The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-28
Copyright, 1890, by Edgar W. Nye.

sEsa.ss~
IN THE DEPTHS OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
some man. went there to his office
rather prejudiced against him. for had
seen published portrait which did not
do him justice.
Mr.. Wilbur looks to be little over
80, perhaps, and has steady, clear eye,
like startled fawn. On examining the
other and adjacent eve it will be found
to very closely resemble the one | have
just referred to. And yet this good look
ing and rather poetical looking young
man can, with smile on his face and
yet slight air Of earnestness and pre-
occupation. seize $50 900 worth of ballet
costumes that have evaded the duty and
carry them home in pillow case.
1--WE do not want 10 annoy people" he
said the other day. I'VE do not care to
be nuisance, and anybody who does
that in this department gets sharp re-
buke or worse. We are here simply to
see that the spirit of the law is carried
out and placed in a cool spot"
well, suppose case" said. "Now,
if l go abroad in jane and see some
good, cheap clothes in Peccadillo street
and buy ten or eleven suits, would
have any difficulty in bringing them in?
Would there be any duty?"
There would be, yes. 1t would be
stern duty, and | would have the
burden of it to perform. You have a
right. and so has every one, to bring in
wearing apparel according to your sta
ton in life Mr. Vanderbilt could run
in small clothing store. of course, be-
cause as the law has been construed a
man in his position needs a good many
clothes, especially if the winter be
severe. But you would find great
difficulty in coming in here with a
whole lot Of clothes which did not
fit your station in life, nor anything
else, for that matter People who
know that one good working suit of
clothes, and then another one TO do
chores in, have been about your size,
would hardly permit You to run ten or
eleven suits OF rectangular clothes from
Cheapsides into this market. even if you
afterward gave them to your coach
man"
How about theatrical costumes and
tights
well, you can bring them in if they
are your personal property, bur you can
not under the law furnish large thea
tire or stage.a big opera that way. The
duty is placed on these things in order
to protect American costume makers
who employ a good many people"
Mr.. Wilbur did not commit himself
regarding tights, but | am told that
great MANY of those useful articles are
now brought in by professional peo-
pie. and that if the rage continues petit
coat or underskirt hanging on the clothes
line at home viii some day arouse moth
ing but derisive laughter / am rather
glad to notice what looks like sensible
change TO a more compact costume for
women, and trust that the time Is COM
ing when the graceful and rather sym
metrical tight will not be entirely mo
nopohzed by the stage.
Smuggling, according to the best rec
ords in the Office of the special agent,
has peculiar fascination about 1t aside
from the profits, which are largely out
of proportion 70 the risk. Sometimes a
person weakens at the last moment, and
shifting his brow declares on what ne
has spent months N trying TO skip II
free with.
A wealthy New Yorker went 70 Berlin
or some other suburb Of mis- own town
and bought about 81. 900 worth OF dia-
monds- He prepared everything 50 that
on MS arrival in the midst OF his joyful
salutations, huggings and various goings
on at the wharf he should slide the
Jewels quietly into the possession Of his
wife and other female relatives The
officers got word Of il and stood by the
gangplank when it was hove 70, think
they call IL.
Mr.. s. Alick, the returned tourist
with the pleasing diamonds, was first to
glide gladly down the plank All was
as arranged. but az the last moment his
heart failed him. and be sInote upon his
breast and declared the jewels.
Frequently employees on the European
steamers get scared, thinking they are
discoveries they frequently sre-en
route by an agent, and throw overheard
valuable goods rather than t2<e chances
e arrest. Valuable silks have been pat
"A the furnaces under those circu-n-
s.ances and costly cigars p-snatursly
consumed Sometimes. hSxsvs-. these
ert-s fine cigars are pat in rubber sacks
nd thrown N the t-ly. water o. the
soii 20 wait al toe clouds roll By.
But altogether We czznos eCi exclzlC