Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-01-09


1t was foolish thing to do, knowing
that had to pass through France, and
when l got to the railway station In
London and found could only register
the trunk as far as Paris l should then
have taken the tobacco out II | had
thought about il. We arrived in Paris
Il little after o'clock in the evening,
and the train left for Bernc, from
station on the other side of the city, at
$50, so there was just time enough
to get comfortable dinner and cab
1t 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, | said that dldn 1t
exactly know; ! had some tobacco. but II
was not intended for use in France.
was going to take the night train to
Berne if could get the luggage across
Paris in time. | 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 man
VINO was evidently higher oilclal,
and behind this higher official came
another of the same rank as the first.
why didn't you declare this tooac-
co., said the official to me
Il did declare it, | answered. Il
told him | was going through to Switz-
er.and 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. don't carry much luggage when
/ travel alone, but this trunk contained
the various articles Of wearing apparel
that belonged to my family. 1t had
been packed with much care, end 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 ont
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.
do you mean to tell me-" l 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, ant
finding they could not squeeze dowr
the lid again, they took the trunk ant
the rest of my baggage and locked !
up for the night. l learned that thu
inspector would not be there until II
o'clock in the morning, and that would
make me miss the morning train fol
Switzerland also. l again offered thu
pompous official the tobacco but he sale
that it was not question of tobacct
at all, but Of a fine. l should prob
ably be fined two thousand francs, h
added. A man who had concealed tw,
boxes of cigars, a Cuban, had that weel
been fined two thousand francs. ant
probably my fate would be the SAM
n as his; it all would depend on the n
spector.
It But" urged. Il did not conceal tn
l. tobacco at all. l told the man 1t wa
| SL1 %~,, Il
h The official shook his head.
It "You did not declare it," he said.
y There was nothing for it, then, but t,
o 20 to a hotel, which we did. con
q suited the hotel proprietor, who ad
vised me to curb my naturally ugl.
e temper. and to be exceedingly deferen
IS tial in the morning. He said that If tn
It inspector chose to put two thousan,
q franc fine upon me I should have t
n pay it, or leave the luggage there TO
It ever.
In the morning I was taken before
very dignified official who scrutinize
q me with some severity. He listened t.
3 what ! had to say, and luckily for me
the first inspector did not tell any lie
u about it, but admitted that had sal,
- had tobacco. and had said that wa
D going through to Switzerland. and men
toned that the tobacco was not con
. cealed. but lay in the top of the trunk
: The official then asked me to show hin
} my tickets to Switzerland, which did
: He finally came to decision.' whicl
was, that should pay for man to G.
. across Paris with me, and see my trunl
Y registered through to Berne. and tina
should pay fifteen francs duty on tn
D. tobacco. and that / should remembe
was getting of very easily.
l suppose l should have been thank
y full. but then some people are as un
- grateful as republics themselves. Tn
= sting of the episode lay in the fac
q that they actually had the cheek t
- charge me dime for taking care o
my baggage all night at the custom