The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-20
SORRY THEY PROTESTED
TWO WOMEN WHO OBJECTED To
CUSTOMS HOUsE VALUATION,
Appealed to General o. l.. SpaIding
and Were Caught I'm n Trap of
Their Own Setting.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-If there is any
thing which Secretary Shaw has clearly
established it is the fact that the ladies
who are strenuously Directing to the man
ners OF New York customs officials do not
want 70 pay any taxes at all and are Of
Tended because they are compelled TO do so.
The cases which come up for revision are
usually funny.
Two Georgetown ladies appealed TO Gen.
o. L. Spalding. assistant secretary of the
treasury, to protest against the payment Of
$50 cash on two pocketbooks sent from
Paris. Instead of pay ing duties on $50.
they thought $50 about the right figure.
General Spaulding has high rank as a SOL
der. He was a member of Congress from
Michigan; he has been auditor of the State;
he is an expert in treasury matters, and
without saying more it may be accepted
that he is as gallant as he is efficient.
1--WE have great trouble over those over
valuations" he remarked with friendly in
terest. THE officers are apt to think be-
cause a thing is pretty and comes from
Paris that it is worth a lot of money. 1
presume these pocketbooks are simple az
fairs?"
"Oh. yes" they answered in chorus. glad
to get friendly aid in their little raid on
the customs. Surely here was a lovely
"They would be set with precious stones
II worth SIS each,' went on the secretary.
Il will have them reappraised by some ex-
pert. Who is your jeweler? All, L will
send them to him. Just wait here and L
will have the matter attended to by tele-
phone"
The ladies smiled their thanks, but the
elder and more experienced did not look SO
comfortable. Neither looked comfortable
when the report came from their own jew
eler that the books were easily worth $3.50
each, and both said bitter things when they
had to pay $50 in duties. 1t was a typical
case.
AT the Frostburg mine. near here. in
Maryland, a valuable mule committed sui
eide Thursday of this week. The animal
had shown no signs of dependency, having
taken its meals regularly Of late and par
ticipated in the usual work of the mine.
without attracting special notice. Thurs
day morning, after breakfast, he was tied
to a post, waiting for his usual days work
to begin. Suddenly he became greatly eX-
cited. Plunging and kicking, he made ev-
cry effort to break away from the post,
finally succeeding. He ran down the in
cline into the water, where it was deep.
He seemed to be able to hold his head
downward, all the time threshing with his
hind legs in such a way as to make 1t i'm
possible TO rescue him. He was taken out
dead.
Cases of animal suicide are not rare, but
few cases are so well authenticated as that
of the FroStburg mule.
XXX
Here Is a story of an incident connected
with a recent visit of Prince Henry which
has never been in print. A number of years
ago President Roosevelt lost a brother. of
whom he was very fond. One day, after
taking a long and earnest look at the
prince, the President said TO him: II shall
always carry in my mind a very vivid rec
objection of you. In look and manner you
remind me very strongly Of my dead
brother"
In mentioning the names OF the members
of the Presidents kitchen cabinet, the other
day. 1 forgot TO include that of Robert J.
Wynne, the present first assistant post
master general. He is one of the most in
innate friends Of the President n has
been such for years.
OTTO CARMICHAEL.