purchased them in Paris and to
facilitate their delivery when they ar
rived ON this side, they had been con-
signed to Warner.
A power of attorney was iHclosed to
MIR. Warner, authorizing him to draw
on their bank account to pay the duty.
The list Of the articles was also inclosed,
together with cards Of the respective
parties to be attached to the gift. The
people were well known to Mr.. Warner,
and he readily consented to act as their
agent in the matter
In the course of couple of weeks
Mr.. Warner received the usual notice
from the customhouse that q package
had arrived from Paris consigned to
him. No invoice of the goods had
been sent to the customhouse. This Is
customary, as in sending silver sets
and other article In small lots to this
country from abroad, it is better to let
the customhouse authorities appralse
them themselves. The appraisers, as
rule, appraise them at their wholesale
price, which is considerably under the
retail cost. But following this rule,
quite a saving in duty can be made.
MIR. Warner received the bill for the
duty two weeks ago. lie was sur
prised al the smallness of the amount
1t was about $9-but as the average
man is not disposed to kick at paying
too little duty, he gave a check for It
and awaited the arrival of the package.
1t was delivered at his office the follow
ing day.
One can imagine his surprise when
he came to open 1t and found 1t con-
tained bolona sausage aud canned
meat. This did not correspond at all
to the private invoice he had received
by mail. The invoice called for an or
namented French clock, one diamond
brooch and several pieces of gold and
silverware, the estimated value of
which was about $500.
How these articles had become
changed into blogna sausages and
canned meats Mr.. Warner is unable to
say. He puzzled over the problem
without coming to a satisfactory solu-
tion, and then started an investigation.
The inquiry has been conducted very
quietly, and Mr.. Warner said yesterday
that he had learned nothing that he
cared to disclose to tho public. lie
was reluctant to talk about the matter
until further light had been thrown
upon the subject.
A change was unquestionably made
In the New York customhouse, and
that being the case, either one of two
things has happened. The articles
were stolen deliberately, with intent to
defraud, or else they were mixed up
in the packing appraisers stores and
changed by mistake. Either horn of
the dilemma is not very pleasant for
the customhouse officials. In either
case, the people who were expecting
bologna sausages and canned meats,
have received costly French clock, a
diamond brooch, and a valuable COL
lection of gold and silverware. If the
articles have been stolen, or simply
lost through negligence, it is plainly
evident that the service in the custom
house is sadly in need of reform.
There should be complete overhaul
ing of the department. The matter is
serious enough to demand the attention
of the authorities at Washington.
Meantime Mr.. Warner has not de-
livered the presents intended for Miss