The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-19
Passing Of Croquet +: Mexieap Froptier.

played by ladies' and children. Can you
get some ladies and children here that
we may see II plhyeds How else can we
tell what duties 1, should payg"
With little difficulty enough players
Were found; the wickets were set up In
the patio OF the custom house. The stakes
were placed: the collectors chair was
given such position that he could watch
the game; work was suspended In the
custom house and all the government en-
ployes stood around and looked on while
the balls were knocked about, through or
past wickets, and had finally hit both
stakes and the first game was declared
finished. Meanwhile every idier In thee
town had been attracted 10 the custom
house and had joined the group OF spec
tators.
The collector and hts clerks could gain
but little information regarding the tariff
from witnessing one game. Indeed. the
first game had not como out NJ they had
expected. So they asked that another
might be played 10 enable them 70 decide
the more .nfeliigently the momantous
question submitted to'thcm. And so Sec
ond. n third and even fourth game was
played under the semi-tropicai sun. which
streamed down upon the Players though
never affecting the spectators upon the
weil-khaded corridor. In fact, ono game
succeeded another until croquet became
came for he fiirials az the government
to close the custom house and seek their
homes.
There had been no lack OF interest In tho
playing IN the part cf The Mexican spec
tators. Every now tnd shen attention had
been called 10 some feature of the game
and some minor official consulted books
and made TASTY pencil memoranda. AZ
for example, when one had asked about
the ickets Ger sed N the center OF the
ground md vas told that IL WAS some
times called ~tae S'rd-cnEe." the snriH on
bird cages WAS carefully hunted up and
noted As thc PLAYING went on the McSi-
can spectators manifested their interest
by betting On the riayers. AZ first tiacoH.
then medlos and hnaliy pcHcias EXCHANGED
hands at the end OF every game. II was
much to the relief OF the players when the
collector finally announced that II was
time 20 go homo.
1T Is n very interesting game" he said.
hut cannot tell what the duties viii BIO
until tomorrow morning
The croauet set was accordingly left at
the custom house and the players and
spectators dispersed. Isut until late
hour that night light In tise offce OF
the collector Indicated thai some II the
government Clerks were nnwontcdly en-
gagged In making overtime"
The report ~ che appraiser ne next
morning WAS nothing short ~ apSailins.
The collector tourtso8sly explained why
the amount ~ duties should te SO large.
His clerks were very considerations, and
had been fearful II allowing some item
20 escape aud thus ~ mourning pen
alties for neglect % duty. There was dan
rcr 81 che attemps being made 70 gmugEle
such thinEa ~ bird cages. for example
into the country unaer cover ~ new
games, and ihat had 90 ae guarded AGAINST.
Then there was tho menace az such au In
tereFiing game aH ctoauct becoming 80
popular ia Me1ice ~ 10 prove detrimental
20 the games already characteristic ~ 3ha
country monte. ehuses, hall fights. cock
fights, rita IL was felt necessary there
I fore % establish something ike pfotcc-
tive tariff IN this case ~ order that the
weli-knoWn Mexican fsmes. 20 dearly
l lowed by the pe1pie. might not b. crowded
I out altogether ~ aAch faseina ting game
a. crpaurs.
! t-pnn examination I, was found that the
I clerks has incurred na peHsliies ~ reason
Z ~ omissions. TINS evpsaef ret Nas ap-
( praised a. a game. az billiards, and ~
Z gambling Sutnt tf0r had not the Mexieaaa
I SAMPLED on iigl. Then the balls and mall
/ let's had been appraised a. iumlseF. AN
I Creased mmfef, and a. tprnitare. th3
/ wieketN az ,Fum and an iron wiro. and
I charge had been made for iArd cage.
Added % thir Mss the nb~callsd protective
E tarin and bill bad bseb made out Tor
I half DAYS work sgr each ~ the clerks who
( bad watched tas game a. extra Time ETA
I played ia . special importation
The purchaser - the orosiset set esaus-
/ insd iae rAbefa im silence tie finally aala
he would have 90 como around uEaln ard
7 pay De apties and 'Nks fhe rfosnFt Nst
ft WAS accar6inEiY Fafnan6ed % ths cigHs
tgaF - thh cigNSUfe-f 9fHe uf1Eiaia, and