Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-11
~
! PASSING of CROQUET on }
{ THE MEXICAN FRONTIER ;

4++%%*+++%+++%+++++<<+++<<
IN THE early sos. AT one of The Mex.
lean ports of entry on the Rio
irande. there lived number of Amer
leans largely interested in pushing for
ward American railroad enterprises
that We're intended ultimately to con-
meet the capital of the Mexican repub-
Tic Wit h 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
ra road construction considerabl bic, but
all these Americans were purchasing
on ;he 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
lector 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
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
held opinions which they thought it
discreet not to express too vocifer-
ously
The social conditions of the Ameri-
can co.ony developed to the point of
intending married men with their
wives and families This necessitated
the addition of articles of domestic
economy to the list of importations.
1T was under these circumstances that
one OF the American families decided
10 send for croquet set.
Ms in every case of the kind. prece-
dent necessity was to compute the cost
and see it it came within the limit of
allowable household expense. Croqnet
was even then on the wane i'm America
and the cost Of a set in a midwest ern
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
railroad. The result of this addition
was an amount equal to the cost of a
croquet set in the palmiest days of hat
game, and it was deemed wise to post
pone final action until some estimate
could be made of the cost of importa-
lion.
The collector of the port at that
time may for convenience. and more
particularly for the sake of brevity,
be called FL Senior Don Narcisso Nom
bre de Dios Noriega de Pacheco V
Blasquez. He was well advanced in
years. When approached on the sub
lect of the probable duties upon a GRO
quet set he promptly declared his ig-
norance What was a croquet set?
'A game"
WAS it gambling outfit ."
On. no: 1t was a very innocent
game Ladies' and children play it.
1t is played with balls and mallets."
WAS it like baseball. then?"
NO, the balls are of wood and are
knocked around on the ground"
But he did not know ANYTHING about
1T, and 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
he croQuet set on such indefinite in
formation. it must be admitted: but
upon the lnsistence Of the Younger
members of the family who had be-
gun to suffer from ennu in the stag
nant life of the frontier town. an order
was sent accompanied by remit
tance: and upon he arrival of the box
7reight was duly paid thereon. Then
the postponed negotiations at the Gus
tom house were resumed
FL Senior Don Narcisso Nombre de
Dios Noriega de Pacheco V Basque2
was sitting out in the patio Of the oil,
adobe custom house. completely en-.
Ne.oped in great coat Despite the
dry 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 SHARP
black eyes. his sharper white nose anG
his pinched lips. Around him was gath
cred the entire clerical force of the
custom house. all deeply interested ir
an Importation of unusual importance
-StHtt Mug TO De rIaSSlISU and an
praised with great care i'm order thai
no wrong precedent be established
The croquet box was brought in will
much state. as though it were a off
for formal presentation to the presi
dent of the republic.
Let the box be opened" said tn,
collector. and only those who knew
him we'll might have detected tn,
CLEAN in his eye he: okening his humor
Gus appreciation of the mock solemn
~ of he occasion.
The box was opened at his feet ant
he attaches of the custom house cazet
at ma,!ets. balls. stakes and wicke1s
carrying on a whispered conversation
the while on the various things the1
first brought 10 their attention. Nov
and then they addressed a question O.
made a suggestion TO the collector a
though to aid him in determining pre-
ciSe!y how it should be classified art