Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-22

the Big Stores Now.
IL the Paris exposition is not a sue
cess If will be due to no lack of effort
on the part of French officials, who
are extending courteous inducements
especially to Americans, who bear a
reputation for love of luxury accom-
panied by disregard of expenditure,
says a writer in the Baltimore Sun
Travellers naturally dread stringent
customs regulations, which are more
vexatiOus than seasickness-the latter
being acknowledged in most instances
as simply disagreeable form Of bene-
faction. Why the searching or inter
rogating by customs officers may not
be completed on shipboard is a hack
neyed question, the only answer to
which has been compulsory halt at an
initiated platform in the midst Of an
impatient, questioning throng, while
10 the confusion Of a strange language
Is added the annoyance Of having
ones personal belongings turned,
prodded and shaken by stranger.
The dOuanier is usually courteous, but
often understands so little the art
OF handling q gentleman's possessions
as TO disgust the most Indifferent
valet
Arrival inspection will not be dis
continued, but IN view of the expo
sftion new offices will be established
one of them at Victoria station, Lon
don, where luggage going to Paris
and to French outposts can be ex-
amined and chalked without delay at
the point of arrival. 1t will be we'll
done doubtless a French customs Of
flcer can get more crescents, crosses
and variously dotted discs out Of an
ordinary piece of chalk than a street
gamin Nor will this be the only i'm
provement American-made cars will
transport passengers from the Chan
mel
To speed from Calais or Havre to
Paris in Pullman with buffet attach
ment is comfortable and convenient,
but it destroys much of the pictur-
esqueness which makes the trip enjoy
able Those who gain most from
travel are content with rapid transit
methods al home, preferring the prim-
tive and poetic in foreign countries.
Formerly, instead of a buffet car, the
passenger found awaiting him at
Hayre line Of compartments, on en-
tering one of which he paid 2 francs
10 an oddly dressed little woman at
the station, receiving In return a
well-made basket containing a lunch
so daintily prepared as to whet the ap-
~ ho ~,
glasses wine bottle, knife. fork
spoon, all complete; not common ware
either The lunch could be eaten
Ieisurely under such novel conditions
as made travelling a delight, after
which the basket containing the cafe
property was tossed off on reaching
Rouen. If the travel CHANGED to be al
night before the departure of the
train a man laden with clean pillows
and freshly Numbered linen cases
walked up and down the platform
One Of these could be hired for q
trife. after which you had but to turn
down the arms of the compartment
seat and couch was furnished com
Portable enough to insure pleasan
dreams, and which many preferred tc
the berths of the Pullman. The re-
turn Of the pillow was left to the
honor of the renter
With American innovations will
come American suspicion and distrust
Officials if more DESTROYS To please
will be on the alert, knowing that
suspected relaxation will add to the
holiness of the INSCRIPTIONS, WHIT
consider cheating the government
rather an amusement than theft
Americans are often shamed by the
bold manner in which our cOuntrymer
and. alas, countrywomen-boas oil
their successful efforts to avoid paying
lawful duty. This rs one of the most
vulgar and cowardly forms of rob
berry and should be no more a sub
ject of jest than any other immortality
MIR. Hooper, IL years American vice
consul in Paris, once asserted that he
considered American women born
smugglers When it was suggested
that they smugGle more because they
travel more he shook his head and
replied suggestively: Yes, they are
experienced travellers
American women, however, are not
alone addicted to this vice. A French
bridegroom went to Brussels from
Paris on his wedding tour While
visiting the lace shops he jocularl!
remarked to his wife: Now is your
chance to show your skill in SNUG
Cling Every woman who comes tC
Brussels cheats the government on hel
return" He thought no more Of the
matter until they reached the customs
station, when in teasing manner be
said to the dOuanier: Search well the
lady; she carries much lace" To his
surprise she was taken to the women'S
department. In a few minutes he
heard her give shrek after shrek
and on fastening to learn the cause
discovered that she had undertaken tc
smuggle lace the value Of which ag.
gregated hundreds Of francs. The
purchase had been made without his
knowledge from her own private fund
The amusing part of the affair was
that as they left the station the officer
taking the husband aside. slipped
roll of bills into his hand and in
formed him confdentially that half o
the imposed fine was due him as in
formant. This. to an American
would have amounted to partial REIN
bursement; not so in France, wher
a woman's pocketbook is controlle'
by her husband.
Three years ago on the streets o