St. Landry democrat., 1891-05-16
ps1eAxen sY. A Bird.

TIA Singing of . Canary Arouses tns
s,srseions of Customs Omeer.
rvervbody has heard the old saying
a.;vsn away for an old song" but came
,srv nearly being given away by q song
few years ago.
a. that time was living In Attle "a
madam city within hundred miles OF De-
t-o;s and as was about to visit the Ci1y
Of the Straits, I accepted number OF com
vr;ssions from acquaintance to bring them
hack various articles they needed l ana
. few of my friends desired to get some
German canaries, and their price being
high. we dubbed together to buy dozen
at wholesale rates and planned to escape
having any more duty than was absolutely
necessary.
Accordingly one fine morning crossed
the river on the ferry boat carrying my
canaries and armed with receipted Dali
from the accommodating proprietor OF tns
bird store for one dozen female canaries az
twenty-five cents each instead OF dozen
males at 2 so each. Marching into the
little Office on the Windsor dock LAC
down nv bill, when the official Informed
me that under new regulation issued oy
the department on the 1st Of January every
hin had TO be certified correct" by the
dealer before it would be accepted ny them'
and that would have to 80 back 70 the
store and get that done.
was dismayed, for only had about
| fifteen minutes to catch my train, out aiter
| losing about Eve of them In fruitiess en-
| deayor to persuade the custom house omcer
| To accept the bill as it was started back
| to Detroit, leaving my stock In his charge.
| not without some misgivings as to the WAS
| dom of nv doing so, but fearing to arouse
| suspicion il took the birds away with me.
| In about half an hour was back again,
with my bill duly certified to, only to nnd
that the officious custom house officer had
torn part of the wrapper from the cages
ostensibly for the purpose of giving the
birds more air, and that as soon as he had
done 40 one of them had commenced to
| sinp which he considered a very suspicious
proceeding for a female canary to indulge
in. and wanted to investigate thoroughly.
Then I had bad quarter OF an hour, In
deed.
However, cited numerous cases OF 1e
male birds had known to sing, and after
be had subjected me to the ordeal OF sew
eral penalty laden oaths, he had about con
cluded to accept my money and allow me
tn 90 in peace, when the feathered mlscre
ant struck up again in tones loud and
shrill enough for the whole dozen, and my
oficious official said he guessed had bet
ter 20 to the big custom house at. the TOT
of the hill and see his chief.
By this time was wishing that thu
canaries and the officious official were al
at the bottom of the river, but having gon'
so far had to brazen it out to the end, 81
4 accompanied him to the sanctum OF hel
British majesty's collector Of customs, ane
after undergoing severe cross-examlna
ton in ornithology and new series o
blood chilling oaths was allowed to leave
with the intimation that they would re
member me, friendly sentiment which
concluded that thoroughly reciprocated
as it would certainly be long time befor'
I forgot them. then returned with tn
oficious official to his little house on tn
dock, paid my much offered money, ant
departed for the depot, there to wait tw'
hours for the next train. the misguides
though well meaning canary trilling
last pean of defiance as closed the doc
behind me.-Detroit Free Press.