New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
SKILLED CHINESE sMUGGLERs.

When something like 81 a pound first
imposed upon crude opium the Chinese invent
cd an ingenious way OF smuggling 1t into San
Francisco Each wcl-to-do Oriental noticed
on nearing the harbor 10 scat himself in an elab-
oratcly carved chair of huge proportions. which
was usually represented an heirloom or great
value And being part of his household eHects
long in use that chair was. of course. exempt
from duty.
Now. a long succession OF these chairs began TO
attract attention They were carried ashore right
side up with tender care. II only the merest
accident. however that revealed the truth. one
day a stevedore's truck struck a couple OF China
men with the heirloom chairs and to the amaze
nlent of all onlookers over fifty pounds OF crude
opium rolled along the quay like so many cannon
balIs And. of course. until news got back TO emma
that the game was up visitors continued 10 ar
rive with great dignity seated in the ancestral
chair To this day tho San Francisco officers VIII
recall with a smile the studied sedateness and
magnificent repose OF these smugglers as they
leaned back in their "heirlooms" on the decks OF
arriving steamers
There can be no doubt that many dread
the ordeal OF the custom house: and this story is
told of an elderly Belgian bridegroom This man
was about TO start for Paris on his honeymoon
tour when he calmly informed by his bride
that she was taking with her several thousand
francs worth of fine Brussels lace hoping by us
sale to pay all the cost of the journey and their
general expenses -. IL,
thq frugal project. He pointed out anxiously that
share we're especially adrot customs officers. and
even women searchers, at the Ercquelines frontier
ana these were often struck with embarrassing
au-,oas Tn short the husband made such fuss
about the project that his bride. merely to humor
hin, nromised to give up the plan. All the same,
sbe secreted the lace and confded I'm him no more.
Az the train approached the French frontier the
husband reflected IL his wife were not searched
.be would surely mock at his fears as groundIesS'
ord he would thus start on married Ire with III
natrad prestige. 1t important. he Thought, 10
shovv something like mfalibilty from the very
ara, And so when they alishted at Ercquehnes
ths cautious bridegroom left his lady's arm for
r,oment and siding up TO douanler' Whispered
,rrrsssively; 'I think II you search that lady
wonder YOU may find some lace
Tn, of4cer cast a grateful glance at the inforner
ond n moment later the happy bride was accosted
,rI,b a Arm invitation TO walk into the woman
saarcher's room. She turned pale. but was led
a,vov A few minutes later dismal SOUNDS OF hys-
,a,dcs came from the room. Soon the douahler re-
anneared and tripping up to the dazed ana horTl-
az bushand he remarked. brisky: Il thank you'
~ les a very good capture. indeed The woman
al, he taken to prison forthwith and hair the
fine will go to your! -,
- MANY wears specially trained dogs were en-
,,oyad in smuggling between Gibraltar and SPAIN:
- ,hey were taught by dummy figures to avoid
aIs,.-s IN uniform who frequently shot at theh'
T,oos were also employed smuggling watches over
~ Franco Swiss frontier between Geneva ana AN.
clever animals they Were too, apparently 40 i.'Ioi
,,terestsd In the game as their employers oo,
~ them would make three or four cohseouiso
iourneys in a single night. carrying kiid Vi pN