The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1895-12-11

-" - Nhh 80 Aal AZ luIln Hhoute $500
have taken the tobacco out " | had
thought about H. We arrived in Paris
a little after o'clock in the evening
and the train left for Berne. from
station on the other side Of the city. al
$50, 30 there was Just time enough
to get a comfortable dinner and cab
II across Paris from one station to the
other. but Il allowed no great margin
for customs examination.
When the villain who acts for the
French government asked me II had
anything to declare. said that didn't
exactly know: had some tobacco, but y
was not Intended for use In France.
was going TO take the night train TO
Berne II ! could get the iugssge across
Paris In time | opened n y trunk and
showed him the packages OF tobacco
lie shook his head. and. gathering tht
packages In hls hands. be departed
leaving me there with the open trunk
lie returned after a while with a man
who was evidently a higher Official
and behind this higher o~lcial came
another Of the same rank as the FIRST.
Why didn't you declare this to5ae'
co.. said The ofnelal TO me
Il did declare IL" answered y
told him ! was going through to swiiz
orland with II and none OF 1t was q
be opened In France"
The official aid nothing. but the tive
understrappers attacked the box and
turned out every mortal thing that wat
In H. ! don't carry much luggage when
| travel alone. but this trunk contained
the various articles OF wearing apparel
that belonged 10 my family. II had
been packed with much care, End the
heap Il made on the bench where they
examine luggage In Paris was some
thing appalling. II didn't seem 10 me
possible that any human being could
ever get all those things back IN the
trunk again They found no more to-
bacco. but they all retired TO an ONCE
and seemed 10 consult about the mat
ter. then the main officials came out
and said that this wns q case for th1
chief Inspector
Very well. then. get the chief In
speetor here as quickly as possible"
. But he has gone for the night said
the Official
DO YOU mean 10 tell me-" said
that you are going 10 make nc miss my
train an on account O. few packages
% tobacco Keep them. for Heaven
sake. and present them with my com
pllmenis 10 the inspector tomorrow
but lct me pass through Paris an.
catch my train"
lie shook bis head and the two IA
dersirappcrs began putting the thing
helter-skelter back In the trunk. an,
finding they could not squeeze dow
the lid again they took the trunk anl
the rest OF nay baggage and locked 1
mp for the night learned that tn
inspector would not be there until u
O'Clock In the morning. and that wouli
make me miss The morning train io
Switzerland also. again offered thl
pompous Official the tobacco. but be sail
that o. was not a question Of tobacci
AZ an. but Of a hne. / should prob
ably be fined two thousand francs. b.
added. a man who had concealed tai
boxes o., cigars. a Cuban. had that weel
boon fined two thousand francs. an
probably my fate would be the sam
b 10 his: u all would depend on the 10
Enccior.
1 But / urged. Il did not conceal IN
tobacco al all told the man &, wa
there before the trunk was opened"
b The Official shook his head
I You did not declare II" he said.
h There was nothing Tor Il. then. brt q
b 90 to a hotcl. which We ala. con
p suited the hotel proprietor. who ad
| vlsed me to curb my naturally ugll
. tempe-. and TO be exceedingly deferen
5 tial In the morning. lie said that " n
{ inspector chose TO put two thousan,
E franc fine upon me should have 4
4 pay t. or leave the luggage there 70
I ever
In the morning l was taken before
, very dlenlhed oflcial who scrutlnlRe,
me with some severity. lie listened 4
. what had TO say. and luckily for me
the hrst inspector did not tell any lie
about Il. but admitted that I had sal
. | had tobacco. and had said that / va
. going through 10 Switzerland. aud men
toned that the tobacco was not ecn
ccaled. but lay In the cop Of the trunk
Tho oficial then asked me TO show hin
my tickets 10 Switzerland. which aid
lie finally came 70 a decision, whlcl
was that should pay for a man TO q
across Paris with me. and sec NY trunl
registered through 70 Berne. and tia
I should pay fifteen francs duty on IN,
tobacco. and that I should rcmembc
] was getting on very easily.
suppose I should have been thank
ful, but then some people are as uu
grateful as republics themselves. TIL
sting Of the episode lay In the fac
that they actually had the cheek Z,
charge me a dime Tor taking care O
my baggage an night az the customs
warehouse.
IIc Grew very Rapidly.
! rNam