The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-04-10

Ever since my dear friend Maj. Nc
kinley was defeated in Ohio ! have
been looking round for a residence for
him. At last ! have found il. have
taken a house for the major and the
sooner he packs up his trunks and gets
out Of Ohio the quicker he Ear enter
into the enjoyment Of this terrestrial
paradise. The house have selected
for the major Is In ponte Tresa. Ponte.
my dear major, means bridge. and the
Tresa h a small river which issues
from Lake Lugano and runs 70 Lake
Maggiore. When the major comes TO
live mere he will find this d truism in
Europe that the more uncnlightencd a
country is the higher ARE its protective
duties. nave picked out q house for
The major on the Italian side Of the
bridge. because in Italy. that down
trodden. tax-ridden monarchy. the pro-
tective duties are much higher h
Just across the bridge In switzerland
which II an enlightened little republic.
When the major looks out Of his win
dow he will see one Of the prcttiest blue
lakes in the world; and before him will
rise the high mountains that border
Lake Lugano both in Italy and in
Switzerland.
The steamer leaves Ponte Tresa for
the other end of the lake two on three
| times a day, and as fares are reasona
bly, cheap | expect that the major will
| spend a good deal Of his time on board
the little steamers of Lake Lugano.
| After his first trip to the other end OF
the lake the major will understand why
! call this spot a Mckinley paradise.
| The steamcr starts from the Swiss side
OF Ponte Tresa. II goes for perhaps
thirty rods and then draws up at the
wharf on the Italian side. The moment
the steamer crosses the imaginary line
between Switzerland and Italy the two
Italian custom house officers who are on
the boatc come forward. Everything is
opened and examined. and there are
placards up on the steamer saying in
four languages that IL you have any TO-
bacco or cigarettes you must declare
them on entering Italy, no matter how
small a quantity you have.
While we were sitting in the boat
waiting for il to start. on the Swiss
side OF the bridge. ] had the pleasure
Of ma king the acquaintance Of a manu-
f~acturer from Pennsylvania lie was
STAYING 1t q town on Lake Magglors
and had come over for the day to lool
ct Lake Lugano and TAX a trip from cn'
end to the other. We got ~ talking about
protection. of course, and he told M
that everything he had he owed TO pro
lection. lie believed that protection
had been the making Of America, an
the reason he was able TO tour Il
Switzerland and in italy was becaus
Of protection in America 1 asked hin
how many Of his workmcn were tour
ing in Europe at this time. but that, h
said. wasn't the point. Just then IT,
boat started and the Italian custom o.
fcers came and made him open his VI
lisc. He hadn't much in It except
supply Of cigarettes, some guide Q
and other necessary articles for q day
trim. He opened his valise and the
spied the cigarettes at once They sal
the duty would be Ave francs
"Great heavens" he cried. 1.-THE
didn't cost that much originally"
! The Italians shrugged their shoulder
= and said it would be five francs.
2 Come" said l to the Pennsylvania
stand up for your principles; pay +
your cigarettes" and he paid.
The next stop the boat makes Is 9
the Swiss side. As soon as we crosse
2 the line. two Swiss officers. in a diffe
ent sort Of uniform. wanted the Pen
sylvanian 70 open his valisc. lie did
= and they looked through Il rather ca
: ually. They said nothing about Il
cigarettes. because cigarettes are vel
g cheap in Switzerland. almost as che;
e as they are in America, on account
u the small duty there is upon them.
THANK goodness" said the Pcnnsy
y vanian. this is ver.'
.You oughtn't to growl about a thi'
=. like that: that is the mere working
protectionism; still. l wouldn't be Z
s thankful that It Is over just yet Il
were you"
sWcll.~ he said. ''as both the Italia
II and Swiss have gone through my walls
s, don't see what more Is TO be n
i "You watt | said had been the
before. n.
III The next stop was on the tall
bank and when we crossed the line :
er Italian custom house officers came
smiling and asked to see what was
the valisc.
II Great heavens cried the Americs
II nave just showed you"
.Ah. true" said the Italians, shr'
ring their shoulders, but since u
10 time we have been in switzerland; NJ
: we are entering Italy again. II will
d. FIVE frances they said, for the Gig
IA cites"
\ Then the Pennsylvania lost his te
\. per. There Is no use ia doing that i
u foreign country where you don't
dcrstand the language very well. III
don't understand your profanity. q
:. YOU are not versed in theirs, and 50 y
~ arc under a disadvantage. He refu'
i. 20 pay. Then they said they wo'
have 10 seize them. baggage and
He paid very gloomily. After touch
=. al Italy we oncc more struck 2
70 Switzerland. and the Swiss G
tom house officers were then In
m ring. The Pennsylvanian came
rather groggy and opened bis val
- They smiled. chalked the portmant'
and let il pass.
y .syyhcrc is our next stop" he aske
~