The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-11-17
{ PASSING of CROQUET on }
; THE MEXICAN FRONTIER !

IN THE early SOS, at one of the Mex
lean ports of entry on the Rio
Grande, there lived number of Amer
leans 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 levying and collect
ing tariff for revenue only found it.
self with something important to do.
Not only was the business created by
railroad construction considerable, but
all 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-
en- providing an occasional opportuni-
~ to increase the receipts of the col
iector OF the port to an extent out of
al proportion to the original cost of
tne articles in question. Whether the
amounts thus paid into the custom
house 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
neid opinions which they thought it
oiscreet 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 necess;tated
the addition of articles of domestic
economy to the list of importations.
~ was under these circumstances that
one or the American families decided
to send for croquet set.
AS IN every case of the kind. a nrece-
gent necessity was to compute the cost
and see II it came within the limit ~ |
allowable household expense. Croouet |
was even then on the wane in America.
ana the cost of set in 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 l.2co miles ~
railroad. The result of this addition
was an amount equal to the cost of =
croquef set in the palmiest days Of that
CANT ana 1t was deemed wise to post
pone final action until some estimate
ton.
Inc collector of the port at that '
time may for convenience. and more
for the sake of brevitv 4
De called FL Senior Don Narcisso Nom {
pre- de Dios Noriega de Pacheco III
D'asquez. de was well advanced in I
years. When approached ON the sub-
)ect OF the probable duties upon a cro-
yet set he promptly declared his TO-
France. What was croquet set?
Was it gambling OUTFIT"
On' no! 1t was very innocent
yame. Ladies and children NAV -
. Is played with balls and mailetsn Y
was 1t like baseball. then?"
NO. the balls are of wood and are =
'nocked around on the ground"
Dut ne did not know anything about
: and the best way would be To cet
ne set, bring it to the custom bonss
!, mo let the question be decided then a
1uch.
II was not very businesslike to order
ne croquet set on such indefinite in !.
ormation, 1t must be admitted: Int
pom the insistence of the Younger
'emDers OF the family, who had be- an
IN 10 suner from ennui in the STAG. TT
ant life OF the frontier town. an order in
as sent accompanied by a remit 81
'nce; and upon the arrival of the box m,
eight was duly paid thereon Tbsn -
&c postponed negotiations at the cus- bu
I'm house were resumed. Nc
FL Senior Don Narcisso Nombre 10 IN
los Noriega de Pacheco Blasouev IN
as sitting out in the patio of the old pa
,ooe custom house, completely en- mi
ioped in great coat. Desnife ~. nv
y warmth of the midday air his coat !
mar was turned up and thick cloth N,
p was crushed down over his CO... hr
noer his visor could be seen his sharn SCI
aek eyes. his sharper white nose and Lin
plnched lips. Around him was gath ha,
- tne entire clerical force of IN. TIL
s.om house, all deeply interested - an,
Importation of unusual importance he,
something to be classified and an ;ro
a'sed with great care in order that ha,
wrong precedent be established IN
e croquet box was brought in with IA
zen state as though 1t were q Gift hal
formal presentation to the presi. VII,
4 of the republic. pes ~, ~
l.ctor openeo! said the tior
lec1or, and only those who knew T
wei might have detected The am,
am in his eye betokening his humor- ~ .
appreciation of the mock solemni- AGA
of the occasion. ~ "sa
.,..sr vpened at his feet, and maj