Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-11-09
OBJECTIONS OF smueeLERs.
Their Motives Discovered Abroad and
OmclaIs Advised.

]
0hclals Advised.
For the last few weeks all the ocean
liners sailing from European parts for
New York have been crowded, and
many people who were negligent about
securing return passage have been COM
PEELED to change their plans by receiv-
ing the information that the ship of
their choice was ''all full" The ma
jority of the passengers on ocean steam
ers combined shopping with sight see
ing while abroad, and the problem of
how to get the purchases past the Gus
tom house officials without paying duty
on them keeps many passengers think
ing for days on the homeward trip.
Custom house officers say that many
men and women who would recent any
insinuation as to their honesty look
upon smuggling as ''all right" and
think that q declaration under oath
that they have nothing dutable in their
trunks need not be positively true sc
long as only the Government loses in
Consequence. Despite the schmes and
plans of the dishonest passengers who
bring perjury permeated presents from
Paris, many seizures have been made
this season, and more goods have beer
confiscated than in former summers
In many instances the detected SNUG
gler blames himself for having looked
guilty, or for having concealed th'
laces or diamonds in the wrong place
and then remembers how Mrs. Smitl
bought a whole wedding outfit through
for her daughter or how Mrs. Brow
landed a lot of furs ''just because sh
was smart"
In nine cases out of ten the collaps
of the smuggling scheme was due Meth
or to the guilty look of the passenge
and his failure to pack the stuff pre-
perly nor to the vigilance of the custom
officers, but the desire on the part of
shopkeeper in Europe to ''get even. "
1.-THE GOVERNMENT has had muc
aid, said detective, from the Ell
ropean shopkeepers. When an Amer
can woman appears on the scene an
looks his stock over the Paris deale
does his best to make a sale. If til
woman is simply shopper, just 'lool
ing around for FRIEND the stor'
keeper must grin and bear it. Blu
when he finds out that Mrs. America
has made her purchases at rival q
tablishment, and they all have NEAR
for gaining that information, he got
further and finds out when the oma
will sail. Then he gives the custom
authorities a tip. Tips of that kin
are forwarded to Washington an
placed in the hands of special mel
Lots of gowns. furs, jewelry, and oil
Ter goods have been stopped at thestean
or piers which would undoubtedly ha,
slipped through but for the aid r
lceived from these disgrunted Europea
merchants and dressmakers. The Go
eminent sometimes receives tips fro
other sources also, but the object
usually revenge, and the informer il
variably hides behind an assumed nam
A specimen case was that of a ms
who wrote the custom house to lOt
for a man on a certain steamer wi
would have q lot of goods in his posse
sion which be would try to bril-
through. The man came on the steal
er as announced, and, sure enough.
had big lot of undeclared stuff, al
was put to much trouble and expen
before he got matter Strengthened OF
His trouble all came from beating a
other man at poker on the trip out. ="
New York Tribute.