The Washington critic., 1890-02-27
TRAVELLED As rnrIenr.
A clever Austrian Tailor's Scheme :
Get "A Free Ride.

Get Free Ride.
An enterprising Austrian tailor named
Hermann Leitung is the hero OF re.
markable trip which ended in his being
placed behind the bars in the new
Central Police Station of this city, says
Paris letter. His incarceration was
directly due to the rather abrupt end
ing of ride from Vienna 10 Paris Sc.
curely packed in big hox labelled
"Tbis side up, "With care, Fragile"
and other reminders to railway
porters.
The tailor was born in Vienna and
there learned his trade He at one time
prospered, but for some time past, busi
ness has been so dull that several weeks
ago he found himself bankrupt. lie
was an able cutter and had invented
new style of lady's riding dress, and
thought that by going TO Paris he might
be able TO make capital out of his in
vention.
But how to get there He had no
money and walking was ont of the
question. He had heard Of the gentry
known in America as tramps, aud how
they got from town to town riding free
of charge on the trucks of railway
carriage. There is much danger in this
mode of travel, and the little tailor,
after much thought, decided to travel
as freight. He accordingly ordered a
large box, lined it well with straw, and
got into it supplied with beer, bread
and sausages. A trustworthy friend,
formerly in his employ, wrote the nee
essary directions on the box, which was
then forwarded to the railway station
for Paris.
The tailor was thus conveyed by the
Orient express across Austria, Bavaria
Wurtemburg and Alsace into France
During nearly sixty hours he suffered
purgatorial pains, for he was unable to
move, drink or sleep, and could only
squeeze a few pieces of bread aud meat
into his mouth. Sometimes he felt him
self thrown violently on hand cars by
porters while being transferred from
one carriage TO another; at times he
was buried beneath pile of boxes which
threatened to crush in his ribs or smash
his skull at any moment.
AT last, having undergone hours of
indescribable torture, he suddenly found
himself longer than usual out of a rail
way van. Then he knew that he had
arrived at his destination. but the diff
Guilty was now to extricate himself
from his narrow wooden prison. He
heard voices and people about him
every minute, and consultations were
evidently being held over him. Sud
denly he began to sneeze and heard
somebody utter an exclamation. Then
he coughed, and he heard himself
tapped overhead. Suddenly tie lid of
his case was lifted off and out he
jumped, to the amazement if not the
CONSERVATION of group of Custom
house officials.
The practical douaniers soon recov-
cred from their natural surprise, and,
taking in The situation, they promptly
made prisoner of the sartorial parcel
and marched him before their. chief
officer, who handed Hermann Zeitung
over 10 the police. At the station the
tailor coolly remarked in German that
he did not care about The consequences
of his action, as he was now in Paris
He also promised the station superin
tendent 10 repay him rs soon as he
could, but all this did not save him
from going to jail 1t is safe TO say
however, that little thing like that did
not bother him, and when he left The
| jail and embarked in his enterprise hi
! finally attained the success that he de
! served.