Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-10-27
PASSING of CROQUET on }
THE MEXICAN FRONTIER !

~
Grande. there lived a number of Amer
'rans largely interested in pushing for
ward American railroad enterprises
that were intended ultimately to con-
meet the capital of the Mexican repub-
lie with the cities of the United States.
For the first time in its history the
Mexican custom house located there
for the purpose of ievying and collect
ing tariff for revenue only found it.
self with something important to do.
Not only was the business created by
rasIroad construction considerable, but
ali these Americans were purchasing
on the American side of the river the
commodities requisite for their exist
ence, and, unless evading the vigilance
OF the custom house officials altogeth-
er providing an occasional opportuni-
ty to increase the receipts of the col
rector OF the port to an extent out of
all proportion to the original cost of
the articles in question. Whether the
amounts thus paid into the custom
mouse ever reached the city of Mexico
and served to defray any of the ex-
penses OF running the government was
question on which the Americans
held opinions which they thought il
discreet not to express too vocifer-
ously.
The social conditions of the Ameri-
can colony developed to the point of
including married men with their
wives and families. This necessitated
the ADDITION of articles of domestic
economy to the list of importations.
u was under these circumstances that
one OF the American families decided
10 seno for croquet set
AS in every case of the kind. prece-
dent necessity was TO compute the cost
anu see II II came within the limit OF
sho"aoie household expense. Croquet
was even then on the wane in America.
anu the cost or a set in a mid-western
city was not likely to be great. To
the original cost, when finally deter
mined, was added an approximate es-
innate OF freight over 1900 miles OF
raliroad. The result of this addition
was an amount equal to the cost of a
croquet set in the palmiest days of that
game, and it was deemed wise TO pest
pons final action until some estimate
could be made of the cost of importa-
ton.
Ihe collector of the port at that
time may for convenience. and more
particularly for ths sake of brevitv
os called Eel Senior Don Narcisso Nom
ore de dos Norfega de Pacheco
Blasquez. Hs was we'll advanced in
years. When approached on the SUBJ
1ect or the proba bic duties upon GRO
quet set he promptly declared his ip-
horanee What was a croquet set?
"a game"
WAS it gambling outft?.
"Oh, moi It was a very tnnocent
game. Ladies and children play 81.
1t is played with balls and mailets.
WAS it like baseball, thenP"
No, the balls are of wood and are
knocked around on the ground"
But he did not know anything about
IT, ana the best way would be to get
the set, bring it to the custom house
and let the question be decided then.
The duties would probably not be
much.
1t was not very businesslike to order
the croquet set on such indefinite in
formation, it must be admitted: but
upon the insistenee of the younoar
members of the family, who had he
gun to suffer from ennui in the stao-
nant life of the frontier town, an order
was sent accompanied by remit
lance; and upon the arrival of the hoy
freight was duly paid thereon. Then
the postponed negotiations at the GUS
tom house were resumed.
FL Senior Don Nareisso Nombre de
Dlos Noriega de Pacheeo Blssuuez
was sitting out in the patio of the old
adobe custom house, completely en-
Veloped In a great coat. Despite the
ary warmth of the midday air his coat
collar was turned up and a thick cloth
cap was crushed down over his ears.
Under his visor could be seen his sharn
black eyes, his sharper white nose and
his pinched lips. Around him was gath
cred the entire clerical force of the
custom house, all deeply interested in
an importation of unusual Importance
something to be classified and an
praised with great care in order that
no wrong precedent be established.
Inc croquet box was brought in with
much state, as though it were a gift
Tor formal presentation to the presi-
dent of the republic.
Let the box be openedl" said the
collector, and only those who knew
him well might have detected the
CLEAN in his eye betokening his humor-
Gus appreciation of the mock solemni-
ty of the occasion.
The box was opened at his feet, and
the attaches of the custom house eazed
at mallets, balls, stakes and wieksts.
carrying ON whispered conversation
the while on the various things then
first brought to their attention. Now
and then they addressed question or
made suggestion to the collector a.
though to aid him in determining pre-
eisely how 1t should be classified and
appraised. As, for example, one suG-
gested that perhaps il was played Ike
billiards. and in such case might 1t not
come under the same classified ton an
billiard tables7
But how should I know how It IN