Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-08-09

seems to be struck with sudden
thought. The truth is that he has
been waiting for this opportunity. He
asks Mrs. G. to step up to the other
end of the store to look at some per-
fectly new goods. Simply as matter
of curiosity, he thinks Mrs. G. will
like to see them, since they will not
reach Boston for some time. They
are various articles in settings, copied
from the antique; also some special
quite new.
They are shown, bewildering lot
Of exquisite and expensive ornaments,
in diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires,
ETC., etc. To make the story short, Mrs.
G. is induced to take two or three of
them, with the proviso, return to Bos-
ton store if not kept. The clerk throws
in little remark that they will look
fine in the salon of the steamer by the
electric light. Mrs. C.'s vanity is
tickled, her desire to shine gratified
and the clerk is satisfied.
The jewels are worn or taken over
as personal property, passed and go
through to Boston. The chances are
one article may be kept, with some of
the small ones, and the rest returned
to Asteroid & Co., on which they save,
maybe, $1,000 duty.
Suppose they only work dozen lit
tie arrangements like this during the
season and you arrive at considerable
amount of duty saved. Suppose, fur.
Their, that of the hundreds Of dealers
half Of them work these little games OF
wear it over" and the government is
cut out of a very big amount Of duty
Asteroid and others do not smuggle
certainly not. They get the benefit by
proxy smuggling.
Future buyers do not get any ad'
vantage, for Asteroid & Co. mark the
goods at regular prices. Probably the
stones are taken out of the settings
and made up into other jewelry.
Risks Taken by Dealers.
To illustrate the fact that there are
ways considered not very risky by some
dealers abroad, who certainly must
have had experience, or at least some
knowledge in regard to it, the following
is vouched for as true:
On a purchase of unset stones at
wholesale to an amount, say, to be
within the figures of an actual transac'
ton, of $4,000 worth, the foreign deal
er, of course, knowing well his custom
er's responsibility, ETC., offered to have
the whole put up in sealed package
and for an extra 2 per cent on the
cost agreed to deliver the package
seal unbroken, to the buyer on this side
receiving payment only on delivery
plus the 2 per cent.
The whole duty is 10 per cent, $500
the 2 per cent, $500, leaving a promised
benefit of $1,000 to the purchaser II
he is weak enough to be tempted
OF the 2 per cent presumably part
would be used in the smuggling trans
action, leaving probably but IL pei
cent advantage to the dealer who was
willing to take all risks.
There is really very little risk run
These offers, it is certain, have rarely
been accepted by buyers.
1t is the general idea of bona fide
purchasers of jewelry abroad that they
pay less than they would at home
The truth is that, with rare exceptions,
much more is paid. The foreign dealer
or storekeeper boasts that he puts on
extra prices for an American, and In.
tends to beat all he can, since he may
never see the customer again.
Purchases made of American firms
at branch stores abroad will be at full
prices, but representations as to the
goods may be depended upol, while the
foreign dealers are utterly unreliable
in this respect