Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-10
CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIALS.

Continental custom house officials are apt to ruffie the temper of British ladies who travel with numerous boxes and trunks. They sometimes have q way of ransacking them and turning apple-pie order into hopeless chaos, which is irritating. But in such cases a philosophic calm and a smiling countenance are the only eff fectiYe remedies. s1 {, lt z E6
 In, France the apQrtersx occasionally make a special claim when the trunks have been passed without being open ed t"I promised the officer two francs if he would let you off without troub- ling you" said a railway employe to me one night at the Care du Nord. well, you did a very foolish thing to promise money that did not belong to you,' 1 replied, and 1 gave him only what he had earned. But above all things one should never offer money to a custom house official.
 A lady once came from Constantino- pie to an English port with a trunk full of dutiable wares. The official came on board and looked through her handbags and passed hels trunks with out examining them, and rushed on deck. Elated with joy, she ran after him with a sovereign to show her sense of gratitude. The captain warned her to desist, but she would have her own. way and slipped the coin into his hand. The official looked at it and af her, and then returned the money, went back and thoroughly ioverhauled the trunks. That lady had good reason to regret her simpulsiye gratitude before he and. his superiors had done with her.
 R A
 There is no country in the world where custom house officers are more reasonable and courteous than in Eng land. They look at the traveller, note the tone of voice in which he answers their question, glance at his luggage and trust him according to their sum ming up, which is generally correct.
 In this connection 1 shall never for get scene which took place one frosty December morning at Queensborougl on the arrival of the steamer. There was Il French lady on board who had a bag round which one could see her thoughts were ever eentered. She would clutch it conyulsively, lay it down on the ground and eye 1t eu- rfously, look furtiyely at the other passengers and then snatch 1t up and walk away. An observant oniooker would be tempted to. conjecture that it contained diamonds and pearls of great price.
 Besides a few llandkerchlefs and toilet necessaries there was nothing but 40 cigars in the. bag--so the owner told Dutch lady who had shared the same cabin with her, T am taking them to my husband. and don't care to pay thesduty, but I am in dread lest they should be discovered. ."J"No fear whatyer." replied the other. 'The custom house officials are very liberal minded In England. You will not be asked even to open your hagv But these assurances failed to allay the fears of the Parisienne, who grew fldgety and nervous as the time drew near for the examination.
 Finally the Dutch woman took pity on her fellow traveller and said just as they were crossing the bridge: Make yourself quite easy on the the subject. Give me your bag. Here, take mine You shall see how smooth ly everything will go." They ex- changed bags accordingly; the officials proved to be Liberal minded" and there was no hitch anywhere.
 AS soon as they were comfortably seated in Q first class carriage the French dame became profuse in her manifestations of gratitude. "Oh, pray. don't mention it. replied her fel- low traveller: T know the English, pe0- pie well. and 1 was aware there, was no danger. Otherwise I should never have done what did. I, too. have q husband who is fond of smoking, and I have brought him over few hun lred cigars. Just look at this bag that you were carrying for me-" She opened t as she spoke, and the French lady nearly sWooned when she SEW tllaf she had hean carving some hun lreds of Dutch cigars mstead of her own paltry forty. London Telegraph