The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-04

nopoly in France, and that, while the
great Napoleon was conquering all the
world, tobacco was better and cheaper
in France than in any other country in
Europe.
The other day l was on my way to
| Switzerland. i expected to. be able to
register my trunk clear through to
Berne, and although 1 knew tobacco
was CHEAP. and good in Switzerland
thought I would take the precaution of
putting few packages Of my own par
tcdlar brandsat the top of the trunk.
1t was a foolish thing to do, Knowing
that had to pass through France, and
when l got to the railway station in
London and found 1 could only register
the trunk as far as Paris should then
have taken the tobacco out if / had
7 thought aboutit. We arrived: in Paris
little after o'clock in the evening,
and the train left for Berne, from a
station on the other side of the city, at
$3.50, so there was just time enough
to get comfortable dinner and cab
it across Paris from one station to the
other, but it allowed no great margin
for customs examination.
When the villain who acts for the
French government asked me if / had
anything to declare, 1 said that didn't
exactly know; had some tobacco, but it
was not Intended for use in France. l
was going to take the night train to
Berne If could get the luggage across
Paris in time. l opened the trunk and
showed him the packages of tobacco.
He shook his head, and, gathering the
packages in his hands, he departed,
leaving me there with the open trunk.
He returned after while with a man
who was evidently a higher official
and behind this higher official came
another of the same rank as the first
why didn't you declare this tobac-
COZ" said the official to me t,s
Il did declare it." 1 answered. 81
told him / was going through to Swift
erland with it and none Of it was to
be opened in France"
The official said nothing, but the two
understrappers attacked the box and
turned out every mortal thing that was
in it. l don't carry much luggage when
l travel alone, but this trunk contained
the various articles of wearing apparel
that belonged to my family. 1t had
been packed with much care, and the
heap it made on the bench where they
examine luggage in Paris was some
thing appalling. 1t didn't seem to 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 office
and seemed to consult about the mat
ter, then. the main officials came out
and said that this was a case for the
chief inspector.
Very well, then, get the chief in
| spector here as quickly as possible"
But he has gone for the night" said
the official. ...a'. -. tn..gs
30 youtmean TO tell me, ".%I said,
that you are going to. make me miss my
train all on account of a few packages
of tobacco? Keep them; for Heavens
sake, and present them with my COM
pliments to the inspector tomorrow
but let me pass through Paris and
catch my train"
He shook his head and the, two. .un-
derstrappers began putting the things
helter-skelter back in the trunk, and
finding they could moi, squeeze down
the lid again, they took the trunk and
the rest of my baggage and locked it
up for the night. learned that the
inspector would not be there, until 10
o'clock in the morning, and that would
make me miss the morning train for
| Switzerland also. l again offered the
pompous official the tobacco, but he said
that it was not question of tobacco
! at all, but of fine. l should prob
| ably be fined two thousand francs, he
added. A man who had concealed two
boxes of cigars, Cuban, had that week
been fined two thousand francs, and
probably my fate would be the same
as his; it all would depend on the in
| spector.
But" urged, 81 did not conceal the
| tobacco at all. I told the man it was
there before the trunk was opened"
The official shook his head.
''You did not declare it," he said.
There was nothing for it, then, but to
go to a hotel, which we did. l con-
suited the hotel proprietor, who ad-
vised me to curb my naturally ugly
temper, and to be exceedingly deferen-
! tial in the morning. He said that if the
inspector chose to put a two thousand
franc fine upon me I should have to
pay it, or leave the luggage there for
ever.
In the morning 1 was taken before a
very dignified official who scrutinized
me with some severity. He listened to
what l had to say, and luckily for me,
the first inspector did not tel any lies